Evaluating the Public Climate School, a multi-component school-based program to promote climate awareness and action in students: A cluster-controlled pilot study

Introduction: Despite the potential of school-based programs targeting climate awareness and action to support students in addressing the climate crisis and to improve their mental health and well-being, there is limited evidence for their effectiveness. In preparation for a cluster-randomized controlled trial, we assessed the feasibility of evaluating the Public Climate School (PCS), a one-week school program in Germany, and its effects on theory-based behavioral and psychological outcomes. Material and methods: We enrolled 158 students from 11 classes (grades 7–13) into a cluster-controlled pilot study. Four classes were allocated to the waitlist control group and 7 to the intervention group participating in the PCS in November 2021. Using online surveys, we assessed theory-based behavioral and psychological outcomes at baseline and follow-up. Two-level models were used to investigate changes in outcomes. Results: 125 students completed the baseline and follow-up survey (dropout rate: 21 %). For most outcomes we observed no between-group differences, except for pro-environmental communication and engagement (e.g., posting on social media; p=.040) and perceptions of environmental norms (p=.001) in the anticipated direction. Conclusion: This study confirmed the feasibility of evaluating the PCS and provides parameter estimates to guide sample size calculations and study design decisions for future research. Together with recent work on the association between collective action and mental health, the effect of the PCS on pro-environmental communication and engagement highlights the value of examining effects of education for sustainable development programs on student health and linking them to collective action in future work

Superficial thrombophlebitis and risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism

AbstractObjective: Superficial thrombophlebitis (ST) is a frequent and potentially serious disease if complicated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Data on risk factors and incidence rates for ST are scarce. It is also unknown whether ST is a risk factor for recurrence of VTE. Methods: After discontinuation of secondary thromboprophylaxis for a first spontaneous VTE, we prospectively observed 615 patients on average for 30 ± 26 months. Patients with natural coagulation inhibitor deficiency, lupus anticoagulant, or cancer, who were pregnant, or were receiving long-term antithrombotic therapy were excluded. The study outcomes were occurrence of symptomatic ST or objectively documented recurrent symptomatic VTE. Results: ST developed in 45 patients (7.3%) with a first VTE. High factor VIII concentration emerged as an independent risk factor for ST (relative risk [RR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-5.2), compared with lower levels after adjustment for age and sex; factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A concentration; hyperhomocysteinemia; high body mass index; and duration of oral anticoagulation therapy. VTE recurred in 12 (27%) of 45 patients with ST and in 67 (12%) of 570 patients without ST. In patients with VTE, subsequent ST emerged as an independent risk factor for recurrent VTE. Patients with ST had twofold higher RR (2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.2) for recurrence than did patients without ST after adjustment for putative confounding variables. Conclusion: Patients with a first spontaneous VTE and subsequent ST are at increased risk for recurrent VTE. High factor VIII concentration is an independent risk factor for ST. (J Vasc Surg 2003;37:834-8.

Anxiety in response to the climate and environmental crises: validation of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale in Germany

Background: As the climate and environmental crises unfold, eco-anxiety, defined as anxiety about the crises’ devastating consequences for life on earth, affects mental health worldwide. Despite its importance, research on eco-anxiety is currently limited by a lack of validated assessment instruments available in different languages. Recently, Hogg and colleagues proposed a multidimensional approach to assess eco-anxiety. Here, we aim to translate the original English Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) into German and to assess its reliability and validity in a German sample. Methods: Following the TRAPD (translation, review, adjudication, pre-test, documentation) approach, we translated the original English scale into German. In total, 486 participants completed the German HEAS. We used Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess whether the four-factorial model of the original English version could be replicated in the German sample. Furthermore, associations with a variety of emotional reactions towards the climate crisis, general depression, anxiety, and stress were investigated. Results: The German HEAS was internally consistent (Cronbach’s alphas 0.71–0.86) and the Bayesian CFA showed that model fit was best for the four-factorial model, comparable to the factorial structure of the original English scale (affective symptoms, rumination, behavioral symptoms, anxiety about personal impact). Weak to moderate associations were found with negative emotional reactions towards the climate crisis and with general depression, anxiety, and stress. Discussion: Our results support the original four-factorial model of the scale and indicate that the German HEAS is a reliable and valid scale to assess eco-anxiety in German speaking populations

Anxiety in response to the climate and environmental crises: validation of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale in Germany

Background: As the climate and environmental crises unfold, eco-anxiety, defined as anxiety about the crises’ devastating consequences for life on earth, affects mental health worldwide. Despite its importance, research on eco-anxiety is currently limited by a lack of validated assessment instruments available in different languages. Recently, Hogg and colleagues proposed a multidimensional approach to assess eco-anxiety. Here, we aim to translate the original English Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) into German and to assess its reliability and validity in a German sample. Methods: Following the TRAPD (translation, review, adjudication, pre-test, documentation) approach, we translated the original English scale into German. In total, 486 participants completed the German HEAS. We used Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess whether the four-factorial model of the original English version could be replicated in the German sample. Furthermore, associations with a variety of emotional reactions towards the climate crisis, general depression, anxiety, and stress were investigated. Results: The German HEAS was internally consistent (Cronbach’s alphas 0.71–0.86) and the Bayesian CFA showed that model fit was best for the four-factorial model, comparable to the factorial structure of the original English scale (affective symptoms, rumination, behavioral symptoms, anxiety about personal impact). Weak to moderate associations were found with negative emotional reactions towards the climate crisis and with general depression, anxiety, and stress. Discussion: Our results support the original four-factorial model of the scale and indicate that the German HEAS is a reliable and valid scale to assess eco-anxiety in German speaking populations

Emulating lateral gravity wave propagation in a global chemistry-climate model (EMAC v2.55.2) through horizontal flux redistribution

The columnar approach of gravity wave (GW) parameterisations in weather and climate models has been identified as a potential reason for dynamical biases in middle-atmospheric dynamics. For example, GW momentum flux (GWMF) discrepancies between models and observations at 60°S arising through the lack of horizontal orographic GW propagation are suspected to cause deficiencies in representing the Antarctic polar vortex. However, due to the decomposition of the model domains onto different computing tasks for parallelisation, communication between horizontal grid boxes is computationally extremely expensive, making horizontal propagation of GWs unfeasible for global chemistry-climate simulations. To overcome this issue, we present a simplified solution to approximate horizontal GW propagation through redistribution of the GWMF at one single altitude by means of tailor-made redistribution maps. To generate the global redistribution maps averaged for each grid box, we use a parameterisation describing orography as a set of mountain ridges with specified location, orientation and height combined with a ray-tracing model describing lateral propagation of so-generated mountain waves. In the global chemistry-climate model (CCM) EMAC (ECHAM MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry), these maps then allow us to redistribute the GW momentum flux horizontally at one level, obtaining an affordable overhead of computing resources. The results of our simulations show GWMF and drag patterns that are horizontally more spread out than with the purely columnar approach; GWs are now also present above the ocean and regions without mountains. In this paper, we provide a detailed description of how the redistribution maps are computed and how the GWMF redistribution is implemented in the CCM. Moreover, an analysis shows why 15 km is the ideal altitude for the redistribution. First results with the redistributed orographic GWMF provide clear evidence that the redistributed GW drag in the Southern Hemisphere has the potential to modify and improve Antarctic polar vortex dynamics, thereby paving the way for enhanced credibility of CCM simulations and projections of polar stratospheric ozone

Transcriptome-based network analysis reveals renal cell type-specific dysregulation of hypoxia-associated transcripts

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of hypoxia-regulated transcriptional mechanisms is involved in development of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, it remains unclear how hypoxia-induced transcription factors (HIFs) and subsequent biological processes contribute to CKD development and progression. In our study, genome-wide expression profiles of more than 200 renal biopsies from patients with different CKD stages revealed significant correlation of HIF-target genes with eGFR in glomeruli and tubulointerstitium. These correlations were positive and negative and in part compartment-specific. Microarrays of proximal tubular cells and podocytes with stable HIF1α and/or HIF2α suppression displayed cell type-specific HIF1/HIF2-dependencies as well as dysregulation of several pathways. WGCNA analysis identified gene sets that were highly coregulated within modules. Characterization of the modules revealed common as well as cell group- and condition-specific pathways, GO-Terms and transcription factors. Gene expression analysis of the hypoxia-interconnected pathways in patients with different CKD stages revealed an increased dysregulation with loss of renal function. In conclusion, our data clearly point to a compartment- and cell type-specific dysregulation of hypoxia-associated gene transcripts and might help to improve the understanding of hypoxia, HIF dysregulation, and transcriptional program response in CKD

Phosphorylation of CRN2 by CK2 regulates F-actin and Arp2/3 interaction and inhibits cell migration

CRN2 (synonyms: coronin 1C, coronin 3) functions in the re-organization of the actin network and is implicated in cellular processes like protrusion formation, secretion, migration and invasion. We demonstrate that CRN2 is a binding partner and substrate of protein kinase CK2, which phosphorylates CRN2 at S463 in its C-terminal coiled coil domain. Phosphomimetic S463D CRN2 loses the wild-type CRN2 ability to inhibit actin polymerization, to bundle F-actin, and to bind to the Arp2/3 complex. As a consequence, S463D mutant CRN2 changes the morphology of the F-actin network in the front of lamellipodia. Our data imply that CK2-dependent phosphorylation of CRN2 is involved in the modulation of the local morphology of complex actin structures and thereby inhibits cell migration