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The RFX-mod2 installation is planned to be completed by 2024 and the start of operations is expected in 2025. The high flexibility of the machine (already tested in the previous RFX-mod experiment) allows operation in Reversed Field Pinch and tokamak configuration as well as ultra-low q pulses. In this work we present predictive analysis on transport, performances and plasma control in RFX-mod2 in view of the first experimental campaigns.

The RFX-mod2 device, the upgraded version of the previous RFX-mod with a modified magnetic boundary, is presently under realization and will start to be operated in 2025. Significant upgrades of the diagnostic capabilities have been proposed and are under development. These include a largely increased number of in-vessel magnetic and electrostatic sensors, a new fast reciprocating manipulator for the exploration of the edge plasma in a wide range of experimental conditions, the improved Thomson scattering and soft x-ray diagnostics system for a detailed determination of the behavior of the electron temperature profile, new dedicated systems for the space and time resolved analysis of x-ray spectra and neutron rate, a reflectometric diagnostic for real-time determination of plasma position, two diagnostics devoted to the imaging of light impurities and influxes behavior along with arrays of halo current sensors. These diagnostic upgrades will be accompanied by a significant effort to improve the control of the electron density and of the impurity influxes by means of proper treatment of plasma facing components with in-vessel fixed electrodes distributed over the first wall. The described advancements will allow a deeper understanding of physics phenomena in the wide variety of magnetic configurations, including the tokamak, the reversed-field pinch and the Ultra-low q, which can be produced in RFX-mod2 thanks to its flexibility and unique MHD control capabilities.

The Probability Distribution Function (PDF) Pn(n) of the particle density at the edge of several magnetic fusion devices, including tokamaks, stellarators, and linear devices, is known to be strongly non-gaussian. In this paper we present experimental results from RFX Reversed Field Pinch (RFP) [Rostagni G 1995 Fusion Eng. Design 25 301], confirming the universal shape of Pn also for RFP's. An explanation for the form of Pn is attempted, on the basis of simple conservation equations. The result of the model is shown to fit fairly well empirical data. The PDF for the particle flux P(I) driven by electrostatic fluctuations is then computed using Pn(n) together with an ansatz for the PDF of electrostatic potential. The result is checked against experimental data and compared with previous formulations [Carreras B A et al 1996 Phys. Plasmas 3 2664].

Recent developments in theory-based modelling of core heavy impurity transport are presented, and shown to be necessary for quantitative description of present experiments in JET and ASDEX Upgrade. The treatment of heavy impurities is complicated by their large mass and charge, which result in a strong response to plasma rotation or any small background electrostatic field in the plasma, such as that generated by anisotropic external heating. These forces lead to strong poloidal asymmetries of impurity density, which have recently been added to numerical tools describing both neoclassical and turbulent transport. Modelling predictions of the steady-state two-dimensional tungsten impurity distribution are compared with experimental densities interpreted from soft X-ray diagnostics. The modelling identifies neoclassical transport enhanced by poloidal asymmetries as the dominant mechanism responsible for tungsten accumulation in the central core of the plasma. Depending on the bulk plasma profiles, neoclassical temperature screening can prevent accumulation, and can be enhanced by externally heated species, demonstrated here in ICRH plasmas.

The Probability Distribution Function (PDF) Pn(n) of the particle density at the edge of several magnetic fusion devices, including tokamaks, stellarators, and linear devices, is known to be strongly non-gaussian. In this paper we present experimental results from RFX Reversed Field Pinch [G. Rostagni, Fus. Eng. Design 25, 301 (1995)], confirming the universal shape of Pn also for RFP's. An explanation for the form of Pn is attempted, on the basis of simple conservation equations. The model result is shown to fitted fairly well empirical data in a few different experimental scenarios.

The subjective nature of self-reported dietary intake assessment methods presents numerous challenges to obtaining accurate dietary intake and nutritional status. This limitation can be overcome by the use of dietary biomarkers, which are able to objectively assess dietary consumption (or exposure) without the bias of self-reported dietary intake errors. The need for dietary biomarkers was addressed by the Institute of Medicine, who recognized the lack of nutritional biomarkers as a knowledge gap requiring future research. The purpose of this article is to review existing literature on currently available dietary biomarkers, including novel biomarkers of specific foods and dietary components, and assess the validity, reliability and sensitivity of the markers. This review revealed several biomarkers in need of additional validation research; research is also needed to produce sensitive, specific, cost-effective and noninvasive dietary biomarkers. The emerging field of metabolomics may help to advance the development of food/nutrient biomarkers, yet advances in food metabolome databases are needed. The availability of biomarkers that estimate intake of specific foods and dietary components could greatly enhance nutritional research targeting compliance to national recommendations as well as direct associations with disease outcomes. More research is necessary to refine existing biomarkers by accounting for confounding factors, to establish new indicators of specific food intake, and to develop techniques that are cost-effective, noninvasive, rapid and accurate measures of nutritional status.

Background Despite excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), little is known about behavioral interventions to reduce SSB intake among adults, particularly in medically-underserved rural communities. This type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid RCT, conducted in 2012–2014, applied the RE-AIM framework and was designed to assess the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention targeting SSB consumption (SIP smart ER) when compared to an intervention targeting physical activity (MoveMore) and to determine if health literacy influenced retention, engagement or outcomes. Methods Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and health literacy strategies, the 6 month multi-component intervention for both conditions included three small-group classes, one live teach-back call, and 11 interactive voice response calls. Validated measures were used to assess SSB consumption (primary outcome) and all secondary outcomes including physical activity behaviors, theory-based constructs, quality of life, media literacy, anthropometric, and biological outcomes. Results Targeting a medically-underserved rural region in southwest Virginia, 1056 adult participants were screened, 620 (59 %) eligible, 301 (49 %) enrolled and randomized, and 296 included in these 2015 analyses. Participants were 93 % Caucasian, 81 % female, 31 % ≤ high-school educated, 43 % < $14,999 household income, and 33 % low health literate. Retention rates (74 %) and program engagement was not statistically different between conditions. Compared to MoveMore, SIP smart ER participants significantly decreased SSB kcals and BMI at 6 months. SIP smart ER participants significantly decreased SSB intake by 227 (95 % CI = −326,−127, p  < 0.001) kcals/day from baseline to 6 months when compared to the decrease of 53 (95 % CI = −88,−17, p  < 0.01) kcals/day among MoveMore participants ( p  < 0.001). SIP smart ER participants decreased BMI by 0.21 (95 % CI = −0.35,−0.06; p  < 0.01) kg/m 2 from baseline to 6 months when compared to the non-significant 0.10 (95 % CI = −0.23, 0.43; NS) kg/m 2 gain among MoveMore participants ( p  < 0.05). Significant 0–6 month effects were observed for about half of the theory-based constructs, but for no biological outcomes. Health literacy status did not influence retention rates, engagement or outcomes. Conclusions SIP smart ER is an effective intervention to decrease SSB consumption among adults and is promising for translation into practice settings. SIP smart ER also yielded small, yet significant, improvements in BMI. By using health literacy-focused strategies, the intervention was robust in achieving reductions for participants of varying health literacy status. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov; ID: NCT02193009 .

People with overweight and obesity tend to both underreport dietary energy intake and experience weight stigma. This exploratory pilot study aimed to determine the relationship between weight bias and weight stigma and energy intake reporting accuracy. Thirty-nine weight-stable adults with BMI ≥ 25 completed three 24 h dietary recalls; indirect calorimetry to measure resting metabolic rate; a survey measuring weight stigma, psychosocial constructs, and physical activity; and a semi-structured qualitative interview. Multiple linear regression was used to determine if weight bias internalization, weight bias toward others, and experiences of weight stigma were predictive of the accuracy of energy reporting. A thematic analysis was conducted for the qualitative interviews. Weight stigma was reported by 64.1% of the sample. Weight stigma constructs did not predict the accuracy of energy intake reporting. People with obesity underreported by a mean of 477 kcals (p = 0.02). People classified as overweight overreported by a mean of 144 kcals, but this was not significant (p = 0.18). Participants reported a desire to report accurate data despite concerns about reporting socially undesirable foods. Future research should quantify the impact of weight stigma on energy reporting in 24 h recalls using a larger, more diverse sample size and objective measures like doubly labeled water for validation.

In order to better assess non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) consumption, measurement tools with greater utility are needed. The objective of this investigation is to determine the reproducibility and validity of a newly developed NNS food frequency questionnaire (NNS-FFQ) that measures five types of NNS (saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose and erythritol). Adult participants (n = 123, 56% female, 75% Caucasian, mean age = 36.8 ± 16.6) completed the NNS-FFQ twice and had 24-h dietary recalls three times over a two-week study period. Reproducibility between two administrations of the NNS-FFQ was assessed via Bland–Altman plots, Spearman’s correlations (rs) and paired samples t-tests. Bland–Altman plots, Cohen’s κ, Spearman’s correlations (rs), and paired samples t-tests compared NNS intake between the two methods for validity. For reproducibility analyses, Bland–Altman analyses revealed agreement levels above the 95% acceptance level for total NNS (99.2%), erythritol (99.2%), and aspartame (96.7%). Agreement levels for acesulfame potassium (94.3%), saccharin (94.3%), and sucralose (94.3%) were slightly below the acceptable level. For validity analyses, Bland–Altman analyses revealed agreement levels above the 95% acceptance level for total NNS (95.1%), sucralose (95.9%), saccharin (95.9%), and erythritol (95.1%). Agreement levels for aspartame (94.3%) and acesulfame potassium (92.7%) were slightly below the acceptable level. Although less than desirable agreement was found between the methods for aspartame and acesulfame potassium, some variance was expected due to the habitual nature of the NNS-FFQ as compared to the recent intake reported by recalls. Within the context of this constraint, the NNS-FFQ demonstrates acceptable reproducibility and validity. The NNS-FFQ is a brief questionnaire that could be administered among diverse participants at the individual and population levels to measure habitual NNS intake.

IntroductionBuilding household resiliency is one strategy that may help insulate households from the effects of food system volatility that contributes to in food insecurity. A stronger understanding of the relationship between food security and mental health is needed to identify potential factors for intervention to improve household resiliency to food system stressors. Because mothers often make household food decisions, they are an important population for building household resiliency. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a conceptual framework for the relationship between food security and mental health for low-income mothers and to identify potential targets for intervention.MethodsA conceptual framework was developed based on the existing literature on mental health and food security, as well as factors that impact both constructs. This framework was tested by a path analysis using data from a 2021 cross-sectional survey of low-income Virginia mothers that used validated scales to assess food security status, indicators of mental and physical health, food coping strategies, and social support.Results and discussionThe initial model was systematically adapted to develop the final retained model. The retained model did not include a direct effect of food security on mental health, but highlighted two significant mediators of the relationship, food coping strategies and social support. While the effect of social support was not practically significant, the effects of food coping strategies as a mediator from food security to perceived stress and life satisfaction were small (β = 0.21, 0.14, respectively; p < 0.001). The retained model provides a framework for understanding the relationship between food security and mental health and highlights potential targets for intervention. Notably, reducing the need for mothers to utilize food coping strategies should be targeted on multiple levels to reduce the impact on mental health and ultimately improve resiliency to future food system shocks.