bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological and genetic divergence supports peripheral endemism and a recent evolutionary history of Chrysiptera demoiselles in the subtropical South Pacific
Authors: Liggins Libby , Kilduff Liam , Trnski Thomas , Delrieu-Trottin Erwan , Carvajal Jose I. , Arranz Vanessa , Planes Serge , Saenz-Agudelo Pablo , Aguirre J. David
Published: October 2021

The delineation of species and their evolutionary relationships informs our understanding of biogeography and how regional faunas are assembled. The peripheral geography and local environment of reefs in the subtropical South Pacific likely promotes the allopatric and adaptive divergence of taxa colonising from the tropics; however, the fauna of this region has been relatively understudied. Here, we address the taxonomic and evolutionary relationships among Chrysiptera taxa of the subtropical South Pacific. We use meristic counts, morphometrics and genetic markers to characterise the similarities and differences among four taxa restricted to the South Pacific region that have strikingly different colouration: C. notialis, a taxon restricted to eastern Australia, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; C. galba, found in the Cook Islands, southern French Polynesia and Pitcairn Islands; and the two disjunct populations of C. rapanui, found in the eastern Pacific around Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua or Easter Island) and Motu Motiro Hiva (Salas y Gómez) and in the South-western Pacific around Rangitāhua (Kermadec Islands). Our morphometric analysis confirmed that these four taxa, including the two disjunct populations of C. rapanui, are morphologically distinct. However, our genetic analysis revealed that only C. rapanui from Rapa Nui was genetically differentiated, whereas C. rapanui of Rangitāhua, C. galba and C. notialis all shared a common haplotype. Furthermore, none of the taxa could be consistently differentiated based on individual meristic features. Our study reconciles a formerly perplexing and disjunct distribution for C. rapanui, to reveal that C. rapanui is an endemic of Rapa Nui and that the Chrysiptera of French Polynesia, Rangitāhua, and the South-western Pacific have only a very recent history of divergence. Our analyses suggest these subtropical taxa have diverged from a predominantly tropical Chrysiptera genus in morphological features important in determining colonisation success, locomotion and feeding ecology.
Das gute Leben
Authors: Woopen Christiane , Wagner Michael , Zank Susanne
Published: October 2021

Im abschließenden Beitrag stellen die Autor*innen das Konzept „gelingende Lebensführung“ in den Mittelpunkt. Die Kernergebnisse der vorhergehenden Beiträge werden zusammengefasst und im Rahmen einer kritischen Diskussion in dieses Konzept eingeordnet. Vor dem Hintergrund werden Empfehlungen für die politische und gesellschaftliche Gestaltung von Rahmenbedingungen formuliert, die einer gelingenden Lebensführung im sehr hohen Alter dienlich sind und sie fördern.
Discrepancies between subjective importance and actual everyday practice among very old adults and the consequences for autonomy
Authors: Geithner Luise , Wagner Michael
Published: October 2021

Background

An individual’s everyday practice in very old age is based on stable dispositions and on the living conditions associated with the person’s stage of life. Age-associated changes in living conditions can cause discrepancies between the person’s dispositions and actual everyday practice that have consequences for the quality of life.

Objective

The aim of this paper is to look more closely at such discrepancies and their associations with living conditions in very old age (long-term care needs, multimorbidity, care tasks) as well as with the feeling of autonomy as an aspect of quality of life.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the first wave of the NRW80+-study on the quality of life of people aged 80 years and over. Data on the subjective importance of five areas of everyday practice and on the frequency of translating these dispositions into practice were used. The analysis focuses on the occurrence of large discrepancies that arise if the subjective importance of an everyday practice deviates considerably from the frequency of performing it.

Results

Among the very old population surveyed, solitary activities are considered the most important, and they are carried out most often. Multimorbidity, long-term care needs, and private care responsibilities are significantly associated with the experience of large discrepancies. Finally, very old adults with large discrepancies report feelings of reduced autonomy.

Conclusion

These initial results show that age-associated changes in living conditions can be accompanied by difficulties for very old adults to put their dispositions into practice. Attention should be paid to such discrepancies to avoid negative consequences for quality of life.
FLAIR2 post-processing: improving MS lesion detection in standard MS imaging protocols
Authors: Zrzavy Tobias , Wielandner Alice , Haider Lukas , Bartsch Sophie , Leutmezer Fritz , Berger Thomas , Nenning Karl Heinz , Rauscher Alexander , Rommer Paulus , Kasprian Gregor
Published: October 2021

Background

Technical improvements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition, such as higher field strength and optimized sequences, lead to better multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion detection and characterization. Multiplication of 3D-FLAIR with 3D-T2 sequences (FLAIR2) results in isovoxel images with increased contrast-to-noise ratio, increased white–gray-matter contrast, and improved MS lesion visualization without increasing MRI acquisition time. The current study aims to assess the potential of 3D-FLAIR2 in detecting cortical/leucocortical (LC), juxtacortical (JC), and white matter (WM) lesions.

Objective

To compare lesion detection of 3D-FLAIR2 with state-of-the-art 3D-T2-FLAIR and 3D-T2-weighted images.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed MRI scans of thirteen MS patients, showing previously noted high cortical lesion load. Scans were acquired using a 3 T MRI scanner. WM, JC, and LC lesions were manually labeled and manually counted after randomization of 3D-T2, 3D-FLAIR, and 3D-FLAIR2 scans using the ITK-SNAP tool.

Results

LC lesion visibility was significantly improved by 3D-FLAIR2 in comparison to 3D-FLAIR (4 vs 1; p = 0.018) and 3D-T2 (4 vs 1; p = 0.007). Comparing LC lesion detection in 3D-FLAIR2 vs. 3D-FLAIR, 3D-FLAIR2 detected on average 3.2 more cortical lesions (95% CI − 9.1 to 2.8). Comparing against 3D-T2, 3D-FLAIR2 detected on average 3.7 more LC lesions (95% CI 3.3–10.7).

Conclusions

3D-FLAIR2 is an easily applicable time-sparing MR post-processing method to improve cortical lesion detection. Larger sampled studies are warranted to validate the sensitivity and specificity of 3D-FLAIR2.
Attrition und Osmokinetik – Zwei Konzepte zur Pathogenese des Trockenen Auges
Authors: van Setten Gysbert-Botho
Published: October 2021

Die neuen Erkenntnisse der Pathophysiolgie des Trockenen Auges erkennen das Zusammenspiel von Tränen, Augenoberfläche und Lidoberfläche als eine funktionelle Einheit an. Der Begriff der Benetzungsfähigkeit der Tränen in Abhängigkeit der mikrotektonischen Anatomie der Augenoberfläche relativiert die Anforderungen an Träne und Tränenersatzmittel. Das Model der Attrition, welches die Effekte der friktionsneutralisierenden Kapazität des Tränenfilms, der Reibung und die Bedeutung der Mechanotransduktionskapazität des Epithels zusammenfasst, wird eingeführt und dessen pathophysiologische Bedeutung erläutert. Attrition und Benetzung bestimmen zusammen grundlegende pathophysiologische Vorgänge in der Augenoberfläche wie Aktivierung von Nerven (subjektive Beschwerden) sowie Entzündung und beeinflussen damit die Dynamik der Pathophysiologie, und den Übergang von vorübergehenden Beschwerden zu einer manifesten Erkrankung des Trockenen Auges. Die Betrachtung der Osmolarität als numerischer statischer Grenzwert zur alleinigen Diagnose des Trockenen Auges ist klinisch nicht haltbar. Das neue, dynamische Model der Osmokinetik, zeigt dagegen eine Alternative auf, in der die Tageschwankungen und die Beachtung des durchschnittlichen Osmolaritätsniveaus gröβere Bedeutung gewinnen und damit der eigentlichen pathophysiologischen Bedeutung der Osmolarität gerechter wird.
STAndard Reporting of CAries Detection and Diagnostic Studies (STARCARDDS)
Authors: Neuhaus Klaus W. , Eggmann Florin , Kühnisch Jan , Kapor Svetlana , Janjic Rankovic Mila , Schüler Ina , Krause Felix , Lussi Adrian , Michou Stavroula , Ekstrand Kim , Huysmans Marie-Charlotte
Published: October 2021

Aim

The aim of this paper is to present recommendations from an international workshop which evaluated the methodology and reporting of caries diagnostic studies. As a unique feature, this type of studies is focused on caries lesion detection and assessment, and many of them are carried out in vitro, because of the possibility of histological validation of the whole caries spectrum. This feature is not well covered in the existing reporting STARD guideline within the EQUATOR Network.

Participants and methods

An international working group of 13 cariology researchers was formed. The STARD checklist was reviewed and modified for caries detection and diagnosis purposes, in a three-step process of evaluation, consensual modification, and delivery during three 2-day workshops over 18 months. Special attention was paid to reporting requirements of caries studies that solely focus on reliability.

Results

The STARD checklist was modified in 14/30 items, with an emphasis on issues of sample selection (tooth selection in in vitro studies), blinding, and detailed reporting of results.

Conclusion

Following STARCARDDS (STAndard Reporting of CAries Detection and Diagnostic Studies) is expected to result in complete reporting of study design and methodology in future caries diagnosis and detection experiments both in vivo and in vitro, thus allowing for better comparability of studies and higher quality of systematic reviews.

Clinical relevance

Standardization of caries diagnostic studies leads to a better comparability among future studies, both in vivo and in vitro.
Frequency of the necessity of dentoalveolar surgery or conservative treatment in patients before kidney transplantation depending on the duration of dialysis and causative nephrological disease
Authors: Moest Tobias , Lutz Rainer , Jahn Arne Eric , Heller Katharina , Schiffer Mario , Adler Werner , Deschner James , Weber Manuel , Kesting Marco Rainer
Published: October 2021

Objectives

This retrospective study evaluates intraoral surgical and conservative treatment need in patients with a chronic kidney end-stage disease, depending on the duration of dialysis treatment and the causative nephrological disease.

Material and methods

This study is based on data of patients referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany, prior to kidney transplantation between January 2015 and March 2020. The necessity for oral surgical or dental therapy was determined by clinical and radiological examinations. Data on renal replacement therapy, cause of underlying renal disease, lifestyle, and general health were collected.

Results

Data ofN= 89 patients demonstrated that surgical treatment need depends on dialysis duration (p= 0.042). Patients, who had been dialyzing for 2 to 3 years showed the highest need for surgical intervention (80.0%;p= 0.024), followed by dialysis patients with a dialysis time of more than 3 years (48.1%). Similarly, dialysis patients in the second or third year of dialysis had the highest need for conservative treatment (73.3%;p> 0.05), followed by 55.6% of dialysis patients in the third year of dialysis.

Conclusions

Operative and conservative treatment is essential to optimize subsequent kidney transplantation. The greatest necessity could be detected for patients in the second and third years of dialysis.

Clinical relevance

Oral health addressing surgical and conservative treatment need depends on the duration of dialysis in patients with a chronic kidney end-stage disease.
The Danubian cryptic invader Theodoxus fluviatilis (Gastropoda: Neritidae) in the River Rhine: a potential indicator for metal pollution?
Authors: Rothmeier Louisa Marie , Martens Andreas , Watermann Burkard , Grabow Karsten , Bartz Jennifer , Sahm René
Published: October 2021

Metal pollution poses a major threat to aquatic systems especially in anthropogenic influenced areas, in as much as metals are persistent in the environment. The freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis has often been used as an indicator species for the ecological status in river monitoring. In the River Rhine, the native Northern-European form of T. fluviatilis is nowadays extinct, whilst the Danubian form is spreading along the river. The aim of our study was to investigate if the cryptic invader is affected by metal exposure present in the River Rhine and to discuss its potential as an indicator for metal pollution. Several environmental abiotic (14 water environmental variables plus five common metal concentrations in water and biofilm) and biotic parameters (biofilm mass) were measured across 23 sites along the River Rhine. Five population and six histopathological parameters were evaluated on snails collected at all 23 sites. Aqueous chromium concentration was positively correlated to the damage of male reproductive organs of T. fluviatilis, and higher ammonium concentration was correlated to a decrease in snail size and an increase in the proportion of juveniles. None of the analysed snail parameters was negatively correlated to concentrations of other metals measured, like copper and zinc. Therefore, based on the parameters evaluated, our results indicate that the Danubian form of T. fluviatilis is only restrictedly suitable as an indicator for metal pollution in the River Rhine system. Further field and laboratory investigations including other stressors are necessary to evaluate the indicator potential of the cryptic invader holistically.
Quantifying loss aversion: Evidence from a UK population survey
Authors: Blake David , Cannon Edmund , Wright Douglas
Published: October 2021

We quantify differences in attitudes to loss from individuals with different demographic, personal and socio-economic characteristics. Our data are based on responses from an online survey of a representative sample of over 4000 UK residents and allow us to produce the most comprehensive analysis of the heterogeneity of loss aversion measures to date. Using the canonical model proposed by Tversky and Kahneman (1992), we show that responses for the population as a whole differ substantially from those typically provided by students (who form the basis of many existing studies of loss aversion). The average aversion to a loss of £500 relative to a gain of the same amount is 2.41, but loss aversion correlates significantly with characteristics such as gender, age, education, financial knowledge, social class, employment status, management responsibility, income, savings and home ownership. Other related factors include marital status, number of children, ease of savings, rainy day fund, personality type, emotional state, newspaper and political party. However, once we condition on all the profiling characteristics of the respondents, some factors, in particular gender, cease to be significant, suggesting that gender differences in risk and loss attitudes might be due to other factors, such as income differences.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles Transmitting MicroRNA-34a-5p Suppress Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer Through c-MYC/DNMT3a/PTEN Axis
Authors: Zhao Jiangning , Lin Huanrong , Huang Kunsong
Published: October 2021

Mesenchymal stem cell–derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EV) can transport microRNAs (miRNAs) into colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, thus to inhibit the malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Whether MSC-EV could deliver miR-34a-5p to suppress CRC development was surveyed through the research. miR-34a-5p, c-MYC, DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a), and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) expression were measured in CRC tissues and cell lines. miR-34a-5p and c-MYC expression were altered by transfection in HCT-116 cells. MSC-EV were transfected with miR-34a-5p- and c-MYC-related oligonucleotides and co-cultured with HCT-116 cells. HCT-116 cell growth after treatment was observed. Furthermore, the functional roles of miR-34a-5p and c-MYC were explored in vivo. The combined interactions of miR-34a-5p/c-MYC/DNMT3a/PTEN axis were assessed. miR-34a-5p and PTEN were downregulated while c-MYC and DNMT3a were upregulated in CRC. Depletion of miR-34a-5p drove while that of c-MYC restricted CRC cell growth. MSC-EV retarded CRC progression. Moreover, MSC-EV carrying overexpressed miR-34a-5p or depleted c-MYC further disrupted CRC cell progression. miR-34a-5p targeted c-MYC to regulate DNMT3a and PTEN. c-MYC overexpression abrogated EV-derived miR-34a-5p upregulation-induced effects on CRC. Restoring miR-34a-5p or depleting c-MYC in MSC-EV limited CRC tumor formation. MSC-EV-derived miR-34a-5p depresses CRC development through modulating the binding of c-MYC to DNMT3a and epigenetically regulating PTEN.
Emerging roles of the HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligases in hematological malignancies
Authors: Delvecchio Vincenza Simona , Fierro Claudia , Giovannini Sara , Melino Gerry , Bernassola Francesca
Published: October 2021

Ubiquitination-mediated proteolysis or regulation of proteins, ultimately executed by E3 ubiquitin ligases, control a wide array of cellular processes, including transcription, cell cycle, autophagy and apoptotic cell death. HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligases can be distinguished from other subfamilies of E3 ubiquitin ligases because they have a C-terminal HECT domain that directly catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to their substrate proteins. Deregulation of HECT-type E3-mediated ubiquitination plays a prominent role in cancer development and chemoresistance. Several members of this subfamily are indeed frequently deregulated in human cancers as a result of genetic mutations and altered expression or activity. HECT-type E3s contribute to tumorigenesis by regulating the ubiquitination rate of substrates that function as either tumour suppressors or oncogenes. While the pathological roles of the HECT family members in solid tumors are quite well established, their contribution to the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies has only recently emerged. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the involvement of the HECT-type E3s in leukemogenesis.
Applying Evidential Pluralism to the social sciences
Authors: Shan Yafeng , Williamson Jon
Published: October 2021

Evidential Pluralism maintains that in order to establish a causal claim one normally needs to establish the existence of an appropriate conditional correlation and the existence of an appropriate mechanism complex, so when assessing a causal claim one ought to consider both association studies and mechanistic studies. Hitherto, Evidential Pluralism has been applied to medicine, leading to the EBM+ programme, which recommends that evidence-based medicine should systematically evaluate mechanistic studies alongside clinical studies. This paper argues that Evidential Pluralism can also be fruitfully applied to the social sciences. In particular, Evidential Pluralism provides (i) a new approach to evidence-based policy; (ii) a new account of the evidential relationships in more theoretical research; and (iii) new philosophical motivation for mixed methods research. The application of Evidential Pluralism to the social sciences is also defended against two objections.
Facile synthesis of graphene wool doped with oleylamine-capped silver nanoparticles (GW-αAgNPs) for water treatment applications
Authors: Adeola Adedapo O. , Kubheka Gugu , Chirwa Evans M. N. , Forbes Patricia B. C.
Published: October 2021

The facile synthesis of graphene wool doped with oleylamine-capped silver nanoparticles (GW-αAgNP) was achieved in this study. The effect of concentration, pH, temperature and natural organic matter (NOM) on the adsorption of a human carcinogen (benzo(a)pyrene, BaP) was evaluated using the doped graphene wool adsorbent. Furthermore, the antibacterial potential of GW-αAgNP against selected drug-resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains was evaluated. Isotherm data revealed that adsorption of BaP by GW-αAgNP was best described by a multilayer adsorption mechanism predicted by Freundlich model with least ERRSQ < 0.79. The doping of graphene wool with hydrophobic AgNPs coated with functional moieties significantly increased the maximum adsorption capacity of GW-αAgNP over GW based on the qmax and qm predicted by Langmuir and Sips models. π-π interactions contributed to sorbent-sorbate interaction, due to the presence of delocalized electrons. GW-αAgNP-BaP interaction is a spontaneous exothermic process (negative $$\Delta H^\circ$$

Δ

H
∘

and $$\Delta G)$$

Δ
G
)

, with better removal efficiency in the absence of natural organic matter (NOM). While GW is more feasible with higher maximum adsorption capacity (qm) at elevated temperatures, GW-αAgNP adsorption capacity and efficiency is best at ambient temperature, in the absence of natural organic matter (NOM), and preferable in terms of energy demands and process economics. GW-αAgNP significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis strains, at 1000 mg/L dosage in preliminary tests, which provides the rationale for future evaluation of this hybrid material as a smart solution to chemical and microbiological water pollution.
Irrigation water management for sustainable cultivation of date palm
Authors: Dhaouadi Latifa , Besser Houda , Karbout Nissaf , Al-Omran Abdulrasoul , Wassar Fatma , Wahba Mohamed Shahata , Yaohu Kang , Hamed Younes
Published: October 2021

Given the aesthetic, cultural, ecological, and economic value of the date agro-system in Southwestern Tunisia, different management and conservation strategies have been warrantee to optimize land productivity sustainably. However, the inefficiency of the adopted management actions resulted in a continuous loss of soil fertility and decreasing fruit quality. Thus, the present paper attempts to evaluate accurately the evolution of the principal factors influencing date palm production and agricultural activities sustainability in the region. Integrated approaches of various irrigation water quality indices and geostatistical analysis coupled with field investigation and farming survey were applied to evaluate the evolution of key parameters influencing the development of date palm sustainably. The obtained results of the research indicate that the progressive land degradation is due to the effects of poorquality of water used for irrigation (EC between 674.4 and 5450 µs/cm, SAR exceeding locally 20 and about 80% of all the samples waters are of undoubtful quality according to the calculated indices), inappropriate irrigation scheduling (physiologic drought that might reach 3 months), traditional basin irrigation technique (decreasing of yield productivity, locally of 0.23, 0.23 and 0.25 kg m−3), an indigenous knowledge (sandy amendment, biologic compost, gravity improved irrigation…..). Also climate variability has leaded to furthermore degradation of crop quality. The degradation of date palm culture will be a great challenge for environmental conservation, food security and socio-economic values of the region unless a reasonable management take place, a flexible strategy based on indigenous knowledge of landowner, and scientific-based outlines with climate risks evaluation. The present paper might be useful to policy makers as a multi-disciplinary research covering most of the important aspects of date palm production.
Race and AI: the Diversity Dilemma
Authors: Cave Stephen , Dihal Kanta
Published: October 2021

This commentary is a response to ‘More than Skin Deep’ by Shelley M. Park (Park, More than skin deep: A response to “The Whiteness of AI”, Philosophy & Technology, 2021), and a development of our own 2020 paper ‘The Whiteness of AI’. We aim to explain how representations of AI can be varied in one sense, whilst not being diverse. We argue that Whiteness’s claim to universal humanity permits a broad range of roles to White humans and White-presenting machines, whilst assigning a much narrower range of stereotypical roles to people of colour. Because the attributes of AI in the popular imagination, such as intelligence, power and passing as human, are associated by the White racial frame with Whiteness, AI is cast predominantly as White. Following Sparrow (Science, Technology, & Human Values 45:538–560, 2020), we suggest this presents a dilemma for those creating or representing AI. We discuss three possible solutions: avoiding anthropomorphisation, explicitly critiquing racial role-typing, and representing powerful AI as non-White.
Fetal Oropharyngeal Teratoma: A Case Report
Authors: Mukherjee Arkajyoti , Kundu Shreyasi , Mukherjee Kanchan
Published: October 2021

Oropharyngeal teratomas are extremely rare fetal tumors and originate from pluripotent stem cells. The tumor typically arises from the palato-pharyngeal region around the basishenoid. These tumors are heterogenous in nature. The reported case was diagnosed at 20 weeks gestation. Ultrasound revealed a heterogenous, lobulated facial mass protruded
from the oral cavity without any hypervascularity or intracranial extension. There was no evidence of polyhydromnios. After counseling, the parents opted for termination of pregnancy. Histopathological examination from the exophytic mass was consistent with immature teratoma containing components of all three germ cell layers. Genetic testing and fetal autopsy could not be arranged due to financial and infrastructural constraints.
‘Beyond’ Human Enhancement — Taking the Developing Country’s Perspective Seriously
Authors: Sachdev Vorathep
Published: October 2021

Bioethicists and philosophers dominate the on-going debate on human enhancement. They have debated the definition of human enhancement as well as the potential impacts of human enhancement technologies (such as pharmaceutical enhancements or pre-natal selection). These discussions have percolated, through bioethics bodies and bioethics recommendations, policy makers and have eventually been translated into policy. While some suggestions have been based largely in Western liberal democracies, others have deliberated the geopolitical consequences of human enhancement technologies. This paper argues that the present debate currently lacks perspectives from developing countries. It begins by introducing the current debate on human enhancement and recognizes Allen Buchanan’s well-raised concerns on how these technologies may potentially cause new injustices for low- and middle-income countries (‘developing countries’). It then provides two arguments calling for further research into human enhancement from the perspective of developing countries. First, this paper will argue that the current frames with which enhancement technologies are viewed are inherently neoliberal and require change. The second argument shows how the potential impacts of human enhancement technologies in developing countries have not been fully realized by analyzing how human enhancement technologies will impact Thailand, a developing country.
Factoring ethics in management algorithms for municipal information-analytical systems
Authors: Sergei Kamolov , Alexander Kriebitz , Polina Eliseeva , Nikita Aleksandrov
Published: October 2021

The discourse on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) has generated a plethora of different conventions, principles and guidelines outlining an ethical perspective on the use and research of AI. However, when it comes to breaking down general implications to specific use cases, existent frameworks have been remaining vague. The following paper aims to fill this gap by examining the ethical implications of the use of information analytical systems through a management approach for filtering the content in social media and preventing information thrusts with negative consequences for human beings and public administration. The ethical dimensions of AI technologies are revealed through deduction of general challenges of digital governance to applied level management technics.
Comorbidity Prevalence and Impact on Quality of Life in Gay and Bisexual Men Following Prostate Cancer Treatment
Authors: Haggart Ryan , Polter Elizabeth , Ross Michael , Kohli Nidhi , Konety Badrinath R. , Mitteldorf Darryl , West William , Rosser B.R.Simon
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Studies have demonstrated worse health related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in gay and bisexual men (GBM) following prostate cancer treatment compared to heterosexual men potentially due to differences in comorbidity burden.

Aim

To establish the prevalence of comorbidities and their association with HRQOL metrics in GBM following prostate cancer treatment.

Methods

We evaluated HRQOL and prevalence of comorbidities in 193 GBM from the United States and Canada in a cross-sectional, online survey: the Masked for Review. HRQOL was measured with the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Main Outcome Measures

Our outcomes included comorbidity prevalence, mean differences for HRQOL scores by comorbidity status, and mean differences for HRQOL by comorbidity count.

Results

GBM were found to have a higher prevalence of blood vessel disease and mental health disorders but lower prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes when compared to published data in general prostate cancer populations. Statistically significant reductions in HRQOL metrics were associated with mental health diagnoses, diabetes, and obesity. Increased number of comorbidities was also associated with reductions in HRQOL metrics in nearly all categories.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the worse QOL outcomes in GBM following prostate cancer treatment may be due to differences in comorbidity burden. This study is the first to evaluate the relationship between comorbidities and HRQOL outcomes in GBM. Limitations of this study include a small sample size and cross-sectional study design. If confirmed in larger, longitudinal, clinically confirmed studies, these findings indicate a need to intervene on and consider comorbidities in GBM diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Water Residence Time and Temperature Drive the Dynamics of Dissolved Organic Matter in Alpine Lakes in the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Du YingXun , Chen FeiZhou , Xiao Kang , Song ChunQiao , He Hu , Zhang QiaoYing , Zhou YongQiang , Jang Kyoung‐Soon , Zhang YiBo , Xing Peng , Liu ZhengWen , Zhang YunLin , Lu YueHan
Published: October 2021

Lakes are hotspots of dissolved organic matter (DOM) degradation and play an active role in carbon cycles. Alpine lakes are under the most immediate impacts of climate change and act as sentinels of alpine ecosystem’s response to global warming, yet the primary environmental drivers of DOM variability in alpine lakes remain unidentified. Here, we sampled and analyzed DOM from 25 alpine lakes (>4,000 m above mean sea level) across the Tibetan Plateau. We found that the water residence time (WRT) of lakes and mean annual temperature (MAT) accounted for 30%–59% of the variance in the abundance of chromophoric DOM (CDOM) and fluorescent DOM (FDOM). Both CDOM and FDOM decreased with increasing WRT and MAT. Molecular‐level analysis of selected DOM samples showed that a higher WRT corresponded to DOM with lower molecular intensities, lower proportions of aromatics, lower oxidized compounds, and higher proportions of reduced and nitrogen‐containing compounds. These results indicate that in‐lake DOM processing dominated the regional variability of CDOM and FDOM. Under the scenario of climate warming and lake enlargement due to increasing precipitation and glacier melting, increased amount of DOM could be processed and removed from Tibetan lakes. Our findings are the first that identified WRT as a significant predictor of the amount of various DOM pools in Tibetan lakes and this observation may be broadly applicable to alpine lakes since they share similar DOM source‐sink characteristics. The simple empirical models (DOM vs. WRT + MAT) established here can be integrated into more sophisticated numerical models in predicting changes in the carbon cycle of alpine lakes.
Assessing the Effects of Climate Change on Compound Flooding in Coastal River Areas
Authors: Bermúdez M. , Farfán J. F. , Willems P. , Cea L.
Published: October 2021

Flood assessment in coastal river areas is subject to complex dependencies and interactions between flood drivers. In addition, coastal areas are especially vulnerable to climate change, and thus its effects should be considered in the evaluation of future flood hazard. In the present study, we propose a methodology for a robust evaluation of historical and future flooding in coastal river areas. It follows a continuous simulation approach in which a hydrologic‐hydraulic modeling cascade is run for several years, driven by a simultaneous series of flood drivers. The method differs from other existing methodologies in: (a) jointly considering the relevant flood drivers, both coastal and inland, together with their dependencies and interactions, to represent the simultaneous occurrence of extreme water levels correctly, and (b) obtaining local‐scale physically consistent projections of flood drivers to account for future climate change effects on compound flood hazard. The methodology is tested for a coastal river reach in NW Spain. The results show that, although mean sea level rise is usually expected to be the main driver of increased flood hazard, climate change effects on river discharge can play a very significant role in regions with compound flooding potential.
Viscous Behavior of Clay‐Rich Rocks and Its Role in Focused Fluid Flow
Authors: Yarushina Viktoriya M. , Makhnenko Roman Y. , Podladchikov Yuri Y. , Wang L. Hongliang , Räss Ludovic
Published: October 2021

Focused fluid flow is common in sedimentary basins worldwide, where flow structures often penetrate through sandy reservoir rocks, and clay‐rich caprocks. To better understand the mechanisms forming such structures, the impacts of the viscoelastic deformation and strongly nonlinear porosity‐dependent permeability of clay‐rich materials are assessed from an experimental and numerical modeling perspective. The experimental methods to measure the poroviscoelastic and transport properties of intact and remolded shale have been developed, and the experimental data is used to constrain the numerical simulations. It is demonstrated that viscoelastic deformation combined with nonlinear porosity‐dependent permeability triggers the development of localized flow channels, often imaged as seismic chimneys. The permeability inside a channel increases by several orders of magnitude compared to the background values. In addition, the propagation time scale and the channel size strongly depend on the material properties of the fluid and the rock. The time‐dependent behavior of the clay‐rich rock may play a key role in the long‐term integrity of the subsurface formations.
Formation of Pyrite Spherules From Mixtures of Biogenic FeS and Organic Compounds During Experimental Diagenesis
Authors: Duverger Arnaud , Bernard Sylvain , Viennet Jean‐Christophe , Miot Jennyfer , Busigny Vincent
Published: October 2021

Pyrite () is the most common iron sulfide on the Earth's surface and has widely been used as a paleo‐environmental proxy. Yet the information recorded by pyrite depends on whether it was formed through abiotic or biogenic routes. It is thus of importance to properly identify its origin. Here, we investigate the final morphology of pyrite produced upon a simulated diagenetic history from biogenic and abiotic iron sulfide/phosphate systems. Abiotic starting material obtained by chemical synthesis and biogenic starting material produced from pure culture of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans were submitted to increasing diagenetic conditions (75°C or 150°C from 1 to 10 days). Mineralogical products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy. For both biogenic and abiotic starting materials, the final state was characterized by the association of pyrite and lipscombite (), the most stable phases in these conditions. Intermediate phases such as greigite for iron sulfides and beraunite/wolfeite for iron phosphates were present in the abiotic residue but were not detected in the biogenic residue. Distinct pyrite morphologies were observed depending on the presence of organic matter. Indeed, while abiotic starting material led to the formation of submicrometric single crystals of pyrite with euhedral shapes similar to the subunits of well crystallized framboids, biogenic starting material produced micrometric spherulitic clusters of pyrite resembling the so‐called pseudo‐framboids. Although further experiments are required to ensure that it can be used as biosignatures, such specific morphologies, likely related to the presence of organic matter, may help recognizing biogenic pyrite in the geological record.
Influence of Magnetofossils on Paleointensity Estimations Inferred From Principal Component Analyses of First‐Order Reversal Curve Diagrams for Sediments From the Western Equatorial Pacific
Authors: Inoue Kosuke , Yamazaki Toshitsugu , Usui Yoichi
Published: October 2021

Relative abundance of magnetite originated from magnetotactic bacteria (magnetofossils) in sediments may influence relative paleointensity (RPI) estimations of the geomagnetic field, as some studies reported an inverse correlation between RPI and the ratio of anhysteretic remanent magnetization susceptibility to saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (kARM/SIRM), a proxy of the proportion of biogenic to terrigenous magnetic minerals as well as magnetic grain size. This study aims to evaluate the influence of magnetofossils on RPI estimations more selectively using first‐order reversal curve (FORC) diagrams. We studied three cores (KR0515‐PC4, MD982187, and MR1402‐PC1) from the western equatorial Pacific, among which large differences exist in the average natural remanent magnetization intensity normalized by ARM and kARM/SIRM. Principal component analyses (PCAs) were applied to FORC diagrams measured on bulk specimens from the three cores and silicate‐hosted magnetic inclusions extracted from Core MD982187, and three endmembers (EMs) were revealed (EM1: silicate‐hosted magnetic inclusions, EM2: other terrigenous, EM3: biogenic). EM3 proportions vary widely among the three cores. The average RPI decreases with increasing EM3 proportion, which is probably caused by higher ARM acquisition efficiency of magnetofossils due to small magnetostatic interactions. EM3 proportion correlates with kARM/SIRM, which confirms that kARM/SIRM represents the proportion of biogenic to terrigenous magnetic components. Core MR1402‐PC1 has the highest EM3 proportion, and its within‐core variation is small. From FORC‐PCA applied solely to this core, we infer that the configurations of biogenic magnetite chains such as bending and collapse may also influence kARM/SIRM and RPI estimations.
Evidence of Cascading Subglacial Water Flow at Jutulstraumen Glacier (Antarctica) Derived From Sentinel‐1 and ICESat‐2 Measurements
Authors: Neckel Niklas , Franke Steven , Helm Veit , Drews Reinhard , Jansen Daniela
Published: October 2021

Migration of subglacial water underneath thick Antarctic ice is difficult to observe directly but is known to influence ice flow dynamics. Here, we analyze a 6‐year time series of displacement maps from differential Sentinel‐1 SAR interferometry (DInSAR) in the upstream region of Jutulstraumen Glacier. Our results reveal short‐term (between 12 days and 1 year) interconnected subsidence‐ and uplift events of the ice surface, which we interpret as a pressure response to the drainage and filling of subglacial lakes. This indicates an episodic cascade‐like water transport with longer quiescent phases in a dynamically stable glacial setting. Abrupt events appear in the DInSAR time series and are confirmed by ICESat‐2 altimetry. The events can be traced for a 1‐year period along a 175 km flow path. We are able to observe the migration of subglacial water with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, providing a new observational baseline to further develop subglacial hydrological models.
Short‐Term and Global‐Wide Effusive Volcanism on Mercury Around 3.7 Ga
Authors: Wang Yichen , Xiao Zhiyong , Chang Yiren , Xu Rui , Cui Jun
Published: October 2021

Patches of small smooth plains cover a substantial portion of the Mercurian surface, but their origin and relation to the global evolution are not completely understood. Here, we update the global inventory of small smooth plains on Mercury, classifying their spatial distribution, absolute model ages, and possible origins. We reveal that both large and small smooth plains on Mercury were dominantly emplaced within ∼200 million years around 3.7 Ga, and at least ∼24.9% of the global surface was resurfaced during this period. Small smooth plains formed by effusive volcanism are preferentially located around the contemporaneous Caloris, Rembrandt, and Beethoven basins and at thin crust areas. We also report small smooth plains that were likely emplaced by basin ejecta. Together with the distribution of similarly aged large smooth plains, our results reveal that peaked formation of large impact basins may be a major trigger for this short‐term and global‐wide volcanism.
Atmospheric River Response to Arctic Sea Ice Loss in the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project
Authors: Ma Weiming , Chen Gang , Peings Yannick , Alviz Noah
Published: October 2021

The atmospheric river (AR) response to Arctic sea ice loss in the Northern hemisphere winter is investigated using simulations from the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project. Results have shown that the midlatitude responses are dominated by dynamic effects. Poleward of around , the dynamic and thermodynamic effects cancel each other, resulting in relatively small responses. The response uncertainty can be characterized by leading uncertainty modes, with the responses over the Pacific and Atlantic projecting onto the northeastward extension and equatorward shift mode, respectively. In addition, the responses seem to be mean state‐dependent: under the same forcing, models with more poleward‐located climatological ARs tend to show stronger equatorward shifts over the Atlantic; over the Pacific, models with more westward‐located climatological AR core tend to show stronger northeastward extensions. These relationships highlight the importance of improving the AR climatology representation on reducing the response uncertainty to Arctic sea ice loss.
Carbon Dioxide Cold Traps on the Moon
Authors: Schorghofer Norbert , Williams Jean‐Pierre , Martinez‐Camacho Jose , Paige David A. , Siegler Matthew A.
Published: October 2021

Water ice is expected to be trapped in permanently cold regions near the lunar poles. Other ices (“super‐volatiles”) are trapped at lower temperatures, close to the lowest temperatures measured within the lunar permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). Here, the thermal stability of solid carbon dioxide in the south polar region is determined by analysis of 11 years of temperature measurements by Diviner, a radiometer onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Sublimation rates averaged over a draconic year are far lower than peak sublimation rates. Small spatially contiguous pockets of CO2 ice stability are found in the craters Amundsen, Haworth, de Gerlache, and others, over a cumulative area of roughly 200 km2. The LCROSS probe impacted one of those pockets and released CO2, serving as validation of the thermal stability calculations. Future surface missions can utilize this highly localized resource for the production of fuel, steel, and biological materials.
The Impact of Radial and Non‐Radial IMF on the Earth's Magnetopause Size, Shape, and Dawn‐Dusk Asymmetry From Global 3D Kinetic Simulations
Authors: Baraka Suleiman M. , Le Contel Olivier , Ben‐Jaffel Lotfi , Moore William B.
Published: October 2021

The boundary between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere, the magnetopause (MP), is highly dynamic. Its location and shape depend on SW dynamic pressure and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation. We use a 3D kinetic Particle‐In‐Cell code (IAPIC) to simulate an event observed by THEMIS spacecraft on July 16, 2007. We investigate the impact of radial ( = ) and non‐radial ( = ) IMF on the shape and size of Earth's MP for a dipole tilt of using maximum density gradient and pressure balance methods. Using the model as a reference (MP at 10.3 ), we find that for non‐radial IMF the MP expands by 1.4 and 1.7 along the Sun‐Earth (OX) and tilted magnetic equatorial (Tilt) axes, respectively, and it expands by 0.5 and 1.6 for radial IMF along the same respective axes. When the effect of backstreaming ions is removed from the bulk flow, the expansion ranges are 1.0 and 1.3 and 0.2, and 1.2, respectively. It is found that the percentage of backstreaming to bulk flow ions are 16.5% and 20% for radial and non‐radial IMF. We also show that when the backstreaming ions are not identified, up to 40% of the observed expansion that is due to backstreaming particles can be inadvertently attributed to a change in the SW upstream properties. Finally, we quantified the temperature anisotropy in the magnetosheath, and observe a strong dawn‐dusk asymmetry in the MP location, being more extended on the duskside than on the dawnside.
Rapid Intensity Decrease During the Second Half of the First Millennium BCE in Central Asia and Global Implications
Authors: Bonilla‐Alba R. , Gómez‐Paccard M. , Pavón‐Carrasco F. J. , Río J. del , Beamud E. , Martínez‐Ferreras V. , Gurt‐Esparraguera J. M. , Ariño‐Gil E. , Palencia‐Ortas A. , Martín‐Hernández F. , Chauvin A. , Osete M. L.
Published: October 2021

Recent paleomagnetic studies have shown that important short‐lived intensity fluctuations occurred during the first millennium BCE. However, the knowledge of the spatial and temporal extension of these features is still limited by the scarce availability of robust data. In this study we focus on the study of the intensity decrease that took place in Central Asia during the second half of the 1st millennium BCE after the high intensities that characterized the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly. Since previous archeointensities available for this period and region were obtained without accomplishing modern standards of quality, we present here new archeointensities that are derived from classical Thellier and Thellier experiments, including partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) checks, thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) anisotropy and cooling rate corrections at the specimen level. The new 51 archeointensities, together with previous archeointensities, have been used to present a new local paleosecular variation curve for Central Asia. The results confirm the existence of an important geomagnetic field intensity decrease in South Uzbekistan from the 4th century BCE to the end of the 1st century BCE associated with rates of changes up to −15 μT/century. A critical analysis of the archeointensity global database indicates that this feature was present at continental scale, from Western Europe to Central Asia. However, this trend is not identified in other regions such as Japan or Mexico. Finally, the comparison with the dipole moment derived from recent global geomagnetic field reconstructions suggests a strong influence of non‐dipolar sources upon this continental intensity feature.