bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of end‐of‐life care with non‐malignant liver disease: Analysis of the VOICES National Survey of Bereaved People
Authors: Jordan Roberta I. , ElMokhallalati Yousuf , Corless Lynsey , Bennett Michael
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims

Patients with liver disease struggle to access palliative care. We aimed to compare carers' perceptions of end‐of‐life care for decedents with non‐malignant liver disease, malignant liver disease and other non‐malignant diseases, and to identify associated factors in non‐malignant liver disease.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of individual‐level data from the National Survey of Bereaved People 2011–2015.

Results

More decedents with non‐malignant liver disease died in hospital than other diseases (76.9% vs. 40.9% vs. 50.2%, p < .001), despite 89% wishing to die at home. Fewer decedents received home/hospice specialist palliative care compared with those with malignant liver disease (10.0% vs. 54.6%, p < .001). Carers of decedents with non‐malignant liver disease were less likely to rate overall end‐of‐life care quality as outstanding/excellent (29.3% vs. 43.9% vs. 42.3%, p < .001). For this group, poorer care was associated with younger (65–74 vs. 18–64 years, OR [odds ratio] 1.39, p = .01), more socially deprived decedents (OR .78, p = .02), and better care with greater social support (OR 1.82, p < .001) and community specialist palliative care involvement (OR 1.80, p < .001). There was no association between outstanding/excellent rating and underlying cause of non‐malignant liver disease (alcohol‐related vs. non‐alcohol‐related, p = .92) or place of death (hospital vs. non‐hospital, p = .476).

Conclusions

End‐of‐life care could be improved by integrating hepatology and community services, particularly specialist palliative care, and advance care planning to facilitate care and death (where desired) at home. However, death in hospital may be appropriate for those with non‐malignant liver disease.
Optimal dynamic regulation of carbon emissions market
Authors: Aïd René , Biagini Sara
Published: September 2022

In this article, we deal with optimal dynamic carbon emission regulation of a set of firms. On the one hand, the regulator dynamically allocates emission allowances to each firm. On the other hand, firms face idiosyncratic, as well as common, economic shocks on emissions, and they have linear quadratic abatement costs. Firms can trade allowances so as to minimize total expected costs, which arise from abatement, trading, and terminal penalty. Using variational methods, we first exhibit in closed form the market equilibrium in function of the regulator's dynamic allocation. We then solve the Stackelberg game between the regulator and the firms. The result is a closed‐form expression of the optimal dynamic allocation policies that allow a desired expected emission reduction. The optimal policy is unique in the presence of market impact. In absence of market impact, the optimal policy is nonunique, but all the optimal policies share common properties. The optimal policies are fully responsive, and therefore induce a constant abatement effort and a constant price of allowances. Our results are robust to some extensions, like different penalty functions.
Genetic decline and recovery of a demographically rebuilt fishery species
Authors: Hoey Jennifer A. , Able Kenneth W. , Pinsky Malin L.
Published: September 2022

The demographic history of a population is important for conservation and evolution, but this history is unknown for many populations. Methods that use genomic data have been developed to infer demography, but they can be challenging to implement and interpret, particularly for large populations. Thus, understanding if and when genetic estimates of demography correspond to true population history is important for assessing the performance of these genetic methods. Here, we used double‐digest restriction‐site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing data from archived collections of larval summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus, n = 279) from three cohorts (1994–1995, 1997–1998 and 2008–2009) along the U.S. East coast to examine how contemporary effective population size and genetic diversity responded to changes in abundance in a natural population. Despite little to no detectable change in genetic diversity, coalescent‐based demographic modelling from site frequency spectra revealed that summer flounder effective population size declined dramatically in the early 1980s. The timing and direction of change corresponded well with the observed decline in spawning stock census abundance in the late 1980s from independent fish surveys. Census abundance subsequently recovered and achieved the prebottleneck size. Effective population size also grew following the bottleneck. Our results for summer flounder demonstrate that genetic sampling and site frequency spectra can be useful for detecting population dynamics, even in species with large effective sizes.
Flourishing Ethics and identifying ethical values to instill into artificially intelligent agents
Authors: Kantar Nesibe , Bynum Terrell Ward
Published: September 2022

The present paper uses a Flourishing Ethics analysis to address the question of which ethical values and principles should be “instilled” into artificially intelligent agents. This is an urgent question that is still being asked seven decades after philosopher/scientist Norbert Wiener first asked it. An answer is developed by assuming that human flourishing is the central ethical value, which other ethical values, and related principles, can be used to defend and advance. The upshot is that Flourishing Ethics can provide a common underlying ethical foundation for a wide diversity of cultures and communities around the globe; and the members of each specific culture or community can add their own specific cultural values—ones which they treasure, and which help them to make sense of their moral lives.
What does formal logic have to do with arguments?
Authors: McKeon Matthew W.
Published: September 2022

This paper sharpens the distinction between inferential and logcon arguments. Inferential arguments represent possible inferences, logcon ones need not. This distinction clarifies the roles that arguments play in accounting for the normativity of validity for inferential reasoning and in establishing the theoretical connection between validity and logical consequence. There are two related takeaways. First, the normativity of validity for inferential reasoning is grounded on the notion of an inferential argument. This will account for the use of validity to judge inference in the face of well‐known skepticism that a theory of validity has any special relevance to inferential reasoning. Second, a valid logcon argument needn't be an inferential argument. Accordingly, the normativity of validity for inferential reasoning doesn't require that every valid logcon argument be an inferential argument. The takeaways harmonize the use of validity to evaluate inferential reasoning with the use of the concept of logical consequence to characterize validity.
Time and cost‐efficient identification of Trichophyton indotineae
Authors: Batvandi Abolfazl , Pchelin Ivan M. , Kiasat Neda , Kharazi Mahboobeh , Mohammadi Rasoul , Zomorodian Kamiar , Rezaei‐Matehkolaei Ali
Published: September 2022

Background

During the past 5 years, an outbreak of recalcitrant dermatophytosis due to a novel Trichophyton species generally resistant to terbinafine, T. indotineae, has spread out from South Asia to many countries around the World. These isolates cannot be reliably differentiated from other Trichophyton spp. on the basis of morphological traits and the current laboratory diagnostics relies on sequencing of ribosomal DNA ITS region.

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to introduce two inexpensive and rapid PCR‐based assays for differentiation between T. indotineae and other dermatophytes.

Methods

The first introduced assay is based on PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) analysis, involving the amplification of TOP2 sequences and the digestion of PCR products by Cfr13I restriction enzyme. The second assay is proposed as conventional endpoint species‐specific PCR amplification of the C120‐287 intergenic locus. To validate the assays, a total of 191 Trichophyton spp. and 2 Microsporum canis strains with known ITS region sequences were used. From the T. mentagrophytes / T. interdigitale species complex (TMTISC), strains with 18 different ITS genotypes were tested. The sample of TMTISC isolates included 41 T. indotineae strains.

Results

TOP2 PCR‐RFLP and T. indotineae‐specific PCR were positive with testing on DNA of all 41 T. indotineae isolates and two strains of T. mentagrophytes belonging to ITS Types XIII and XVI, but negative with other species and other TMTISC ITS genotypes (n = 152). Therefore, the specificity of both new assays was 99%.

Conclusion

The two developed diagnostic assays provide accurate and cost‐effective means of identifying cultured T. indotineae isolates.
Thomas Aquinas's and Herbert McCabe's Relational/Friendship Understanding of Christ's Passion
Authors: Payne Taylor
Published: September 2022

In this essay, I argue that Thomas Aquinas's and Herbert McCabe's soteriological paradigms are immensely compatible with one another. In contrast to the presuppositions held by certain interpreters of Thomas, I contend that Aquinas, like McCabe, rejects a primarily juridical/transactional understanding of Christ's Passion, and, in light of this fact, it is a mistake to assert that his soteriology is a precursor to later penal-substitutionary conceptions of the atonement. Once Aquinas's and McCabe's teachings are correctly situated within a relational/friendship rather than juridical context, their similarities and mutual aversion to penal-substitutionary atonement becomes explicit. Likewise, after appropriately identifying McCabe's indebtedness to Aquinas's thought, one can perceive his unique and substantial contribution to the Church's understanding of Christ's salvific work. The comparison between Aquinas and McCabe, in particular, provides clarity to a proper conception of the intrinsic disordering of sin and the essential character of Christ's meritorious love and obedience offered to God the Father.
Efficacy and Safety of Ponesimod in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Thapa Sangharsha , Shah Sangam , Subedi Aastha , Bagherieh Sara , Chand Swati , Mirmosayyeb Omid , Eckert Svetlana Primma
Published: September 2022

One the disease modifying therapies (DMTs) that has been reported to be beneficial in multiple sclerosis (MS) is ponesimod, and as it holds true for all other autoimmune diseases, attempts to design immunosuppressive agents to help control the progression of MS while causing minimal side effects play a pivotal role in helping individuals suffering from the disease. Consequently, we have designed this review to comprehensively look into the safety and efficacy of ponesimod in persons with MS. A systematic database search was performed in March 2021. Double‐blinded RCTs on patients with MS with Ponesimod as their experimental medication were included. Annualized relapse rate (ARR), disability accumulation rate (DAR), the score of Fatigue Symptom and Impact Questionnaire–Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ–RMS), and adverse reactions were interpreted as efficacy and safety measurements, respectively. Ninety‐Five papers were retrieved in the literature search. After duplicate elimination, 92 studies remained. Finally, the review included two studies that met the criteria and used varied study designs. Ponesimod reduced ARR by 30.5% (p value = 0.001), DRA by 58% (p value = 0.29), and FSIQ‐RMS mean score by 3.57 (p value = 0.002). Meanwhile, the drugs have few side effects which were mild or moderate in intensity but has less cardiovascular side effects comparing to other S1P drugs like fingolimod. The advantageous properties of ponesimod in terms of its favorable risk: benefit and convenience profile, ponesimod has been regarded recently as a potential SIP‐1 drug for treating MS.
New medicine for neuromuscular diseases: An evolving paradox for patient and family hopes and expectations
Authors: Mahoney Annette F. , Handberg Charlotte
Published: September 2022

Recent developments in novel therapies for neuromuscular diseases offer parents new perspectives on their affected children's future. This article examines how the emergence of new therapies impacts the lives of parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy type 2, two genetic neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. Aiming for a first‐person perspective, fieldwork was conducted utilizing participant observation, semistructured interviews, and several internet sources. Six families with a total of 12 persons, all living in Denmark, were included in the interviews. Two types of parents were identified who were at opposite ends in dealing with the new therapies—the cure optimists and the cure pragmatists. Different hopes resulted in different narratives for their children's futures. The article raises questions about how and when children with chronic diseases should be involved in their parent's hopes for a cure and highlights the dilemmas facing health professionals working in the field of children with chronic diseases for which the prospects of a cure are improving. We conclude that health professionals must find a way to carefully balance guidance and information about experimental medicines, including the fact that experimental medicine sometimes fails, does not work as well as hoped for, or does not become available, with sustaining parental hopes for their children's future.
Consciousness and welfare subjectivity
Authors: Bradford Gwen
Published: September 2022

Many philosophers tacitly accept the View: consciousness is necessary for being a welfare subject. That is, in order to be an eligible bearer of welfare goods and bads, an entity must be capable of phenomenal consciousness. However, this paper argues that, in the absence of a compelling rationale, we are not licensed to accept the View, because doing so amounts to fallacious reasoning in theorizing about welfare: insisting on the View when consciousness is not in fact important for welfare value in a systematic and significant way is objectionably “consciousist.” As a result, the View does not advance our understanding of the value of consciousness. The paper further diagnoses why we may be attracted to the View, and what we should accept instead.
Short‐term plasticity of neuro‐auditory processing induced by musical active listening training
Authors: Schneider Peter , Groß Christine , Bernhofs Valdis , Christiner Markus , Benner Jan , Turker Sabrina , Zeidler Bettina M. , Seither‐Preisler Annemarie
Published: September 2022

Although there is strong evidence for the positive effects of musical training on auditory perception, processing, and training‐induced neuroplasticity, there is still little knowledge on the auditory and neurophysiological short‐term plasticity through listening training. In a sample of 37 adolescents (20 musicians and 17 nonmusicians) that was compared to a control group matched for age, gender, and musical experience, we conducted a 2‐week active listening training (AULOS: Active IndividUalized Listening OptimizationS). Using magnetoencephalography and psychoacoustic tests, the short‐term plasticity of auditory evoked fields and auditory skills were examined in a pre‐post design, adapted to the individual neuro‐auditory profiles. We found bilateral, but more pronounced plastic changes in the right auditory cortex. Moreover, we observed synchronization of the auditory evoked P1, N1, and P2 responses and threefold larger amplitudes of the late P2 response, similar to the reported effects of musical long‐term training. Auditory skills and thresholds benefited largely from the AULOS training. Remarkably, after training, the mean thresholds improved by 12 dB for bone conduction and by 3–4 dB for air conduction. Thus, our findings indicate a strong positive influence of active listening training on neural auditory processing and perception in adolescence, when the auditory system is still developing.
Experimental tooth loss affects spatial learning function and blood–brain barrier of mice
Authors: Oue Hiroshi , Hatakeyama Rie , Ishida Eri , Yokoi Miyuki , Tsuga Kazuhiro
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study aims to investigate how experimental tooth loss affected learning, memory function, and brain pathophysiology in mice.

Materials and Methods

The mice (C57BL/6 J, 2‐month‐old, male) were divided into tooth loss and control groups. The behavioral test battery was performed at 6 and 12 months after tooth extraction. The protein levels of the tight junctions in the brains of the mice were analyzed. Hippocampal astrocyte was measured using immunohistochemical staining.

Results

The results of behavioral tests and biochemical analysis performed during the 6 months observation period did not show significant differences between the groups. However, the escape latency in the tooth loss group was significantly longer than that in the control group at the 12 months after tooth extraction. The level of claudin‐5 decreased in the tooth loss group. Additionally, hippocampal astrogliosis was found in the tooth loss group.

Conclusions

Experimental tooth loss reduced the level of claudin‐5 and caused astrogliosis in the brains of mice, which was accompanied by deterioration of learning functions. This study may provide a new insight about the association between tooth loss and cognitive dysfunction.
A teosinte‐derived allele of an HKT1 family sodium transporter improves salt tolerance in maize
Authors: Zhang Ming , Li Yidan , Liang Xiaoyan , Lu Minhui , Lai Jinsheng , Song Weibin , Jiang Caifu
Published: September 2022

The sodium cation (Na+) is the predominant cation with deleterious effects on crops in salt‐affected agricultural areas. Salt tolerance of crop can be improved by increasing shoot Na+ exclusion. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and use genetic variants of various crops that promote shoot Na+ exclusion. Here, we show that a HKT1 family gene ZmNC3 (Zea mays L. Na+ Content 3; designated ZmHKT1;2) confers natural variability in shoot‐Na+ accumulation and salt tolerance in maize. ZmHKT1;2 encodes a Na+‐preferential transporter localized in the plasma membrane, which mediates shoot Na+ exclusion, likely by withdrawing Na+ from the root xylem flow. A naturally occurring nonsynonymous SNP (SNP947‐G) increases the Na+ transport activity of ZmHKT1;2, promoting shoot Na+ exclusion and salt tolerance in maize. SNP947‐G first occurred in the wild grass teosinte (at a allele frequency of 43%) and has become a minor allele in the maize population (allele frequency 6.1%), suggesting that SNP947‐G is derived from teosinte and that the genomic region flanking SNP947 likely has undergone selection during domestication or post‐domestication dispersal of maize. Moreover, we demonstrate that introgression of the SNP947‐G ZmHKT1;2 allele into elite maize germplasms reduces shoot Na+ content by up to 80% and promotes salt tolerance. Taken together, ZmNC3/ZmHKT1;2 was identified as an important QTL promoting shoot Na+ exclusion, and its favourable allele provides an effective tool for developing salt‐tolerant maize varieties.
The impact of friendship structures on marital quality of heterosexual couples
Authors: Sauter Julia , Ganjour Olga , Gouveia Rita , Widmer Eric D.
Published: September 2022

In this research, we considered how various structural aspects of friendship networks relate to marital quality according to gender. To investigate this issue, we drew on data from a large longitudinal survey on marital functioning based on 903 heterosexual couples living in Switzerland. Using reports from male and female partners, we explored the extent to which joint contacts, transitivity, and overlap in friendship structures affect various indicators of marital quality for husbands and wives in the long run. Our results indicate that separate, low transitive friendship networks affect marital quality negatively for women, but not for men. We also discuss the importance of the results for understanding the dynamics of heterosexual couples within larger relational contexts beyond dyadic interactions, as well as the relevance of separately analyzing husbands' and wives' marital dynamics.
Photoswitchable Phosphonate–Fullerene Hybrids with Cholinesterase Activity
Authors: Kolesnikov Ilya , Mamonova Daria , Pankin Dmitrii , Bikbaeva Gulia , Khokhlova Anastasia , Pilip Anna , Egorova Anastasia , Zigel Vladislav , Manshina Alina
Published: September 2022

Modern progress in photopharmocology calls for new generation of compounds joining bioactivity, photoswitchable properties and high selectivity of response to light wavelength. Introduced here, phosphonate–fullerene hybrids are the first representatives of such compounds. Phosphonate–fullerene hybrids were synthesized on a base of fullerene C60 and organophosphates with the function of photoswitchable cholinesterase activity—phosphorylated thiazolotriazole and aminomalonate compounds and studied with FTIR, UV–VIS spectroscopy and IPC‐micro neurotoxin amperometric analysis. As a result of spectroscopic and bioactivity characterization, it was not only demonstrated butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition increase in phosphonate–fullerene hybrids compared with pure phosphonates but also pronounced response of inhibition degree to laser irradiation of hybrids. It was found opposite behavior of hybrids as a result of laser irradiation—BuChE inhibition drop‐off for thiazolotriazole–fullerene and pronounced growth for aminomalonate–fullerene. The other remarkable peculiarity of presented phosphonate–fullerene hybrids is high selectivity of inhibition change degree to laser wavelength (266 or 325 nm).
Squaraine Dyes as Fluorescent Turn‐on Probes for Mucins: A Step Toward Selectivity†
Authors: Butnarasu Cosmin , Pontremoli Carlotta , Moran Plata Maria Jesus , Barbero Nadia , Visentin Sonja
Published: September 2022

Mucins are a family of long polymeric glycoproteins which can be overexpressed in several types of cancers, and over recent years, great attention was addressed to identify mucins as an important biomarker of adverse prognosis. Fluorometric detection mediated by fluorescent probes could represent a winning strategy in the early diagnosis of different pathologies. Among promising biological fluorescent probes, squaraines are gaining particular attention, thanks to their sharp and intense absorption and emission in the NIR region. In this contribution, three squaraine dyes bearing different substituents and with different lipophilicity have been investigated for their ability to detect mucin. The turn‐on response upon the addition of mucin has been investigated by means of absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. After a preliminary screening, the squaraine (S6) bearing bromine as a substituent and C4 aliphatic chains showed the highest fluorescence turn‐on and highest affinity for mucin than albumin. To further highlight the selectivity of S6 for mucin, the fluorescence response has been evaluated in the presence of serum and site‐specific proteins different than albumin. Absorption spectroscopy was used to characterize the binding mechanism of squaraine to mucin.
A correlational study on pain and depression in geriatric patients scheduled for orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Yaman Aktaş Yeşim , Hendekci Ayla
Published: September 2022

Aim

Pain is prevalent in geriatric patients and is not only a signal of physical diseases but also a symptom of mental health problems. This study aimed to explore the relationship between pain and depression in geriatric patients scheduled for orthopaedic surgery.

Methods

The study used a correlational and cross‐sectional design. The study sample consisted of geriatric patients (n = 200) scheduled for orthopaedic surgery in a research and training hospital in northern Turkey. Data were collected by the researchers using the Geriatric Pain Measure and Geriatric Depression Scale. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical regression analysis were used.

Results

The patients' mean age was 73.16 ± 8.27 years. It was found that 5.5% (n = 11) of the participants had mild pain, 45.5% (n = 91) had moderate pain, and 49% (n = 98) had severe pain. There was a positive and moderate significant relationship between the mean Geriatric Pain Measure and Geriatric Depression Scale scores (r = 0.479, P < 0.01). Age (β = 0.133; P < 0.05) and education (β = 2.484; P < 0.05) were statistically significantly associated with depression. There was a significant and positive relationship between depression and being dependent in activities of daily living (β = 5.098; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that geriatric patients who were older, illiterate, dependent in activities of daily living, and with higher levels of pain had higher depression. A multidisciplinary team approach including nurses should be utilised in pain management and it should not be ignored that severe pain may be associated with depression in geriatric patients.
Irrelevant sights and sounds require spatial suppression: ERP evidence
Authors: Lunn Jessica , Berggren Nick , Ward Jamie , Forster Sophie
Published: September 2022

Both real‐world experience and behavioral laboratory research suggest that entirely irrelevant stimuli (distractors) can interfere with a primary task. However, it is as yet unknown whether such interference reflects competition for spatial attention – indeed, prominent theories of attention predict that this should not be the case. Whilst electrophysiological indices of spatial capture and spatial suppression have been well‐investigated, experiments have primarily utilized distractors which share a degree of task‐relevance with targets, and are limited to the visual domain. The present research measured behavioral and ERP responses to test the ability of salient yet entirely task‐irrelevant visual and auditory distractors to compete for spatial attention during a visual task, while also testing for potentially enhanced competition from multisensory distractors. Participants completed a central letter search task, while ignoring lateralized visual (e.g., image of a dog), auditory (e.g., barking), or multisensory (e.g., image + barking) distractors. Results showed that visual and multisensory distractors elicited a PD component indicative of active lateralized suppression. We also establish for the first time an auditory analog of the PD component, the PAD, elicited by auditory and multisensory distractors. Interestingly, there was no evidence to suggest enhanced ability of multisensory distractors to compete for attentional selection, despite previous proposals of a “special” saliency status for such items. Our findings hence suggest that irrelevant multisensory and unisensory distractors are similarly capable of eliciting a spatial “attend‐to‐me” signal – a precursor of spatial attentional capture – but at least in the present data set did not elicit full spatial attentional capture.
Neural response and representation: Facial expressions in scenes
Authors: Cao Feizhen , Zeng Ke , Zheng Junmeng , Yu Linwei , Liu Shen , Zhang Lin , Xu Qiang
Published: September 2022

Previous studies have shown that the brain generates expectations based on scenes, which affects facial expression recognition. However, although facial expressions are known to interact with perception, the mechanism underlying this interaction remains poorly understood. Here, we used frequency labeling and decoding techniques to reveal the effects of scene‐based expectation on the amplitude and representational strength of neural activity. We also reduced the relative reliability between expectation and sensory input by blurring facial expressions to further investigate the effects of this relative reliability on the pattern of neural activation and representation. Participants viewed emotional changes in unblurred or blurred facial expressions, which flickered at a rate of 6 Hz within a scene. We found that facial expressions that were congruent with the emotional significance of the scene elicited a larger steady‐state visual evoked potential amplitude than did facial expressions that were incongruent with the emotional significance of a scene, in both unblurred and blurred conditions. We also found that expected facial expression representations were stronger than unexpected representations during the unblurred condition. In the blurred condition, unexpected representations were stronger than expected representations. Taken together, these results suggested that facial expression processing in the visual cortex is modulated by top‐down signals. The relative reliability of expectation and sensory input moderated the influence of a scene on facial expression representation. Furthermore, our study showed that neural activation amplitudes did not correspond to representational strength.
Early responses of regeneration to weeding and herbicide application to control Guinea‐grass in a 20‐year‐old Atlantic Forest undergoing restoration
Authors: Mantoani Maurício Cruz , Torezan José Marcelo Domingues
Published: September 2022

Among the invasive grasses harming natural ecosystems in Brazil, Guinea‐grass (Megathyrsus maximus) has received significant attention due to its high invasive potential and damage it causes to restoration sites. Here, we show the response of seedlings (10 cm to 1 m) and saplings (>1 m) one year after Guinea‐grass removal in a 20‐year‐old restoration site in the Atlantic Forest. Thirty 10 × 20 m plots were installed and assigned into three treatments: control, mechanical removal using gas‐trimmers, and mechanical removal followed by the application of Roundup Transorb R (glyphosate). Forest canopy and grass cover were also assessed. Guinea‐grass was negatively correlated with woody species richness and abundance. Forest canopy cover was positively related to species richness and abundance, and negatively related to Guinea‐grass. Treatments applied were successful in controlling the plant invader and did not cause any significant reduction in the total abundance or richness of saplings after one year. For seedlings, however, the abundance and richness of pioneer woody species increased over time with mechanical removal, while the abundance and richness of non‐pioneer woody species decreased in plots treated with herbicide. We expect regeneration responses to continue to improve with time. Our results support the use of both herbicide and mechanical removal to reduce Guinea‐grass in Atlantic Forest sites undergoing restoration, although the use of herbicide lowers native seedling richness in the short‐term, while mechanical removal may be better for small sites, where it is more feasible and less demanding.
Predictors and outcomes of respiratory bacterial coinfections in patients with COVID‐19 admitted to hospital: An observational prospective study
Authors: Tiseo Giusy , Suardi Lorenzo Roberto , Giusti Lisa , Forniti Arianna , Caroselli Claudio , Galfo Valentina , Occhineri Sara , Leonildi Alessandro , Moscato Giovanna , Menichetti Francesco , Falcone Marco
Published: September 2022

No abstract available.
The detection of three novel HLA‐DQB1 alleles: HLA‐DQB1*02:186, ‐DQB1*06:02:49 and ‐DQB1*06:391
Authors: Ananeva Anastasiia , Gulnaz Akhmetshina , Nizamov Shamil , Shagimardanova Elena
Published: September 2022

Three novel HLA‐DQB1 alleles HLA‐DQB1*02:186, ‐DQB1*06:02:49, and ‐DQB1*06:391 alleles detected during routine next generation sequencing.
Identification of the novel HLA‐DRB1*04:316 allele by next‐generation sequencing in a Chinese bone marrow donor
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chen Nanying , Wang Wei , He Ji , Zhu Faming
Published: September 2022

HLA‐DRB1*04:316 differs from HLA‐DRB1*04:03:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 161 in exon 2.
Hepatitis E virus in Cuba: A cross‐sectional serological and virological study in pigs and people occupationally exposed to pigs
Authors: Montalvo Villalba Maria Caridad , Snoeck Chantal J. , Rodriguez Lay Licel de los Angeles , Sausy Aurélie , Hernández López Dayesi , Corredor Marite Bello , Marrero Sanchéz Barbara , Hübschen Judith M.
Published: September 2022

Surveillance of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in risk groups is an important strategy to monitor its circulation pattern and to timely detect changes thereof. The aims of this cross‐sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of HEV infections in pigs and humans from different regions of the country, to identify risk factors for increasing anti‐HEV IgG prevalence and to characterize HEV strains. The presence of anti‐HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial ELISA in serum samples from the general population, farm and slaughterhouse employees, as well as pigs sampled in the three regions of Cuba from February to September 2016. Overall, individuals with occupational exposure to swine or swine products (70/248, 28.2%) were 4 times more likely to be seropositive compared to the general population (25/285, 8.7%; OR: 4.18; p < .001). Within the risk group, risk factors included age, number of years working in a professional activity with direct exposure to swine, geographic region and distance between residence and closest professional swine setting, while wearing gloves had a protective effect. Prevalence of total anti‐HEV antibodies in swine was 88.2% (165/187) and HEV RNA was detected by real‐time RT‐PCR in 9.2% (16/173) swine stools. All HEV strains sequenced clustered within genotype 3. Some strains clearly belonged to subtype 3a, while another group of strains was related with subtypes 3b and 3 k but partial HEV sequences did not allow unequivocal subtype assignment. These findings suggest that the high HEV exposure in Cuban individuals with swine‐related occupations could be due to enzootic HEV in certain regions, direct contact with infectious animals or their products as well as environmental contamination.
The Paton prize lecture 2021: A colourful experience leading to a reassessment of colour vision and its theories
Authors: Zeki Semir
Published: September 2022

In this lecture, given in honour of Sir William Paton, a brilliant scientist and one of Britain's great patrons of biology, I give a personal account of the fundamental issues in colour vision that I have tackled since 1973, when I discovered a cortical zone lying outside the primary visual cortex that is rich in cells with chromatic properties. I do not provide an exhaustive review of colour vision but summarise how my views on colour vision and theories surrounding it have changed in light of that discovery.
High‐fat diet changes the behavioural and hormonal responses to water deprivation in male Wistar rats
Authors: Dos‐Santos Raoni Conceição , Ishioka Gabriel , Cognuck Susana Quiros , Mantovani Milene , Caliman Izabela Facco , Elias Lucila Leico Kagohara , Antunes‐Rodrigues José
Published: September 2022

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the effect of an obesogenic diet on the control of hydromineral balance in rats?

What is the main finding and its importance?

The results showed that, when dehydrated, rats fed a high‐fat diet drink less water than their control‐diet‐fed counterparts. Changes in aquaporin‐7 and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α expression in the white adipose tissue might be involved.

High‐fat diet (HFD) increases fat accumulation, glycaemia and blood triglycerides and is used as a model to study obesity. Besides the metabolic changes, obesity likely affects water intake. We assessed the effects of HFD on behavioural and hormonal responses to water deprivation. Additionally, we measured if the adipose tissue is differentially affected by water deprivation in control and HFD‐fed rats. HFD rats showed a decreased basal water intake when compared to control‐fed rats. When subjected to 48 h of water deprivation, as expected, both control and HFD rats drank more water than the hydrated rats. However, the increase in water intake was lessened in HFD dehydrated rats. Similarly, the increase in haematocrit in dehydrated rats was less pronounced in HFD dehydrated rats. These results suggest that HFD diminishes drinking behaviour. White adipose tissue weight, glycaemia and plasma glycerol concentration were increased in HFD rats; however, after 48 h of water deprivation, these parameters were significantly decreased in dehydrated HFD rats, when compared to controls. The increase in adipose tissue caused by HFD may mitigate the effects of dehydration, possibly through the increased production of metabolic water caused by lipolysis in the adipocytes. Oxytocin possibly mediates the lipolytic response, since both its secretion and receptor expression are affected by dehydration in both control and HFD rats, which suggests that oxytocin signalling is maintained in these conditions. Changes in mediators of lipolysis, such as aquaporin‐7 and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α, might contribute to the different effects observed in control and HFD rats.
Brachial artery responses to acute hypercapnia: The roles of shear stress and adrenergic tone
Authors: Carr Jay M. J. R. , Ainslie Philip N. , Howe Connor A. , Gibbons Travis D. , Tymko Michael M. , Steele Andrew R. , Hoiland Ryan L. , Vizcardo‐Galindo Gustavo A. , Patrician Alex , Brown Courtney V. , Caldwell Hannah G. , Tremblay Joshua C.
Published: September 2022

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What are the contributions of shear stress and adrenergic tone to brachial artery vasodilatation during hypercapnia?

What is the main finding and its importance?

In healthy young adults, shear‐mediated vasodilatation does not occur in the brachial artery during hypercapnia, as elevated α₁‐adrenergic activity typically maintains vascular tone and offsets distal vasodilatation controlling flow.

We aimed to assess the shear stress dependency of brachial artery (BA) responses to hypercapnia, and the α₁‐adrenergic restraint of these responses. We hypothesized that elevated shear stress during hypercapnia would cause BA vasodilatation, but where shear stress was prohibited (via arterial compression), the BA would not vasodilate (study 1); and, in the absence of α₁‐adrenergic activity, blood flow, shear stress and BA vasodilatation would increase (study 2). In study 1, 14 healthy adults (7/7 male/female, 27 ± 4 years) underwent bilateral BA duplex ultrasound during hypercapnia (partial pressure of end‐tidal carbon dioxide, +10.2 ± 0.3 mmHg above baseline, 12 min) via dynamic end‐tidal forcing, and shear stress was reduced in one BA using manual compression (compression vs. control arm). Neither diameter nor blood flow was different between baseline and the last minute of hypercapnia (P = 0.423, P = 0.363, respectively) in either arm. The change values from baseline to the last minute, in diameter (%; P = 0.201), flow (ml/min; P = 0.234) and conductance (ml/min/mmHg; P = 0.503) were not different between arms. In study 2, 12 healthy adults (9/3 male/female, 26 ± 4 years) underwent the same design with and without α₁‐adrenergic receptor blockade (prazosin; 0.05 mg/kg) in a placebo‐controlled, double‐blind and randomized design. BA flow, conductance and shear rate increased during hypercapnia in the prazosin control arm (interaction, P < 0.001), but in neither arm during placebo. Even in the absence of α₁‐adrenergic restraint, downstream vasodilatation in the microvasculature during hypercapnia is insufficient to cause shear‐mediated vasodilatation in the BA.
Carbon Capture Performance Assessment Applied to Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Under Part-Load Operation
Authors: Verhaeghe Antoine , Dubois Lionel , Bricteux Laurent , Thomas Diane , Blondeau Julien , De Paepe Ward
Published: September 2022

The growing share of renewable energies in our electricity production, together with the still lacking storage capacity, strongly reinforces the need for more flexible electricity production units. In this context, combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) have a role to play, both in the current and future electricity production system due to their high efficiency, high load flexibility, and low CO2 emissions compared to other conventional thermal power plants. Nevertheless, bearing in mind our current challenges concerning climate change, the CO2 emissions of these CCGTs need to be reduced drastically. The amine-based absorption carbon capture (CC) process is currently the most mature and applicable CC technology. This process is known to require a considerable amount of thermal energy, degrading plant performance. However, to back-up renewable production, CCGTs will operate most of the time under part-load conditions. The impact of these part-load operations on the CC is still relatively unknown. Within this framework, this study aims to assess the performance of the CC process applied to a typical CCGT under part-load operation using specific simulation models. The CC plant model has been successfully validated against experimental data from a pilot-scale capture facility. Then, the CC plant has been scaled-up to the CCGT scale and the process has been optimized for each operating condition. The simulation results show that the specific reboiler duty increases for part-load operation, while the specific cooling requirements decrease. Moreover, the analysis of the yearly CCGT operation highlights a relative increase in CC energy penalty of 21% for an annual CCGT load factor of 0.5, impacting significantly plant performance. The next step will involve reducing this energy penalty.
A Stepped Shaft Labyrinth Seal Verses A Pocket Damper Seal: Leakage and Dynamic Force Coefficients Under Wet Gas Operation
Authors: Torres Jose , Andrés Luis San , Yang Jing
Published: September 2022

Modern turbomachinery favors pocket damper seals (PDS) which produce more effective damping than labyrinth seals (LS). Liquid tolerant compressors enable deep sea oil and gas (O&G) facilities; and seals supplied with a two-phase flow can have an impact on the stability and leakage of O&G turbomachinery. This paper details results for the leakage and force coefficients of a stepped shaft PDS and LS. The seals operate with speeds up to 5250 rpm and pressure ratios (inlet/exit) = 2.5–4.2. The seals are supplied with an oil-in-air mixture with liquid volume fraction (LVF) up to 10%. Both seals feature the same shaft diameter D = 127 mm, axial length L = 0.38D, four blades (and eight pockets). The LS has a 15% larger clearance than the PDS. Operating with pure gas, the PDS is 25% more effective to restrict leakage than the LS. The effective clearance of the PDS decreases as LVF increases whereas that for the LS increases. The direct stiffness (K) for both seals is small and becomes negative as LVF increases. The PDS produces greater direct damping (C) when operating with an identical LVF. The PDS C grows as the LVF increases. Predictions of leakage agree with measurements, whereas force coefficients are roughly half of the experimental results. Changes in LVF produced subsynchronous vibrations (SSV) in the PDS, but not so in the LS. The results are a reference for the design of seals operating with two-phase flow.
Interactive Evaporation of Neighboring Pendant and Sessile Droplet Pair
Authors: Paul Arnov , Dhar Purbarun
Published: September 2022

In this article, we experimentally probe the vapor-mediated interaction behavior of evaporating sessile and pendant droplets in an interacting droplet (ID) system. For this purpose, a pendant droplet was introduced in the vapor diffusion domain of a sessile droplet and both were allowed to evaporate simultaneously. The evaporation dynamics were monitored using optical imaging techniques for varied separation (both horizontal and vertical) distances between them. Our observations reveal curtailed mass transfer rate from both the droplets although the evolution of droplet morphology (such as pendant droplet radius, contact radius, and contact angle of sessile droplet) at different stages of evaporation remain similar. The evaporative fluxes from these two droplets interact with one another and thereby reduce the diffusive mobility of vapor molecules in the liquid–vapor interface of both. This condition suppresses the diffusion mechanism and thereby impedes the evaporation rate. We show that the evaporation behavior for two droplets in an interacting droplet system is solely dictated by an effective external vapor concentration depending on the problem geometry. Therefore, to characterize the vapor diffusion domain we hypothesize a vapor front enfolding both the droplets and put forward a theoretical model by applying conservation of mass across it. We also propose a relationship to show the variation of the effective external vapor concentration with the relative separation distance between the droplets. The predictions from theoretical models are found to be in good agreement with our detailed experimental observations.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Convective Heat Transfer for a Composite Internal and Film Cooling Structure
Authors: Zhang Guohua , Zhu Huaitao , Xie Gongnan , Sundén Bengt
Published: September 2022

This paper conducted a multi-objective optimization work for a composite internal and film cooling structure. The pitch-to-height ratio of the ribs, the inclination angle of the ribs, and the inclination angle of the film hole are chosen as the three design variables to enhance the heat transfer performance, improve the film cooling effectiveness and reduce the pressure loss of the internal channel flow. During the optimization process, the Latin hypercube sampling method is adopted to select 26 sample points from the design space. The response values with higher fidelity at the sample points are calculated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Among the 26 sample points, 21 are used to construct a surrogate model of each objective function while the rest of them are adopted to validate the correctness of the established surrogate model. By combining the Kriging surrogate model with a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm, the Pareto optimal front is obtained after the optimization process. Finally, comparison and analysis are conducted with respect to the cooling performance and mechanisms between the reference model and the selected three representative optimized models. Results show that the optimized three models can not only improve the film cooling effectiveness but also reduce the pressure loss of the channel flow and enhance the heat transfer. In addition, it is found that the optimized model induces an anticlockwise rotating vortex, which entrains more coolant near the target surface. The inclined ribs of the optimized models induce a secondary flow along the inclined ribs, which enhances the flow mixing and augments the heat transfer performance.