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ESG Backlash in the United States—Investor Concerns or “Red Scare”?
Full text linkThe United States lags far behind its counterparts regarding regulation on ESG investing. Part of this delay stems from a perceived “ESG backlash,” which has contributed to the SEC’s reluctance to require industry to disclose ESG practices. The regulatory landscape has now shifted, with the SEC proposing two ESG-centric rules—the ESG Fund Disclosure Rule and the ESG Names Rule.
Both rules have garnered numerous comments from academics, industry, investors, NGOs, and political actors. But the interest—and backlash—extends beyond public comments. States, investors, and other entities have instituted litigation that challenges ESG and anti-ESG policies alike. Amid this conflict, it is still unclear whether ESG backlash is investor-led or a political tool. To determine the source of the backlash, we analyze the comments for and against both rules. We also examine previous and ongoing ESG litigation to uncover whether these trends foretell litigation against the SEC rules
Understanding Womens Pregnancy Intentions, Decision-Making, and Factors Influencing Reproductive Choices After Genital Fistula Repair in Uganda: A Qualitative Study.
Full text linkFemale genital fistula is a debilitating injury that may affect as many as two million women globally. While studies have examined womens fertility intentions in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa broadly, few have explored the factors influencing pregnancy decision-making among women who have undergone fistula repair. We conducted in-depth interviews with 40 women who had undergone fistula repair. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed into English, and coded using a group-developed collaborative coding framework. Oriented by the socio-ecological framework, we reviewed factors contributing to pregnancy desire and decision-making for women who became pregnant and those who did not following fistula repair. Factors influencing pregnancy desire included partner support, financial circumstances, number of children, and health knowledge and perspectives. Womens own beliefs about their ability to become pregnant and their fears around surgeries and fistula recurrence also influenced pregnancy desire. Participants desiring pregnancy but experiencing infertility expressed various mental health impacts including feelings of hurt, isolation, and yearning, and described infertility stigma. Finally, societal expectations of women to assume childbearing and prioritize home responsibilities influenced participants decisions to pursue pregnancy. However, discordance between partners or infertility resulted in various consequences, such as women becoming pregnant to fulfill their partners needs, lying to their partner about their pregnancy status, or dissolution of the relationship. A nuanced understanding of pregnancy intentions and decision-making following fistula repair can help inform patient-centered post-repair pregnancy counseling to support the unique needs of women
Telecommuting
Full text linkThis project reviews and summarizes empirical evidence for a selection of transportation and land usepolicies, infrastructure investments, demand management programs, and pricing policies for reducingvehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project explicitly considers socialequity (fairness that accounts for differences in opportunity) and justice (equity of social systems) forthe strategies and their outcomes. Each brief identifies the best available evidence in the peer-reviewedacademic literature and has detailed discussions of study selection and methodological issues.VMT and GHG emissions reduction is shown by effect size, defined as the amount of change in VMT (orother measures of travel behavior) per unit of the strategy, e.g., a unit increase in density. Effect sizescan be used to predict the outcome of a proposed policy or strategy. They can be in absolute terms (e.g.,VMT reduced), but are more commonly in relative terms (e.g., percent VMT reduced). Relative effectsizes are often reported as the percent change in the outcome divided by the percent change in thestrategy, also called an elasticity
Bartonella quintana Endocarditis and Pauci-Immune Glomerulonephritis in Patient with Known Risk Factors, USA, 2024.
Full text linkWe report an unexpected case of Bartonella quintana endocarditis and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis in a patient without known risk factors in Los Angeles, California, USA, highlighting that infection can occur in the general population without a history of homelessness. The diagnosis was challenging and made definitively through extensive diagnostic tests and multidisciplinary investigation
Coupling Remote Sensing With a Process Model for the Simulation of Rangeland Carbon Dynamics
Full text linkAbstract Rangelands provide significant environmental benefits through many ecosystem services, which may include soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, quantifying SOC stocks and monitoring carbon (C) fluxes in rangelands are challenging due to the considerable spatial and temporal variability tied to rangeland C dynamics as well as limited data availability. We developed the Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Management (RCTM) system to track long‐term changes in SOC and ecosystem C fluxes by leveraging remote sensing inputs and environmental variable data sets with algorithms representing terrestrial C‐cycle processes. Bayesian calibration was conducted using quality‐controlled C flux data sets obtained from 61 Ameriflux and NEON flux tower sites from Western and Midwestern US rangelands to parameterize the model according to dominant vegetation classes (perennial and/or annual grass, grass‐shrub mixture, and grass‐tree mixture). The resulting RCTM system produced higher model accuracy for estimating annual cumulative gross primary productivity (GPP) ( R 2 > 0.6, RMSE <390 g C m −2 ) relative to net ecosystem exchange of CO 2 (NEE) ( R 2 > 0.4, RMSE <180 g C m −2 ). Model performance in estimating rangeland C fluxes varied by season and vegetation type. The RCTM captured the spatial variability of SOC stocks with R 2 = 0.6 when validated against SOC measurements across 13 NEON sites. Model simulations indicated slightly enhanced SOC stocks for the flux tower sites during the past decade, which is mainly driven by an increase in precipitation. Future efforts to refine the RCTM system will benefit from long‐term network‐based monitoring of vegetation biomass, C fluxes, and SOC stocks.
Plain Language Summary Rangelands play a crucial role in providing various ecosystem services, including potential climate change mitigation through increased soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. Accurate estimates of changes in carbon (C) storage are challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of rangelands and the limited availability of field observations. In this work, we leveraged remote sensing observations, tower‐based C flux measurements from over 60 rangeland sites in the Western and Midwestern US, and other environmental data sets to build the process‐based Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Management (RCTM) modeling system. The RCTM system is designed to simulate the past 20 years of rangeland C dynamics and is regionally calibrated. The RCTM system performs well in estimating spatial and temporal rangeland C fluxes as well as spatial SOC storage. Model simulation results revealed increased SOC storage and rangeland productivity driven by annual precipitation patterns. The RCTM system developed by this work can be used to generate accurate spatial and temporal estimates of SOC storage and C fluxes at fine spatial (30 m) and temporal (every 5 days) resolutions, and is well‐suited for informing rangeland C management strategies and improving broad‐scale policy making.
Key Points The Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Monitoring System was calibrated to simulate vegetation type‐specific rangeland C dynamics Regional variability in carbon fluxes and soil organic carbon is well represented by a remote sensing‐driven process modeling approach Soil organic carbon stocks in Western and Midwestern US rangelands increased over the past 20 years due to increased precipitatio
Cell-free synthetic biology for natural product biosynthesis and discovery
Full text linkNatural products have applications as biopharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other high-value chemicals. However, there are challenges in isolating natural products from their native producers (e.g. bacteria, fungi, plants). In many cases, synthetic chemistry or heterologous expression must be used to access these important molecules. The biosynthetic machinery to generate these compounds is found within biosynthetic gene clusters, primarily consisting of the enzymes that biosynthesise a range of natural product classes (including, but not limited to ribosomal and nonribosomal peptides, polyketides, and terpenoids). Cell-free synthetic biology has emerged in recent years as a bottom-up technology applied towards both prototyping pathways and producing molecules. Recently, it has been applied to natural products, both to characterise biosynthetic pathways and produce new metabolites. This review discusses the core biochemistry of cell-free synthetic biology applied to metabolite production and critiques its advantages and disadvantages compared to whole cell and/or chemical production routes. Specifically, we review the advances in cell-free biosynthesis of ribosomal peptides, analyse the rapid prototyping of natural product biosynthetic enzymes and pathways, highlight advances in novel antimicrobial discovery, and discuss the rising use of cell-free technologies in industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology
Is doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis being utilised in Germany? Insights from an online survey among German men who have sex with men.
Full text linkPURPOSE: Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) reduces the likelihood of Chlamydia and early syphilis by approximately two-thirds. Currently, data on the frequency of Doxy-PEP use in men who have sex with men (MSM) are limited. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude towards, and frequency of Doxy-PEP use among MSM in Germany. METHODS: We conducted a national online survey in Germany from summer to fall 2023, recruiting MSM and transgender women. Participants were invited to complete the online survey through social media, online dating platforms, and print media advertisements with active recruitment and poster advertising in private practices, tertiary outpatient clinics, and MSM community events in Germany. RESULTS: In total, 438 participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis, and 285 (65.1%) were living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or taking HIV-pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Overall, 170 participants (38.8%) had heard of Doxy-PEP, and 275 (62.8%) would consider taking it, but only 32 (7.3%) reported having ever taken Doxy-PEP. The most common reason for a negative attitude towards Doxy-PEP were apprehension about insufficient detailed information, and concerns about antibiotic resistance. Doxy-PEP users were more likely to be on HIV-PrEP, had a higher self-reported risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and often had a history of bacterial STIs. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated high awareness and strong interest in Doxy-PEP among MSM in Germany, most of whom were living with HIV or taking HIV-PrEP; however, the actual usage of Doxy-PEP remains low in the summer and fall of 2023
Trends in stroke incidence, death, and disability outcomes in a multi-ethnic population: Auckland regional community stroke studies (1981-2022).
Full text linkBACKGROUND: Reliable data on trends of stroke incidence and outcomes over time are necessary for assessing the effectiveness of public health and clinical strategies, and for allocating healthcare resources. We assessed the levels and trends in incidence, mortality, early case fatality and disability for stroke in a defined, ethnically mixed population over 40 years. METHODS: To analyse data from five population-based stroke incidence studies in adult residents (age ≥15 years) of the Greater Auckland Region of New Zealand (NZ) (1.35 million) over 12-month calendar periods for 1981-1982, 1991-1992, 2002-2003, 2011-2012, and 2021-2022. Fatal and non-fatal, hospitalised and non-hospitalised stroke events (first-ever and recurrent) were identified through multiple overlapping sources using clinical World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria and neuroimaging to define three major pathological types of stroke: ischaemic stroke (IS), primary intracerebral haemorrhage (PICH), subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), and stroke of undetermined type (SUT). Crude and age-standardised annual incidence, mortality, 28-day case fatality and disability level, and 40-year trends were calculated by age, sex, and ethnicity assuming a Poisson distribution. For comparison of our findings, we carried out a pooled analysis of methodologically comparable population-based stroke epidemiology estimates in high-income countries over the last two decades. FINDINGS: Overall, there were 7462 first-ever strokes (9917 events) over the 40-year period (4,682,012 person-years). From 1981-1982 to 2021-2022, age-standardised stroke incidence rates decreased from 156/100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 143; 170) to 124/100,000 (119; 130) and mortality rates from 98/100,000 (88; 110) to 28/100,000 (26; 31) in nearly all age, sex, and ethnic groups. Moreover, from 2002-2003 to 2021-2022, there was an increase in stroke incidence of 1.28% per year (95% CI 0.38-2.17) in people aged 15-54 years, with the mean age of people with stroke decreasing from 73.0 (SD ± 13.8) in 2002-2003 to 71.6 (SD ± 14.9) in 2011-2012 and 70.7 (SD ± 15.2) years in 2021-2022 (p for trend <0.0001). The risk of stroke in Māori and Pacific people in 2021-2022 was almost 1.5 and 2.0 times greater than that in NZ Europeans. Ethnic disparities in the risk of stroke and age of stroke onset remained stable over the study period. From 1981-1982 to 2021-2022, 28-day stroke case fatality declined from 33.1% to 12.1% (p < 0.0001). There was a trend towards reducing 28-day case-fatality (from 31.6% [95% CI 27.6; 35.7] in 1981-1982 to 11.4% [10.0; 12.7] in 2021-2022) and an increasing proportion of stroke survivors with good functional outcome at discharge/28-days post-stroke (increased from 45.7% (95% CI 41.3; 50.0) in 1981-1982 to 60.2% (58.1; 62.3) in 2021-2022). INTERPRETATION: Stroke incidence, 1-year mortality and 28-day case-fatality and disability have decreased in Auckland, NZ over the last 4 decades. However, over the last decade (2011-2022) there was a stagnation in the decline in the age-standardised stroke incidence rates. The absolute numbers of people with strokes, and those who have died or remained disabled from stroke, have significantly increased from 1981 to 2022. Ethnic disparities in the risk and burden of stroke persist. Effective prevention strategies for stroke must remain a high priority. FUNDING: Health Research Council of New Zealand
Turbulent Mixing in the Ocean Surface Boundary Layer
Full text linkTurbulent mixing in the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL) mediates the transfer of energy, momentum, and gases between the atmosphere and the ocean. While the dynamics that drive these exchanges happen on small lateral and vertical scales relative to the size of the ocean, they are crucial in setting the behavior of Earth’s climate on global scales. Historically, small-scale processes near the ocean’s surface have been difficult to observe. Using novel measurements of the OSBL enabled by advances in instrumentation and multi-platform observational techniques, this thesis investigates specific OSBL turbulent dynamics. The onset and growth of Langmuir circulations (LCs) is observed from simultaneous airborne infrared imagery of sea surface temperature and subsurface in-situ measurements. For weak, fetch-limited wind wave forcing with stabilizing buoyancy forcing, LCs appear non-uniformly in space. During a period of LC growth and diurnal warm layer (DWL) deepening, subsurface temperature structures show temperature intrusions into the base of the DWL of the same scale as bubble entrainment depth during the deepening period. A large-eddy simulation run with observed initial conditions and forcing reproduces the onset and rate of DWL deepening, but exhibits coherent temperature structures with a larger aspect ratio than in observations, with large sensitivity to the numerical representation of surface radiative heating. At the base of the mixed layer, a drifting thermistor chain is used to observe temperature fluctuations consistent with turbulence in a stratified shear layer resulting from a mixture of Kelvin-Helmholtz and Holmboe instabilities. The size and frequency of these structures depends on the surface forcing regime, defined by the balance of wind-shear, wave-shear, and convective turbulent kinetic energy production. Thorpe scale estimates of dissipation and entrainment are consistent with the observed rate of mixed layer deepening, while the outer vertical scale of the turbulent region is correlated with the wind forcing magnitude. Below the mixed layer, observations of velocity from an array of drifting profiling instruments are used to relate spatial gradients in near-inertial wave energy flux to array-scale lateral vorticity gradients. These unique observational studies can aid in improving future numerical simulations and parametrizations used in global climate simulations
Fluid structure interaction during transition to aeroelastic instability
No full textThe study of flow past structures has been a focus of research for centuries, with particular relevance to mechanical, aerospace, civil, and marine engineering applications. These structures produce complex, separated flow fields with unsteady phenomena. Such flow behaviors, driven by structural shape and flow conditions, generate significant aerodynamic forces that may lead to instability and potentially catastrophic structural impacts. Consequently, detailed analysis of these phenomena is essential for engineering disciplines, particularly fluid dynamics, to inform preventive measures.This experimental study investigates the complex dynamics of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) between suspended elastic bluff bodies and flows, particularly emphasizing on the transition to sustained oscillations which are detrimental to the structural stability. Varying the flow rate or Reynolds numbers (Re) leads to variation in structural dynamics, specifically from low amplitude aperiodic fluctuations at low Re to high amplitude limit cycle oscillations (LCO) at high Re. We classify the dynamical regimes based on the nature of these oscillations. We explore the potential of using time series analysis and complex network theory to quantify the synchronization and causal dependence between structural oscillations and flow fluctuations obtaining key insights regarding how flow and structure interacts. To elaborate further on the flow dynamics, we examine the interaction between elastic bluff body and flow, quantifying shear layer dynamics, vortex behaviors, and their influence on spatiotemporal scaling. Comparative analyses between elastic and rigid bluff bodies highlight the effects of oscillations on flow characteristics, revealing essential insights into the complex dynamics and energetic flow structures that arise during these non-linear interactions. The turbulence intensity of the background flow is also varied to evaluate its influence on the interaction. This investigation shows how different structural oscillation regimes impact the flow field, illustrating the effect of structural elasticity on neighboring flow behavior.Through this comprehensive analysis, we shed light on the intricate nonlinear interactions that dictate the stability and dynamical behavior of suspended structures in turbulent environments, contributing valuable knowledge to the fields of fluid dynamics and structural engineering