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Bringing the climate emergency into the mainstream of social policy: a cross-cutting review of major gaps, opportunities, and needed action
No full textThe Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics offers a bold and timely rethinking of how public policies and political action can address ecological challenges while simultaneously advancing a broad range of social goals--such as ..
A Century of Vehicular Emissions in Brazil: Unveiling the Impacts of Unique Fuel Mix on Air Quality
Full text linkGlobal emission inventories often fail to capture the complexities of vehicular pollution in regions with unique fuel mixes, such as Brazil’s extensive biofuel use, leading to significant uncertainties in atmospheric modeling. This study presents a century-long (1960–2100) bottom-up vehicular emission inventory for Brazil, leveraging locally derived emission factors. Our estimates reveal substantial discrepancies in magnitude, timing, and speciation of non-CO2 pollutants (CO, NMHC, PM2.5) compared to leading global inventories (EDGAR, CEDS, CAMS), highlighting critical inaccuracies in widely used data sets. More critically, future projections under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) uncover a novel positive feedback mechanism: rising temperatures significantly enhance vehicular evaporative nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions. This temperature-dependent increase and subsequent NMHC oxidation to CO2 suggest an overlooked pathway that could amplify climate warming and air pollution globally, particularly after a breakpoint around 2050 (p < 0.05). While historical emissions peaked in the 1990s–2000s, nonexhaust PM becomes increasingly important. Air quality simulations using our inventory in the MUSICA model show good regional PM2.5 agreement but highlight challenges in resolving local primary pollutant peaks. This comprehensive inventory provides crucial data for Brazil and uncovers globally relevant climate–chemistry interactions, urging a re-evaluation of regional specificities in global emission assessments
Self, communitarian self, and personhood: a theoretical account of ‘non-compliance’ in corporate governance in Africa
Full text linkThis paper introduces a new theoretical framework that opens significant opportunities for advancing accounting research in Africa and other Majority World contexts. Critical accounting research has long shown that governance reforms rooted in Anglo-American traditions (e.g. individualism, self-interest, and calculative rationality) often travel poorly to the Majority World contexts, yet explanations typically focus on institutional weakness or strategic resistance. Drawing on Gyekye’s (1978, 1987/1995, 1997) conception of personhood, which understands agency as relational, morally constituted, and communally accountable, we argue that such explanations overlook a deeper ontological dissonance between Western governance assumptions and Indigenous understandings of the self. Using evidence from corporate governance practices in Kenya, the paper shows how actors enact agency in ways that are intelligible within communitarian moral frameworks but framed as ‘non-compliance’ through the dominant Anglo-American governance lens. Rather than framing these practices as governance deficits, we demonstrate how they reflect ontologically grounded enactments of moral agency and, in some cases, explicit critiques of the imported corporate governance prescriptions. The paper contributes to accounting scholarship by rethinking agency, legitimacy, and governance beyond universalist framing by centring Indigenous conceptions of personhood as generative theoretical resources
C9orf72-ALS mutation drives basal mitophagy impairments in iNeurons
Full text linkIntroduction: ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive upper and lower motor neuron loss. A GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in the C9orf72 gene is the most common mutation found in populations of European descent. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been observed in C9orf72-ALS patients and models of the disease, however, reports on mitochondrial clearance via mitophagy in C9orf72-ALS are limited.
Results: iNeurons from C9orf72-ALS patients displayed reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced basal mitophagy, due to reductions in autophagosome production and reduced ULK1 recruitment to mitochondria. No consistent changes to PINK1/Parkin or BNIP3 mitophagy pathways were observed.
Conclusion: Our data show that certain aspects of mitochondrial function is impaired in C9orf72-ALS patient iNeurons. An in-depth characterization of mitophagy suggests that a deficit in autophagosome production is responsible and provides further evidence that toxic gain-of-function mechanisms in C9orf72-ALS are responsible for autophagy deficits
EIF4A3‐Induced Circular RNA circSnd1 Promotes Muscle Atrophy and Muscle Ageing by Stabilizing EEF1A1
Full text linkBackground
Muscle atrophy is a common complication of ageing, and many chronic conditions, lacks defined therapeutic interventions. It is still mostly unknown how circular RNAs contribute to muscle atrophy.
Methods
circRNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to detect the changed circRNAs in muscle atrophy models and aged muscle. Then the gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments were used to investigate the function of circSnd1 in muscle atrophy and muscle ageing. Furthermore, we used RIP-MS and RIP assay to determine the downstream and upstream mechanism of circSnd1 in muscle atrophy.
Results
Here, we characterized the function and mechanism of highly species-conserved circRNA derived from staphylococcal nuclease and Tudor domain containing 1 gene (named circSnd1) in muscle atrophy. CircSnd1 is upregulated in many types of muscle atrophy models in both in vivo and in vitro (all p < 0.01). Meanwhile, circSnd1 is also higher expressed in aged muscle in humans (+2.2-fold, n = 5, p < 0.05), mice (+43.96%, n = 6, p < 0.05) and myotubes (+42.21%, n = 6, p < 0.05). Functional analyses show that circSnd1 promotes muscle atrophy and muscle ageing at the cellular level and mouse level while repressing it ameliorates multiple types of muscle atrophy (all p < 0.05). Mechanistically, the RNA binding protein eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) can bind to the intron flanking sequence of circSnd1 to induce circSnd1 cyclization and increase circSnd1 expression in muscle atrophy. In addition, circSnd1 promotes the binding between human HLA-F adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10) and eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1 (EEF1A1). FAT10 competes with ubiquitin for binding with EEF1A1, which decreases the ubiquitination of EEF1A1 and stabilizes the protein level of EEF1A1 in muscle cells to promote atrophy.
Conclusions
We have identified circSnd1 as a novel circRNA that promotes muscle atrophy and highlighted its potential as a novel therapeutic target
Vascular Comorbidities and an Increased Comorbidity Score Are Associated With Disability and Disability Progression in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Get PDFBackground
Vascular risk factors are associated with increased disease activity and disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). This has been studied mainly in cohorts with relapsing–remitting MS. However, the association between vascular comorbidities (VCM) and clinical disability in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) is less well studied. Our aim was to investigate the association between VCM, non-VCM, comorbidity burden and both physical and cognitive performance in SPMS.
Methods
Longitudinal analysis of 445 patients from the MS secondary progressive multi-arm trial (MS-SMART)–a multi-arm multicentre phase-2b randomised placebo-controlled trial of three agents in SPMS (NCT01910259). VCM (hypertension and hyperlipidaemia) and non-VCM (asthma, hypothyroidism and osteoporosis) were recorded. A comorbidity score was also determined (0, 1, ≥ 2). Physical disability and processing speed were assessed at baseline, 48- and 96 weeks. Multiple linear regression and mixed models were used to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between baseline VCM, non-VCM, comorbidity score and clinical outcome measures.
Results
The cohort was predominantly female (67%), median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 6.0. 13% and 9% had hypertension and hyperlipidaemia (VCM), respectively. 7%, 9% and 5% had asthma, hypothyroidism and osteoporosis (non-VCM), respectively. Co-morbidity counts were 0,63%; 1, 23% and with > = 2, 11%. In cross-sectional models, both hypertension (β = 0.36, 95% CI 0.18–0.54) and an increased comorbidity count (β = 0.47, 95% CI 0.28–0.67) were associated with higher EDSS scores. In longitudinal models, hyperlipidaemia (β = 0.22, 95% CI 0.02–0.42) and increased comorbidity count (β = 0.21, 95% CI 0.01–0.41) were associated with increased EDSS scores over 48/96 weeks. No associations were seen with the non-VCM.
Conclusion
VCM and also increased comorbidity burden per se are associated with increased disability. Disability worsening over 96 weeks was most evident in those with hyperlipidaemia and increased comorbidity burden
A randomised feasibility trial of an intervention involving mental health support workers as link workers to improve dental visiting in people with severe mental illness: The Mouth Matters in Mental Health Study
Full text linkBackground
People with severe mental illness (e.g. bipolar disorder, psychosis) experience poor oral health compared to the general population. They are more likely to have decayed, missing or filled teeth, and periodontal disease, which can affect quality of life and functioning. It can add to the burden of living with severe mental illness. Dentists can prevent and treat oral health problems. However, people with severe mental illness experience profound and multifaceted barriers to attendance, including practical issues, financial difficulties and dental anxiety. Unfortunately, existing dental interventions have not addressed these issues. They have not helped people with severe mental illness to attend the dentist.
This project aimed to develop and evaluate a link work intervention, delivered by mental health support workers, to enable dental access in people with severe mental illness. The intervention attempted to help people to navigate dental systems and bridge the gap between services. There were four work packages:
Work package 1 involved 4 co-production workshops with patients, staff, and carers (7, 6, 8 and 12 attendees, respectively). We used this information to co-develop and refine the link work intervention and associated training materials. This step ensured that the intervention was relevant and helpful to people with mental health difficulties.
Work package 2 was a realist review to understand the contexts and resultant mechanisms by which link work interventions affect access to community healthcare services. A search of empirical and grey literature identified 31 reports. The analysis resulted in nine context, mechanism, and outcome configurations within three theory areas, providing useful information on how and why link work interventions might be helpful.
Work package 3 was a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a link work intervention to support dental access in people with severe mental illness who had not attended a routine dental appointment in the past 3 years. Seventy-nine out of the target 84 participants were randomised to receiving either treatment as usual or treatment as usual plus the link work intervention. The majority of the feasibility criteria were met and there was high engagement with the intervention. Uptake of an optional dental examination was low at follow-up (12.7%; 95% CI: 7.0% to 21.8%). There were no serious adverse events attributable to the intervention or trial procedures. Overall, the findings supported progression to a full trial.
Work package 4 was an embedded qualitative evaluation of the link work intervention and trial. Narrative-informed interviews were carried out with 18 participants in the trial (13 in the intervention arm, 5 in the treatment as usual arm) and 3 link workers. The qualitative data suggested high levels of interest and engagement from stakeholders, and need for dental intervention. The link work intervention offered practical and emotional support at different stages of access to address barriers to dental visiting at the individual, relational and organisational level. Overall, the project successfully developed and evaluated a link work intervention to enable dental access in people with severe mental illness.
Limitations
The authors followed participants up after 9 months and the feasibility of longer-term retention is unknown.
Future work
The next step is to explore the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the link work intervention through a full trial.
Funding
This synopsis presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme as award number NIHR132853
The Risk of Bias in Vaccine Effectiveness (RoB-VE) project:introduction to a methodological initiative to improve risk-of-bias assessment and reporting in vaccine effectiveness research
Full text linkBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies are essential for informing immunization policy and public health decision-making. However, the observational nature of most VE studies introduces unique methodological challenges, including biases that are not adequately addressed by existing risk-of-bias (RoB) tools. The Risk of Bias in Vaccine Effectiveness (RoB-VE) project is an international, multiphase methodological research initiative aimed at improving the quality, transparency, interpretability, and reporting of VE research. DISCUSSION: Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and supported by many global partners, the project seeks to generate a comprehensive toolkit for VE studies. This includes an RoB assessment resource tailored to VE study designs and a complementary reporting guideline to enhance consistency in VE study reporting. The project follows an evidence-informed approach, beginning with a review of the literature to inform tool development, and progressing through interest holder engagement, modified Delphi consensus, usability testing, and beta validation. This introductory paper outlines the rationale, scope, and methodology of the RoB-VE project. These efforts aim to strengthen the methodological foundation of VE research and support more reliable evidence synthesis and policy development. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: VE studies measure how well vaccines work in real-world scenarios. These studies are essential for shaping vaccination recommendations. To assess the validity of VE studies, it is necessary to carry out an RoB assessment, which involves looking at different aspects of the study (eg, data collection methods, how participants are recruited, etc.) that have the potential to yield misleading results. Existing RoB assessment tools do not fully capture issues particularly relevant to VE studies and inconsistent reporting limits their usefulness. To address this, we are conducting the RoB-VE project. This project aims to improve the quality, transparency, interpretability, and reporting of VE research through the development, validation, and dissemination of a robust and user-friendly RoB assessment tool, specifically tailored for assessing VE studies. Our methodology involves a comprehensive multistep process based on established approaches. A broad range of international participants with diverse expertise and profiles will be engaged along the way to refine and finalize the tool. After pilot testing the beta version of the tool and making further refinements, we aim to deliver version 1 of the tool, which will undergo a large-scale application phase to assess its reliability and usefulness. Additionally, we will develop a reporting guideline to enhance the completeness of reporting of VE studies. This introductory paper outlines the rationale, scope, and methodology of the RoB-VE project. This project will elevate the standards of evidence synthesis, ultimately contributing to more reliable, transparent, and impactful research in the critical field of VE evaluation
E-petitioning Parliament: understanding the connections between citizens and the UK Parliament
Full text link2025 marks ten years since the UK Government and Parliament e-petitions system was established in a context of political dissatisfaction and disengagement with representative democracy. This article responds to calls for empirically grounded research about the mechanisms that connect citizens to their representative institutions by focussing on parliamentary e-petitions as a popular tool for citizen engagement with political processes. It presents findings from qualitative research with animal welfare e-petition creators, campaigners, and the MPs who supported them to highlight the role played by petitioners themselves in ensuring that their voices are heard. It also considers the ‘added value’ of e-petitions as a political campaigning tool from the perspective of petitioners by highlighting the spillover effects that arise from using an e-petition system that has formal ties to parliament. In doing so this article makes novel contributions to understandings of political participation via institutionally facilitated democratic innovations
Patient reported outcome measures require scale metrification and quantified precision: evidence from the assessment of breathlessness in people with ALS/MND
Full text linkIntroduction: Precision (how closely repeated measures match) and responsiveness (ability to detect change over time) are critical properties of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). Smallest Detectable Difference (SDD) is a useful statistic regarding precision; Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) and Minimal Important Change (MIC) assess responsiveness.
Methods: We examined measurement properties of Numeric Rating Scale for Breathlessness, ALSFRS-R respiratory subscale and Dyspnea-12, contributed by participants in the Trajectories of Outcome in Neurological Conditions-ALS study. Rasch analysis converts ordinal scale data to interval equivalents.
Results: Data from 1120 people with ALS showed ALSFRS-R Respiratory is only valid as ordinal data. The NRS Breathlessness requires computation from a wider NRS set for Rasch analysis; its SDD is 3.2, MDC 2.59, MIC 2.39, with score range of 0–10. The Dyspnea-12 has SDD 7.0, MDC 6.14, MIC 4.5, with score range of 0–36. The %MDC, indicating smallest change detectable above measurement error as % of scale range, is superior for the Dyspnea-12 (17.1%) compared to the NRS Breathlessness (25.9%). Another advantage of Dyspnea-12 is transformation of raw ordinal to interval equivalent data using published conversion tables. Both NRS and Dyspnea-12 have disadvantages of MIC < MDC.
Conclusions: Accurate measurement underpins optimal clinical decision making and high-quality research. Informed choice of PROMs reduces risk of misinterpreting clinical and research data. Patients want PROMs which they feel give an accurate account of their progression when participating in research and communicating with their clinical team. The Dyspnea-12 is preferrable for clinical and research use based on its psychometric properties
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