bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eating eggplants as a cucurbit feeder: Dietary shifts affect the gut microbiome of the melon flyZeugodacus cucurbitae(Diptera, Tephritidae)
Authors: Hendrycks Wouter , Delatte Hélène , Moquet Laura , Bourtzis Kostas , Mullens Nele , De Meyer Marc , Backeljau Thierry , Virgilio Massimiliano
Published: August 2022

While contemporary changes in feeding preferences have been documented in phytophagous insects, the mechanisms behind these processes remain to be fully clarified. In this context, the insect gut microbiome plays a central role in adaptation to novel host plants. The cucurbit frugivorous fruit flyZeugodacus cucurbitae(Diptera, Tephritidae) has occasionally been reported on “unconventional” host plants from different families, including Solanaceae. In this study, we focus on wild parental (F0) adults and semiwild first filial (F1) larvae ofZ. cucurbitaefrom multiple sites in La Réunion and explore how the gut microbiome composition changes when this fly is feeding on a noncucurbit host (Solanum melongena). Our analyses show nonobvious gut microbiome responses following the F0–F1host shift and the importance of not just diet but also local effects, which heavily affected the diversity and composition of microbiomes. We identified the main bacterial genera responsible for differences between treatments. These data further stress the importance of a careful approach when drawing general conclusions based on laboratory populations or inadequately replicated field samples.
The evolution of alkaliphilic biofilm communities in response to extreme alkaline pH values
Authors: Charles Christopher J. , Rout Simon P. , Jackson Brian R. , Boxall Sally A. , Akbar Sirwan , Humphreys Paul N.
Published: August 2022

Extremes of pH present a challenge to microbial life and our understanding of survival strategies for microbial consortia, particularly at high pH, remains limited. The utilization of extracellular polymeric substances within complex biofilms allows micro‐organisms to obtain a greater level of control over their immediate environment. This manipulation of the immediate environment may confer a survival advantage in adverse conditions to biofilms. Within the present study alkaliphilic biofilms were created at pH 11.0, 12.0, or 13.0 from an existing alkaliphilic community. In each pH system, the biofilm matrix provided pH buffering, with the internal pH being 1.0–1.5 pH units lower than the aqueous environment. Increasing pH resulted in a reduced removal of substrate and standing biomass associated with the biofilm. At the highest pH investigated (pH 13.0), the biofilms matrix contained a greater degree of eDNA and the microbial community was dominated by Dietzia sp. and Anaerobranca sp.
Global multi‐center and multi‐modal magnetic resonance imaging study of obsessive‐compulsive disorder: Harmonization and monitoring of protocols in healthy volunteers and phantoms
Authors: Pouwels Petra J. W. , Vriend Chris , Liu Feng , de Joode Niels T. , Otaduy Maria C. G. , Pastorello Bruno , Robertson Frances C. , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , Ipser Jonathan , Lee Seonjoo , Batistuzzo Marcelo C. , Hoexter Marcelo Q. , Lochner Christine , Miguel Euripedes C. , Narayanaswamy Janardhanan C. , Rao Rashmi , Janardhan Reddy Y. C. , Shavitt Roseli G. , Sheshachala Karthik , Stein Dan J. , van Balkom Anton J. L. M. , Wall Melanie , Simpson Helen Blair , van den Heuvel Odile A.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

We describe the harmonized MRI acquisition and quality assessment of an ongoing global OCD study, with the aim to translate representative, well‐powered neuroimaging findings in neuropsychiatric research to worldwide populations.

Methods

We report on T1‐weighted structural MRI, resting‐state functional MRI, and multi‐shell diffusion‐weighted imaging of 140 healthy participants (28 per site), two traveling controls, and regular phantom scans.

Results

Human image quality measures (IQMs) and outcome measures showed smaller within‐site variation than between‐site variation. Outcome measures were less variable than IQMs, especially for the traveling controls. Phantom IQMs were stable regarding geometry, SNR, and mean diffusivity, while fMRI fluctuation was more variable between sites.

Conclusions

Variation in IQMs persists, even for an a priori harmonized data acquisition protocol, but after pre‐processing they have less of an impact on the outcome measures. Continuous monitoring IQMs per site is valuable to detect potential artifacts and outliers. The inclusion of both cases and healthy participants at each site remains mandatory.
Generalized interval estimation of process capability indices for the Birnbaum–Saunders distribution
Authors: Guo Baocai , He Xixiang , Xia Qiming , Sun Yingying , Xuan Jie
Published: August 2022

Since sampling variation would lead to the inaccurate assessment of process capability indices (PCIs), the interval estimation of PCIs has received considerable attention recently. The coverage probabilities (CPs) of the widely used bootstrap confidence intervals (BCIs) of PCIs are not sufficiently close to their nominal confidence level. Moreover, the bootstrap method is time‐consuming. This paper develops a procedure for constructing generalized confidence intervals (GCIs) of two widely used percentile‐based PCIs for the Birnbaum–Saunders (BS) distribution. A simulation study is conducted and the results indicate that the proposed GCI outperforms its bootstrap counterparts in terms of the CPs, the average widths (AWs) of the confidence intervals, and the variability of the interval widths. Finally, two real examples are used to illustrate the implementation of the proposed procedure.
The intraoperative use of augmented and mixed reality technology to improve surgical outcomes: A systematic review
Authors: Bollen Edward , Awad Laura , Langridge Benjamin , Butler Peter E. M.
Published: August 2022

Background

This systematic review aims to critically appraise the intraoperative use of augmented and mixed reality technology to improve surgical outcomes.

Method

A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP was performed in accordance with Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results

This review included 94 studies on 2473 patients, comprising 78 studies on augmented reality and 16 on mixed reality. This technology has seen broad intraoperative application. Augmented and mixed reality can reduce operative duration, blood loss, and the duration of inpatient care. Current evidence shows that they achieve this most in percutaneous surgery.

Conclusions

Augmented and mixed reality technology improve surgical outcomes by increasing navigational speed and reducing navigational error intraoperatively. However, they have technical limitations which are the subject of ongoing research. Further studies are necessary to define how this technology is best applied intraoperatively.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020205892.
A DNA Segregation Module for Synthetic Cells
Authors: Tran Mai P. , Chatterjee Rakesh , Dreher Yannik , Fichtler Julius , Jahnke Kevin , Hilbert Lennart , Zaburdaev Vasily , Göpfrich Kerstin
Published: August 2022

The bottom‐up construction of an artificial cell requires the realization of synthetic cell division. Significant progress has been made toward reliable compartment division, yet mechanisms to segregate the DNA‐encoded informational content are still in their infancy. Herein, droplets of DNA Y‐motifs are formed by liquid–liquid phase separation. DNA droplet segregation is obtained by cleaving the linking component between two populations of DNA Y‐motifs. In addition to enzymatic cleavage, photolabile sites are introduced for spatio‐temporally controlled DNA segregation in bulk as well as in cell‐sized water‐in‐oil droplets and giant unilamellar lipid vesicles (GUVs). Notably, the segregation process is slower in confinement than in bulk. The ionic strength of the solution and the nucleobase sequences are employed to regulate the segregation dynamics. The experimental results are corroborated in a lattice‐based theoretical model which mimics the interactions between the DNA Y‐motif populations. Altogether, engineered DNA droplets, reconstituted in GUVs, can represent a strategy toward a DNA segregation module within bottom‐up assembled synthetic cells.
Nanoscale Diamane Spiral Spring for High Mechanical Energy Storage
Authors: Zhan Haifei , Dong Bin , Zhang Gang , Lü Chaofeng , Gu Yuantong
Published: August 2022

A compact, stable, sustainable, and high‐energy density power supply system is crucial for the engineering deployment of mobile electromechanical devices/systems either at the small‐ or large‐scale. This work proposes a spiral‐based mechanical energy storage scheme utilizing the newly synthesized 2D diamane. Atomistic simulations show that diamane spiral can achieve a high theoretical gravimetric energy density of about 564 Wh kg−1, about 14 500 times the steel spring. The interlayer friction between diamane is found to cause a strong stick–slip effect that results in local stress/strain concentration. As such, the energy storage capacity of the diamane spiral can be tuned by suppressing the influence from the interlayer friction. Simulations affirm that higher gravimetric energy density can be achieved by reducing the turn number or adopting a low friction contact pair. The fundamental principles that dominate the energy storage capacity of the spiral spring are theoretically analyzed, respectively. The obtained insights suggest that the 2D vdW solids can be promising candidates to construct spiral structures with a high gravimetric energy density. This work should be beneficial for the design of reliable, stable, and sustainable nanoscale mechanical energy storage schemes that can be used as an alternative low‐carbon footage energy supplier for novel micro‐/nanoscale devices or systems.
First molecular detection of Neospora caninum from naturally infected slaughtered camels in Tunisia
Authors: Amdouni Yosra , abedennebi Imen , Amairia Safa , Abdelkader Amara , Chandoul Walid , Gharbi Mohamed
Published: August 2022

Background

Neospora caninum has been documented to infect most domestic wildlife but is known to primarily infect dogs and cattle and is considered an important cause of abortion in camels.

Objective

The aim of this study was to estimate the molecular detection of Neospora caninum in tissues of naturally infected camelids.

Methods

Brain, tongue (bottom and tip) and masseter muscles from 35 slaughtered camelids from Tataouine and Médenine regions were collected (n = 140 samples). PCR was used to amplify and detect N. caninum DNA in tissues samples followed by sequencing of some PCR products. A phylogenetic tree was then constructed to compare the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene with GenBank sequences. Histopathology examination was used to detect Neospora spp. cysts, but no lesions were observed.

Results

The overall molecular detection of N. caninum in camelids was 34.3% (12/35).

The highest molecular detection of N. caninum was recorded in animals of more than 3 years old (6/9) and in animals aged between 1 and 3 years old (4/12). Whilst, the lowest molecular detection (2/14) was observed in animals 1 year or younger (p = 0.035).

There were no significant differences in molecular detection of N. caninum according to both locality and gender (p > 0.05). Similarly, there was no difference of prevalence between different anatomical locations. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 100–95.5% similarity among our N. caninum amplicon (MW551566) and those deposited in GenBank.

Conclusion

These results highlight the presence of a risk infection by N. caninum in camels. For preventing N. caninum infection further studies are needed to improve our knowledge about the epidemiology of neosporosis in North Africa.
Behavioral, neurological, and psychiatric frailty of autobiographical memory
Authors: Markowitsch Hans J. , Staniloiu Angelica
Published: August 2022

Autobiographical‐episodic memory is considered to be the most complex of the five long‐term memory systems. It is autonoetic, which means, self‐reflective, relies on emotional colorization, and needs the features of place and time; it allows mental time traveling. Compared to the other four long‐term memory systems—procedural memory, priming, perceptual, and semantic memory—it develops the latest in phylogeny and ontogeny, and is the most vulnerable of the five systems, being easily impaired by brain damage and psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, it is characterized by its fragility and proneness to distortion due to environmental influences and subsequent information. On the brain level, a distinction has to be made between memory encoding and consolidating, memory storage, and memory retrieval. For encoding, structures of the limbic system, with the hippocampus in its center, are crucial, for storage of widespread cortical networks, and for retrieval again a distributed recollection network, in which the prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role, is engaged. Brain damage and psychiatric diseases can lead to what is called “focal retrograde amnesia.” In this context, the clinical picture of dissociative or functional or psychogenic amnesia is central, as it may result in autobiographical‐emotional amnesia of the total past with the consequence of an impairment of the self as well. The social environment therefore can have a major impact on the brain and on autobiographical‐episodic memory processing.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Memory
Introduction: Emergent Issues of South American Migrations
Authors: Herrera Gioconda , Gómez Carmen
Published: August 2022

This introduction examines the relationship between new patterns of migration, inequalities, and border controls in present-day South America. It starts with a historical overview of migration patterns in the twentieth century, and then focuses on the multiplication of flows in the past twenty years. A second part discusses the character of new mobility patterns, such as forced, transit, and circular migrations, and their connections with extractive industries, informality, and labor exploitation. Next, it discusses the link between these migration patterns and changes in state migration policies towards border control. The introduction ends with a description of the book chapters.
Inter-rater reliability of the Abbreviated Injury Scale scores in patients with severe head injury shows good inter-rater agreement but variability between countries. An inter-country comparison study
Authors: Gunning Amy C. , Niemeyer Menco J. S. , van Heijl Mark , van Wessem Karlijn J. P. , Maier Ronald V. , Balogh Zsolt J. , Leenen Luke P. H.
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Substantial difference in mortality following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) across international trauma centers has previously been demonstrated. This could be partly attributed to variability in the severity coding of the injuries. This study evaluated the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores of patients with severe TBI across three international level I trauma centers.

Methods

A total 150 patients (50 per center) were randomly selected from each respective trauma registry: University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), the Netherlands; John Hunter Hospital (JHH), Australia; and Harborview Medical Center (HMC), the United States. Reliability between coders and trauma centers was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

The reliability between the coders and the original trauma registry scores was 0.50, 0.50, and 0.41 in, respectively, UMCU, JHH, and HMC. The AIS coders at UMCU scored the most AIS codes of ≥ 4. Reliability within the trauma centers was substantial in UMCU (ICC = 0.62) and HMC (ICC = 0.78) and almost perfect in JHH (ICC = 0.85). Reliability between trauma centers was 0.70 between UMCU and JHH, 0.70 between JHH and HMC, and 0.59 between UMCU and HMC.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrated a substantial and almost perfect reliability of the AIS coders within the same trauma center, but variability across trauma centers. This indicates a need to improve inter-rater reliability in AIS coders and quality assessments of trauma registry data, specifically for patients with head injuries. Future research should study the effect of differences in AIS scoring on outcome predictions.
RP11-79H23.3 Inhibits the Proliferation and Metastasis of Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Through Promoting miR-29c
Authors: Liu Mulin , Liu Chang , Li Xi , Li Shijun
Published: August 2022

Evidences indicate that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely involved and contributed to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. As a novel lncRNA, RP11-79H23.3 was found to be an anti-oncogene in bladder cancer. However, the essential roles and functions of RP11-79H23.3 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be elucidated. Here, loss of functional assay was applied to gain insights into the functions of RP11-79H23.3 on the proliferation and metastasis capabilities of A549 and H1299 cells. Meantime, Real-time PCR was utilized to measure RP11-79H23.3 and miR-29c expression in NSCLC tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, CCK8, colony formation assay, transwell and Western blot were performed to illustrate the potential molecular basis of RP11-79H23.3 in NSCLC. RP11-79H23.3 downregulation facilitated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC. The result of dual-luciferase reporter assay represented a direct interaction of RP11-79H23.3 with miR-29c, which suppressed miR-29c expression that showed inversely correlation in NSCLC. Moreover, RP11-79H23.3 siRNA facilitated the progression of NSCLC partially via regulating the expression of miR-29c and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our findings highlighted that RP11-79H23.3, served as an anti-oncogene, accelerated NSCLC progression through sequestering miR-29c, providing a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Global assessment of three Rumex species reveals inconsistent climatic niche shifts across multiple introduced ranges
Authors: Carlin Thomas F. , Bufford Jennifer L. , Hulme Philip E. , Godsoe William K.
Published: August 2022

Climatic niche shifts occur when species occupy different climates in the introduced range than in their native range. Climatic niche shifts are known to occur across a range of taxa, however we do not currently understand whether climatic niche shifts can consistently be predicted across multiple introduced ranges. Using three congeneric weed species, we investigate whether climatic niche shifts in one introduced range are consistent in other ranges where the species has been introduced. We compared the climatic conditions occupied by Rumex conglomeratus, R. crispus, and R. obtusifolius between their native range (Eurasia) and three different introduced ranges (North America, Australia, New Zealand). We considered metrics of niche overlap, expansion, unfilling, pioneering, and similarity to determine whether climatic niche shifts were consistent across ranges and congeners. We found that the presence and direction of climatic niche shifts was inconsistent between introduced ranges for each species. Within an introduced range, however, niche shifts were qualitatively similar among species. North America and New Zealand experienced diverging niche expansion into drier and wetter climates respectively, whilst the niche was conserved in Australia. This work highlights how unique characteristics of an introduced range and local introduction history can drive different niche shifts, and that comparisons between only the native and one introduced range may misrepresent a species’ capacity for niche shifts. However, predictions of climatic niche shifts could be improved by comparing related species in the introduced range rather than relying on the occupied environments of the native range.
Recent arrivals to the main asteroid belt
Authors: de la Fuente Marcos Carlos , de la Fuente Marcos Raúl
Published: August 2022

The region where the main asteroid belt is now located may have started empty, to become populated early in the history of the Solar system with material scattered outward by the terrestrial planets and inward by the giant planets. These dynamical pathways toward the main belt may still be active today. Here, we present results from a data mining experiment aimed at singling out present-day members of the main asteroid belt that may have reached the belt during the last few hundred years. Probable newcomers include 2003 $$\hbox {BM}_{1}$$

BM
1

, 2007 $$\hbox {RS}_{62}$$

RS
62

, 457175 (2008 $$\hbox {GO}_{98}$$

GO
98

), 2010 $$\hbox {BG}_{18}$$

BG
18

, 2010 $$\hbox {JC}_{58}$$

JC
58

, 2010 $$\hbox {JV}_{52}$$

JV
52

, 2010 $$\hbox {KS}_{6}$$

KS
6

, 2010 $$\hbox {LD}_{74}$$

LD
74

, 2010 $$\hbox {OX}_{38}$$

OX
38

, 2011 $$\hbox {QQ}_{99}$$

QQ
99

, 2013 $$\hbox {HT}_{149}$$

HT
149

, 2015 $$\hbox {BH}_{103}$$

BH
103

, 2015 $$\hbox {BU}_{525}$$

BU
525

, 2015 $$\hbox {RO}_{127}$$

RO
127

, 2015 $$\hbox {RS}_{139}$$

RS
139

, 2016 $$\hbox {PC}_{41}$$

PC
41

, 2016 $$\hbox {UU}_{231}$$

UU
231

, 2020 $$\hbox {SA}_{75}$$

SA
75

, 2020 $$\hbox {UO}_{43}$$

UO
43

, and 2021 $$\hbox {UJ}_{5}$$

UJ
5

, all of them in the outer belt. Some of these candidates may have been inserted in their current orbits after experiencing relatively recent close encounters with Jupiter. We also investigated the likely source regions of such new arrivals. Asteroid 2020 $$\hbox {UO}_{43}$$

UO
43

, if real, has a non-negligible probability of having an origin in the Oort cloud or even interstellar space. Asteroid 2003 $$\hbox {BM}_{1}$$

BM
1

may have come from the neighborhood of Uranus. However, most newcomers—including 457175, 2011 $$\hbox {QQ}_{99}$$

QQ
99

, and 2021 $$\hbox {UJ}_{5}$$

UJ
5

—might have had an origin in Centaur orbital space. The reliability of these findings is assessed within the context of the uncertainties of the available orbit determinations.
Highly contaminated river otters (Lontra canadensis) are effective biomonitors of environmental pollutant exposure
Authors: Wainstein Michelle , Harding Louisa B. , O’Neill Sandra M. , Boyd Daryle T. , Koontz Fred , Miller Bobbi , Klütsch Cornelya F. C. , Thomas Philippe J. , Ylitalo Gina M.
Published: August 2022

River otters (Lontra canadensis) are apex predators that bioaccumulate contaminants via their diet, potentially serving as biomonitors of watershed health. They reside throughout the Green-Duwamish River, WA (USA), a watershed encompassing an extreme urbanization gradient, including a US Superfund site slated for a 17-year remediation. The objectives of this study were to document baseline contaminant levels in river otters, assess otters’ utility as top trophic-level biomonitors of contaminant exposure, and evaluate the potential for health impacts on this species. We measured a suite of contaminants of concern, lipid content, nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N), and microsatellite DNA markers in 69 otter scat samples collected from twelve sites. Landcover characteristics were used to group sampling sites into industrial (Superfund site), suburban, and rural development zones. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ether flame-retardants (PBDEs), dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increased significantly with increasing urbanization, and were best predicted by models that included development zone, suggesting that river otters are effective biomonitors, as defined in this study. Diet also played an important role, with lipid content, δ15N or both included in all best models. We recommend river otter scat be included in evaluating restoration efforts in this Superfund site, and as a potentially useful monitoring tool wherever otters are found. We also report ΣPCB and ΣPAH exposures among the highest published for wild river otters, with almost 70% of samples in the Superfund site exceeding established levels of concern.
Emotion recognition by web-shaped model
Authors: Barra Paola , De Maio Luigi , Barra Silvio
Published: August 2022

Emotions recognition is widely applied for many tasks in different fields, from human-computer and human-robot interaction to learning platforms. Also, it can be used as an intrinsic approach for face recognition tasks, in which an expression-independent face classifier is developed. Most approaches face the problem by designing deeper and deeper neural networks that consider an expression as a still image or, in some cases, a sequence of consecutive frames depicting the temporal component of the expression. However, these suffer the training phase’s computational burden, which can take hours or days to be completed. In this work, a Web Shaped Model is proposed, which consists of a geometrical approach for extracting discriminant features from a face, depicting the characteristics of an expression. The model does not need to be trained since it is applied on a face and centred on the nose tip, resulting in image size and face size independence. Experiments on publicly available datasets show that this approach reaches comparable and even better results than those obtained applying DNN-based approaches.
Dynamics and integrability of the swinging Atwood machine generalisations
Authors: Szumiński Wojciech , Maciejewski Andrzej J.
Published: August 2022

This paper studies the dynamics and integrability of two generalisations of a 3D Swinging Atwood’s Machine with additional Coulomb’s interactions and Hooke’s law of elasticity. The complexity of these systems is presented with the help of Poincaré cross sections, phase-parametric diagrams and Lyapunov exponents spectrums. Amazingly, such systems possess both chaotic and integrable dynamics. For the integrable cases we find additional first integrals and we construct general solutions written in terms of elliptic functions. Moreover, we present bifurcation diagrams for the integrable cases and we find resonance curves, which give families of periodic orbits of the systems. In the absence of the gravity, both models are super-integrable.
Physico-chemical properties of maize (Zea mays L.) mucilage differ with the collection system and corresponding root type and developmental stage of the plant
Authors: Werner Lena M. , Knott Matthilde , Diehl Doerte , Ahmed Mutez A. , Banfield Callum , Dippold Michi , Vetterlein Doris , Wimmer Monika A.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Mucilage plays crucial roles in root-soil interactions. Collection systems for maize (Zea mays L.) use primary and seminal roots of aeroponically-grown seedlings (CSA), or brace roots of soil-grown plants (CSB). While each method represents specific plant developmental stages, and root types growing in specific (micro-)environments, these factors are rarely considered. It is unclear whether mucilage exhibits distinct physico-chemical properties related to collection system-inherent factors.

Methods

Mucilage of maize genotype B73 was collected from systems CSA and CSB. Chemical composition was assessed by pH, nutrient contents, neutral sugar composition, and polysaccharide polymer length. Viscosity, surface tension and contact angle represented physical properties.

Results

The share of hexoses among total polysaccharides was 11% higher in CSB than in CSA, whereas pentoses were predominant in CSA, together with higher nutrient concentrations and pH values. Mannose was detected only in CSB, which also exhibited higher surface tension, viscosity and contact angle compared to CSA.

Conclusions

Physico-chemical differences between the two mucilages are related to root type functions, environmental root growth conditions, and plant developmental state. Higher fractions of pentoses in CSA mucilage seem related to semi-sterile system conditions. Higher viscosity of CSB mucilage might reflect the need for enhanced water holding capacity of brace roots growing in drier conditions. A strong influence of environmental factors on mucilage properties even for a single genotype might play additional roles e.g. in the attraction of microbiomes. These aspects are relevant when assessing the role of mucilage in the rhizosphere, or when developing models of rhizosphere processes.
Permission to believe is not permission to believe at will
Authors: Kieval Phillip Hintikka
Published: August 2022

According to doxastic involuntarism, we cannot believe at will. In this paper, I argue that permissivism, the view that, at times, there is more than one way to respond rationally to a given body of evidence, is consistent with doxastic involuntarism. Rober (Mind 128(511):837–859, 2019a, Philos Phenom Res 1–17, 2019b) argues that, since permissive situations are possible, cognitively healthy agents can believe at will. However, Roeber (Philos Phenom Res 1–17, 2019b) fails to distinguish between two different arguments for voluntarism, both of which can be shown to fail by proper attention to different accounts of permissivism. Roeber considers a generic treatment of permissivism, but key premises in both arguments depend on different, more particular notions of permissivism. Attending to the distinction between single-agent and inter-subjective versions of permissivism reveals that the inference from permissivism to voluntarism is unwarranted.
Development and validation of a prediction model of catheter-related thrombosis in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy based on ultrasonography results and clinical information
Authors: Lin Shanhong , Zhu Ning , YihanZhang  , Du Liping , Zhang Shengmin
Published: August 2022

Central venous catheters can be used conveniently to deliver medications and improve comfort in patients with cancer. However, they can cause major complications. The current study aimed to develop and validate an individualized nomogram for early prediction of the risk of catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. In total, 647 patients were included in the analysis. They were randomly assigned to the training (n = 431) and validation (n = 216) cohorts. A nomogram for predicting the risk of CRT in the training cohort was developed based on logistic regression analysis results. The accuracy and discriminatory ability of the model were determined using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values and calibration plots. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index, risk of cancer-related thrombosis, d-dimer level, and blood flow velocity were independent risk factors of CRT. The calibration plot showed an acceptable agreement between the predicted and actual probabilities of CRT. The AUROC values of the nomogram were 0.757 (95% confidence interval: 0.717–0.809) and 0.761 (95% confidence interval: 0.701–0.821) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Our model presents a novel, user-friendly tool for predicting the risk of CRT in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Moreover, it can contribute to clinical decision-making.
Circles of Care for Safety: A Care Ethics Approach to Safe-by-Design
Authors: Baas Lieke , Metselaar Suzanne , Klaassen Pim
Published: August 2022

Safe-by-Design is an approach to engineering that aims to integrate the value of safety in the design and development of new technologies. It does so by integrating knowledge of potential dangers in the design process and developing methods to design undesirable effects out of the innovation. Recent discussions have highlighted several challenges in conceptualizing safety and integrating the value into the design process. Therefore, some have argued to design for the responsibility for safety, instead of for safety itself. However, this idea has not been developed further. In this article, we develop an approach to Safe-by-Design, grounded in care ethics, which builds on the idea of designing for responsibility and can deal with the complexity that is inherent to the conceptualization of safety. We describe five ways in which care ethics contributes to the conceptualization of Safe-by-Design: (1) It suggests the development of ‘circles of care’ in which stakeholders share the responsibility for safety; (2) it recognizes the importance of considering safety as something that is situated in the surroundings of a technology, instead of as a property of the technology itself; (3) it acknowledges that achieving safety is labour that requires an ongoing commitment; (4) it emphasizes that the way in which we relate to technology impacts its safety; and (5) it recognizes the role of emotions in assessing safety. All these elements combined lead to a broader understanding of safety and a philosophically more substantial and practically more appealing conceptualization of Safe-by-Design.
Mathematical Modeling of the Ejected Droplet Size Distribution in the Vicinity of a Gas–Liquid Impingement Zone
Authors: Mitas Bernhard , Visuri Ville-Valtteri , Schenk Johannes
Published: August 2022

The controlled splashing of metal droplets plays a decisive role in the kinetics of the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process. In this work, a mathematical model was developed for predicting the size distribution of spherical droplets ejected at an impingement zone. Harmonic oscillators are used to describe the ejection sites, and the upper limit for the droplet population is calculated through a force balance. The model was validated against literature data from high-temperature crucible experiments involving different supply pressures and lance heights as well as both single-hole and multihole lances. The predicted size distribution of the metal droplets was found to be in good agreement with the droplet size distributions measured from outside the crucible. The model was also applied for predicting the size distribution parameters of the Rosin–Rammler–Sperling (RRS) size distribution function. The model developed is computationally light and is suitable to be used as a part of offline and online simulation tools for the BOF process.
Heat-shock protein 90α is a potential prognostic and predictive biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma: a large-scale and multicenter study
Authors: Su Ke , Liu Yanlin , Wang Pan , He Kun , Wang Fei , Chi Hao , Rao Mingyue , Li Xueting , Wen Lianbin , Song Yanqiong , Zhang Jianwen , Gu Tao , Xu Ke , Li Qi , Chen Jiali , Wu Zhenying , Li Han , Huang Weihong , Chen Lan , Tong Jian , Li Hongyan , Feng Xunjie , Chen Siyu , Yang Binbin , Jin Hongping , Yang Yue , Liu Hanlin , Yang Chao , Wu Ming , Xiong Fangyu , Peng Keyi , Zhu Lechuan , Xu Yaoyang , Tang Xue , Tan Zunyuan , Luo Xiaotong , Zheng Hanyue , Zhang Yuxin , Guo Lu , Han Yunwei
Published: August 2022

Background

Although the diagnostic value of plasma heat-shock protein 90α (HSP90α) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been previously reported, the causal effect of the plasma HSP90α levels on HCC prognosis remains largely unclear. To this extent, we sought to assess whether the plasma HSP90α acts as a prognostic factor for HCC patients.

Methods

A total of 2150 HCC patients were included in this retrospective study between August 2016 and July 2021. Plasma HSP90α levels were tested within a week before treatment and their association with prognosis was assessed.

Results

An optimal cutoff value of 143.5 for the HSP90α based on the overall survival (OS) was determined using the X-tile software. HCC patients with HSP90α < 143.5 ng/mL (low HSP90α) before and after propensity score matching (PSM) indicated longer median OS (mOS) relative to those with HSP90α ≥ 143.5 ng/mL (high HSP90α) (37.0 vs. 9.0 months, p < 0.001; 19.2 vs. 9.6 months, p < 0.001; respectively). In addition, the high HSP90α plasma level is an independent poor prognostic factor for OS in HCC patients. In our subgroup analysis, including the supportive care group, surgery group, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) group, adjuvant TACE group, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) plus targeted therapy group, and TACE plus ICI group, the high HSP90α group demonstrated better OS compared to the low HSP90α group. Moreover, in the supportive care, TACE, ICI plus targeted therapy, TACE plus ICI groups, and high HSP90α levels were also an independent poor prognostic factors for OS.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that the plasma HSP90α level can be used as a prognostic biomarker for HCC.
Shape of the Uncanny Valley and Emotional Attitudes Toward Robots Assessed by an Analysis of YouTube Comments
Authors: Ratajczyk Dawid
Published: August 2022

The uncanny valley hypothesis (UVH) suggests that almost, but not fully, humanlike artificial characters elicit a feeling of eeriness or discomfort in observers. This study used Natural Language Processing of YouTube comments to provide ecologically-valid, non-laboratory results about people’s emotional reactions toward robots. It contains analyses of 224,544 comments from 1515 videos showing robots from a wide humanlikeness spectrum. The humanlikeness scores were acquired from the Anthropomorphic roBOT database. The analysis showed that people use words related to eeriness to describe very humanlike robots. Humanlikeness was linearly related to both general sentiment and perceptions of eeriness—-more humanlike robots elicit more negative emotions. One of the subscales of humanlikeness, Facial Features, showed a UVH-like relationship with both sentiment and eeriness. The exploratory analysis demonstrated that the most suitable words for measuring the self-reported uncanny valley effect are: ‘scary’ and ‘creepy’. In contrast to theoretical expectations, the results showed that humanlikeness was not related to either pleasantness or attractiveness. Finally, it was also found that the size of robots influences sentiment toward the robots. According to the analysis, the reason behind this is the perception of smaller robots as more playable (as toys), although the prediction that bigger robots would be perceived as more threatening was not supported.
Death in Advance? A critique of the “Zombification” of people with dementia
Authors: Schweda Mark , Jongsma Karin
Published: August 2022

This contribution sets out to criticize the prominent metaphor of “death while alive” in the context of dementia. We first explain the historical origin and development as well as the philosophical premises of the image. We then take a closer look at its implications for understanding dementia and societal attitudes and behaviours towards those affected. In doing so, we adopt a life course perspective that seeks to account for the ethical significance of the temporal extension and structure of human life. According to this perspective, individual existence in time is characterized by normative standards of age-appropriate behavior, evaluative standards of a good life, and teleological notions of successful development which require theoretical analysis and ethical discussion. Such a perspective can contribute significantly to spelling out the implications of the metaphor of death while alive and to criticizing their problematic aspects. Indeed, it makes clear that this metaphor aligns dementia with a different point in the human life course, thus ultimately framing it as a kind of deviation from the biographical norm, a disruption in an assumed temporal order of existence. At the same time, the life course perspective can help to understand why this conception involves ethically problematic distortions and blind spots. The resulting considerations allow conclusions with regard to medical and care ethical debates about self-determination, surrogate decision making, and advance directives in the context of dementia. Furthermore, on a theoretical-conceptual level, they also illustrate the importance of a biography- and culture-sensitive approach to philosophical and ethical reasoning in biomedicine and the life sciences.
Radiological evaluation of temporal bone surgical landmarks for a transcanal transpromontorial approach to the internal auditory canal using three-dimensional computed tomography
Authors: Jun B C , Song S W
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study aimed to analyse a three-dimensional transcanal transpromontorial approach to the internal auditory canal using three-dimensional computed tomography.

Method

This study was a retrospective investigation of 48 ears of 24 patients using three-dimensional reconstruction data from normal temporal bone computed tomography. The inner structures of the temporal bone were three-dimensionally reconstructed. Eight points were marked in the three-dimensional object with reference to the axial, coronal and sagittal plane images of the computed tomography scans. Distances and angles to each point were measured from the oval and round windows.

Results

The point of the facial nerve from the internal auditory canal to the labyrinthine segment could be traced between the cochlear apex and the geniculate ganglion based on the oval window.

Conclusion

This technique helps with identifying the locations of important surgical landmarks using three-dimensional reconstructions of pre-operative computed tomography scans and to identify the facial nerve from the internal auditory canal during surgery.
Parasites and the neuroendocrine control of fish intestinal function: an ancient struggle between pathogens and host
Authors: Bosi Giampaolo , Maynard Barbara J. , Pironi Flavio , Sayyaf Dezfuli Bahram
Published: August 2022

Most individual fish in wild and farmed populations can be infected with parasites. Fish intestines can harbour protozoans, myxozoans and helminths, which include several species of digeneans, cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephalans. Enteric parasites often induce inflammation of the intestine; the pathogen provokes changes in the host physiology, which will be genetically selected for if they benefit the parasite. The host response to intestinal parasites involves neural, endocrine and immune systems and interaction among these systems is coordinated by hormones, chemokines, cytokines and neurotransmitters including peptides. Intestinal fish parasites have effects on the components of the enteric nervous and endocrine systems; mechanical/chemical changes impair the activity of these systems, including gut motility and digestion. Investigations on the role of the neuroendocrine system in response to fish intestinal parasites are very few. This paper provides immunohistochemical and ultrastructural data on effects of parasites on the enteric nervous system and the enteric endocrine system in several fish–parasite systems. Emphasis is on the occurrence of 21 molecules including cholecystokinin-8, neuropeptide Y, enkephalins, galanin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and serotonin in infected tissues.
Cueing Up: Situating Power on the Tahitian Stage
Authors: Moulin Jane Freeman
Published: August 2022

This paper explores the highly complex interactions of Tahitian musicians and dancers in performance. More specifically, it examines the art of cueing as both a musical action and a social process that fulfils the artistic needs of the performance while simultaneously reinforcing Tahitian constructs of social hierarchy and dominance. In Tahiti, cueing is power—sound power—and, by extension, social relations made audible.
How Have Global River Widths Changed Over Time?
Authors: Feng Dongmei , Gleason Colin J. , Yang Xiao , Allen George H. , Pavelsky Tamlin M.
Published: August 2022

Changes in a river's width reflect natural and anthropogenic impacts on local and upstream/downstream hydraulic and hydrologic processes. Temporal variation of river width also impacts biogeochemical exchange and reflects geomorphologic evolution. However, while global maps of mean river width and dynamic water surface extent exist, there is currently no standardized global assessment of river widths that documents changes over time. Therefore, we made repeated width measurements from Landsat images for all rivers wider than 90 m collected from 1984 to 2020 (named Global LOng‐term river Width, GLOW), which consists of ∼1.2 billion cross‐sectional river width measurements, with an average of 3,000 width measurements per 10‐km reach. With GLOW, we investigated the temporal variations of global river width, quantified by the interquartile range (IQR) and temporal trend. We found that 85% of global rivers have a width IQR <150 m. We also found that 37% of global river segments show significant temporal trends in width over the past 37 years, and this number is higher (46%) for human‐regulated rivers. Further, we leveraged machine learning to identify the most important factors explaining river width variations and revealed that these driving factors are significantly different between free‐flowing and non‐free‐flowing rivers. Specifically, the most important factor driving temporal variations in river width is the climate for free‐flowing rivers, and is soil condition for human‐impacted rivers. Finally, we anticipate that this study and the public release of GLOW will improve the understanding of river dynamics and catalyze additional interdisciplinary studies.
Spatial Variability of Movement, Structure, and Formation of Warm Core Rings in the Northwest Atlantic Slope Sea
Authors: Silver Adrienne , Gangopadhyay Avijit , Gawarkiewicz Glen , Andres Magdalena , Flierl Glenn , Clark Jenifer
Published: August 2022

Gulf Stream Warm Core Rings (WCRs) have important influences on the New England Shelf and marine ecosystems. A 10‐year (2011–2020) WCR dataset that tracks weekly WCR locations and surface areas is used here to identify the rings' path and characterize their movement between 55 and 75°W. The WCR dataset reveals a very narrow band between 66 and 71°W along which rings travel almost due west along ∼39°N across isobaths – the “Ring Corridor.” Then, west of the corridor, the mean path turns southwestward, paralleling the shelfbreak. The average ring translation speed along the mean path is 5.9 cm s−1. Long‐lived rings (lifespan >150 days) tend to occupy the region west of the New England Seamount Chain (NESC) whereas short‐lived rings (lifespan <150 days) tend to be more broadly distributed. WCR vertical structures, analyzed using available Argo float profiles indicate that rings that are formed to the west of the NESC have shallower thermoclines than those formed to the east. This tendency may be due to different WCR formation processes that are observed to occur along different sections of the Gulf Stream. WCRs formed to the east of the NESC tend to form from a pinch‐off mechanism incorporating cores of Sargasso Sea water and a perimeter of Gulf Stream water. WCRs that form to the west of the NESC, form from a process called an aneurysm. WCRs formed through aneurysms comprise water mostly from the northern half of the Gulf Stream and are smaller than the classic pinch‐off rings.