bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic Effect of Anti‐Solvent and Component Engineering for Effective Passivation to Attain Highly Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Cheng Yetai , Wei Qingbo , Ye Zhangwen , Zhang Xinyu , Ji Peixin , Wang Nannan , Zan Lingxing , Fu Feng , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: June 2022

Defect passivation is a crucial process for achieving high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, the synergistic effect of anti‐solvent and component engineering for effective passivation to attain highly stable PSCs is demonstrated, specifically, for ethyl acetate as the anti‐solvent and CsBr as the additive in the MAPbI3 precursor solution. It is found that the rapid solvent evaporation results in fast nucleation, and the CsBr assists the perovskite grain growth. The synergistic effect of anti‐solvent and additive engineering leads to increased perovskite grain size, reduced defect density, improved quality of the perovskite thin film, and finally, enhanced efficiency and stability of the indium tin oxide/SnO2/perovskite/carbon device. The influence of this synergistic effect on the morphology and photovoltaic performance is systematically investigated. Printable PSCs with hole‐transport‐layer‐free carbon electrodes are designed and constructed, which achieve a champion photoelectric conversion efficiency of 16.45%, fill factor of 72.63%, short circuit current of 19.90 mA cm−2, and open circuit voltage of 1.14 V. Herein, a facile and low‐cost approach is demonstrated to obtain highly stable C‐PSCs and a promising strategy for future commercial application is provided.
Asymmetrical Single Crystals Containing Tilted Ruddlesden–Popper Phases for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Tsai Hao-Yeu , Yang Yung-Fang , Jiang Hong-Sheng , Chen Fang-Chung
Published: June 2022

2D perovskites are receiving increasing amounts of attention because of their superior device stability. The framework is “cut” into corner‐sharing PbX6 layers, known as Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) phases, by employing bulky cations that cannot fit into the previous A‐site interspaces. Unfortunately, the insulating moieties of the cations can significantly affect charge transport in 2D perovskites, thereby limiting the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of perovskite solar cells. Herein, a vapor venting space‐limited crystallization method is developed for growing asymmetric 2D perovskite single crystals (SCs) featuring nearly vertically oriented RP phases. The high crystallinity and preferred orientation of the 2D layered structures minimize the impact of the bulky side chains of the ammonium cations. By using grazing incidence small‐angle X‐Ray scattering, it is found that the RP phases in the 2D SCs are aligned with a tilt angle with respect to the substrate normal. It is suspected that the strong π–π interaction between the benzene rings of the ammonium cations and the surface of the hole‐transport layer plays important roles in determining the 2D crystal structure. The PCE is improved to greater than 16% after surface passivation to lower the degree of surface defects.
The Responsibility of Science: An Introduction
Authors: Mieg Harald A.
Published: June 2022

This is the introduction to the book The Responsibility of Science, containing three parts. I explain both the concept of responsibility and science as an institution. I then present lines of argumentation that run through the essays of this volume and combine them. (i) Responsibility is a relational concept, derived from the verb “to respond.” Therefore, the concept of responsibility refers to a relation involving at least three elements: Someone is responsible for something to someone else. Moreover, responsibility is attributive, that is, resulting from a social attribution of guilt or duties to a person. (ii) Science is meant here to refer to historically developed, institutionalized research and to be thought of independently of the objects of that research. Therefore, by ‘science,’ I am referring to natural and social sciences as well as humanities, and make no distinction between pure and applied science. (iii) This volume lives through the many references that link the chapters and the lines of argumentation that develop in the work, such as Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a new approach within EU research policy; the ethical question of the moral person in science; and the effects of the institutionalization and professionalization of science.
Science as a Profession: And Its Responsibility
Authors: Mieg Harald A.
Published: June 2022

Scientific responsibility has changed with the successful professionalization of science. Today, science is a privileged profession, one with a (tacit) management mandate for systematic knowledge acquisition. Within this framework, science acts with responsibility. This chapter reflects the responsibility of science in the German context. After Wold War 2, the extraordinary responsibility of scientists, which C.F. von Weizsäcker emphasized, referred to a specific phase in the institutional development of science, termed scientism (“science justifies society,” science as religion), and corresponded to an elite responsibility. Today, one responsibility of science as a profession is to safeguard and develop scientific standards. This also concerns, on the one hand, the self-organization and control of science as a profession and, on the other hand, the communication of science to society. As a professional scientist, one has two responsibilities, the commitments to good science (professional ethics plus co-responsibility for the development of science as a profession) and civic responsibility. Due to their special knowledge, the civic responsibility of the scientist differs from that of other professionals. This chapter introduces science as a profession and presents an integrative notion of responsibility, also shedding light on the social responsibility of science.
Evolution of the Automatic Rhodopsin Modeling (ARM) Protocol
Authors: González Laura Pedraza , Barneschi Leonardo , Padula Daniele , Vico Luca De , Olivucci Massimo
Published: June 2022

In recent years, photoactive proteins such as rhodopsins have become a common target for cutting-edge research in the field of optogenetics. Alongside wet-lab research, computational methods are also developing rapidly to provide the necessary tools to analyze and rationalize experimental results and, most of all, drive the design of novel systems. The Automatic Rhodopsin Modeling (ARM) protocol is focused on providing exactly the necessary computational tools to study rhodopsins, those being either natural or resulting from mutations. The code has evolved along the years to finally provide results that are reproducible by any user, accurate and reliable so as to replicate experimental trends. Furthermore, the code is efficient in terms of necessary computing resources and time, and scalable in terms of both number of concurrent calculations as well as features. In this review, we will show how the code underlying ARM achieved each of these properties.
Robotic Process Mining
Authors: Dumas Marlon , Rosa Marcello La , Leno Volodymyr , Polyvyanyy Artem , Maggi Fabrizio Maria
Published: June 2022

User interaction logs allow us to analyze the execution of tasks in a business process at a finer level of granularity than event logs extracted from enterprise systems. The fine-grained nature of user interaction logs open up a number of use cases. For example, by analyzing such logs, we can identify best practices for executing a given task in a process, or we can elicit differences in performance between workers or between teams. Furthermore, user interaction logs allow us to discover repetitive and automatable routines that occur during the execution of one or more tasks in a process. Along this line, this chapter introduces a family of techniques, called Robotic Process Mining (RPM), which allow us to discover repetitive routines that can be automated using robotic process automation technology. The chapter presents a structured landscape of concepts and techniques for RPM, including techniques for user interaction log preprocessing, techniques for discovering frequent routines, notions of routine automatability, as well as techniques for synthesizing executable routine specifications for robotic process automation.
Declarative Process Specifications: Reasoning, Discovery, Monitoring
Authors: Di Ciccio Claudio , Montali Marco
Published: June 2022

The declarative specification of business processes is based upon the elicitation of behavioural rules that constrain the legal executions of the process. The carry-out of the process is up to the actors, who can vary the execution dynamics as long as they do not violate the constraints imposed by the declarative model. The constraints specify the conditions that require, permit or forbid the execution of activities, possibly depending on the occurrence (or absence) of other ones. In this chapter, we review the main techniques for process mining using declarative process specifications, which we call declarative process mining. In particular, we focus on three fundamental tasks of (1) reasoning on declarative process specifications, which is in turn instrumental to their (2) discovery from event logs and their (3) monitoring against running process executions to promptly detect violations. We ground our review on Declare, one of the most widely studied declarative process specification languages. Thanks to the fact that Declare can be formalized using temporal logics over finite traces, we exploit the automata-theoretic characterization of such logics as the core, unified algorithmic basis to tackle reasoning, discovery, and monitoring. We conclude the chapter with a discussion on recent advancements in declarative process mining, considering in particular multi-perspective extensions of the original approach.
Phase structure of self-dual lattice gauge theories in 4d
Authors: Anosova Mariia , Gattringer Christof , Iqbal Nabil , Sulejmanpasic Tin
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We discuss U(1) lattice gauge theory models based on a modified Villain formulation of the gauge action, which allows coupling to bosonic electric and magnetic matter. The formulation enjoys a duality which maps electric and magnetic sectors into each other. We propose several generalizations of the model and discuss their ’t Hooft anomalies. A particularly interesting class of theories is the one where electric and magnetic matter fields are coupled with identical actions, such that for a particular value of the gauge coupling the theory has a self-dual symmetry. The self-dual symmetry turns out to be a generator of a group which is a central extension of ℤ4 by the lattice translation symmetry group. The simplest case amenable to numerical simulations is the case when there is exactly one electrically and one magnetically charged boson. We discuss the phase structure of this theory and the nature of the self-dual symmetry in detail. Using a suitable worldline representation of the system we present the results of numerical simulations that support the conjectured phase diagram.
Modelling human placental villous development: designing cultures that reflect anatomy
Authors: James Joanna L. , Lissaman Abbey , Nursalim Yohanes N. S. , Chamley Lawrence W.
Published: June 2022

The use of in vitro tools to study trophoblast differentiation and function is essential to improve understanding of normal and abnormal placental development. The relative accessibility of human placentae enables the use of primary trophoblasts and placental explants in a range of in vitro systems. Recent advances in stem cell models, three-dimensional organoid cultures, and organ-on-a-chip systems have further shed light on the complex microenvironment and cell–cell crosstalk involved in placental development. However, understanding each model’s strengths and limitations, and which in vivo aspects of human placentation in vitro data acquired does, or does not, accurately reflect, is key to interpret findings appropriately. To help researchers use and design anatomically accurate culture models, this review both outlines our current understanding of placental development, and critically considers the range of established and emerging culture models used to study this, with a focus on those derived from primary tissue.
Adverse childhood experiences and cognitive function in adulthood: examining the roles of depressive symptoms and inflammation in a prospective cohort study
Authors: Lowry Elaine , McInerney Amy , Schmitz Norbert , Deschênes Sonya S.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with cognitive decline in adulthood. However, the underlying mechanisms implicated remain unclear. This study investigated depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation as potential mediators of the association between ACEs and later cognitive function.

Methods

Participants were adults aged 50 + from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 3029; 54.8% female). Measures included self-reported ACEs at wave 3 (2006–2007), C-reactive protein (CRP) and depressive symptoms at wave 4 (2008–2009), and cognitive function at waves 3 and 7 (2014–2015). Mediation analyses examined the direct associations between ACEs and cognitive function at wave 7 and the indirect associations via depressive symptoms and CRP at wave 4. In a first set of analyses, models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and baseline cognitive function. In a second set of analyses, models were additionally adjusted for BMI and health behaviours (n = 1915).

Results

Cumulative ACEs exposure positively predicted depressive symptoms (b = 0.184, s.e. = 0.034, p < .001), which in turn predicted poorer cognitive function at wave 7 (b =  − 0.035, s.e. = 0.008, p < .001). ACEs also positively predicted systemic inflammation as measured by CRP (b = 0.031, s.e. = 0.01, p = 0.0016). However, CRP did not mediate the association between ACEs and later cognitive function (b =  − 0.0002, 95% CI: − 0.002, 0.002).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that ACEs may be related to cognitive decline partly via depressive symptoms and corroborate prior research linking ACEs with systemic inflammation in adulthood.
An enhanced variable-fidelity optimization approach for constrained optimization problems and its parallelization
Authors: Cheng Ji , Lin Qiao , Yi Jiaxiang
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a variable-fidelity constrained lower confidence bound (VF-CLCB) criterion is presented for computationally expensive constrained optimization problems (COPs) with two levels of fidelity. In VF-CLCB, the hierarchical Kriging model is adopted to model the objective and inequality constraints. Two infill sampling functions are developed based on the objective and the constraints, respectively, and an adaptive selection strategy is set to select the elite sample points. Moreover, based on the VF-CLCB criterion, a parallel optimization method noted as PVF-CLCB is subsequently developed to accelerate the optimization process. In PVF-CLCB, a VF influence function is defined to approximately evaluate the estimation error of the hierarchical Kriging models, based on which multiple promising points can be determined at each iteration. In addition, an allocation strategy is proposed to distribute the computation resources between the objective- and constraint-oriented functions properly. Lastly, the proposed VF-CLCB and PVF-CLCB approaches are compared with the alternative methods on 12 benchmark numerical cases, and their significant superiority in solving computationally expensive COPs is verified. Furthermore, the proposed methods are employed to optimize the global stability of the stiffened cylindrical shell, and the optimum structure is yielded.
Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in a cohort of Australian servicewomen and female veterans
Authors: O’Shea Simone D. , Pope Rod , Freire Katharine , Orr Robin
Published: June 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in the general female population. It was hypothesised that Australian female military personnel and veterans would experience similar types and prevalence of LUTS as the broader Australian female population.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was utilised to explore the pelvic health of active servicewomen and veterans in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). For the purposes of this report, only the demographic and LUTS data (excluding urinary tract infections) were extracted and descriptively analysed.

Results

A total of 491 complete survey responses were received and analysed. Respondent characteristics were comparable to those documented in a departmental report regarding ADF servicewomen. No LUTS were reported by 38% of respondents. Regular symptoms of urinary incontinence were experienced by 27% of respondents (stress urinary incontinence = 23%, urge urinary incontinence = 16%, mixed urinary incontinence = 13%), bladder storage issues by 20–27%, and various voiding impairments by 9–27%. In addition, 41% reported regularly experiencing two or more LUTS, and for over two thirds of respondents, LUTS were an ongoing issue. Relationships between age, parity, and symptoms of urinary incontinence were also seen.

Conclusions

Consistent with wider research in Australian female populations, LUTS were commonly experienced during service by ADF female military personnel and veterans. Given the high likelihood of female military personnel experiencing LUTS during their service, and a proportion experiencing ongoing symptoms, tailored monitoring and support for urinary health should be available to enhance occupational health, safety, and performance.
Observations of coral and cryptobenthic sponge fluorescence and recruitment on autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS)
Authors: Steyaert Margaux , Mogg Andrew , Dunn Nicholas , Dowell Rosalie , Head Catherine E. I.
Published: June 2022

Fluorescence imaging of benthic communities is a widely used tool for determining the rate of hard coral recruitment in tropical reefs. Whilst fluorescent proteins are well-studied in scleractinian corals, less is understood about their distribution and function in other sessile reef invertebrates. This short study examines fluorescence images of benthic communities on Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) from a remote and protected Indian Ocean reef system. We compare the abundance of adult and juvenile hard corals across three sites and between the topside and underside of ARMS recruitment plates. We also discuss observations of skeletal fluorescence in sponges, as well as uneven green fluorescent protein (GFP) concentrations across adult coral colonies. Our findings provide an insight into the recovery of shallow reefs previously hit by severe bleaching events and highlight the potential of ARMS fluorescence imaging for the analysis of cryptobenthic communities.
Discrepancy of the subjective perception of the nasal appearance between independent individuals and patients undergoing functional rhinoplasty (fRPL)
Authors: Heiming Marleen , Savvas Eleftherios , Rudack Claudia , Stenner Markus , Spiekermann Christoph
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Satisfaction with the nasal appearance is a crucial outcome parameter in functional rhinoplasty (fRPL). The visual analogue scale is a suitable instrument not only for the preoperative patient assessment, but also as a patient-reported outcome measure in fRPL. In this study, we analyzed whether a high discrepancy in the preoperative subjective perception of the nasal appearance between patients and other individuals predicts a lower level of satisfaction with the postoperative result and hence a worse outcome of fRPL.

Methods

Standardized facial pictures of patients (n = 80) who underwent fRPL were taken preoperatively, 3 and 12 months postoperatively. In addition, patients were asked to complete the German version of the Utrecht Outcome Assessment Questionnaire in Aesthetic Rhinoplasty (D-OAR). The standardized facial pictures of the patients were presented to surgeons as well as to examiners without a medical background, and they were asked to evaluate the patients’ nasal appearance using the visual analogue scale.

Results

The external evaluation of patient’s nasal appearance was 1.7 points higher in median than the patient’s subjective perception (range −5.7–7.00). A large discrepancy between self- and external estimation significantly correlates with higher D-OAR values (r = 0.539, p < 0.001). Patients with high scores in the D-OAR trick questions, indicating a body dysmorphic disorder, show a significant larger discrepancy between the external- and the self-assessment (2.8 ± 0.5 vs. 1.4 ± 0.3, mean ± SEM, p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Large discrepancies between the self and external assessment of the nasal appearance are associated with a high-perceived influence of the appearance of the nose on the quality of life in patients undergoing functional rhinoplasty. That might be an indicator for unrealistic expectations concerning the postoperative outcome. Knowledge about this factor helps to identify the need for intensive discussion about possibilities and limitations of the planned procedure to avoid postoperative dissatisfaction.
Prognostic value of regulatory T cells and T helper 17 cells in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Marchenko Sofya , Piwonski Iris , Hoffmann Inga , Sinn Bruno Valentin , Kunze Catarina Alisa , Monjé Nanna , Pohl Jonathan , Kulbe Hagen , Schmitt Wolfgang Daniel , Darb-Esfahani Sylvia , Braicu Elena Ioana , von Brünneck Ann-Christin , Sehouli Jalid , Denkert Carsten , Horst David , Jöhrens Korinna , Taube Eliane Tabea
Published: June 2022

Purpose

In recent years the tumor microenvironment and its interaction with the tumor has emerged into research focus with increased attention to the composition of Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We wanted to quantify the composition of Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells) and their prognostic impact in high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma.

Methods

Tregs and Th17 cells were determined by immunohistochemical analysis of CD25 FoxP3 and RORγt, respectively on tissue microarrays of a cohort of 222 patients with reviewed histology and available clinical data. Expression was analyzed with Qupath for quantification and integration with clinical data enabled calculation of prognostic impact. For validation FOXP3 and RORC mRNA expression levels from 502 patients with HGSC in publicly available datasets were evaluated.

Results

An average percentage of 0.93 Tregs and of 0.06 Th17 cells was detected per cells in overall tissue. Optimal cut-offs were determined and higher Tregs were associated with a better overall survival in stroma (p = 0.006), tumor area (p = 0.0012) and overall tissue (p = 0.02). After accounting for well-known prognostic factors age at diagnosis, residual tumor and FIGO stage, this association remained significant for stromal Tregs with overall survival (p = 0.02). Survival analysis for Th17 cells revealed no significant association with survival rates. Moreover, lower Th17/Treg ratios had a positive impact on patient overall survival (p = 0.025 tumor, p = 0.049 stroma and p = 0.016 overall tissue).

Conclusion

Our results outline a positive prognostic effect for higher Tregs but not for Th17 in high grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma.
Evaluation of the predictive values of elevated serum l-homoarginine and dimethylarginines in preeclampsia
Authors: Yuan Xiangmei , Cai Leiming , Hu Fengmei , Xie Li , Chen Xiong , Wu Jingjing , Li Qian
Published: June 2022

l-homoarginine (hARG) is involved in nitric oxide biosynthesis, but its role and concentration in preeclampsia (PE) have not been fully revealed. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a feasible clinical assay to quantify serum hARG, arginine (ARG), asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginines (SDMA) levels by LC–MS/MS and investigate their differences at different stages of pregnancy with or without preeclampsia. Serum samples were collected from 84 pregnant women without complications (controls), 84 with mild preeclampsia (MPE), and 81 with severe preeclampsia (SPE) at various gestation stages (before the 20th week, during the 20th–28th week or after the 28th week of gestation). No significant difference in ARG levels was observed between PE and controls at any stage (P > 0.05). The serum hARG levels and hARG/ADMA ratios of MPE before the 20th week were higher than those of controls (P < 0.001). ADMA levels of MPE were higher than those of controls during the 20th–28th week (P < 0.01). SDMA levels of SPE were higher than those of MPE (P < 0.01) and controls (P < 0.05) after the 28th week. Elevated serum hARG before the 20th week was identified as an independent predictor for PE (OR = 1.478, 95% CI 1.120–1.950). ROC curve analysis showed serum hARG before the 20th week had a good potential to predict MPE (AUC = 0.875, 95% CI 0.759–0.948). In conclusion, our study indicated that elevated serum hARG and dimethylarginine levels detected by LC–MS/MS might serve as potential biomarkers for the early prediction of PE.
The impact of gender and sex on diagnosis, treatment outcomes and health-related quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Marzo-Ortega Helena , Navarro-Compán Victoria , Akar Servet , Kiltz Uta , Clark Zoë , Nikiphorou Elena
Published: June 2022

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic condition, historically considered a predominantly male disease. However, increasing evidence suggests a more equal prevalence between men and women. Of the limited research conducted to date, it is apparent that gender differences exist in terms of time to diagnosis, treatment outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite this, women are underrepresented in clinical trials and most studies do not stratify by gender to identify potential differences in terms of disease manifestations and treatment response. In this perspectives article, we reflect on the potential biological and social factors contributing to these differences and propose three key areas of education and research that should be prioritised in order to address the unmet needs of female patients with axSpA, namely: (1) to identify ways to increase awareness of disease occurrence in female patients among healthcare professionals (HCPs), (2) to improve understanding of gender differences in disease manifestation and outcomes, and (3) to conduct gender-stratified clinical trials with a representative sample of female patients.
Attitudes towards climate migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand: the roles of climate change beliefs and immigration attitudes
Authors: Yates Olivia E. T. , Manuela Sam , Neef Andreas , Groot Shiloh
Published: June 2022

As the effects of climate change begin to materialise across Pacific Island nations, many exposed communities are considering migrating away from their homelands. Migrants’ resettlement experiences can depend upon their reception in the host nation. However, it is unclear whether justice-based obligations will influence host attitudes toward climate migrants. Using an online survey of 238 Aotearoa New Zealanders, we explore how beliefs about anthropogenic climate change, climate justice and global responsibility contribute to public attitudes towards climate migrants. Overall, people thought more positively of immigrants in general than of climate migrants. Through moderated mediation analyses, we observed that people with stronger belief in anthropogenic climate change were more positive towards climate migrants. This pattern was related to people’s beliefs about climate justice and justice-based migration approaches. Findings suggest that host perceptions of climate migrants are connected to being aware of the ties between greenhouse gas emissions and migration. We outline anticipated challenges and potential opportunities for both migrant communities and the nations in which they seek refuge.
Circulating tumor DNA predicts outcome in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer
Authors: van Velzen Merel J. M. , Creemers Aafke , van den Ende Tom , Schokker Sandor , Krausz Sarah , Reinten Roy J. , Dijk Frederike , van Noesel Carel J. M. , Halfwerk Hans , Meijer Sybren L. , Mearadji Banafsche , Derks Sarah , Bijlsma Maarten F. , van Laarhoven Hanneke W. M.
Published: June 2022

Background

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has predictive and prognostic value in localized and metastatic cancer. This study analyzed the prognostic value of baseline and on-treatment ctDNA in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer (mGEC) using a region-specific next generation sequencing (NGS) panel.

Methods

Cell free DNA was isolated from plasma of patients before start of first-line palliative systemic treatment and after 9 and 18 weeks. Two NGS panels were designed comprising the most frequently mutated genes and targetable mutations in GEC. Tumor-derived mutations in matched metastatic biopsies were used to validate that the sequencing panels assessed true tumor-derived variants. Tumor volumes were calculated from baseline CT scans and correlated to variant allele frequency (VAF). Survival analyses were performed using univariable and multivariable Cox-regression analyses.

Results

ctDNA was detected in pretreatment plasma in 75% of 72 patients and correlated well with mutations in metastatic biopsies (86% accordance). The VAF correlated with baseline tumor volume (Pearson’s R 0.53, p < 0.0001). Detection of multiple gene mutations at baseline in plasma was associated with worse overall survival (OS, HR 2.16, 95% CI 1.10–4.28; p = 0.027) and progression free survival (PFS, HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.28–5.73; p = 0.009). OS and PFS were inferior in patients with residual detectable ctDNA after 9 weeks of treatment (OS: HR 4.95, 95% CI 1.53–16.04; p = 0.008; PFS: HR 4.08, 95% CI 1.31–12.75; p = 0.016).

Conclusion

Based on our NGS panel, the number of ctDNA mutations before start of first-line chemotherapy has prognostic value. Moreover, residual ctDNA after three cycles of systemic treatment is associated with inferior survival.
Three Paths to Feeling Just: How Managers Grapple with Justice Conundrums During Organizational Change
Authors: Zwank Julia , Diehl Marjo-Riitta , Fortin Marion
Published: June 2022

Managers tasked with organizational change often face irreconcilable demands on how to enact justice—situations we call justice conundrums. Drawing on interviews held with managers before and after a planned large-scale change, we identify specific conundrums and illustrate how managers grapple with these through three prototypical paths. Among our participants, the paths increasingly diverged over time, culminating in distinct career decisions. Based on our findings, we develop an integrative process model that illustrates how managers grapple with justice conundrums. Our contributions are threefold. First, we elucidate three types of justice conundrums that managers may encounter when enacting justice in the context of planned organizational change (the justice intention-action gap, competing justice expectations, and the justice of care vs. managerial-strategic justice) and show how managers handle them differently. Second, drawing on the motivated cognition and moral disengagement literature, we illustrate how cognitive mechanisms coalesce to allow managers to soothe their moral (self-) concerns when grappling with these conundrums. Third, we show how motivated justice intentions ensuing from specific justice motives, moral emotions, and circles of moral regard predict the types of justice conundrums managers face and the paths they take to grapple with them.
Does testosterone mediate the relationship between vitamin D and prostate cancer progression? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Robles Luke A. , Harrison Sean , Tan Vanessa Y. , Beynon Rhona , McAleenan Alexandra , Higgins Julian PT. , Martin Richard M. , Lewis Sarah J.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown an association between vitamin D levels and prostate cancer progression. However, evidence of direct causality is sparse and studies have not examined biological mechanisms, which can provide information on plausibility and strengthen the evidence for causality.

Methods

We used the World Cancer Research Fund International/University of Bristol two-stage framework for mechanistic systematic reviews. In stage one, both text mining of published literature and expert opinion identified testosterone as a plausible biological mechanism. In stage two, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the evidence from both human and animal studies examining the effect of vitamin D on testosterone, and testosterone on advanced prostate cancer (diagnostic Gleason score of ≥ 8, development of metastasis) or prostate cancer-specific mortality.

Results

A meta-analysis of ten human RCTs showed evidence of an effect of vitamin D on total testosterone (standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.133, 95% CI =  − 0.003–0.269, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.056). Five human RCTs showed evidence of an effect of vitamin D on free testosterone (SMD = 0.173, 95% CI =  − 0.104–0.450, I2 = 52.4%, p = 0.220). Three human cohort studies of testosterone on advanced prostate cancer or prostate cancer-specific mortality provided inconsistent results. In one study, higher levels of calculated free testosterone were positively associated with advanced prostate cancer or prostate cancer-specific mortality. In contrast, higher levels of dihydrotestosterone were associated with lowering prostate cancer-specific mortality in another study. No animal studies met the study eligibility criteria.

Conclusion

There is some evidence that vitamin D increases levels of total and free testosterone, although the effect of testosterone levels within the normal range on prostate cancer progression is unclear. The role of testosterone as a mechanism between vitamin D and prostate cancer progression remains inconclusive.
Comparing the Clinical Outcomes Observed with Rivaroxaban Versus Warfarin for the Management of Obese Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Zhuo Xiaojun , Wang Jian , Shao Lihui
Published: June 2022

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm which is becoming more and more common in this new era. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular events, and obese patients are more at risk for stroke. The Framingham Heart Study demonstrated an increase in the developmental risk of AF by 4% for every unit (kg/m2) increase in body mass index (BMI). An anticoagulant is often required for the management of such patients. In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare the clinical outcomes which were associated with rivaroxaban versus warfarin for the treatment of obese patients with non-valvular AF.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central were the searched databases. Clinical outcomes including stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding were the endpoints. In this study, dichotomous data were analyzed by the RevMan software version 5.4. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for result interpretation.

Results

Ten studies consisting of a total number of 168,081 obese participants were included whereby 81,332 participants were treated with rivaroxaban and 86,749 participants were treated with warfarin. The risks of ischemic (RR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.74–0.84; P = 0.00001) and hemorrhagic stroke (RR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.48–0.76; P = 0.0001) as well as systemic embolism (RR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62–0.87; P = 0.0004) were significantly lower with rivaroxaban compared to warfarin for the management of these obese patients with non-valvular AF. Rivaroxaban was also associated with a significantly lower risk of major bleeding (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65–0.87; P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Based on this analysis, rivaroxaban seemed to be a better option in comparison to warfarin, due to its association with significantly lower risks of stroke and bleeding outcomes in obese patients with non-valvular AF. However, this hypothesis should further be confirmed in larger clinical trials.
Evaluation of proposed genetic goals and targets for the Convention on Biological Diversity
Authors: Frankham Richard
Published: June 2022

In the current negotiations regarding revision of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) proposals have been made to strengthen the genetic goals, indicators, and targets for wild species in natural habitats by specifying “tolerable” losses of genetic diversity. However, they have not been subjected to evaluations of their continued use over 100 years, a common conservation time frame. I evaluated six scenarios (3, 5 or 10% loss of genetic diversity [heterozygosity] over 8 or 32 years) proposed as targets for revision of genetic indicators in CBD by predicting their consequences on genetic diversity, inbreeding, fitness, and evolutionary potential when applied at the same rate for 100 years. All proposals lead to substantial genetic harm to species when continued for 100 years that will compromise species persistence, especially in the context of environmental change. Consequently, none of the proposals are suitable for inclusion in the CBD. However, alternative indicators are proposed that would reflect improvements in the genetic status of populations and species, namely (1) the number of species and their populations being maintained at sizes sufficient to retain evolutionary potential in perpetuity, and (2) the number of species for which population genetic connectivity has been improved.
On the lifetimes of two-dimensional droplets on smooth wetting patterns
Authors: Haynes Matthew , Pradas Marc
Published: June 2022

We study the evolution and lifetime of droplets evaporating on a smooth chemical pattern, which is characterised by a spatially varying contact angle. We formulate a model that combines the evaporation rate of the droplet for a given volume with the static stability of the droplet as the volume changes in time quasi-statically. We derive an exact equation for the evaporation rate that is studied analytically under the limiting cases of nearly neutral wetting and highly hydrophilic conditions. We find that the evaporation rate of the droplet is highly dependent on the size and shape of the fictitious infinity where a far-field boundary conditions needs to be applied. We also study how the droplet’s lifetime depends on the averaged contact angle and strength $$\varepsilon $$
ε
of the chemical pattern, observing that the lifetime of the droplet is maximised for a droplet with average contact angle $$\pi /2$$

π
/
2

and with $$\varepsilon \lesssim 0.1$$

ε
≲
0.1

.
The “Gift” of Time: Documenting Faculty Decisions to Stop the Tenure Clock During a Pandemic
Authors: Smith Jessi L. , Vidler L. Lynn , Moses Michele S.
Published: June 2022

Anticipating the deleterious effects of pandemic mitigation protocols on faculty’s research and creative work, many universities introduced mechanisms for pre-tenured faculty to receive tenure clock extensions. Unlike most stop-the-clock extensions, which occur on an individual basis, the stop-the-tenure-clock during COVID-19 was a mass-triggering event that applied to all faculty. Informed by social role theory, we examined this unique situation of stop-the-tenure clock decisions by faculty at two different universities within the same state system. Institutional level demographic and field of study data on faculty decision making at one high research activity university (n = 97) and one very high research activity university (n = 387) were examined at two time points; a first tenure-clock stop opportunity and a second tenure-clock stop opportunity. Results show that although the overall rates of clock-stops were much larger at the research-intense university, the characteristics of who was most likely to accept or opt out of the first tenure-clock stop were similar at both universities. Ethnic minoritized faculty at both universities had greater odds of accepting the clock-stop. Results also showed that at both universities, women were somewhat more likely to accept the first tenure clock extension, and exploratory follow-up shows this gendered decision manifested differently depending on field of study. Relatively few faculty accepted the second tenure clock-stop. Our findings provide a portrait of who accepts or declines tenure clock extensions with important implications for downstream effects on equity within the academy.
Trust in Artificial Intelligence: Comparing Trust Processes Between Human and Automated Trustees in Light of Unfair Bias
Authors: Langer Markus , König Cornelius J. , Back Caroline , Hemsing Victoria
Published: June 2022

Automated systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly support decisions with ethical implications where decision makers need to trust these systems. However, insights regarding trust in automated systems predominantly stem from contexts where the main driver of trust is that systems produce accurate outputs (e.g., alarm systems for monitoring tasks). It remains unclear whether what we know about trust in automated systems translates to application contexts where ethical considerations (e.g., fairness) are crucial in trust development. In personnel selection, as a sample context where ethical considerations are important, we investigate trust processes in light of a trust violation relating to unfair bias and a trust repair intervention. Specifically, participants evaluated preselection outcomes (i.e., sets of preselected applicants) by either a human or an automated system across twelve selection tasks. We additionally varied information regarding imperfection of the human and automated system. In task rounds five through eight, the preselected applicants were predominantly male, thus constituting a trust violation due to potential unfair bias. Before task round nine, participants received an excuse for the biased preselection (i.e., a trust repair intervention). The results of the online study showed that participants have initially less trust in automated systems. Furthermore, the trust violation and the trust repair intervention had weaker effects for the automated system. Those effects were partly stronger when highlighting system imperfection. We conclude that insights from classical areas of automation only partially translate to the many emerging application contexts of such systems where ethical considerations are central to trust processes.
Internal Oxidation of a Fe–Cr Binary Alloy at 700–900 °C: The Role of Hydrogen and Water Vapor
Authors: Chyrkin Anton , Cossu Camilla , Svensson Jan-Erik , Froitzheim Jan
Published: June 2022

Internal oxidation of Fe–2.25Cr has been studied in Fe/FeO Rhines pack (RP) and H2/H2O gas mixtures at 700–900 °C. A novel exposure technique allowing RP experiments in dual atmosphere conditions was developed. No measurable effect of hydrogen on lattice oxygen permeability in ferrite could be detected: neither in single nor in dual atmosphere conditions. The H2/H2O atmosphere was found to induce stronger oxidation attack at alloy grain boundaries resulting in a morphology similar to intergranular stress corrosion cracking often reported in nuclear technology. The intergranular oxidation attack was demonstrated to be independent of the dual atmosphere effect, i.e., hydrogen dissolved in the alloy.
Information, Uncertainty & Espionage
Authors: Phillips Peter J , Pohl Gabriela
Published: June 2022

Intelligence scholars are drawing on behavioural decision theory to improve decision-making under risk and uncertainty in intelligence and counterintelligence. Such an undertaking is essentially lacking without the Austrian school’s concepts of knowledge, discovery, (entrepreneurial) judgement, ignorance, rational calculation and, more generally, its analysis of human action in the face of true uncertainty. Decision theory, both orthodox and behavioural, depicts decision rather narrowly as a prioritisation task undertaken within a delineated problem space where the probabilities “sum to one”. From such a perspective, certain perennial challenges in intelligence and counterintelligence appear resolvable when in fact they are not, at least not when approached from the usual direction. We explain how Austrian concepts can complement efforts to improve intelligence decision-making. We conclude that the future strategic value of intelligence analysis is located beyond information acquisition, however fast and however vast. Intelligence agencies have no price signals to help them determine how much intelligence to produce. And governments have no price signals to moderate their appetites for the intelligence product. Ultimately, those agencies that recognise the implications of intelligence agencies as non-price institutions and adapt their decision-making processes may find that they have the upper hand over their rivals.
Dayside Transient Phenomena and Their Impact on the Magnetosphere and Ionosphere
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zong Qiugang , Connor Hyunju , Delamere Peter , Facskó Gábor , Han Desheng , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Kallio Esa , Kis Árpád , Le Guan , Lembège Bertrand , Lin Yu , Liu Terry , Oksavik Kjellmar , Omidi Nojan , Otto Antonius , Ren Jie , Shi Quanqi , Sibeck David , Yao Shutao
Published: June 2022

Dayside transients, such as hot flow anomalies, foreshock bubbles, magnetosheath jets, flux transfer events, and surface waves, are frequently observed upstream from the bow shock, in the magnetosheath, and at the magnetopause. They play a significant role in the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Foreshock transient phenomena, associated with variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure, deform the magnetopause, and in turn generates field-aligned currents (FACs) connected to the auroral ionosphere. Solar wind dynamic pressure variations and transient phenomena at the dayside magnetopause drive magnetospheric ultra low frequency (ULF) waves, which can play an important role in the dynamics of Earth’s radiation belts. These transient phenomena and their geoeffects have been investigated using coordinated in-situ spacecraft observations, spacecraft-borne imagers, ground-based observations, and numerical simulations. Cluster, THEMIS, Geotail, and MMS multi-mission observations allow us to track the motion and time evolution of transient phenomena at different spatial and temporal scales in detail, whereas ground-based experiments can observe the ionospheric projections of transient magnetopause phenomena such as waves on the magnetopause driven by hot flow anomalies or flux transfer events produced by bursty reconnection across their full longitudinal and latitudinal extent. Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), hybrid, and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations are powerful tools to simulate the dayside transient phenomena. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the present understanding of dayside transient phenomena at Earth and other planets, their geoeffects, and outstanding questions.
Simultaneous fatal poisoning of two victims with 4F-MDMB-BINACA and ethanol
Authors: Simon Gábor , Tóth Dénes , Heckmann Veronika , Mayer Mátyás , Kuzma Mónika
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Methyl-2-(1-(4-fluorobutyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (4F-MDMB-BINACA) is a newly emerging synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA) first described in 2018 in both Europe and the United States. Two fatal cases are reported caused by simultaneous consumption of 4F-MDMB-BINACA and ethanol.

Methods

The victims were brothers who were both found deceased after consuming 4F-MDMB-BINACA and ethanol. Post-mortem toxicological analyses of blood and urine were carried out by supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SFC–MS/MS) and headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (HS-GC–FID).

Results

The concentration of 4F-MDMB-BINACA in the postmortem blood was 2.50 and 2.34 ng/mL, and blood alcohol concentration was 2.11 and 2.49 g/L, respectively.

Conclusion

According to the reported cases and reviews of the scientific literature, concurrent ethanol consumption should amplify the toxicity of SCRAs. The threshold SCRA concentration for fatal overdose can be estimated ng/mL level (0.37–4.1 ng/mL according to the reported cases) in cases in which 1.5–2.5 g/L of ethanol is present in the blood.