bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of 26 weeks of treatment with empagliflozin versus glimepiride on the myocardial glucose metabolic rate in patients with type 2 diabetes: The randomized, open‐label, crossover, active‐comparator FIORE trial
Authors: Succurro Elena , Vizza Patrizia , Papa Annalisa , Miceli Sofia , Cicone Francesco , Fiorentino Teresa Vanessa , Sciacqua Angela , Andreozzi Francesco , Veltri Pierangelo , Cascini Giuseppe Lucio , Sesti Giorgio
Published: July 2022

Aim

To determine whether treatment with empagliflozin was able to affect the myocardial glucose metabolic rate, as assessed by cardiac dynamic 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography (18F‐FDG‐PET) combined with euglycaemic‐hyperinsulinaemic clamp compared with glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

To further investigate the cardioprotective mechanism of sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors, we performed a 26‐week, randomized, open‐label, crossover, active‐comparator study to determine the effects of empagliflozin 10 mg versus glimepiride 2 mg daily on the myocardial glucose metabolic rate assessed by cardiac dynamic 18F‐FDG‐PET combined with euglycaemic‐hyperinsulinaemic clamp in 23 patients with type 2 diabetes. We also measured cardiac geometry and myocardial mechano‐energetic efficiency, as well as systolic and diastolic function by echocardiography.

Results

Compared with glimepiride, treatment with empagliflozin resulted in a greater reduction in the myocardial glucose metabolic rate from baseline to 26 weeks (adjusted difference −6.07 [−8.59, −3.55] μmol/min/100 g; P < .0001). Moreover, compared with glimepiride, empagliflozin led to significant reductions in left atrial diameter, left ventricular end‐systolic and end‐diastolic volumes, N‐terminal pro b‐type natriuretic peptide levels, blood pressure, heart rate, stroke work, and myocardial oxygen consumption estimated by the rate pressure product, and increases in ejection fraction, myocardial mechano‐energetic efficiency, red blood cells, and haematocrit and haemoglobin levels.

Conclusions

The present study provides evidence that empagliflozin treatment in subjects with type 2 diabetes without coronary artery disease leads to a significant reduction in the myocardial glucose metabolic rate.
Imagining oneself being someone else
Authors: Fernández Jordi
Published: July 2022

Sometimes, one can imagine, in virtue of having some experience, that one is someone else having some property. This is puzzling if imagination is a guide to possibility, since it seems impossible for one to be someone else. In this paper, I offer a way of dissolving the puzzle. When one claims that, by having some experience, one imagines that one is someone else having some property, what one imagines, I suggest, is that if the other person had the property in question, then having it would be, for them, like having the relevant experience is for one. I discuss two alternative views about the content of these episodes of imagination, and argue that both of them are too weak and too strong. The proposed view avoids the two difficulties while preserving some intuitions about the phenomenology and the epistemology of imagination which are captured by the alternative views.
Risdiplam in types 2 and 3 spinal muscular atrophy: A randomised, placebo‐controlled, dose‐finding trial followed by 24 months of treatment
Authors: Mercuri Eugenio , Baranello Giovanni , Boespflug‐Tanguy Odile , De Waele Liesbeth , Goemans Nathalie , Kirschner Janbernd , Masson Riccardo , Mazzone Elena S. , Pechmann Astrid , Pera Maria Carmela , Vuillerot Carole , Bader‐Weder Silvia , Gerber Marianne , Gorni Ksenija , Hoffart Janine , Kletzl Heidemarie , Martin Carmen , McIver Tammy , Scalco Renata S. , Yeung Wai Yin , Servais Laurent ,   SUNFISH Working Group
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by reduced levels of survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein due to deletions and/or mutations in the SMN1 gene. Risdiplam is an orally administered molecule that modifies SMN2 pre‐mRNA splicing to increase functional SMN protein.

Methods

SUNFISH Part 1 was a dose‐finding study conducted in 51 individuals with types 2 and 3 SMA aged 2–25 years. A dose‐escalation method was used to identify the appropriate dose for the subsequent pivotal Part 2. Individuals were randomized (2:1) to risdiplam or placebo at escalating dose levels for a minimum 12‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled period, followed by treatment for 24 months. The dose selection for Part 2 was based on safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic data. Exploratory efficacy was also measured.

Results

There was no difference in safety findings for all assessed dose levels. A dose‐dependent increase in blood SMN protein was observed; a median twofold increase was obtained within 4 weeks of treatment initiation at the highest dose level. The increase in SMN protein was sustained over 24 months of treatment. Exploratory efficacy showed improvement or stabilization in motor function. The pivotal dose selected for Part 2 was 5 mg for patients with a body weight ≥20 kg or 0.25 mg/kg for patients with a body weight <20 kg.

Conclusions

SUNFISH Part 1 demonstrated a twofold increase in SMN protein after treatment with risdiplam. The observed safety profile supported the initiation of the pivotal Part 2 study. The long‐term efficacy and safety of risdiplam are being assessed with ongoing treatment.
A phylogenetic study to assess the link between biome specialization and diversification in swallowtail butterflies
Authors: Gamboa Sara , Condamine Fabien L. , Cantalapiedra Juan L. , Varela Sara , Pelegrín Jonathan S. , Menéndez Iris , Blanco Fernando , Hernández Fernández Manuel
Published: July 2022

The resource‐use hypothesis, proposed by E.S. Vrba, states that habitat fragmentation caused by climatic oscillations would affect particularly biome specialists (species inhabiting only one biome), which might show higher speciation and extinction rates than biome generalists. If true, lineages would accumulate biome‐specialist species. This effect would be particularly exacerbated for biomes located at the periphery of the global climatic conditions, namely, biomes that have high/low precipitation and high/low temperature such as rainforest (warm‐humid), desert (warm‐dry), steppe (cold‐dry) and tundra (cold‐humid). Here, we test these hypotheses in swallowtail butterflies, a clade with more than 570 species, covering all the continents but Antarctica, and all climatic conditions. Swallowtail butterflies are among the most studied insects, and they are a model group for evolutionary biology and ecology studies. Continental macroecological rules are normally tested using vertebrates, this means that there are fewer examples exploring terrestrial invertebrate patterns at global scale. Here, we compiled a large Geographic Information System database on swallowtail butterflies' distribution maps and used the most complete time‐calibrated phylogeny to quantify diversification rates (DRs). In this paper, we aim to answer the following questions: (1) Are there more biome‐specialist swallowtail butterflies than biome generalists? (2) Is DR related to biome specialization? (3) If so, do swallowtail butterflies inhabiting extreme biomes show higher DRs? (4) What is the effect of species distribution area? Our results showed that swallowtail family presents a great number of biome specialists which showed substantially higher DRs compared to generalists. We also found that biome specialists are unevenly distributed across biomes. Overall, our results are consistent with the resource‐use hypothesis, species climatic niche and biome fragmentation as key factors promoting isolation.
Effect of plasma oxynitriding temperature on wear and corrosion resistance of the AISI 4140 steel
Authors: Park Hyunjun , Lee Junho , Kim Cheolwoo , Moon Kyoungil , Kim Sangsub , Mhin Sungwook
Published: July 2022

This work presents the effect of oxynitriding process at different temperature on the corrosion resistance and wear behavior of the quenching‐and‐tempering‐treated AISI 4140 steel. The AISI 4140 was plasma nitrided at 500°C. Subsequently, the plasma oxynitriding was performed on the nitrided AISI 4140 at different temperatures under H2O atmosphere. Microstructure and phases of the plasma‐oxynitrided samples are investigated, indicating that phase formation of the oxide layer is strongly dependent on processing temperature during plasma oxynitriding: Formation of Fe3O4 is preferred over Fe2O3 at lower processing temperature. Also, it is believed that ε‐Fe2–3N phase formed by nitriding process plays an important role to promote the formation of Fe3O4 phase during plasma oxynitriding. In order to investigate the mechanical, wear, and corrosion properties of the plasma‐oxynitrided samples, Vickers hardness, friction coefficient, and potentiodynamic curves are evaluated, respectively. Compared to a plasma‐nitrided sample, the Vickers hardness of the plasma‐oxynitrided sample at optimal processing temperature shows a slight decrease of the hardness, but, improved wear and corrosion resistances were observed. It is suggested that wear and corrosion resistance of the oxynitrided sample is strongly dependent on the volume fraction of Fe3O4 phase in the oxide layer.
Rheological evaluation of wheat dough treated with ozone and ambient air during kneading and dough formation
Authors: Moll Sarah , Zettel Viktoria , Delgado Antonio , Hitzmann Bernd
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study is to compare the application of ozone with that of air during the dough kneading process. Experiments were performed on doughs made from two wheat flours of different protein contents by changing the treatment time and oxidative gas. All samples were analyzed by Farinograph, oscillatory rheometer, and dough extensibility test. Farinograph measurements showed that water absorption capacity by ozone treatment during kneading was increased by 1.8% and 2.6%, and dough development time was 47% and 37% higher than of untreated doughs made of lower and higher quality wheat flour, respectively. Dough softening was reduced by 30% and 42% by air. Ozone treatment slightly decreased the dough stability of doughs made from higher quality flour and increased dough softening for both. Ozone treatment increased the force required to break the dough strand after 5 min by 42% and 23% for samples of lower and higher quality wheat flour, respectively. The extensibility of the dough behaved inversely. The frequency sweep test showed an increase in G′ and G″.
Misalignment among adolescents living with obesity, caregivers, and healthcare professionals: ACTION Teens global survey study
Authors: Halford Jason C. G. , Bereket Abdullah , Bin‐Abbas Bassam , Chen Walter , Fernández‐Aranda Fernando , Garibay Nieto Nayely , López Siguero Juan Pedro , Maffeis Claudio , Mooney Vicki , Osorto Cynthia Karenina , Reynoso Ricardo , Rhie Young‐Jun , Toro‐Ramos Martín , Baur Louise A.
Published: July 2022

Background

There is limited evidence regarding the experiences, challenges, and needs of adolescents living with obesity (ALwO), their caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Objectives

The cross‐sectional, survey‐based global ACTION Teens study aimed to identify perceptions, attitudes, behaviours, and barriers to effective obesity care among ALwO, caregivers of ALwO, and HCPs.

Methods

ALwO (aged 12 to <18 years; N = 5275), caregivers (N = 5389), and HCPs treating ALwO (N = 2323) from 10 countries completed an online survey (August–December 2021).

Results

Most ALwO perceived their weight as above normal (76% vs. 66% of caregivers), were worried about its impact on their health (85% vs. 80% of caregivers), and recently made a weight loss attempt (58%). While 45% of caregivers believed ALwO would slim down with age, only 24% of HCPs agreed. Most commonly reported weight loss motivators for ALwO were wanting to be more fit/in better shape according to ALwO (40%) and caregivers (32%), and improved confidence/social life according to HCPs (69%). ALwO weight loss barriers included lack of hunger control (most commonly reported by ALwO/caregivers), lack of motivation, unhealthy eating habits (most commonly agreed by HCPs), and lack of exercise.

Conclusions

Misalignment between ALwO, caregivers, and HCPs—including caregivers' underestimation of the impact of obesity on ALwO and HCPs' misperception of key motivators/barriers for weight loss—suggests a need for improved communication and education.
Does nursing have a contribution to make to the silver economy?
Authors: Watson Roger , Hayter Mark , Zanini Milko , Aleo Giuseppe , Catania Gianluca , Sasso Loredana , Bagnasco Annamaria
Published: July 2022

Aim

To discuss the possible contribution of nurses to the Silver Economy.

Background

Older people constitute a growing sector of the population of developed countries and there is increasing interest in the concept of the Silver Economy which is the contribution older people can and do make to the general economies of their communities and countries.

Sources of evidence

We obtained a range of relevant documents from international organisations and related academic literature.

Discussion

There is a range of interrelated health promotion aspects of ageing related to physical health, mental health and cognitive health. Promoting activities related to these could have both direct and indirect impact on the economy in addition to improving the health and well‐being of older people.

Conclusions

Nurses have a responsibility to understand the health promotion related aspects of ageing and the contribution they can make to improving the health and well‐being of older people. Nurses could, specifically, promote activities amongst older people that will have an impact on health and on the economy.

Implications for nursing

Nurses need to integrate more health promotion related aspects of ageing into their practice and to be able to evaluate the health‐related improvements they make and also to evaluate and indicate the contribution this makes to the health of older people and to the economy.
Selective outcome reporting in paediatric dentistry restorative treatment randomised clinical trials—A meta‐research
Authors: Elagami Rokaia Ahmed , Tedesco Tamara Kerber , Pannuti Claudio Mendes , da Silva Gabriela Seabra , Braga Mariana Minatel , Mendes Fausto Medeiros , Raggio Daniela Prócida
Published: July 2022

Background

Selective outcome reporting (SOR) is a bias that occurs when the primary outcome of a randomised clinical trial (RCT) is omitted or changed.

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence of SOR in RCTs on restorative treatment in primary teeth.

Design

We conducted an electronic search on ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization platform (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) on 1st of April 2021, with no registry time or language restrictions. We included RCT protocols that evaluated restorative treatments in primary teeth and excluded trials that did not have a complete publication in a scientific journal. The chi‐squared test was used to identify the association between SOR and variables as a discrepancy in the follow‐up period, the timing of registration, the type of sponsorship and the type of study design (α = 5%).

Results

Of the 294 identified protocols, 30 were included in the study. 83.3% of trials were registered retrospectively. SOR was observed in 53.3% (n = 16) of the published trials and was significantly associated with a discrepancy in the follow‐up period (p = .017).

Conclusions

The high prevalence of SOR in RCTs on restorative treatment proves that this is a prominent threat. A proper preregistered protocol, declaration of any protocol deviation and allowance of stakeholders to compare the protocol with that of the submitted papers will achieve transparency.
Surfing the tide: Homeward migration of sea trout (Salmo trutta) in aPatagonian river
Authors: Giese Adriana Carolina , García‐Asorey Martín Ignacio , Casalinuovo Miguel Ángel , Amaya‐Santi María Marcela , Kennedy Brian Patrick , Pascual Miguel Alberto
Published: July 2022

This study evaluates the influence of marine and freshwater conditions on the timing of river entry and upstream migration of sea trout (Salmo trutta) in the Grande River of Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia. We analysed the in‐river catch‐and‐release records from a group of fishing lodges that dominate the Grande River fishery during January–April 2008 (n = 5029 fish) as a function of environmental variables: tidal amplitude, stage in the lunar cycle, river discharge, and river water temperature along the homeward migration season. We discuss the value of the daily catch rate as an abundance index in the Grande river, then analyse the temporal structure of the tidal cycle in the Grande River estuary, a macro‐tidal environment with a mean tidal amplitude of 5.7 m, and analyse the fit of a generalized additive model to trout catches on a daily basis in four sections along the river to identify the environmental variables that may affect trout abundance throughout the homeward migration. Fish catches in each section of the river were differentially affected by specific environmental variables: tidal amplitude had a positive and significant effect on catches in the lower river sections, whereas water temperature and river discharge significantly affected catches in upper sections (positive effect of temperature; negative effect of discharge). Catches in the lower section clearly reflect the river entry stage of the homeward migration, with a bi‐modal shape significantly correlated with the tidal cycle. The first peak was composed mainly of larger multi‐sea‐winter trout that move upstream, whereas the second one had a wider range of fish lengths, including a large proportion of small and maybe nonreproductive trout that overwinter in the lower river. Based on our results, we conclude that the large tides in the Grande River estuary strongly affect the river entry timing of sea trout. The underlying mechanisms of this effect may be a combination of increased olfactory recognition and increased tidal transport modulated by the seasonal tidal cycle, which operates on trout during coastal migration to produce the pulses observed in the Grande River sea trout run. In the middle and upper sections of the river, where the tidal effect at river entry was dissipated as upstream migration progressed, trout catches increased with water temperature and decreased with river discharge, which may operate through their influence on in‐river migration rate and abundance, but also through changes in catchability.
Effect of low‐dose Piscirickettsia salmonis infection on haematological‐biochemical blood parameters in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Isla Adolfo , Sánchez Patricio , Ruiz Pamela , Albornoz Romina , Pontigo Juan P. , Rauch María Cecilia , Hawes Christopher , Vargas‐Chacoff Luis , Yáñez Alejandro J.
Published: July 2022

Piscirickettsia salmonis is the etiological agent of Piscirickettsiosis, a severe disease that affects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) farmed in Chile and many other areas (Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the USA). This study investigated the effects of low‐dose P. salmonis infection (1 × 102 CFU/ml) on Atlantic salmon. In this study, we challenged fish with an isolated representative of the EM‐90 genogroup via intraperitoneal injection for 42 days. Infected fish displayed decreased haematocrit and haemoglobin levels at day 13 post‐infection, indicating erythropenia, haemolysis and haemodilution. Conversely, their white blood cell counts increased on days 13 and 21 post‐infection. Additionally, their iron levels decreased from day 2 post‐infection, indicating iron deficiency and an inability to retrieve stored iron before infection. Their magnesium levels also decreased at day 28 post‐infection, possibly due to osmoregulatory problems. Also, we observed an increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity on days 5, 21, and 28 post‐infection, suggesting early symptoms of hepatotoxicity. Later analyses determined a decrease in plasma glucose levels from day 2 post‐infection. This may be attributed to the hypoxic conditions caused by P. salmonis, leading to an excess utilization of stored carbohydrates. Our results suggest that the blood parameters we studied are useful for monitoring the physiological status of Atlantic salmon infected with P. salmonis.
Novel imaging markers for altered cerebrovascular morphology in aging, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Deshpande Aditi , Elliott Jordan , Kari Nitya , Jiang Bin , Michel Patrik , Toosizadeh Nima , Fahadan Pouya Tahsili , Kidwell Chelsea , Wintermark Max , Laksari Kaveh
Published: July 2022

Background and Purpose

Altered brain vasculature is a key phenomenon in several neurologic disorders. This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the anatomical variations in the Circle of Willis (CoW) and vascular morphology in healthy aging, acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Methods

We used our novel automatic method to segment and extract geometric features of the cerebral vasculature from MR angiography scans of 175 healthy subjects, which were used to create a probabilistic atlas of cerebrovasculature and to study normal aging and intersubject variations in CoW anatomy. Subsequently, we quantified and analyzed vascular alterations in 45AIS and 50 AD patients, two prominent cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.

Results

In the sampled cohort, we determined that the CoW is fully formed in only 35% of healthy adults and found significantly (p < .05) increased tortuosity and fractality, with increasing age and also with disease in both AIS and AD. We also found significantly lower vessel length, volume, and number of branches in AIS patients, as expected. The AD cerebral vessels exhibited significantly smaller diameter and more complex branching patterns, compared to age‐matched healthy adults. These changes were significantly heightened (p < .05) among healthy, early onset mild AD, and moderate/severe dementia groups.

Conclusion

Although our study does not include longitudinal data due to paucity of such datasets, the specific geometric features and quantitative comparisons demonstrate the potential for using vascular morphology as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for neurologic disorders.
Broadband access and telemedicine adoption for opioid use disorder treatment in the United States
Authors: Ali Mir M. , Ghertner Robin
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Buprenorphine utilization remains low in the United States. Telemedicine guidelines and flexibilities introduced during the COVID‐19 pandemic provide an opportunity to increase patient access to buprenorphine. However, it is not known whether Americans without access to buprenorphine waivered provider, especially those residing in rural counties, have sufficient broadband internet access to support telemedicine.

Methods

Administrative data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Buprenorphine Treatment Practitioner Locator Tool and the Fixed Broadband Deployment Data from the Federal Communications Commission are utilized to identify counties with low broadband penetration rate and the number of buprenorphine waivered providers with capacity to accept patients within a 30 miles radius.

Findings

23.9% of the US population does not have access to any buprenorphine waivered provider with a capacity to accept new patients within a 30 miles radius. In counties with low broadband penetration rate, 78.9% of residents does not have access to any buprenorphine waivered provider with patient capacity. In rural counties with low broadband penetration rate, 82.3% of the residents does not have access to any buprenorphine waivered provider with patient capacity within a 30 miles radius.

Conclusions

Federal policy initiatives are expected to continue the COVID‐19‐related telehealth flexibilities and to increase the number of providers available to prescribe buprenorphine, but for that to translate into more patients utilizing treatment via telemedicine, high‐speed internet access will be essential. This is particularly salient for residents in rural counties where access to both buprenorphine providers and high‐speed internet access is limited.
Outcome of surgical treatment of perineal hernia in cats: 36 cases (2013‐2019)
Authors: Hubers M. W. L. , Vink J. J. W. G. , Brissot H. N. , Sjollema B. E. , van Klaveren N. J.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To report the clinical presentation, complications, and long‐term outcomes of cats treated for perineal hernia with modified internal obturator muscle transposition.

Methods

The medical records of cats surgically treated for perineal hernia between 2013 and 2019 were reviewed and an owner questionnaire was conducted to determine long‐term outcome.

Results

Thirty‐six cats were included in the study: 34 had bilateral and two unilateral hernias. Of these 36, 24 (67%) were male neutered with a median age of 10 (range: 1 to 18) years. The complication rate was low, however, one cat experienced a major postoperative complication: rectal prolapse requiring revision surgery 48 hours postsurgery. Short‐term outcomes were available for 32 of 36 (89%) cats. Of the 32, 23 were examined 6 weeks postoperatively, and a telephonic consultation was performed for an additional nine of 32. Of the 23 cats examined directly, none had recurrence. Overall 12 of 32 experienced short‐term postoperative tenesmus which resolved in nine of 12 (75%). Long‐term outcomes were available for 31 of 36 cats (86%), with a median of 18.5 (6 to 89) months follow‐up. A good outcome was achieved in 23 of 31 (74%) whereas three of 31 (10%) had fair outcomes and five of 31 (16%) had a poor outcome. Of the five cats with a poor outcome, two required subtotal colectomy to manage clinical signs related to megacolon, two were euthanised following a return of clinical signs, and one developed unilateral recurrence.

Clinical Significance

Perineal hernia should be considered in cats presenting with tenesmus or recurrent obstipation. Surgical treatment of perineal hernias in cats can result in good owner‐assessed long‐term outcome.
Changing to remote psychological therapy during COVID‐19: Psychological therapists' experience of the working alliance, therapeutic boundaries and work involvement
Authors: James Georgina , Schröder Thomas , De Boos Danielle
Published: July 2022

Research aims

This study aimed to investigate psychological therapists' perceived ability to form a working alliance and maintain therapeutic boundaries, and their work involvement patterns whilst working remotely via telephone or videoconferencing. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore therapists' experience of therapeutic boundaries when working remotely and how they managed these.

Method

A mixed‐method sequential explanatory design was adopted. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, with thematic analysis used to analyse qualitative data.

Results

In total, 161 psychological therapists completed an online survey, and 12 participants were selected using maximum variation sampling to engage in a semi‐structured interview. Although results between therapists varied, some perceived abilities regarding the working alliance and therapeutic boundaries differed when working remotely compared to face‐to‐face therapy. Therapists' work involvement patterns also differed compared to existing data for face‐to‐face therapy, indicated by increased rates of stressful involvement. Considering therapists' experience of therapeutic boundaries, four overarching themes were identified: ‘different boundaries in remote therapy’, ‘work home boundary’, ‘changes in the therapeutic safe space’ and ‘impact of boundaries when working remotely’.

Conclusions

Aspects of the working alliance and therapeutic boundaries are experienced differently by therapists working remotely, which relates to how they experience their work. The findings have clinical implications for increasing therapists' awareness of potential changes in their perceived abilities regarding the working alliance and therapeutic boundaries when working remotely, therefore, enabling them to address these changes where required. Future research possibilities are considered.
The comparison problem for approximating epistemic ideals
Authors: Daoust Marc‐Kevin
Published: July 2022

Some epistemologists think that the Bayesian ideals matter because we canapproximatethem. That is, our attitudes can be more or less close to the ones of our ideal Bayesian counterpart. In this paper, I raise a worry for this justification of epistemic ideals. The worry is this: In order to correctly compare agents to their ideal counterparts, we need to imagine idealized agents who have the same relevant information, knowledge, or evidence. However, there are cases in which one's ideal counterpart cannot have one's information, knowledge, or evidence. In these situations, agents cannot compare themselves to their ideal counterpart.
Dynamics of a nonlocal dispersal in‐host viral model with humoral immunity
Authors: Hu Jing , Meyer‐Baese Anke , Ye Ming , Zhang Qimin
Published: July 2022

This work investigates the existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions to a nonlocal dispersal in‐host viral model with humoral immunity. The model features both spatial movement of virus and humoral immunity response to the virus. This paper gives the principal eigenvalue () of the nonlocal dispersal problem, and it is verified to be a critical value that determines the infection dynamics. The uninfected equilibrium is unique and stable for . For , the equilibrium is not stable, and infected with/without B cells response equilibrium emerges. This paper also establishes the dynamics of infected equilibria. Numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the analytical results of this study.
Triceps surae muscle force potential and force demand shift with altering stride frequency in running
Authors: Swinnen Wannes , Mylle Ine , Hoogkamer Wouter , De Groote Friedl , Vanwanseele Benedicte
Published: July 2022

While it is well recognized that the preferred stride frequency (PSF) in running closely corresponds to the metabolically optimal frequency, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Changes in joint kinematics when altering stride frequency will affect the muscle‐tendon unit lengths and potentially the efficiency of muscles crossing these joints. Here, we investigated how fascicle kinematics and forces of the triceps surae muscle, a highly energy consuming muscle, are affected when running at different stride frequencies. Twelve runners ran on a force measuring treadmill, adopting five different frequencies (PSF; PSF ± 8%; PSF ± 15%), while we measured joint kinematics, whole‐body energy expenditure, triceps surae muscle activity, and soleus (SOL; N = 10) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM; N = 12) fascicle kinematics. In addition, we used dynamic optimization to estimate SOL and GM muscle forces. We found that SOL and GM mean muscle fascicle length during stance followed an inverted U‐relationship with the longest fascicle lengths occurring at PSF. Fascicle lengths were shortest at frequencies lower than PSF. In addition, average SOL force was greater at PSF−15% compared with PSF. Overall, our results suggest that reduced SOL and GM muscle fascicle lengths, associated with reduced muscle force potential, together with greater SOL force demand, contribute to the increased whole‐body energy expenditure when running at lower than PSF. At higher stride frequencies, triceps surae muscle kinematics and force production were less affected suggesting that increased energy expenditure is rather related to higher cost of leg swing and greater cost of force production.
Genetics of long‐distance runners and road cyclists—A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Konopka Magdalena Johanna , van den Bunder Jorn Carlos Maria Leonardus , Rietjens Gerard , Sperlich Billy , Zeegers Maurice Petrus
Published: July 2022

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to identify the genetic variants of (inter)national competing long‐distance runners and road cyclists compared with controls. The Medline and Embase databases were searched until 15 November 2021. Eligible articles included genetic epidemiological studies published in English. A homogenous group of endurance athletes competing at (inter)national level and sedentary controls were included. Pooled odds ratios based on the genotype frequency with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was addressed by Q‐statistics, and I2. Sources of heterogeneity were examined by meta‐regression and risk of bias was assessed with the Clark Baudouin scale. This systematic review comprised of 43 studies including a total of 3938 athletes and 10 752 controls in the pooled analysis. Of the 42 identified genetic variants, 13 were investigated in independent studies. Significant associations were found for five polymorphisms. Pooled odds ratio [95%CI] favoring athletes compared with controls was 1.42 [1.12–1.81] for ACE II (I/D), 1.66 [1.26–2.19] for ACTN3 TT (rs1815739), 1.75 [1.34–2.29] for PPARGC1A GG (rs8192678), 2.23 [1.42–3.51] for AMPD1 CC (rs17602729), and 2.85 [1.27–6.39] for HFE GG + CG (rs1799945). Risk of bias was low in 25 (58%) and unclear in 18 (42%) articles. Heterogeneity of the results was low (0%–20%) except for HFE (71%), GNB3 (80%), and NOS3 (76%). (Inter)national competing runners and cyclists have a higher probability to carry specific genetic variants compared with controls. This study confirms that (inter)national competing endurance athletes constitute a unique genetic make‐up, which likely contributes to their performance level.
Inequalities and interrelations: The sociology of disasters at a new crossroads
Authors: Smiley Kevin T. , Domingue Simone J. , Lewis Akua L. , McNeese Heath , Pellegrin Sara J. , Sandhu Harleen
Published: July 2022

While the sociology of disasters was slow to incorporate the study of inequality in analyses, recent research in the field has centered the study of inequality. Powered by changing empirical terrain in the form of climate change and by theoretically engagement with other sociological subfields, our article showcases how this research analyzes inequality by tracing three research motifs of scale, time, and feedbacks. Using a data set of nearly 200 articles published in the field including all 57 articles published in 10 generalist sociology journals from 2008 to 2020, we relate this perspective on scale, time, and feedbacks to eight primary areas of work in the sociology of disasters: (1) community, social capital, and resilience; (2) migration and displacement; (3) race; (4) gender; (5) intersectionality; (6) health and wellness; (7) governance and policy; and (8) environment and climate change. Our discussion champions future research on feedbacks by providing a theoretical backing with social theory on relational inequality as well as by substantiating it empirically with the eight areas of research.
Void Fraction Measurement and Prediction of Two-Phase Boiling Flows in a Tubular Test Section
Authors: Liu Qingqing , Diaz Julio , Petrov Victor , Burak Adam , Manera Annalisa , Kelly Joseph , Sun Xiaodong
Published: July 2022

Void fraction is one of the most important parameters that affect two-phase flow heat transfer and pressure drop. In this paper, a commercial gamma densitometer and a high-speed X-ray radiography system developed at the University of Michigan (UM) are used to measure the void fraction in two-phase boiling flows, with water as the working fluid, in a tubular test section. The test section is made of Incoloy 800H/HT with a total length of 1.589 m, an inner diameter of 12.95 mm, and a wall thickness of 3.05 mm. These two instrumentation systems are installed on a traversing platform that travels along the vertical test section to perform measurements at multiple elevations. Subcooled flow boiling and natural convection boiling experiments are performed to measure the void fraction in the test section. Flow visualization images are obtained for bubbly and slug flows from the X-ray radiography system. The wall temperature of the test section is measured at 17 elevations by thermocouples. In addition to the experiments, a multiphase computational fluid dynamics (MCFD) model is developed using ansysfluent to simulate the subcooled flow boiling. The measured wall temperature and void fraction from the experiments are compared with the MCFD simulation results. The root-mean-square (RMS) relative deviations are 3.6% and 16.1% for the wall temperature and void fraction, respectively, between the experimental data and MCFD simulations.
Physics Evaluation of Alternative Uranium-Based Oxy-Carbide Annular Fuel Concepts for Potential Use in Compact High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors
Authors: Wojtaszek Daniel T. , Bromley Blair P.
Published: July 2022

Lattice physics calculations have been carried out to evaluate the performance and safety characteristics of a modified high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) prismatic fuel block concept, based on the MHTGR-350 benchmark problem. Key changes were to replace the conventional tri-structural isotropic (TRISO)-filled fuel compacts with heterogeneous, multilayer annular fuel pellets made with UCO, ThCO, or (U,Th)CO. These fuel pellets have multiple protective cladding layers of pyrolytic carbon and silicon carbide, which will give it robust qualities. With the increased loading of U-235 in the fuel block, it was necessary to replace up to 78 fuel holes and 42 coolant holes with a hydrogen-based moderator (7LiH), in order to ensure a thermal neutron energy spectrum in the lattice. Calculation results demonstrate that the modified fuel concept has several advantages and some challenges relative to the conventional MHTGR-350 design concept. With the increased uranium loading and the reduced neutron leakage due the use of 7LiH moderator rods, higher burnup levels and lower natural uranium consumption levels can be achieved with the same level of uranium enrichment. In addition, the expected fuel residence time increased by a factor of 20 or more, making such a concept very attractive for use in small, modular, “nuclear battery” HTGRs that would only need to be fueled once. Calculation results for the current concept indicate positive graphite and hydrogen moderator temperature coefficients, and further modifications will be required to ensure a negative power coefficient of reactivity.
Applicability of the Dose Spiking Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Method for the Quantitative Measurements of Low Doses in Alanine Dosimetry
Authors: Ghimire Lekhnath , Waller Edward
Published: July 2022

Ionizing radiation generates unpaired electrons or free radical centers in alanine. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detects, identifies, and quantifies these free radicals, proportional to the absorbed dose. The accurate measurements of low doses using EPR dosimetry with alanine are highly challenging due to (1) the weak EPR dosimetric signal from low dose alanine and measurement errors, (2) the sample anisotropy in crystalline alanine, and (3) the background signals from sample impurities. This study explores the feasibility of using the dose spiking EPR technique to overcome these challenges and decreases the detection limit up to 20 milligray (mGy) in a low dose measurement using EPR. The measurement errors from the sample anisotropy were reduced by rotating the samples relative to the constant magnetic field direction using a goniometer and averaging the resulting EPR spectra. This technique decreased the measurement errors at high doses; however, it was insufficient to decrease the detection limit and increase the measurement accuracy at low doses (<0.5 Gy). As a result, the high measurement accuracy at the high doses (>4 Gy) was exploited to increase the accuracy at the low doses using the dose spiking EPR technique. To this end, the low-dose alanine sample, undetectable and not reliably measurable in the X-band continuous wave (CW) EPR spectrometer, spikes with a high dose (4 Gy). Then, the total dose was measured and subtracted from a spike dose to get the initial low dose. This technique detected and measured the low doses with reliable accuracy (±10%). As a result, we concluded that this method has great potential to solve the low dose measurement problems in alanine dosimetry.
Preliminary Analysis of Reactivity Feedbacks for Inner-Side Chromium Coating
Authors: Hamad Khlifa Rofida , Nikitenkov Nicolay N.
Published: July 2022

Protective coatings were proposed as near-term concepts to enhance the accident tolerance of nuclear fuel claddings; it is expected to improve corrosion resistance in severe events, and enhance cladding performance during normal operation, without introducing major design changes. Various aspects such as corrosion resistance, thermal and neutronic performances are being evaluated. However, the fact that inner uncoated side of fuel cladding may expose to the oxidizing environment under some circumstances is still a concern. Thus, a complementary inner-side coating was proposed. Metallic chromium is extensively studied as a potential coating material, and showed promising performance. Neutronic penalties are expected if chromium used as protective coating. In this study, reactor's inherent safety feedback, when chromium coatings used for fuel claddings inner-side protection, is evaluated and compared with the case of using external coatings. These parameters have not been studied before. Five different coating thicknesses were used in this evaluation. Results showed that inner side coatings will induce less negative moderator temperature feed backs, while feedback to changes in fuel temperature will be more negative than the reference uncoated case. Boron coefficient was found to be less negative compared to the reference. It was found that each coating thickness will induce unique changes in neutrons flux; generally, there will be reduction in thermal portion of neutron flux, which will be less for the case of inner-side coatings, when compared to external coatings. The magnitude of feedback varies from thickness to another. Reactivity feedbacks also calculated for some cases where inner and external coatings used simultaneously, results showed similar behavior, with the magnitude varying from a combination to another. The presence of chromium coatings will introduce some changes in reactor's neutron flux; nevertheless, the reactor will still keep its inherent negative feedback to changes in different operation parameters studied.
Mapping microstructural gradients of the human striatum in normal aging and Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Drori Elior , Berman Shai , Mezer Aviv A.
Published: July 2022

Mapping structural spatial change (i.e., gradients) in the striatum is essential for understanding the function of the basal ganglia in both health and disease. We developed a method to identify and quantify gradients of microstructure in the single human brain in vivo. We found spatial gradients in the putamen and caudate nucleus of the striatum that were robust across individuals, clinical conditions, and datasets. By exploiting multiparametric quantitative MRI, we found distinct, spatially dependent, aging-related alterations in water content and iron concentration. Furthermore, we found cortico-striatal microstructural covariation, showing relations between striatal structural gradients and cortical hierarchy. In Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, we found abnormal gradients in the putamen, revealing changes in the posterior putamen that explain patients’ dopaminergic loss and motor dysfunction. Our work provides a noninvasive approach for studying the spatially varying, structure-function relationship in the striatum in vivo, in normal aging and PD.
Targeting oxidized phospholipids by AAV-based gene therapy in mice with established hepatic steatosis prevents progression to fibrosis
Authors: Upchurch Clint M. , Yeudall Scott , Pavelec Caitlin M. , Merk Dennis , Greulich Jan , Manjegowda Mohan , Raghavan Shyam S. , Bochkis Irina M. , Scott Michael M. , Perez-Reyes Edward , Leitinger Norbert
Published: July 2022

Oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs) are implicated in chronic tissue damage. Hyperlipidemic LDL-R-–deficient mice transgenic for an OxPC-recognizing IgM fragment (scFv-E06) are protected against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To examine the effect of OxPC elimination at different stages of NAFLD progression, we used cre-dependent, adeno-associated virus serotype 8–mediated expression of the single-chain variable fragment of E06 (AAV8-scFv-E06) in hepatocytes of albumin-cre mice. AAV8-induced expression of scFv-E06 at the start of FPC diet protected mice from developing hepatic steatosis. Independently, expression of scFv-E06 in mice with established steatosis prevented the progression to hepatic fibrosis. Mass spectrometry–based oxophospho-lipidomics identified individual OxPC species that were reduced by scFv-E06 expression. In vitro, identified OxPC species dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism and gene expression in hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells. We demonstrate that individual OxPC species independently affect disease initiation and progression from hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis, and that AAV-mediated expression of scFv-E06 is an effective therapeutic intervention.
The value of contact tracing and isolation in mitigation of COVID-19 epidemic: findings from outbreak investigation of COVID-19 onboard Nile Cruise Ship, Egypt, March 2020
Authors: Hassan Hossam , Abo ElSood Hanaa , Abd ElGawad Basma , Kamel Reham , Fahim Manal , El Shourbagy Sahar , Showky Shymaa , Mohsen Amira , Afifi Salma , Eid Alaa
Published: July 2022

WHO informed Egypt health authorities of individuals of different nationalities who proved positive for COVID-19 after returning from Egypt. Patients were among touristic group who visited Cairo and spent 1-week onboard Nile cruise ship. Investigation performed to confirm outbreak, detect source, and implement containment measures. Active case finding and contact tracing performed among contacts of the index cases and their contacts. Contacts defined as anyone within 6 feet from confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case for ≥15 min. Overall, 331 contacts, including 201 ship boarders and 130 hotel guests, were listed and interviewed using semistructured questionnaire and tested for COVID-19 by PCR. Among them, 136 (41.1%) were close contacts of index cases and 195 (58.9%) contacted secondary cases. Their mean age was 34.6±11.5 years, 251 (75.8%) were males and 126 (38.1%) non-Egyptians. Of them, 67 (20.2%) tested positive for COVID-19, including 57 (28.4%) ship boarders and 10 (7.7%) hotel guests. Per cent positive was significantly higher in: contacts of index cases, Egyptians, ship boarders and in males than corresponding categories (35.3% vs 9.7%, 22.9% vs 15.9%, 27.4% vs 7.7%, 24.7% vs 6.3%), respectively. Of all positive cases, 40 (59.7%) were asymptomatic where ship boarders, non-Egyptians, >50 years old and females were more likely to be asymptomatic than corresponding categories (85.0 vs 48.9%, 72.7 vs 54.5%, 100.0 vs 56.5%), respectively. COVID-19 patients among group of tourists triggered an outbreak onboard Nile ship and hotel in Egypt. Outbreak quickly contained through lab testing, case isolation, strict infection control measures and contact tracing which proved effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission early in pandemic.