Understanding the risks, links and consequences of climatic events, conflict and migration : perceptions from asylum seekers in Germany

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Sustentável, 2019.Ao longo das últimas décadas, eventos climáticos, conflitos e migração têm, independentemente e simbioticamente, impactado significativamente a política global, provocando tumulto entre os políticos e atraindo a atenção entre os acadêmicos em todas as disciplinas. O objetivo deste estudo é avançar a compreensão dos riscos, ligações e consequências sobre eventos climáticos, conflito e migração, suas relações e consequências sobre a segurança humana, nacional e internacional. Em particular, procura fornecer evidências sobre as motivações percebidas pelos migrantes na migração internacional para a Europa e como os eventos climáticos, conflito ou ambos percebidos influenciaram a decisão das pessoas em migrar. Para este fim, a literatura científica relacionada foi examinada e complementada com um estudo empírico aprofundado, explorando as experiências, percepções e decisões individuais de 100 requerentes de asilo de 17 países, hospedados em instalações alemãs. Dada a carga econômica e social inequívoca e sem precedentes do clima sobre as populações modernas, o primeiro artigo desta tese procura aumentar a compreensão de como os eventos climáticos, como temperatura, secas e tempestades, impactam as sociedades e moldam os resultados sociais. Ele faz isso através do desenvolvimento de um quadro analítico que permite uma conceituação teórica das formas pelas quais os eventos climáticos interagem com as sociedades. Ele enfatiza que não há nenhuma ligação mecânica na interação clima-humana que cause a mesma resposta social nas diversas regiões e que os impactos do clima dependem do tipo de evento climático, do contexto social complexo e da vulnerabilidade de cada entidade afetada. O segundo artigo usa evidências empíricas para descrever um padrão complexo de impulsionadores da migração internacional para a Alemanha. Embora os resultados mostrem que a maioria dos entrevistados, independentemente de sua origem, foram capazes de explicar como as mudanças nas condições climáticas foram percebidas ou como elas afetaram suas vidas diárias em seu local de origem, os eventos climáticos não foram percebidos como motivação de migração. Este artigo reforça as afirmações existentes de que os conflitos armados e as preocupações com a segurança têm precedência sobre os males econômicos, e revela a discriminação religiosa e étnica generalizada entre os atuais impulsionadores dos movimentos populacionais. Através de uma comparação dos três principais destinos de migrantes europeus, o artigo mostra que o sistema de apoio ao bem-estar ou ao asilo de um país é um fraco motivador de migração. O terceiro artigo apresenta a "teoria da escassez de recursos induzida pelo conflito", uma nova abordagem para o avanço da compreensão, abordando a incerteza inerente em todos os campos de pesquisa científica sobre as complexas ligações entre eventos climáticos, conflitos e migração. Ele desenvolve uma teoria para lançar luz sobre o conflito na Síria e fornece novas perspectivas sobre o uso da escassez de recursos como arma durante o conflito. Esta tese por publicação enfatiza a importância da informação baseada em evidências, evitando conclusões simplistas e sensacionalistas sobre cada um - eventos climáticos, conflito e migração - de forma independente e as relações entre eles. Os resultados, a teoria e as motivações apresentadas para a migração e as respostas políticas recomendadas sobre a recente "crise migratória" fornecem considerações importantes para a sociedade civil, os políticos e a academia, com o objetivo geral de melhorar o discurso europeu sobre migração.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).Over the last several decades, climatic events, conflict and migration have – independently and symbiotically – significantly impacted global politics, sparking turmoil among policy makers and garnering attention among academics across all disciplines. The purpose of this study is to advance understanding of the risks, links and consequences of each – climatic events, conflict, and migration – their relationships and aftermath on human, national and international security. In particular, it seeks to provide evidence on migrants’ perceived drivers for international migration to Europe and insights about if and how perceived climatic events have influenced people’s decision to migrate or conflict, or both. To this end, existing related scientific literature was scrutinized and complemented with an in-depth empirical study, exploring individual’s experiences, perceptions and decisions, of 100 asylum seekers from 17 countries hosted in German facilities. Given climate’s unequivocal and unprecedented economic and social burdens on modern populations, the first article of this thesis seeks to increase understanding of how climatic events – such as temperature, droughts, and storms – impact societies and shape social outcomes. It does so by developing an analytical framework that can be applied across countries and allows for a theoretical conceptualization of the ways by which climatic events interact with societies. It emphasizes that there is no mechanic link in the climate-human interaction that causes the same social response across regions and that climate’s impacts depend on the type of climatic event, the complex societal context and vulnerability of each affected entity. The second article uses empirical evidence to depict a complex pattern of drivers of international migration to Germany. While results show that the majority of interviewees - regardless of their background - were able to explain how changing climate conditions were perceived or how they affected their daily lives in their place of origin, climatic events were not perceived as driver for migration. This paper strengthens existing claims that armed conflict and concerns of safety take precedence over economic woes, and it uncovers widespread religious and ethnic discrimination among the current drivers of population movements. Through a comparison of the three top European migrant destinations, the article shows that a country’s welfare or asylum support system are weak drivers for migration. The third article puts forth the “conflict-induced resource scarcity theory”, a novel approach to advancing understanding by addressing the inherent uncertainty across scientific research fields on the complex linkages between climatic events, conflict and migration. It elaborates on the novel theory to shed light on the conflict in Syria and provides new insights on the use of resource scarcity as a weapon during conflict. This thesis by publication emphasizes the importance of evidencebased information, while avoiding simplistic and sensationalist conclusions on each - climatic events, conflict and migration - independently and the relationships between them. The results, novel theory and the presented drivers for migration and recommended policy responses about the “migrant crisis” provide important considerations for civil society, policy makers, and academia, with the overall goal of enhancing the European discourse on migration

O clima não é especial ou diferente a outros fatores na geração de migrações, mas ainda é importante

Entrevista com o Professor Nicola D. Coniglio

Understanding environmental terrorism in times of climate change: implications for asylum seekers in Germany

With an increasing global population and undeniable climate change, environmental terrorism is causing unprecedented levels of human insecurity. The use of resources as weapons of armed conflict is particularly effective on vulnerable societies, triggering large-chain global migration-related issues. This research advances the understanding of environmental terrorism, addresses the connections of resources and conflict, and the effects of climatic events on these phenomena. The existing related body of literature was scrutinized and complemented with an in-depth empirical study of 100 asylum seekers from 17 countries hosted in German facilities. The results point to the use of environmental terrorism by governments or opposition groups, or both, in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Interviewees provided accounts of how perpetrators oppressed and harmed their enemies and civilians by attacking, drastically reducing or cutting the supply of resources, such as water or electricity, and by contaminating water with disease-causing agents. This paper elaborates on the conflict in Syria by presenting empirical evidence on the climate's contribution to the armed conflict in order to demonstrate that environmental terrorism is particularly effective on populations living in drought-stressed regions. Considering that 81% of interviewees reported observing water or electricity scarcity - or both - in their place of origin, this research claims that mounting climate pressure on resources is likely to increase the use of environmental terrorism, thereby contributing to migration and human insecurity across regions. The purpose of this research is to inform academia and policy makers on the strategic importance of monitoring and preventing resource related threats and violence

Complement inhibition can decrease the haemostatic response in a microvascular bleeding model at multiple levels.

BACKGROUND Haemostasis is a crucial process by which the body stops bleeding. It is achieved by the formation of a platelet plug, which is strengthened by formation of a fibrin mesh mediated by the coagulation cascade. In proinflammatory and prothrombotic conditions, multiple interactions of the complement system and the coagulation cascade are known to aggravate thromboinflammatory processes and increase the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. Whether those interactions also play a relevant role during the physiological process of haemostasis is not yet completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of complement components and activation during the haemostatic response to mechanical vessel injury. METHODS We used a microvascular bleeding model that simulates a blood vessel, featuring human endothelial cells, perfusion with fresh human whole blood, and an inducible mechanical injury to the vessel. We studied the effects of complement inhibitors against components of the lectin (MASP-1, MASP-2), classical (C1s), alternative (FD) and common pathways (C3, C5), as well as a novel triple fusion inhibitor of all three complement pathways (TriFu). Effects on clot formation were analysed by recording of fibrin deposition and the platelet activation marker CD62P at the injury site in real time using a confocal microscope. RESULTS With the inhibitors targeting MASP-2 or C1s, no significant reduction of fibrin formation was observed, while platelet activation was significantly reduced in the presence of the FD inhibitor. Both common pathway inhibitors targeting C3 or C5, respectively, were associated with a substantial reduction of fibrin formation, and platelet activation was also reduced in the presence of the C3 inhibitor. Triple inhibition of all three activation pathways at the C3-convertase level by TriFu reduced both fibrin formation and platelet activation. When several complement inhibitors were directly compared in two individual donors, TriFu and the inhibitors of MASP-1 and C3 had the strongest effects on clot formation. CONCLUSION The observed impact of complement inhibition on reducing fibrin clot formation and platelet activation suggests a role of the complement system in haemostasis, with modulators of complement initiation, amplification or effector functions showing distinct profiles. While the interactions between complement and coagulation might have evolved to support haemostasis and protect against bleeding in case of vessel injury, they can turn harmful in pathological conditions when aggravating thromboinflammation and promoting thrombosis

Tumour-associated macrophages act as a slow-release reservoir of nano-therapeutic Pt(IV) pro-drug

Therapeutic nanoparticles (TNPs) aim to deliver drugs more safely and effectively to cancers, yet clinical results have been unpredictable owing to limited in vivo understanding. Here we use single-cell imaging of intratumoral TNP pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to better comprehend their heterogeneous behaviour. Model TNPs comprising a fluorescent platinum(IV) pro-drug and a clinically tested polymer platform (PLGA-b-PEG) promote long drug circulation and alter accumulation by directing cellular uptake toward tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). Simultaneous imaging of TNP vehicle, its drug payload and single-cell DNA damage response reveals that TAMs serve as a local drug depot that accumulates significant vehicle from which DNA-damaging Pt payload gradually releases to neighbouring tumour cells. Correspondingly, TAM depletion reduces intratumoral TNP accumulation and efficacy. Thus, nanotherapeutics co-opt TAMs for drug delivery, which has implications for TNP design and for selecting patients into trials.National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant RO1-CA034992

European Society of Gynaecological Oncology quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer

Background: optimizing and ensuring the quality of surgical care is essential to improve the management and outcome of patients with cervical cancer.To develop a list of quality indicators for surgical treatment of cervical cancer that can be used to audit and improve clinical practice. Methods: quality indicators were developed using a four-step evaluation process that included a systematic literature search to identify potential quality indicators, in-person meetings of an ad hoc group of international experts, an internal validation process, and external review by a large panel of European clinicians and patient representatives. Results: fifteen structural, process, and outcome indicators were selected. Using a structured format, each quality indicator has a description specifying what the indicator is measuring. Measurability specifications are also detailed to define how the indicator will be measured in practice. Each indicator has a target which gives practitioners and health administrators a quantitative basis for improving care and organizational processes. Discussion: implementation of institutional quality assurance programs can improve quality of care, even in high-volume centers. This set of quality indicators from the European Society of Gynaecological Cancer may be a major instrument to improve the quality of surgical treatment of cervical cancer

The effect of functional splinting on mild dysplastic hips after walking onset

BACKGROUND: For treatment of Graf class IIb dysplastic hips at walking onset a treatment concept with abduction splints allowing patterns as walking and crawling under constant abduction control was investigated. However, as the splint still incapacitates child movements the research question remains whether the physiologically progressing maturation of hips can be significantly altered using such abduction splints for walking children. METHODS: Of 106 children showing late hip dysplasia, 68 children treated with the Hoffman-Daimler (HD-splint) abduction splint were compared with 38 children with neglect of the abduction treatment in this retrospective study. Radiographic analyses were performed measuring the development of the age dependent acetabular angle. RESULTS: The regression analysis for splint treatment showed a significant linear regression for both splint treatment and no splint treatment group (r(2 )= 0,31 respectively r(2 )= 0,33). No statistical difference between both treatment groups was apparent. CONCLUSION: Considering the characteristics of this study, there seems to be no strong rationale supporting the use of an abduction device in growing children. As no significant difference between treatment groups is apparent, a future controlled prospective study on splinting effects can be considered ethically allowed

An Extensive Circuitry for Cell Wall Regulation in Candida albicans

Protein kinases play key roles in signaling and response to changes in the external environment. The ability of Candida albicans to quickly sense and respond to changes in its environment is key to its survival in the human host. Our guiding hypothesis was that creating and screening a set of protein kinase mutant strains would reveal signaling pathways that mediate stress response in C. albicans. A library of protein kinase mutant strains was created and screened for sensitivity to a variety of stresses. For the majority of stresses tested, stress response was largely conserved between C. albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. However, we identified eight protein kinases whose roles in cell wall regulation (CWR) were not expected from functions of their orthologs in the model fungi Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Analysis of the conserved roles of these protein kinases indicates that establishment of cell polarity is critical for CWR. In addition, we found that septins, crucial to budding, are both important for surviving and are mislocalized by cell wall stress. Our study shows an expanded role for protein kinase signaling in C. albicans cell wall integrity. Our studies suggest that in some cases, this expansion represents a greater importance for certain pathways in cell wall biogenesis. In other cases, it appears that signaling pathways have been rewired for a cell wall integrity response

Two Warm Super-Earths Transiting the Nearby M Dwarf TOI-2095

We report the detection and validation of two planets orbiting TOI-2095 (TIC 235678745). The host star is a 3700K M1V dwarf with a high proper motion. The star lies at a distance of 42 pc in a sparsely populated portion of the sky and is bright in the infrared (K=9). With data from 24 Sectors of observation during TESS's Cycles 2 and 4, TOI-2095 exhibits two sets of transits associated with super-Earth-sized planets. The planets have orbital periods of 17.7 days and 28.2 days and radii of 1.30 and 1.39 Earth radii, respectively. Archival data, preliminary follow-up observations, and vetting analyses support the planetary interpretation of the detected transit signals. The pair of planets have estimated equilibrium temperatures of approximately 400 K, with stellar insolations of 3.23 and 1.73 times that of Earth, placing them in the Venus zone. The planets also lie in a radius regime signaling the transition between rock-dominated and volatile-rich compositions. They are thus prime targets for follow-up mass measurements to better understand the properties of warm, transition radius planets. The relatively long orbital periods of these two planets provide crucial data that can help shed light on the processes that shape the composition of small planets orbiting M dwarfs.Comment: Submitted to AAS Journal

A Novel Metagenomic Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Attenuates Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Formation and Virulence on Caenorhabditis elegans

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the expression of a number of virulence factors, as well as biofilm formation, are controlled by quorum sensing (QS). N-Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are an important class of signaling molecules involved in bacterial QS and in many pathogenic bacteria infection and host colonization are AHL-dependent. The AHL signaling molecules are subject to inactivation mainly by hydrolases (Enzyme Commission class number EC 3) (i.e. N-acyl-homoserine lactonases and N-acyl-homoserine-lactone acylases). Only little is known on quorum quenching mechanisms of oxidoreductases (EC 1). Here we report on the identification and structural characterization of the first NADP-dependent short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) involved in inactivation of N-(3-oxo-dodecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL) and derived from a metagenome library. The corresponding gene was isolated from a soil metagenome and designated bpiB09. Heterologous expression and crystallographic studies established BpiB09 as an NADP-dependent reductase. Although AHLs are probably not the native substrate of this metagenome-derived enzyme, its expression in P. aeruginosa PAO1 resulted in significantly reduced pyocyanin production, decreased motility, poor biofilm formation and absent paralysis of Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, a genome-wide transcriptome study suggested that the level of lasI and rhlI transcription together with 36 well known QS regulated genes was significantly (≥10-fold) affected in P. aeruginosa strains expressing the bpiB09 gene in pBBR1MCS-5. Thus AHL oxidoreductases could be considered as potent tools for the development of quorum quenching strategies