bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The marital relationship and health‐related quality of life of prostate cancer patients and their spouses: A prospective, longitudinal study
Authors: Harju Eeva , Rantanen Anja , Helminen Mika , Kaunonen Marja , Isotalo Taina , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi
Published: August 2022

Aims

This study aims to measure any changes in the marital relationship during the first year after a diagnosis of prostate cancer, identify the demographic characteristics that influenced such changes, and measure changes related to health‐related quality of life (HRQoL).

Background

Knowledge is limited on the impact of a diagnosis of prostate cancer on the marital relationship and HRQoL of patients and their spouses.

Design

A 1‐year longitudinal study.

Methods

Data were collected from five Finnish hospitals between October 2013 and January 2017. Of the 350 recruited couples (N = 700), 179 patients and 166 spouses completed the Marital Questionnaire and the RAND 36‐Item Health Survey 1 year after diagnosis.

Results

No major changes were found in the marital relationship during the follow‐up period. The spouses reported statistically significant changes in their marital relationships, but the patients did not. Furthermore, changes in the marital relationship were not associated with the patients' HRQoL. Among spouses, emotional well‐being was associated with changes in the marital relationship.

Conclusion

The marital relationship was relevant in terms of the spouses' HRQoL during the first year after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Nurses and other healthcare providers should assess counselling and support provided to spouses individually.
IKKα aggravates renal fibrogenesis by positively regulating the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Zhang Hao , Pan Binbin , Huang Wenjuan , Ma Mengqing , Zhang Feng , Jiang Linglin , Qian Cheng , Wan Xin , Cao Changchun
Published: August 2022

AKI (acute kidney injury) with maladaptive repair plays exacerbated role in renal fibrosis characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Previously, we reported that IKKα contributed to kidney regeneration and inhibited inflammation. Here, we first identified the role and mechanism of IKKα on TGF‐β1‐induced fibrosis in human tubular epithelial cells and fibrotic kidneys. IKKα was up‐regulated in kidney tubular epithelium in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and unilateral ischemic reperfusion injury (UIRI) mice. Immunohistochemical staining showed that IKKα was positively correlated with the extent of kidney fibrosis in tissue biopsies from chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Compared with wild‐type controls, Ksp‐IKKα−/− mice exhibited inactivated Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, decreased serum creatinine and interstitial fibrosis in the kidney after IRI. In TGF‐β1‐stimulated human tubular epithelial cells, IKKα overexpression enhanced β‐catenin nuclear translocation. Blocking IKKα by siRNA specifically suppressed β‐catenin activation and downstream profibrotic genes such as fibronectin and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA). Taken together, our study demonstrated that IKKα aggravated renal fibrogenesis by activating Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway, providing a new target for the treatment of kidney fibrosis.
Practitioner Review: Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder – the importance of depression
Authors: Thapar Anita , Livingston Lucy A. , Eyre Olga , Riglin Lucy
Published: August 2022

Young people with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), show high rates of mental health problems, of which depression is one of the most common. Given that depression in ASD and ADHD is linked with a range of poor outcomes, knowledge of how clinicians should assess, identify and treat depression in the context of these neurodevelopmental disorders is much needed. Here, we give an overview of the latest research on depression in young people with ADHD and ASD, including possible mechanisms underlying the link between ADHD/ASD and depression, as well as the presentation, assessment and treatment of depression in these neurodevelopmental disorders. We discuss the implications for clinicians and make recommendations for critical future research in this area.
Sperm competition in yellow dung flies: No consistent effect of sperm size
Authors: Laugen Ane T. , Hosken David J. , Reinhold Klaus , Schwarzenbach Gioia A. , Hoeck Paquita E. A. , Bussière Luc F. , Blanckenhorn Wolf U. , Lüpold Stefan
Published: August 2022

The male competition for fertilization that results from female multiple mating promotes the evolution of increased sperm numbers and can impact sperm morphology, with theory predicting that longer sperm can at times be advantageous during sperm competition. If so, males with longer sperm should sire more offspring than competitors with shorter sperm. Few studies have directly tested this prediction, and findings are inconsistent. Here we assessed whether longer sperm provide a competitive advantage in the yellow dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraria; Diptera: Scathophagidae). Initially, we let brothers with different temperature‐mediated mean sperm lengths compete – thus minimizing confounding effects of genetic background – and found no clear advantage of longer sperm. We then used flies from lines subjected to bidirectional selection on phenoloxidase activity that had shown correlated evolutionary responses in sperm and female spermathecal duct lengths. This experiment also yielded no main effect of sperm size on siring success. Instead, there was a trend for a shorter‐sperm advantage, but only when competing in females with longer spermathecal ducts. Our data corroborated many previously reported findings (last‐male precedence, effects of copula duration and body size), suggesting our failure to find sperm size effects is not inherently due to our experimental protocols. We conclude that longer sperm are not competitively superior in yellow dung flies under most circumstances, and that, consistent with previous work, in this species competitive fertilization success is primarily determined by the relative numbers of sperm competing.
Methotrexate and low‐dose corticosteroid: An effective alternate against corticosteroid‐resistant granulomatous lobular mastitis
Authors: Tian Chunxiang , Han Xiaorong , Liu Zeyu , Lv Xinlin , Ning Ping
Published: August 2022

Aim

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GM) is an inflammatory breast disease with unknown etiology. Studies showed that some patients could achieve complete remission with corticosteroids and excisional surgery. However, some patients would suffer from corticosteroid resistance. We aim to report our single‐center experience with the highest number of corticosteroid‐resistant GM patients treated by methotrexate and low‐dose corticosteroid.

Methods

The medical record database in our center was searched retrospectively for GM patients between January 2015 and January 2022. Patients suffered corticosteroid resistance and received methotrexate‐containing regimen were included in this study. The clinical characteristics, management and outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

Eighty‐one patients with the median follow‐up of 18 months (range 5–61 months) were included. The median age was 30 years old (range 21–48 years). The common initial complaints were breast mass, pain, and erythema. The initial treatment of 80 (98.8%) patients was methylprednisolone. Patients were switched to methotrexate and low‐dose corticosteroid due to corticosteroid resistance. Complete remission was achieved in 61 (75.3%) patients who received methotrexate and low‐dose corticosteroid with or without segmental dissection. Nineteen methotrexate‐resistant patients were referred for antimycobacterial treatment with the exception that one patient was lost during follow‐up. Thirteen of them achieved complete remission, and the other five gained partial remission and received segmental dissection. None of these methotrexate‐resistant patients recured.

Conclusion

An approach with methotrexate and low‐dose corticosteroid should be considered as an alternative method to corticosteroid‐resistant GM patients.
Where are the numbers? Challenging the barriers to quantitative socio‐legal scholarship in the United Kingdom
Authors: CAHILL‐O'CALLAGHAN RACHEL , MULCAHY LINDA
Published: August 2022

Legal scholars in the United Kingdom (UK) rarely adopt a quantitative approach to addressing socio‐legal questions. Reasons for this are typically grounded in the nature of general education, legal education, and research training. In this article, we argue that an intellectual debate on capacity building needs to consider the conditions that have limited the production of quantitative work both within and beyond our discipline. This article draws on an empirical analysis of published socio‐legal articles to understand the nature of quantitative scholarship and evidence an increasing body of work that reflects a flexible approach to data collection and analysis. Moving beyond the tribalism often associated with the qualitative/quantitative divide, we draw attention to the shift away from understandings of quantitative work as hypothesis testing towards those that are accepting of the importance of critical reflection and exploration of nuance. It is hoped that the article will prompt further discussion about capacity building to develop and sustain good‐quality quantitative socio‐legal scholarship in the UK.
The Global Orientation of Organizations: An Analysis of the Effects of Global Cultural Rationalization and National Institutional Traditions
Authors: Goldenstein Jan , Poschmann Philipp , Hunoldt Michael
Published: August 2022

Most institutional studies have conceptualized institutions within the borders of national contexts as relevant to the global orientation of organizations. The world society approach in institutional theory, however, highlights the existence of a global institutional realm (i.e., driven by a process of cultural rationalization) and proposes that as a consequence of both global and national institutional demands, organizations are constructed as actors with global identities – the orientation of an organization towards the world or away from it. We argue that the global identity of organizations varies with the national institutional traditions within which organizations originate, the exposure of organizations to various instantiations of cultural rationalization within national contexts, and the extent to which organizations are governed by traditional forms of authority (i.e., family, nation state). We tested our hypotheses empirically, using data from 366 corporations listed in major stock indices in 22 countries around the globe. The empirical results support our argument.
On potential Pareto gains from free trade areas formation
Authors: Sempere Jaume
Published: August 2022

This paper extends the results of Grinols and Silva to free trade areas with rules of origin requiring a minimum national content. In our model, producers of a member country may decide not to comply with rules of origin and to pay tariffs to export to other members. To ensure trade gains, firms in any member country must be allowed to export to other members paying tariffs not higher than before signing the agreement if they do not comply with rules of origin. The specific tariff revenue is rebated lump‐sum to consumers, ensuring they can afford their status quo consumption plans.
Biocontrol of wilt disease of rice seedlings incited by Fusarium oxysporum through soil application of Streptomyces chilikensis RC1830
Authors: Behera H.T. , Mojumdar A. , Behera S.S. , Das S. , Ray L.
Published: August 2022

The genus Streptomyces includes many antifungal metabolite-producing novel strains. Fusarium oxysporum soil-inhabiting pathogenic fungi, that affects rice to cause wilt disease. This work demonstrates the efficacy of novel Streptomyces chilikensis strain RC1830, previously isolated from estuarine habitat Chilika Lake in preventing the F. oxysporum wilting/root rot disease and promoting the growth of rice (Var. Swarna) seedlings. A total of 25 different compounds were identified from crude extracts of S. chilikensis RC1830 by GC–MS. In pot trial experiments, Streptomyces-treated rice seedlings showed significantly reduced disease severity index by 80·51%. The seedlings growth parameters (root length, root fresh weight and root dry weight) were also increased by 53·91, 62·5 and 73·46%, respectively, in Streptomyces-treated groups of seedlings compared to Fusarium-infected seedlings. Similarly, the shoot length, shoot dry weight and shoot fresh weight were also increased by 26, 58 and 34·4%, respectively, in Streptomyces-treated groups of seedlings compared to Fusarium-infected seedlings. Formulations of the strain were prepared using seven organic and inorganic wastes as the carrier material and the shelf lives of the propagules were also monitored. Vermiculite and activated charcoal formulations stored at 4°C exhibited a higher viable cell count after 3 months of storage.
Cadence as Gesture in the Writings and Music of Arnold Schoenberg
Authors: Eason Andrew
Published: August 2022

This article focuses on the writings and music of Arnold Schoenberg to establish concrete techniques for form‐functional analysis, particularly cadential function. In bothFundamentals of Musical Compositionand ‘Problems of Tonality’, Schoenberg discusses how form can be communicated to an audience in music with and without tonal functions. I use the already established field of energetics and Robert Hatten's theory of gesture (2004) to describe the musical effect of a number of compositional techniques employed in the service of cadence. This leads me to define rhetorical and syntactical markers for cadential function in Schoenberg's music. I demonstrate this with tonal excerpts fromVerklärte Nacht, Op. 4, where harmonic function supports and coincides with these rhetorical and syntactical functions. This same technique is then examined in the Musette and Minuet from Schoenberg's Suite for Piano, Op. 25, where the twelve‐note structure is less useful for hearing formal boundaries. Although this study focuses on Schoenberg's music, it also suggests that there is more in common between what might be termed ‘Romantic’ formal functions and early non‐tonal formal functions.
Nationalist identities, preferences and voting for sub‐state nationalist parties in the Flemish region of Belgium
Authors: Hooghe Marc , Stiers Dieter
Published: August 2022

There is an ongoing academic debate about the question whether sub‐state nationalist parties should be considered as niche parties, focusing almost exclusively on their core issue of centre‐periphery relations, or whether their electoral appeal can be considered as multidimensional. In that case, these other dimensions can vary with regard to the specific ideological position, historical circumstances and strategic considerations. In this article, we address this theoretical question by relying on the case study of the sub‐state nationalist parties in the Flemish region of Belgium, where they jointly obtained 44% of the vote in the most recent elections. Comparing election surveys from 2009, 2014 and 2019 suggests that the electoral appeal of these parties rests on a mixture of nationalist issues, right‐wing economic policies and a restrictive attitude towards immigration. These results suggest that sub‐state nationalist parties are not purely niche parties, but should be seen as multiple issue parties, and this broader electoral appeal can explain the discrepancy between electoral results and public opinion on the core issues of these parties.
An integrative literature review and critical reflection on nurses' agency
Authors: López‐Deflory Camelia , Perron Amélie , Miró‐Bonet Margalida
Published: August 2022

The idea of agency has long been used in the nursing literature in the study of nurses' roles regarding the patients they take care of, but it has not often been used to study its relationship with nurses themselves and their status in the healthcare system. The purpose of this article is to analyze how the idea of agency is used in nursing research to better understand how we might advance our thinking around nurses' agency to shape nursing and healthcare with an emancipatory intent. Based on the results of a literature review focused on the study of conceptions, treatments, and applications of the concept of agency in nursing, we present a critical discussion to reflect on the need to consistently define the idea of nurses' agency, to guide research concerned with this topic in theoretical frameworks with emancipatory and social change tenets, and to make a call to develop the idea of agency as a central one to rework nurses' relationship with themselves. The idea of agency provides a valuable analytical framework for the study of a wide range of issues around nurses' status in healthcare organizations and in the healthcare system while offering a means for nurses' emancipation.
Predator protection dampens the landscape of fear
Authors: Wooster Eamonn I. F. , Ramp Daniel , Lundgren Erick J. , O'Neill Adam J. , Yanco Esty , Bonsen Gavin T. , Wallach Arian D.
Published: August 2022

Apex predators structure ecosystems by hunting mesopredators and herbivores. Their ecological influence is determined not only by the number of animals they kill, but also by how prey alter their behaviours to reduce risk. Predation risk is variable in space and time creating a landscape of fear. In Australia, dingoes hunt red foxes and suppress their populations. As both predators are commonly subjected to eradication programs, the question arises whether humans alter the risk dingoes pose to foxes and in turn alter the foxes' avoidance behaviours. We studied the spatio‐temporal activity patterns and wariness behaviours of foxes and dingoes at sites where they were protected (predator friendly), where they were persecuted (predator persecuted), and at sites where foxes were persecuted, and dingoes had been eradicated (dingo eradicated). The landscape of fear hypothesis predicts that foxes will be the most spatiotemporally restricted and most fearful at predator friendly sites, and least restricted and fearful at dingo eradicated sites. We found that fox occupancy was highest at dingo eradicated sites; and that they avoided times of heightened dingo activity at predator friendly sites more than at predator persecuted sites. Contrary to predictions, foxes were the least fearful (lowest frequency of cautious and vigilant behaviour) and most social (highest frequency of social interactions) at predator friendly sites. Our findings suggest that in the absence of persecution, mesopredators living with socially‐stable apex predators can anticipate and avoid risk, reducing the need for constant vigilance (i.e. fear). Where predators are protected, predator avoidance may be driven by knowledge rather than fear alone.
Deep learning for visual recognition and detection of aquatic animals: A review
Authors: Li Juan , Xu Wenkai , Deng Limiao , Xiao Ying , Han Zhongzhi , Zheng Haiyong
Published: August 2022

The ocean is an important ecosystem, and aquatic animals play an important role in the biological world, especially in aquaculture. How to accurately and intelligently recognise and detect aquatic animals is one of the urgent problems in the field of underwater biological detection. The wide applications of artificial intelligence (AI), especially deep learning (DL), provide new opportunities and challenges for the efficient and intelligent exploration of aquatic animals. DL has been widely used in the visual recognition and detection of terrestrial animals, but it is in the early stages of use for aquatic animals due to the complexity of underwater environment and the difficulty of data acquisition. Here, this article reviews the current application status of DL for aquatic animals, potential challenges and future directions. The key advances of DL algorithms applied to the visual recognition and detection of aquatic animals are generalised, including datasets, algorithms and performance. The applications of DL are summarised in aquatic animals, including image detection, video detection, species classification, biomass estimation, behaviour analysis and food safety. Furthermore, the challenges are summed up and classified in the object recognition and detection domain for aquatic animals. Finally, further research direction is discussed and the conclusions are drawn. The key advances of DL in the recognition and detection of aquatic animals will help to further excavate and extend the application of DL in the field of marine biological exploration.
Validated transport conditions maintain the quality of washed red blood cells
Authors: Baker Steven Andrew , Wong Lisa Kanata , Wieland Rebekah , Bulterys Philip , Allard Libby , Nguyen Lang , Quach Thinh , Nguyen AnhThu , Chaesuh Eunkyong , Cheng Phil , Bowen Raffick , Virk Mrigender
Published: August 2022

Background

Washing red blood cell (RBC) units prior to transfusion is indicated for certain patients. In the United States, units stored at 1°C–6°C or transported at 1°C–10°C are available for issue up to 24 h, if not used immediately. The washing procedure commonly utilizes room temperature saline resulting in units starting out above the allowed temperature range. This leads to wastage if units are issued and returned too quickly before having a chance to equilibrate in a transport cooler.

Study Design and Methods

Here we performed an experimental study of washed RBC quality comparing “ideal” storage conditions in a blood bank refrigerator to a “real‐world” simulation of unit transport, including holding in a transport cooler. Twelve RBC units were washed and allocated evenly into either condition.

Results

Measurements at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post‐washing revealed that placement in a transport cooler was associated with higher unit temperature prior to 12 h (p = .013) with a maximum difference of 9.3°C. Despite this difference, several measures of unit quality including extracellular potassium, pH, lactate, and free hemoglobin were indistinguishable between conditions (p = .382, .224, .286, .691, respectively). We selected half of the tested units from our irradiated inventory and confirmed increased potassium leak (p < .001) and accumulation of free hemoglobin (p = .012) in irradiated units.

Discussion

Washed units stored under approved transport conditions are acceptable to return to inventory up to 24 h after washing and we provide a prediction interval‐based temperature threshold for rejecting these units, permitting reduced waste.
Diagnostic accuracy and validity of image-assisted versus face-to-face wound assessments for the management of chronic wounds: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Neo Nicholas Wee Siong , Tho Poh Chi
Published: August 2022

Objective:

This review aims to evaluate the accuracy and validity of diagnostic decisions derived from image-assisted wound assessments compared with face-to-face consultations for chronic wound care.

Introduction:

Images are often used within the inpatient, outpatient, and community settings to facilitate interdisciplinary transfer of care, objective wound assessments, and accurate treatment decisions. An ever-changing and ever-improving selection of image-capturing devices has been created and studied in recent years. To improve future chronic wound care programs, there is a need to explore how accurately clinicians can diagnose specific wound characteristics using these images, especially when these devices are operated in the clinical setting.

Inclusion criteria:

Peer-reviewed studies and unpublished/gray literature comparing image-assisted with face-to-face modalities for chronic wound care will be included. Chronic wounds include, but are not limited to, diabetic foot ulcers, ischemic lower limb ulcers, and pressure ulcers. Studies will be excluded if they examine acute wounds or if the reference standard is not face-to-face assessment.

Methods:

A comprehensive search of multiple databases and gray literature sources (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Central) will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Literature published from 2000 onward will be retrieved. Two reviewers will independently screen and appraise the articles. Data extraction and synthesis will be performed based on the JBI methodology for the conduct of diagnostic test accuracy systematic review.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42021265679
Experience of hope in adult patients with advanced chronic disease and their informal caregivers: a qualitative systematic review protocol
Authors: Befecadu Filipa Baptista Peixoto , Perrenoud Beatrice , Behaghel Ghislaine , Jaques Cécile , Pautex Sophie , Rodrigues Maria Goreti Da Rocha , Larkin Philip Joseph
Published: August 2022

Objective:

This systematic review will evaluate the experience of hope in adult patients with advanced chronic diseases other than cancer, transitioning toward end-of-life. The review will also evaluate the experience of hope in informal caregivers caring for adult patients with advanced chronic diseases other than cancer as they transition toward end-of-life.

Introduction:

Hope is an important resource that assists patients and informal caregivers to deal with difficult and complex situations, such as living with advanced chronic disease.

Inclusion criteria:

The review will include studies written in English, French, and Portuguese exploring hope. Qualitative studies focusing on adult patients with advanced chronic diseases other than cancer and/or informal caregivers will be considered. Studies with children as patients or parents as caregivers will be excluded.

Methods:

The review will search Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, DART-Europe E-theses Portal, and Google Scholar. The search will be conducted without date restrictions. Articles will be assessed against the inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Data will be extracted using a standard tool. The extracted findings will be synthesized using the meta-aggregation approach through assembling and categorizing data.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42021266487
Effectiveness of general practitioner-delivered nutrition care interventions on dietary and health outcomes in adults with diet-related chronic conditions: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Asher Kathryn E. , Somerville Mari , Doucet Shelley , Luke Alison , Ball Lauren , Dombrowski Stephan U. , Hickson Mary , Witherspoon Richelle
Published: August 2022

Objective:

This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition care interventions delivered by general practitioners versus usual care or no care on dietary and health outcomes in adults with diet-related chronic conditions or risk states.

Introduction:

General practitioners are usually the first contacts in the health care system for patients with diet-related chronic conditions. While there is some evidence that general practitioners can be effective in delivering nutrition care for a number of outcomes, to inform future care, an update of the evidence is required as well as an examination of which components are associated with positive outcomes.

Inclusion criteria:

Published studies will be included if they report on adults with or at risk of diet-related chronic conditions; one-on-one nutrition care interventions individually delivered by general practitioners during primary care consultations; usual or no care as comparators; dietary and/or health outcomes with a minimum three-month follow-up; and randomized controlled trials. Included studies will be available in, or able to be translated into, English and will have no date restrictions.

Methods:

The databases to be searched will include CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health. Following deduplication, two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts in Covidence, followed by the full texts of potentially relevant studies. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. Included studies will be critically appraised and data will be extracted using a modified JBI tool. Findings will be reported in tables and narrative synthesis, and pooled with statistical meta-analysis, where possible.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42021289011
Muscle contraction force conforms to muscle oxygenation during constant‐activation voluntary forearm exercise
Authors: Drouin Patrick J. , Forbes Stacey P. A. , Liu Taylor , Lew Lindsay A. , McGarity‐Shipley Ellen , Tschakovsky Michael E.
Published: August 2022

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

In electrically stimulated skeletal muscle, force production is downregulated when oxygen delivery is compromised and rapidly restored upon oxygen delivery restoration. Whether ‘oxygen conforming’ of force production occurs during voluntary muscle activation in humans and whether it is exercise intensity dependent remains unknown.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Here, we show in humans that force at a given voluntary muscle activation does conform to a decrease in oxygen delivery and recovers rapidly and completely with restoration of oxygen delivery. This oxygen‐conforming response of contraction force appears to happen only at higher intensities.

In electrically stimulated skeletal muscle, force production is downregulated when oxygen delivery is compromised and rapidly restored upon restoration of oxygen delivery in the absence of cellular disturbance. Whether this ‘oxygen‐conforming’ response of force occurs and is exercise intensity dependent during stable voluntary muscle activation in humans is unknown. In 12 participants (six female), handgrip force, forearm muscle activation (EMG), muscle oxygenation and forearm blood flow (FBF) were measured during rhythmic handgrip exercise at forearm EMG achieving 50, 75 or 90% critical impulse (CI). Four minutes of brachial artery compression to reduce FBF by ∼60% (Hypoperfusion) or sham compression (adjacent to artery; Control) was performed during exercise. Sham compression had no effect. Hypoperfusion rapidly reduced muscle oxygenation at all exercise intensities, resulting in contraction force per muscle activation (force/EMG) progressively declining over 4 min by ∼16% at both 75 and 90% CI. No force/EMG decline occurred at 50% CI. Rapid restoration of muscle oxygenation after compression was closely followed by force/EMG such that it was not different from Control within 30 s for 90% CI and after 90 s for 75% CI. Our findings reveal that an oxygen‐conforming response does occur in voluntary exercising muscle in humans. Within the exercise modality and magnitude of fluctuation of oxygenation in this study, the oxygen‐conforming response appears to be exercise intensity dependent. Mechanisms responsible for this oxygen‐conforming response have implications for exercise tolerance and warrant investigation.
Vibration Analysis of Rotating Combined Thin-Walled Shells With Multiple Conical Segments
Authors: Zhao Changying , Sun Shupeng , Yang Yang , Cao Dengqing
Published: August 2022

In this paper, vibration analysis of rotating combined thin-walled shells with multiple conical segments has been carried out. Considering the centrifugal force, Coriolis force, and initial hoop tension due to rotation, the elastic strain energy and kinetic energy of a single rotating conical shell are expressed based on Love’s first approximation theory. The artificial springs are introduced to simulate the connections of adjacent conical shells and the boundaries of the rotating combined thin-walled shells. Taking characteristic orthogonal polynomial series as the admissible functions, the Rayleigh–Ritz method is employed to derive the frequency equations of the combined shell and corresponding vibration characteristics are then obtained. Given that the cylindrical shell and annular plates can be regarded as conical shells with semi-vertex angles of 0 deg and 90 deg, respectively, the solution given is also available for the vibration analysis of rotating combined thin-walled shells comprised of any segments of cylindrical, conical shell, and annular plate. As examples of rotating combined thin-walled shells with two and five segments, vibrations of rotating conical–conical joined shell and cylindrical–conical–cylindrical–conical–cylindrical joined shell are investigated in the paper. Traveling wave frequencies and corresponding mode shapes are shown, and the effects of rotating speed, circumferential wave number, spring stiffness, and semi-vertex angles on the vibration behavior are given in detail.
On the growth kinetics, texture, microstructure, and mechanical properties of tungsten carbonitride deposited by chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Böőr Katalin , Lindahl Erik , von Fieandt Linus , Boman Mats
Published: August 2022

Tungsten carbonitride [W(C,N)] was deposited on cemented carbide substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in a hot-wall reactor using tungsten hexafluoride (WF6), acetonitrile (CH3CN), and hydrogen (H2) as precursors. Tungsten carbides and nitrides with a hexagonal δ-WC type structure are generally difficult to obtain by CVD. Here, it was found that the combination of WF6 and CH3CN precursors enabled the deposition of W(C,N) coatings with a δ-WC type structure and columnar grains. A process window as a function of the deposition temperature and precursor partial pressures was determined to establish the conditions for the deposition of such coatings. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and elastic recoil detection analysis were used for the investigation of the coating thickness, microstructure, texture, and composition. From the investigation of the kinetics, it was concluded that the growth was mainly controlled by surface kinetics with an apparent activation energy of 77 kJ/mol, yielding an excellent step coverage. The partial reaction orders of the reactants together with their influence on the microstructure and coating composition was further used to gain a deeper understanding of the growth mechanism. Within the process window, the microstructure and the texture of the W(C,N) coatings could be tailored by the process parameters, enabling microstructural engineering with tuning of the mechanical properties of the W(C,N) coatings. The nanoindentation hardness (36.6–45.7 GPa) and elastic modulus (564–761 GPa) were found to be closely related to the microstructure.
Modeling ultrasonic wave fields using a Quasi-Monte Carlo method: Wave transmission through complicated interfaces
Authors: Zhang Shuzeng , Cheng Canhui , Li Xiongbing , Huang Yuantian , Jeong Hyunjo
Published: August 2022

The sound fields generated by ultrasonic transducers can be modeled using the Quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) method with a high level of accuracy and efficiency from Zhang [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 149(1), 7–15 (2021)]. In this work, this method is extended to simulate transmitted wave fields through complicated interfaces. When a wave propagates in two-layer media, the vibrating waves over the interface radiated by the transducer can be treated as the source for generating waves in the second medium, thus, a nested-form Rayleigh integral expression can be used as a model equation for the transmitted wave calculation. When the QMC method is used to solve the nested integral, pseudo-random samples for constructing the transducer and the interface are sampled separately and the transmitted wave fields are obtained using the final sample mean. Numerical examples and results are presented when the wave transmits normally or obliquely through planar or curved interfaces. The results indicate that the high level of accuracy and efficiency remains when the QMC method is used to model the transmitted wave fields. One important advantage is that wave fields can be well simulated using the QMC method when the wave transmits through a complicated interface as long as the interface can be constructed using pseudo-random samples.
Benchmark problems for transcranial ultrasound simulation: Intercomparison of compressional wave models
Authors: Aubry Jean-Francois , Bates Oscar , Boehm Christian , Butts Pauly Kim , Christensen Douglas , Cueto Carlos , Gélat Pierre , Guasch Lluis , Jaros Jiri , Jing Yun , Jones Rebecca , Li Ningrui , Marty Patrick , Montanaro Hazael , Neufeld Esra , Pichardo Samuel , Pinton Gianmarco , Pulkkinen Aki , Stanziola Antonio , Thielscher Axel , Treeby Bradley , van 't Wout Elwin
Published: August 2022

Computational models of acoustic wave propagation are frequently used in transcranial ultrasound therapy, for example, to calculate the intracranial pressure field or to calculate phase delays to correct for skull distortions. To allow intercomparison between the different modeling tools and techniques used by the community, an international working group was convened to formulate a set of numerical benchmarks. Here, these benchmarks are presented, along with intercomparison results. Nine different benchmarks of increasing geometric complexity are defined. These include a single-layer planar bone immersed in water, a multi-layer bone, and a whole skull. Two transducer configurations are considered (a focused bowl and a plane piston operating at 500 kHz), giving a total of 18 permutations of the benchmarks. Eleven different modeling tools are used to compute the benchmark results. The models span a wide range of numerical techniques, including the finite-difference time-domain method, angular spectrum method, pseudospectral method, boundary-element method, and spectral-element method. Good agreement is found between the models, particularly for the position, size, and magnitude of the acoustic focus within the skull. When comparing results for each model with every other model in a cross-comparison, the median values for each benchmark for the difference in focal pressure and position are less than 10% and 1 mm, respectively. The benchmark definitions, model results, and intercomparison codes are freely available to facilitate further comparisons.
Complete Genome Sequence of an Italian Swine Enteric Coronavirus Strain 77590/2019
Authors: Papetti Alice , Bonilauri Paolo , Chiapponi Chiara , Baioni Laura , Boniotti Maria Beatrice
Published: August 2022

In this study, we report the detection of a case of Swine enteric Coronavirus (SeCoV) in Northern Italy. The complete genome sequence of 28,081 nucleotides was obtained. This strain had a genome nucleotide identity of 98.15 to 98.45% with the SeCoV circulating in Europe during 1993-2015, but it also displayed unique genetic features.
Differential Infectivity of Original and Delta Variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Children Compared to Adults
Authors: Garnett Lauren , Tse Carmen , Funk Duane , Dust Kerry , Tran Kaylie N. , Hedley Adam , Poliquin Guillaume , Bullard Jared , Strong James E.
Published: August 2022

These important findings show that children may play a larger role in viral transmission of Delta than for previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Additionally, they may suggest a mechanism for why Delta has evolved to be the predominant circulating variant.
Bacterial Culture Underestimates Lung Pathogen Detection and Infection Status in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Gavillet Helen , Hatfield Lauren , Rivett Damian , Jones Andrew , Maitra Anirban , Horsley Alexander , van der Gast Christopher
Published: August 2022

Chronic lung infection is the leading cause of morbidity and early mortality for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Microbiological surveillance to detect lung pathogens is recommended as best practise in CF patient care.
Effect of Seasonality on Microbiological Variability of Raw Cow Milk from Apulian Dairy Farms in Italy
Authors: Celano Giuseppe , Calasso Maria , Costantino Giuseppe , Vacca Mirco , Ressa Arianna , Nikoloudaki Olga , De Palo Pasquale , Calabrese Francesco Maria , Gobbetti Marco , De Angelis Maria
Published: August 2022

The strength of this study lies in the microbiological characterization of a wide range of farm management data to achieve a more comprehensive framework of Apulian milk. Specific regional pedoclimatic and management conditions impact the taxa present and their abundances within this ecological food niche. The obtained results lay the groundwork for comparison with other worldwide extensive farming areas.
Dehydration Tolerance in Epidemic versus Nonepidemic MRSA Demonstrated by Isothermal Microcalorimetry
Authors: Baede Valérie O. , Tavakol Mehri , Vos Margreet C. , Knight Gwenan M. , van Wamel Willem J. B.
Published: August 2022

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) is a major cause of infections globally. While some MRSA clusters have spread worldwide, others are not able to disseminate successfully beyond certain regions despite frequent introduction.
Development of Resistance to Eravacycline by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Collateral Sensitivity-Guided Design of Combination Therapies
Authors: Xu Congjuan , Wei Xiaoya , Jin Yongxin , Bai Fang , Cheng Zhihui , Chen Shuiping , Pan Xiaolei , Wu Weihui
Published: August 2022

The increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to global public health, which demands novel antimicrobial medicines and treatment strategies. Eravacycline is a newly approved antibiotic that belongs to the tetracycline antibiotics.
Novel Preclinical Study of Galloylquinic Acid Compounds from
Copaifera lucens
with Potent Antifungal Activity against Vaginal Candidiasis Induced in a Murine Model via Multitarget Modes of Action
Authors: Al-Madboly Lamiaa A. , Abd El-Salam Mohamed A. , Bastos Jairo K. , El-Shorbagy Safinaz H. , El-Morsi Rasha M.
Published: August 2022

Our work presents a new perspective on the potential use of GQAs as safe and highly effective phytochemicals against MDR
C. albicans
. This microorganism colonizes the human vaginal epithelium, causing vaginal candidiasis, a condition characterized by recurrent pathogenicity and tolerance to traditional antifungal therapy.
Non-Newtonian Rheology in Twist–Bend Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Kats E. I.
Published: August 2022

A simple qualitative model has been presented to describe shear rheological behavior of the twist–bend nematic liquid crystals (NTB). It has been found that at relatively low shear rate ($$\dot {\gamma } \leqslant {{\dot {\gamma }}_{{c1}}}$$) the stress tensor σ created by this shear strain, scales as$$\sigma \propto {{\dot {\gamma }}^{{1/2}}}$$. Thus, the effective viscosity decreases with the shear rate ($$\eta \propto {{\dot {\gamma }}^{{ - 1/2}}}$$) manifesting so-called shear-thinning phenomenon. At intermediate shear rate$${{\dot {\gamma }}_{{c1}}} \leqslant \dot {\gamma } \leqslant {{\dot {\gamma }}_{{c2}}}$$, σ is almost independent of$$\dot {\gamma }$$(a sort of plateau), and at large shear rate ($$\dot {\gamma } \geqslant {{\dot {\gamma }}_{{c2}}}$$),$$\sigma \propto \dot {\gamma }$$, and it looks like as Newtonian rheology. Within our theory the critical values of the shear rate scales as$${{\dot {\gamma }}_{{c1}}} \propto {{(\tilde {\eta }_{2}^{0}{\text{/}}\tilde {\eta }_{3}^{0})}^{2}}$$, and$${{\dot {\gamma }}_{{c2}}} \propto {{(\tilde {\eta }_{2}^{0}{\text{/}}\tilde {\eta }_{3}^{0})}^{4}}$$, respectively. Here$$\tilde {\eta }_{2}^{0}$$and$$\tilde {\eta }_{3}^{0}$$are bare coarse grained shear viscosity coefficients of the effective smectics equivalent to the NTBphase at large scales. The results of our work are in the agreement with recent experimental studies.
A binational analysis of infant mortality among crisis-driven diasporas and those who remain: a population-based study in Colombia and Venezuela
Authors: Garcia Arias Jenny Alejandra , Castro Torres Andres Felipe
Published: August 2022

Objective

To assess the health cost (or benefit) of crisis-driven migration by focusing on the infant mortality rate (IMR) of the Colombian diaspora in Venezuela and the Venezuelan diaspora in Colombia.

Methods

We compare national to diaspora IMRs over the period 1980-2018. National IMRs are death-to-birth ratios reported by the official vital statistics, whereas diaspora IMRs are calculated by using a semiparametric regression model on the summary birth histories collected in the population censuses. We analyse the diaspora IMRs according to whether their arrival corresponds to precrisis or crisis-driven migration.

Results

During crises, diaspora IMRs show better health outcomes than those of non-migrants. The Colombian diaspora had an average annual IMR of −1.8 (95% CI −3.3 to 0.28) per year and the Venezuelan diaspora had −4.5 (95% CI −5.8 to −3.3). However, the protective role of migration is neither guaranteed nor consistent, as a crisis in the country of destination exposes immigrants to worse health outcomes than the non-migrant population.

Conclusion

Migration is a survival strategy that allows people to reduce the negative effects they face during a crisis in their country of origin. The distinction between crisis-driven and precrisis migration provides a framework for assessing the cross-border effects on health outcomes due to diaspora composition, particularly when populations face adverse conditions.
‘Knowing we have these rights does not always mean we feel free to use them’: athletes’ perceptions of their human rights in sport
Authors: Tuakli-Wosornu Yetsa A , Goutos Demetri , Ramia Ioana , Galea Natalie R , Mountjoy Margo Lynn , Grimm Katharina , Wu Yinfei , Bekker Sheree
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Modern sport safeguarding strategies include published global rights declarations that enshrine athletes’ entitlements at the policy level. It is unclear how these documents translate to athletes’ lived experiences. The study aimed to determine athletes’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about their human rights in sports settings.

Setting

Web-based survey.

Participants

1159 athletes from 70 countries completed a validated web-based survey. Over half of participants (60.1%) were between 18 and 29 years, currently competing (67.1%), not members of players’ unions (54.6%), elite (60.0%) and participating in individual (55.8%) non-contact (75.6%) Olympic (77.9%) sports. Gender distribution was equal.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Participant demographics (eg, gender, age) and athletes’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about their human rights in sports settings.

Results

Most (78.5%) were unaware of any athletes’ rights declarations. Gender influenced participants’ confidence in acting on their rights in sport significantly. Males were more likely to accept pressure from coaches and teammates than females, but age affected how likely males were to accept this pressure. Paralympic athletes were less likely to agree that violence is acceptable in sports, compared with Olympic. Player union membership increased confidence in freely expressing one’s opinion in sports settings. Athletes’ rights-related awareness, knowledge and beliefs were disconnected.

Conclusions

Awareness raising is not enough to prevent human rights violations in sports. The cultural climate of the entire ecosystem must be targeted, using systems-level strategies to shift stakeholders’ biases, beliefs and behaviours. This approach takes the onus of addressing abuse off athletes’ shoulders and places accountability on sports organisations.