Pliocene decoupling of equatorial Pacific temperature and pH gradients.

Ocean dynamics in the equatorial Pacific drive tropical climate patterns that affect marine and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. How this region will respond to global warming has profound implications for global climate, economic stability and ecosystem health. As a result, numerous studies have investigated equatorial Pacific dynamics during the Pliocene (5.3-2.6 million years ago) and late Miocene (around 6 million years ago) as an analogue for the future behaviour of the region under global warming1-12. Palaeoceanographic records from this time present an apparent paradox with proxy evidence of a reduced east-west sea surface temperature gradient along the equatorial Pacific1,3,7,8-indicative of reduced wind-driven upwelling-conflicting with evidence of enhanced biological productivity in the east Pacific13-15 that typically results from stronger upwelling. Here we reconcile these observations by providing new evidence for a radically different-from-modern circulation regime in the early Pliocene/late Miocene16 that results in older, more acidic and more nutrient-rich water reaching the equatorial Pacific. These results provide a mechanism for enhanced productivity in the early Pliocene/late Miocene east Pacific even in the presence of weaker wind-driven upwelling. Our findings shed new light on equatorial Pacific dynamics and help to constrain the potential changes they will undergo in the near future, given that the Earth is expected to reach Pliocene-like levels of warming in the next century.

Diagnosis or prognosis? An umbrella review of mid-trimester cervical length and spontaneous preterm birth.

BACKGROUND: Cervical length is widely used to assess a woman's risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). OBJECTIVES: To summarise and critically appraise the evidence from systematic reviews on the prognostic capacity of transvaginal sonographic cervical length in the second trimester in asymptomatic women with singleton or twin pregnancy. SEARCH STRATEGY: Searches were performed in Medline, Embase, CINAHL and grey literature from 1 January 1995 to 6 July 2021, including keywords 'cervical length', 'preterm birth', 'obstetric labour, premature', 'review' and others, without language restriction. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included systematic reviews including women who did not receive treatments to reduce SPTB risk. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: From 2472 articles, 14 systematic reviews were included. Summary statistics were independently extracted by two reviewers, tabulated and analysed descriptively. The ROBIS tool was used to evaluate risk of bias of included systematic reviews. MAIN RESULTS: Twelve reviews performed meta-analyses: two were reported as systematic reviews of prognostic factor studies, ten used diagnostic test accuracy methodology. Ten systematic reviews were at high or unclear risk of bias. Meta-analyses reported up to 80 combinations of cervical length, gestational age at measurement and definition of preterm birth. Cervical length was consistently associated with SPTB, with a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 1.70-142. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of cervical length to predict SPTB is a prognostic research question; systematic reviews typically analysed diagnostic test accuracy. Individual participant data meta-analysis using prognostic factor research methods is recommended to better quantify how well transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical length can predict SPTB.

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of the effects of infusing local analgesia on post-operative pain during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

PURPOSE: While it is widely accepted that laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal herniorrhaphy has decreased post-operative pain, there are conflicting data as to whether instillation of local anesthetic into the preperitoneal space improves post-operative pain in these patients. We designed a prospective study to evaluate this. Secondary outcomes include time spent in the PACU, need for narcotic pain medication, and total amount of narcotics required postoperatively. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study which enrolled 70 patients with unilateral non-recurrent inguinal hernia from 09/2013 to 03/2019 and included immediate and 2-week post-operative follow-up. All patients received unilateral laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair with control patients receiving 10 ml of 0.9% saline instilled into preperitoneal space while treatment group received 10-ml 0.5% bupivacaine without epinephrine. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients [67 (96%) men and 3 women; mean age (SD), 57 years (13.8)] were enrolled, 35 randomized into each group. Demographics between the two groups were similar. No differences were found in post-operative pain between the control and test groups at 1 h [mean (SD) of 3.15(2.5) vs 3.21(2.9); P = 0.92], 2 h [3.39 (1.55) vs 2.74 (1.85) P = 0.18], or 1 day [4.79 (2.19) vs 4.39 (2.37); P = 0.13] postoperatively. Likewise, no significant differences were observed in usage of narcotic pain medication postoperatively, as 17 control patients (50%) and 16 (46%) study patients required narcotics within 2 h of surgery (P = 0.72). CONCLUSION: Instilling local anesthetic into the preperitoneal space during laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair did not result in statistically significant difference in post-operative pain (Rade et al. in NESS Annual Meeting, 2021). Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02055053.

Screening for symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients treated with renal replacement therapy: utility of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Revised.

PURPOSE: The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESASr) is widely used in clinical oncology to screen for physical and emotional symptoms. The performance of the anxiety and depression items (ESASr-A and ESASr-D, respectively) as screening tools have not been evaluated in patients treated with renal replacement therapy. METHODS: Kidney transplant recipients and patients on dialysis were recruited in Toronto. Patients were classified as having moderate/severe depression and anxiety symptoms using the established cut-off score of ≥ 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires. RESULTS: This study included 931 participants; 62% male, mean age (SD) 55(16), and 52% White. All participants completed ESASr, however only 748 participants completed PHQ-9 and 769 participants completed GAD-7. Correlation between ESASr item scores and legacy scores were moderately strong (ESASr-D/PHQ-9: 0.61; ESASr-A/GAD-7: 0.64). We found good discrimination for moderate/severe depression and anxiety [area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (95% CI) ESASr-D 0.82(0.78-0.86); ESASr-A 0.87 (0.82, 0.92)]. The cut-off ≥ 2 for ESASr-D [Sensitivity = 0.76; Specificity = 0.77; Likelihood Ratio (LR) + = 3.29; LR - = 0.31] and ≥ 4 for ESASr-A (Sensitivity = 0.75; Specificity = 0.87; LR + = 5.76; LR - = 0.29) had the best combination of measurement characteristics. CONCLUSION: The identified ESASr-D and ESASr-A cut-off scores may be used to rule out patients without emotional distress with few false negatives. However, the low sensitivity identified in our analysis suggests that neither ESASr-D or ESASr-A are acceptable as standalone screening tools.

Evaluating symptom burden in kidney transplant recipients: validation of the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System for kidney transplant recipients - a single-center, cross-sectional study.

We assessed the validity of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). A cross-sectional sample of 252 KTR was recruited. Individual ESAS-r symptom scores and symptom domain scores were evaluated. Internal consistency, convergent validity, and construct validity were assessed with Cronbach's α, Spearman's rank correlations, and a priori-defined risk group comparisons. Mean (SD) age was 51 (16), 58% were male, and 58% Caucasian. ESAS-r Physical, Emotional, and Global Symptom Scores demonstrated good internal consistency (α > 0.8 for all). ESAS-r Physical and Global Symptom Scores strongly correlated with PHQ-9 scores (0.72, 95% CI: 0.64-0.78 and 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.80). For a priori-defined risk groups, individual ESAS-r symptom score differed between groups with lower versus higher eGFR [pain: 1 (0-3) vs. 0 (0-2), delta = 0.18; tiredness: 3 (1-5) vs. 1.5 (0-4), delta = 0.21] and lower versus higher hemoglobin [tiredness: 3 (1-6) vs. 2 (0-4), delta = 0.27]. ESAS-r Global and Physical Symptom Scores differed between groups with lower versus higher hemoglobin [13 (6-29) vs. 6.5 (0-18.5), delta = 0.3, and 9 (2-19) vs. 4 (0-13), delta = 0.24] and lower versus higher eGFR [11 (4-20) vs. 6.5 (2-13), delta = 0.21, and 7 (2-16) vs. 3 (0-9), delta = 0.26]. These data support reliability and construct validity of ESAS-r in KTR. Future studies should explore its clinical utility for symptom assessment among KTR.

Validation of the Oxford WebQ Online 24-Hour Dietary Questionnaire Using Biomarkers.

The Oxford WebQ is an online 24-hour dietary questionnaire that is appropriate for repeated administration in large-scale prospective studies, including the UK Biobank study and the Million Women Study. We compared the performance of the Oxford WebQ and a traditional interviewer-administered multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recall against biomarkers for protein, potassium, and total sugar intake and total energy expenditure estimated by accelerometry. We recruited 160 participants in London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and 2016 and measured their biomarker levels at 3 nonconsecutive time points. The measurement error model simultaneously compared all 3 methods. Attenuation factors for protein, potassium, total sugar, and total energy intakes estimated as the mean of 2 applications of the Oxford WebQ were 0.37, 0.42, 0.45, and 0.31, respectively, with performance improving incrementally for the mean of more measures. Correlation between the mean value from 2 Oxford WebQs and estimated true intakes, reflecting attenuation when intake is categorized or ranked, was 0.47, 0.39, 0.40, and 0.38, respectively, also improving with repeated administration. These correlations were similar to those of the more administratively burdensome interviewer-based recall. Using objective biomarkers as the standard, the Oxford WebQ performs well across key nutrients in comparison with more administratively burdensome interviewer-based 24-hour recalls. Attenuation improves when the average value is taken over repeated administrations, reducing measurement error bias in assessment of diet-disease associations.

Ten simple rules for measuring the impact of workshops.

Workshops are used to explore a specific topic, to transfer knowledge, to solve identified problems, or to create something new. In funded research projects and other research endeavours, workshops are the mechanism used to gather the wider project, community, or interested people together around a particular topic. However, natural questions arise: how do we measure the impact of these workshops? Do we know whether they are meeting the goals and objectives we set for them? What indicators should we use? In response to these questions, this paper will outline rules that will improve the measurement of the impact of workshops.

Validity of an online 24-h recall tool (myfood24) for dietary assessment in population studies: comparison with biomarkers and standard interviews.

BACKGROUND: Online dietary assessment tools can reduce administrative costs and facilitate repeated dietary assessment during follow-up in large-scale studies. However, information on bias due to measurement error of such tools is limited. We developed an online 24-h recall (myfood24) and compared its performance with a traditional interviewer-administered multiple-pass 24-h recall, assessing both against biomarkers. METHODS: Metabolically stable adults were recruited and completed the new online dietary recall, an interviewer-based multiple pass recall and a suite of reference measures. Longer-term dietary intake was estimated from up to 3 × 24-h recalls taken 2 weeks apart. Estimated intakes of protein, potassium and sodium were compared with urinary biomarker concentrations. Estimated total sugar intake was compared with a predictive biomarker and estimated energy intake compared with energy expenditure measured by accelerometry and calorimetry. Nutrient intakes were also compared to those derived from an interviewer-administered multiple-pass 24-h recall. RESULTS: Biomarker samples were received from 212 participants on at least one occasion. Both self-reported dietary assessment tools led to attenuation compared to biomarkers. The online tools resulted in attenuation factors of around 0.2-0.3 and partial correlation coefficients, reflecting ranking intakes, of approximately 0.3-0.4. This was broadly similar to the more administratively burdensome interviewer-based tool. Other nutrient estimates derived from myfood24 were around 10-20% lower than those from the interviewer-based tool, with wide limits of agreement. Intraclass correlation coefficients were approximately 0.4-0.5, indicating consistent moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that, whilst results from both measures of self-reported diet are attenuated compared to biomarker measures, the myfood24 online 24-h recall is comparable to the more time-consuming and costly interviewer-based 24-h recall across a range of measures.

Late Miocene decoupling of oceanic warmth and atmospheric carbon dioxide forcing.

Deep-time palaeoclimate studies are vitally important for developing a complete understanding of climate responses to changes in the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (that is, the atmospheric partial pressure of CO(2), p(co(2))). Although past studies have explored these responses during portions of the Cenozoic era (the most recent 65.5 million years (Myr) of Earth history), comparatively little is known about the climate of the late Miocene (∼12-5 Myr ago), an interval with p(co(2)) values of only 200-350 parts per million by volume but nearly ice-free conditions in the Northern Hemisphere and warmer-than-modern temperatures on the continents. Here we present quantitative geochemical sea surface temperature estimates from the Miocene mid-latitude North Pacific Ocean, and show that oceanic warmth persisted throughout the interval of low p(co(2)) ∼12-5 Myr ago. We also present new stable isotope measurements from the western equatorial Pacific that, in conjunction with previously published data, reveal a long-term trend of thermocline shoaling in the equatorial Pacific since ∼13 Myr ago. We propose that a relatively deep global thermocline, reductions in low-latitude gradients in sea surface temperature, and cloud and water vapour feedbacks may help to explain the warmth of the late Miocene. Additional shoaling of the thermocline after 5 Myr ago probably explains the stronger coupling between p(co(2)), sea surface temperatures and climate that is characteristic of the more recent Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs.

Exploring the use of tablet computer-based electronic data capture system to assess patient reported measures among patients with chronic kidney disease: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Collecting patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) via computer-based electronic data capture system may improve feasibility and facilitate implementation in clinical care. We report our initial experience about the acceptability of touch-screen tablet computer-based, self-administered questionnaires among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including stage 5 CKD treated with renal replacement therapies (RRT) (either dialysis or transplant). METHODS: We enrolled a convenience sample of patients with stage 4 and 5 CKD (including patients on dialysis or after kidney transplant) in a single-centre, cross-sectional pilot study. Participants completed validated questionnaires programmed on an electronic data capture system (DADOS, Techna Inc., Toronto) on tablet computers. The primary objective was to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of using tablet-based electronic data capture in patients with CKD. Descriptive statistics, Fischer's exact test and multivariable logistic regression models were used for data analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty one patients (55% male, mean age (± SD) of 58 (±14) years, 49% Caucasian) participated in the study. Ninety-two percent of the respondents indicated that the computer tablet was acceptable and 79% of the participants required no or minimal help for completing the questionnaires. Acceptance of tablets was lower among patients 70 years or older (75% vs. 95%; p = 0.011) and with little previous computer experience (81% vs. 96%; p = 0.05). Furthermore, a greater level of assistance was more frequently required by patients who were older (45% vs. 15%; p = 0.009), had lower level of education (33% vs. 14%; p = 0.027), low health literacy (79% vs. 12%; p = 0.027), and little previous experience with computers (52% vs. 10%; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Tablet computer-based electronic data capture to administer PROMs was acceptable and feasible for most respondents and could therefore be used to systematically assess PROMs among patients with CKD. Special consideration should focus on elderly patients with little previous computer experience, since they may require more assistance with completion.

'Anyone can edit', not everyone does: Wikipedia's infrastructure and the gender gap.

Feminist STS has long established that science's provenance as a male domain continues to define what counts as knowledge and expertise. Wikipedia, arguably one of the most powerful sources of information today, was initially lauded as providing the opportunity to rebuild knowledge institutions by providing greater representation of multiple groups. However, less than ten percent of Wikipedia editors are women. At one level, this imbalance in contributions and therefore content is yet another case of the masculine culture of technoscience. This is an important argument and, in this article, we examine the empirical research that highlights these issues. Our main objective, however, is to extend current accounts by demonstrating that Wikipedia's infrastructure introduces new and less visible sources of gender disparity. In sum, our aim here is to present a consolidated analysis of the gendering of Wikipedia.

Mycoprotein reduces energy intake and postprandial insulin release without altering glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine concentrations in healthy overweight and obese adults: a randomised-controlled trial.

Dietary mycoprotein decreases energy intake in lean individuals. The effects in overweight individuals are unclear, and the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mycoprotein on energy intake, appetite regulation, and the metabolic phenotype in overweight and obese volunteers. In two randomised-controlled trials, fifty-five volunteers (age: 31 (95 % CI 27, 35) years), BMI: 28·0 (95 % CI 27·3, 28·7) kg/m2) consumed a test meal containing low (44 g), medium (88 g) or high (132 g) mycoprotein or isoenergetic chicken meals. Visual analogue scales and blood samples were collected to measure appetite, glucose, insulin, peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Ad libitum energy intake was assessed after 3 h in part A (n 36). Gastric emptying by the paracetamol method, resting energy expenditure and substrate oxidation were recorded in part B (n 14). Metabonomics was used to compare plasma and urine samples in response to the test meals. Mycoprotein reduced energy intake by 10 % (280 kJ (67 kcal)) compared with chicken at the high content (P=0·009). All mycoprotein meals reduced insulin concentrations compared with chicken (incremental AUClow (IAUClow): -8 %, IAUCmedium: -12 %, IAUChigh: -21 %, P=0·004). There was no significant difference in glucose, PYY, GLP-1, gastric emptying rate and energy expenditure. Following chicken intake, paracetamol-glucuronide was positively associated with fullness. After mycoprotein, creatinine and the deamination product of isoleucine, α-keto-ß-methyl-N-valerate, were inversely related to fullness, whereas the ketone body, ß-hydroxybutyrate, was positively associated. In conclusion, mycoprotein reduces energy intake and insulin release in overweight volunteers. The mechanism does not involve changes in PYY and GLP-1. The metabonomics analysis may bring new understanding to the appetite regulatory properties of food.

Selective ablation of peptide YY cells in adult mice reveals their role in beta cell survival.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the pancreas, peptide YY (PYY) is expressed by a subpopulation of nonbeta cells in the islets of Langerhans. We investigated the function of these cells in the pancreas of adult mice. METHODS: We generated mice in which administration of diphtheria toxin (DT) led to specific ablation of PYY-expressing cells. We investigated the effects of loss of PYY cells on glucose homeostasis. RESULTS: Loss of PYY cells in adult mice resulted in severe hyperglycemia, which was associated with significant loss of pancreatic insulin and disruption of islet morphology. In vitro administration of DT to isolated islets significantly reduced numbers of PYY-expressing cells and levels of insulin. Administration of either pancreatic polypeptide (a strong agonist of the receptor Y(4)) or PYY(3-36) (a selective agonist of the receptor Y(2)) did not restore loss of pancreatic insulin following administration of DT. However, a long-acting PYY analogue reduced the loss of insulin, and administration of this analogue reduced the hyperglycemia and insulin loss induced by streptozotocin in mice. CONCLUSIONS: PYY appears to regulate beta cell function and survival via the receptor Y(1/2). These findings might be developed to treat and prevent loss of beta cells in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Predictors for insulin use in gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects about 15% of pregnancies in Australia, with approximately 30% of those diagnosed with GDM requiring insulin therapy. There are several established risk factors for developing GDM, however limited studies show how these can be used to predict need for insulin treatment. The aim of this study is to identify predictors of insulin therapy in women diagnosed with GDM once an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is performed during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies complicated by GDM between 2016 and 2017 at a single, large health network in Melbourne, Australia. Data were obtained from hospital record and pathology result systems. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fit to the data to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Of 2,048 women diagnosed with GDM, 647 (31.6%) required insulin therapy. Positive predictors included in the final multivariable model after backwards, stepwise elimination were an elevated fasting result on an OGTT (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.93 [95% CI 2.34-3.66]), previous birth weight greater than 90th% (AOR 2.04 [95% CI 1.412.94]), previous diagnosis of GDM (AOR 1.68 [95% CI 1.28-2.21]), being born in the South Asian region (AOR 1.58 [95% CI 1.27-1.98]), the 2hr OGTT result (AOR 1.14 [95% CI 1.05-1.24]), body mass index (BMI; AOR 1.13 [95% CI 1.04-1.23]) and age (AOR 1.03 [95% CI 1.00-1.05]) The final predictive model had an area under the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.744 (95% CI 0.720-0.767). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the possible predictors of insulin use, informing counselling for women who are newly diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

The PhanSST global database of Phanerozoic sea surface temperature proxy data.

Paleotemperature proxy data form the cornerstone of paleoclimate research and are integral to understanding the evolution of the Earth system across the Phanerozoic Eon. Here, we present PhanSST, a database containing over 150,000 data points from five proxy systems that can be used to estimate past sea surface temperature. The geochemical data have a near-global spatial distribution and temporally span most of the Phanerozoic. Each proxy value is associated with consistent and queryable metadata fields, including information about the location, age, and taxonomy of the organism from which the data derive. To promote transparency and reproducibility, we include all available published data, regardless of interpreted preservation state or vital effects. However, we also provide expert-assigned diagenetic assessments, ecological and environmental flags, and other proxy-specific fields, which facilitate informed and responsible reuse of the database. The data are quality control checked and the foraminiferal taxonomy has been updated. PhanSST will serve as a valuable resource to the paleoclimate community and has myriad applications, including evolutionary, geochemical, diagenetic, and proxy calibration studies.

Free fatty acid receptor 2 and nutrient sensing: a proposed role for fibre, fermentable carbohydrates and short-chain fatty acids in appetite regulation.

The way in which the composition of the diet may affect appetite, food intake and body weight is now receiving considerable attention in a bid to halt the global year-on-year rise in obesity prevalence. Epidemiological evidence suggests that populations who follow a fibre-rich, traditional diet are likely to have a lower body weight and improved metabolic parameters than their Western-diet counterparts. The colonic effects of fibre, and more specifically the SCFA that the fermentation process produces, may play a role in maintaining energy homeostasis via their action on the G-coupled protein receptor free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2; formerly GPR43). In the present review, we summarise the evidence for and against the role of FFA2 in energy homeostasis circuits and the possible ways that these could be exploited therapeutically. We also propose that the decline in fibre content of the diet since the Industrial Revolution, particularly fermentable fractions, may have resulted in the FFA2-mediated circuits being under-utilised and hence play a role in the current obesity epidemic.

Past climates inform our future.

As the world warms, there is a profound need to improve projections of climate change. Although the latest Earth system models offer an unprecedented number of features, fundamental uncertainties continue to cloud our view of the future. Past climates provide the only opportunity to observe how the Earth system responds to high carbon dioxide, underlining a fundamental role for paleoclimatology in constraining future climate change. Here, we review the relevancy of paleoclimate information for climate prediction and discuss the prospects for emerging methodologies to further insights gained from past climates. Advances in proxy methods and interpretations pave the way for the use of past climates for model evaluation-a practice that we argue should be widely adopted.

Sustained appetite improvement in malnourished dialysis patients by daily ghrelin treatment.

Malnutrition is a common complication in patients on dialysis and is strongly associated with poor prognosis. Effective therapy could substantially improve morbidity and mortality, but neither enteral nor parenteral supplementation provide long-term benefit because of the strong appetite suppression seen in such patients. We performed a double-blinded randomized crossover study of a week-long treatment with daily subcutaneous ghrelin, a gut hormone that regulates hunger through the hypothalamus, in a group of 12 malnourished dialysis patients. Ghrelin administration increased ghrelin levels in circulation, modestly reduced blood pressure for up to 2 h, and immediately and significantly increased appetite, with an increase in energy intake noted at the first study meal. Persistence of this effect throughout the week was confirmed with food diaries and final study meals. Energy expenditure, measured with free-living pulse and motion monitors, was unchanged by ghrelin. Our study shows that daily treatment with ghrelin achieves a sustained positive change in energy balance in malnourished dialysis patients. Direct manipulation of appetite with ghrelin or its analogs represents an attractive and promising therapeutic strategy for this difficult clinical problem.

Gender inequity in speaking opportunities at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting.

Implicit and explicit biases impede the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM) fields. Across career stages, attending conferences and presenting research are ways to spread scientific results, find job opportunities, and gain awards. Here, we present an analysis by gender of the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting speaking opportunities from 2014 to 2016. We find that women were invited and assigned oral presentations less often than men. However, when we control for career stage, we see similar rates between women and men and women sometimes outperform men. At the same time, women elect for poster presentations more than men. Male primary conveners allocate invited abstracts and oral presentations to women less often and below the proportion of women authors. These results highlight the need to provide equal opportunity to women in speaking roles at scientific conferences as part of the overall effort to advance women in STEM.