bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia parasites in reservoir host species in Fujian province, Southeast China
Authors: Zeng Zhiwei , Zhou Shuheng , Xu Guoying , Liu Weijun , Han Tengwei , Liu Jing , Wang Jiaxiong , Deng Yanqin , Xiao Fangzhen
Published: July 2022

Babesiosis is a tick‐borne disease that mainly affects small mammals and has been reported in at least five provinces in China. However, the host range and geographical distribution of the parasite in Fujian province are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Babesia in Fujian province, Southeast China, between 2015 and 2020. Rodent blood samples were collected from 26 different surveillance sites across Fujian province. Genomic DNA was extracted to screen for Babesia infection using polymerase chain reaction based on 18S rRNA. DNA samples from 316 domestic goats, 85 water buffalo, 56 domestic dogs and 18 domestic pigs were examined. The prevalence of Babesia was statistically analysed using the Chi‐square test or Fisher's exact test. Babesia infections were detected in 3.96% (43/1,087; 95%CI: 2.80%, 5.12%) of rodents and 1.26% (6/475; 95%CI: 0.26%, 2.26%) of other mammals. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that irrigated cropland, shrubs and forests were risk factors for Babesia microti infections. The infection rates among domestic pigs, dogs and goats were 5.56%, 1.79% and 1.27%, respectively, with no infection found in water buffalo. The 18S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that rodents were infected with Babesia (sensu lato), whereas other mammals were infected with Babesia (sensu stricto). The geographical distribution and phylogenetic relationship of Babesia was determined in Southeast China. Mammals, particularly wild rodents, maybe the main natural hosts of Babesia in Fujian. Our findings provide a foundation for public health officials to develop prevention and control measures for Babesia.
Tweets in the Peak: Twitter Analysis - the impact of Covid-19 on cultural landscapes
Authors:   University of York, Tenzer Martina
Published: July 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on society, with restrictions on socialising and movement during the three lockdown periods between March 2020 and March 2021 (Baker et al. 2021; Institute for Government Analysis 2021). Easily accessible locations offering the typical qualities of tourist destinations moved into the focus of day visitors in periods when restriction eased. The Peak District National Park (PDNP), a cultural landscape comprising historical places, natural beauty spots, and 'chocolate box' villages, offered a way of satisfying the urge to escape to the countryside. The impact was also felt in the heritage sector, with a noticeable change in visitor behaviour and the relationship between park residents and day tourists (Jones and McGinlay 2020; Sofaer et al. 2021). In order to understand societal change, social media research gives a unique insight into the sentiments, actions, and controversies associated with tourism, Covid-19, and nature conservation. In particular, the open and public nature of Twitter data offers itself for the analysis of large datasets based on specific search queries at specific time periods. For this research, tweets from the PDNP for three weekends in 2019 to 2021 with different restriction levels were collected. Using R and Python, automated processes allow the time-efficient analysis of qualitative information. This project has extended the standard procedures of social media analysis, such as keyword search and sentiment analysis by an emoji analysis and location entity recognition, focusing specifically on cultural and natural heritage. Using Twitter data in a time-efficient process and creating visually appealing outputs may foster an appreciation of the park's resources and positively influence the behaviour of visitors and residents. Going forward, improving the relationship between people and places will provide background for the management of cultural landscapes and help tackle environmental issues, such as peat erosion resulting from a large influx of walkers, address the climate change emergency, and help ease the controversial relationship between a living and working landscape and tourism.
Análise da execução orçamentária do Governo Federal Brasileiro em saúde e educação, 2000-2018, sob a ótica da Teoria do Equilíbrio Pontuado
Authors: Corrêa da Silva Maurício , Bernardes do Nascimento João Carlos Hipólito , Gomes da Silva José Dionísio
Published: July 2022

Este estudo tem o objetivo de analisar sob a ótica da Teoria do Equilíbrio Pontuado (PET, sigla em inglês) se as tomadas de decisões nas execuções orçamentárias no Governo Federal Brasileiro nas áreas da saúde e educação foram realizadas com base em processos estáveis ou em momentos de mudanças bruscas (atípicas), no período de 2000 a 2018. As análises foram realizadas com os dados atualizados para o dia 30 de novembro de 2019, sendo utilizados os Testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e Shapiro-Wilk para testar a normalidade das alocações dos recursos. Os resultados apontaram que as decisões foram tomadas com base em processos estáveis. As variações percentuais das aplicações dos recursos ocorreram com bases incrementais (distribuição normal). Esta pesquisa contribui com a literatura que trata das análises das alocações dos recursos públicos ao utilizar o modelo teórico. Os achados mostram que é necessário repensar as alocações dos recursos orçamentários das áreas da saúde e educação no Brasil, que as tomadas de decisões incrementais precisam ser revistas e que a judicialização na área da saúde pública necessita de uma discussão aprofundada dos Poderes Legislativo e Executivo.
¿Existen diferencias entre el desempeño financiero de las pymes exportadoras y no exportadoras de Colombia?
Authors: Padilla Ospina Ana Milena , Ospina Holguín Javier Humberto
Published: July 2022

Este estudio introduce un test de bootstrap de comparación de medianas, robusto a valores atípicos, para establecer si existen diferencias año a año, de 2011 a 2018, entre el desempeño financiero de las pymes exportadoras y no exportadoras de un país emergente como Colombia. Se encontró que las pymes exportadoras presentan mejores indicadores contables básicos de ventas, activos y utilidades, además de un mejor ROA y un mejor ROE, pero menor liquidez y mayor endeudamiento. En cuanto al margen de utilidad neta, se encontró también que este indicador fue igual entre ambos tipos de empresas en 2011 y 2012, pero se ha ido deteriorando con el paso del tiempo en las pymes exportadoras, lo que podría sugerir problemas de competitividad.
Medición de pasivos contingentes por litigios y demandas en contra de las entidades de Gobierno, experiencia colombiana
Authors: Velásquez Graciano Oscar Darío
Published: July 2022

Este artículo tiene como objetivo exteriorizar la metodología para reconocer, medir, presentar y revelar los pasivos contingentes por mecanismos alternativos de solución de conflictos que aplica el gobierno nacional bajo el marco normativo contable para entidades del sector público y la metodología para valorar las obligaciones contingentes que utiliza el Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público con el apoyo de la Agencia Nacional de Defensa Jurídica del Estado, Presidencia de la República de Colombia y Congreso de la República para la toma de decisiones de tipo económico y financiero al interior y exterior de las entidades públicas, a partir de una descripción conceptual y legal para identificar las diferentes etapas y procesos utilizados por ellas. Incluye además los saldos a diciembre 31 de 2018 por litigios y mecanismos alternativos de solución de conflictos a nivel consolidado por entidades del orden nacional y territorial según la información financiera consolidada expedida por la Contaduría General de la Nación (CGN) por convergencia a Normas Internacionales de Contabilidad para el Sector Público (NICSP) y Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera (NIIF).
Validation Analysis of Medium-Scale Methanol Pool Fire
Authors: Kirsch Jared , Fathi Nima , Hubbard Joshua
Published: July 2022

A 30-cm diameter methanol pool fire was modeled using Sandia National Laboratories SIERRA/Fuego turbulent reacting flow code. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with subgrid turbulent kinetic energy closure was used as the turbulence model. Combustion was modeled and simulated using a strained laminar flamelet library approach. Radiative heat transfer was modeled using the gray-gas approximation. In this investigation, the area validation metric (AVM) is employed to examine simulation results against experimental data. Time-averaged values of temperature and axial velocity at multiple locations along the domain centerline are analyzed for two computational meshes. Two time ranges for averaging temperature and axial velocity are evaluated, and the relationship between the results and the underlying physics is mentioned. Flame height is estimated using an intermittency definition, and the effect of the threshold variable is discussed. Temperature and mixture fraction were used as threshold variables, and the sensitivity of flame height to changes in each is examined. This study aims to increase understanding of the simulation results in light of a specific validation metric, and serve as a start to further validation studies.
Verification Assessment of Thermal Models in Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis of Small-Scale Heat Sinks
Authors: Pourghasemi Mahyar , Fathi Nima
Published: July 2022

Numerical simulations are performed to investigate the accuracy and reliability of the shell conduction approach available in the Ansys Fluent 19.2 software for heat transfer calculation in cladded miniature heat sinks. The validation process is conducted first to verify the accuracy and reliability of the developed numerical procedure to study convective heat transfer in small-scale heat sinks. Moreover, modified solution verification is developed and performed to evaluate the performance of the shell conduction model in different cladded miniature heat sinks. Laminar water and turbulent liquid sodium (Na) flows and heat transfer within cladded miniature and minichannel heat sinks are investigated respectively. The cladding layer thickness varies between 0.5–1 mm while the cladding layer thermal conductivity covers a range of 4–17 (W/mK).
The Influence of Exercise, Lifestyle Behavior Components, and Physical Fitness on Maternal Weight Gain, Postpartum Weight Retention, and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain
Authors: Acosta-Manzano Pedro , Acosta Francisco M. , Coll-Risco Irene , Romero-Gallardo Lidia , Flor-Alemany Marta , Martínez-González Luis J. , Alvarez-Cubero María Jesús , Segura-Jiménez Víctor , Aparicio Virginia A.
Published: July 2022

This study examines (a) the influence of exercise, lifestyle behavior components (sedentary time, physical activity, and sleep and dietary patterns), and physical fitness on maternal weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and excessive gestational weight gain and (b) whether exercise protects against the adverse effects of impaired metabolism and nonoptimal body composition related to excessive gestational weight gain. Subjects were assigned to either a supervised concurrent (aerobic + resistance) exercise program followed 3 days/week (n = 47) or a control group (n = 54). Sedentary time, physical activity, sleep and dietary patterns (assessed by accelerometry and questionnaires), muscle strength (handgrip test), and cardiorespiratory fitness (Bruce test) were determined at gestational Weeks 16 and 33 (early-middle and late pregnancy, respectively), and at 6 weeks postpartum. Weight gain and weight retention were calculated using recorded weights at prepregnancy, early-middle, and late pregnancy, and at 6 weeks postpartum. Birth complications, maternal postpartum body composition, cardiometabolic, and inflammatory markers in maternal and umbilical cord arterial and venous blood, and in colostrum, and mature milk were also recorded. The exercise intervention reduced late weight gain (B = −2.7, SE = 0.83, p = .003) and weight retention (B = −2.85, SE = 1.3, p = .03), independent of any lifestyle behavior component or physical fitness, but did not prevent excessive weight gain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and sleep duration were associated with a smaller mean weight gain and lower excessive weight gain values (p < .05). Among the participants who experienced excessive weight gain, those who were exercisers had a lower body mass index and systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration, lower umbilical cord venous tumor necrosis factor-alpha and arterial interferon gamma levels, higher cord arterial interleukin-10 levels, and improved placental function compared with controls (p < .05). In summary, exercise may help optimize gestational weight gain and weight retention, and may attenuate the impaired phenotype related to excessive weight gain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and sleep duration might help to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy.
Impact of Perceived Safety and Barriers on Physical Activity Levels in Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Mixed Methods Study
Authors: De Roza Jacqueline Giovanna , Ng David Wei Liang , Wang Chunyan , Soh Cindy Seok Chin , Goh Ling Jia , Mathew Blessy Koottappal , Jose Teena , Tan Chwee Yan , Goh Kar Cheng
Published: July 2022

This descriptive cross-sectional mixed methods study conducted in Singapore aimed to describe community-dwelling older adults’ differences in physical activity (PA) based on perceived safety to exercise, barriers to PA, and preferred modes of PA during a pandemic. Out of 268 older adults, 25.4% felt unsafe to exercise during the pandemic. More participants who felt unsafe were aged 75 years and older (72.1% vs. 57.0%, p = .028) and lacked formal education (54.4% vs. 37.0%, p = .040). Barriers included difficulties exercising with masks, family concerns, and exercise center closures. Those who felt unsafe were significantly more likely to exercise at home and had significantly shorter duration of exercise and walks per week (2.72 vs. 4.50 hr, p = .002). Perceived barriers and exercise preferences should be considered when developing programs to improve older adults’ PA during pandemics.
Usual and Pressure-Affected Thinking in Skilled Golfers: A Survey of Preparation and Execution Thought Processes
Authors: Roberts Leo J. , Jackson Mervyn S. , Grundy Ian H.
Published: July 2022

There are numerous studies of expert golfers’ thought processes, but few have examined thinking during both shot preparation and execution. This study had skilled golfers (N = 95, mean handicap = 1.5) complete a mixed-methods survey about their preparation/execution thoughts (a) in usual competitive circumstances and (b) during past experiences of choking. The results provided rare documentation of the ways that highly skilled golfers occupy their minds throughout the whole shot-making process. Moreover, the data allowed comparison of what golfers prefer to focus on and what the sport psychology literature recommends as optimal. The clearest gap that emerged was widespread use of deliberate or multifaceted thought during execution, against classical recommendations to swing with a quiet mind. The examination of choking implied that conscious interference was a more common rationalization for choking than previously reported. Implications for practice are discussed.
An RNF12-USP26 amplification loop drives germ cell specification and is disrupted by disease-associated mutations
Authors: Segarra-Fas Anna , Espejo-Serrano Carmen , Bustos Francisco , Zhou Houjiang , Wang Feng , Toth Rachel , Macartney Thomas , Bach Ingolf , Nardocci Gino , Findlay Greg M.
Published: July 2022

The E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF12 plays essential roles during development, and the gene encoding it,
RLIM
, is mutated in the X-linked human developmental disorder Tonne-Kalscheuer syndrome (TOKAS). Substrates of RNF12 include transcriptional regulators such as the pluripotency-associated transcriptional repressor REX1. Using global quantitative proteomics in male mouse embryonic stem cells, we identified the deubiquitylase USP26 as a putative downstream target of RNF12 activity. RNF12 relieved REX1-mediated repression of
Usp26
, leading to an increase in USP26 abundance and the formation of RNF12-USP26 complexes. Interaction with USP26 prevented RNF12 autoubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation, thereby establishing a transcriptional feed-forward loop that amplified RNF12-dependent derepression of REX1 targets. We showed that the RNF12-USP26 axis operated specifically in mouse testes and was required for the expression of gametogenesis genes and for germ cell differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, this RNF12-USP26 axis was disrupted by
RLIM
and
USP26
variants found in TOKAS and infertility patients, respectively. This work reveals synergy within the ubiquitylation cycle that controls a key developmental process in gametogenesis and that is disrupted in human genetic disorders.
Acinetobacter baumannii Genomic Sequence-Based Core Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing Using Ridom SeqSphere+ and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Prediction in ARESdb
Authors: Fida Madiha , Cunningham Scott A. , Beisken Stephan , Posch Andreas E. , Chia Nicholas , Jeraldo Patricio R. , Murphy Matthew P. , Zinsmaster Nicole M. , Patel Robin
Published: July 2022

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is rapidly replacing traditional typing methods for the investigation of infectious disease outbreaks. Additionally, WGS data are being used to predict phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility.
Acinetobacter baumannii
, which is often multidrug-resistant, is a significant culprit in outbreaks in health care settings.
Diverse Genomic Traits Differentiate Sinking-Particle-Associated versus Free-Living Microbes throughout the Oligotrophic Open Ocean Water Column
Authors: Leu Andy O. , Eppley John M. , Burger Andrew , DeLong Edward F.
Published: July 2022

Particle-attached microbes play large roles in the ocean carbon cycle and help to sequester atmospheric CO
2
and to deliver nutrients and energy on sinking particles to the deep sea. Here, we report on the genomic traits of particle-attached versus free-living microbes throughout the ocean water column to better differentiate their specific metabolic and ecological roles in the sea.
Gene Coexpression Connectivity Predicts Gene Targets Underlying High Ionic-Liquid Tolerance in Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Walker Caleb , Ryu Seunghyun , Garcia Sergio , Dooley David , Mendoza Brian , Trinh Cong T.
Published: July 2022

Cellular robustness to cope with stressors is an important phenotype.
Y. lipolytica
is an industrial robust oleaginous yeast that has recently been discovered to tolerate record high concentrations of ILs, beneficial for novel biotransformation in organic solvents. However, genotypes that link to IL tolerance in
Y. lipolytica
are largely unknown.
An Improved Immunochromatographic Strip Based on Plant-Derived E2 for Detection of Antibodies against Classical Swine Fever Virus
Authors: Xu Qianru , Sun Yaning , Yang Jifei , Ma Fanshu , Wang Yanan , Zhang Shenli , Li Xueyang , Qu Xiaotian , Bai Yilin , Jia Rui , Wang Li , Zhang Erqin , Zhang Gaiping
Published: July 2022

The E2 protein of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) was expressed in transgenic rice endosperms as a diagnostic antigen for use with a rapid colloidal gold assay for the detection of antibodies (Abs) against CSFV. This improved test was used to monitor Abs against the E2 protein in both pigs and rabbits immunized with a live attenuated vaccine or E2 subunit vaccine.
In Vitro
Activity of New β-Lactam–β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations and Comparators against Clinical Isolates of Gram-Negative Bacilli: Results from the China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network (CHINET) in 2019
Authors: Guo Yan , Han Renru , Jiang Bo , Ding Li , Yang Fengzhen , Zheng Beijia , Yang Yang , Wu Shi , Yin Dandan , Zhu Demei , Hu Fupin
Published: July 2022

Enterobacterales
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Acinetobacter baumannii
are the most common Gram-negative bacilli to cause nosocomial infections throughout the world. Due to their large public health and societal implications, carbapenem-resistant
A. baumannii
(CRAB), carbapenem-resistant
P. aeruginosa
(CRPA), and carbapenem-resistant and third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
were regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global priority for investment in new drugs in 2017.
Weak Antilocalization Effect in an AlAs/AlGaAs Quantum Well
Authors: Shchepetilnikov A. V. , Khisameeva A. R. , Dremin A. A. , Kukushkin I. V.
Published: July 2022

Weak antilocalization in a narrow AlAs quantum well containing a two-dimensional electron system with a large effective mass at low temperatures has been studied. Such quantum corrections are due to a strong spin–orbit coupling in it. The spin–orbit interaction constant has been determined from the approximation of experimental data by a theoretical model in the diffusion approximation. Additionally, this constant has also been independently measured from the modification of the single-particle g-factor in the quantum Hall effect regime in the same sample using electron paramagnetic resonance. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and analysis of the weak antilocalization effect yield close values of the interaction constants β = 7.6 and 10.1 meV Å, respectively. Agreement between β values thus obtained becomes full if effects of the strong electron–electron interaction are taken into account in the weak antilocalization model by renormalizing the effective mass of the electron.
Placement of a flow diverter-like stent together with coil embolisation for treatment of pancreatic pseudoaneurysm involving the origin of the gastroduodenal artery
Authors: Patel Sameet , Chandnani Sanjay , Gutte Avinash , Rathi Pravin M
Published: July 2022

A pancreatic pseudoaneurysm can occur following an attack of pancreatitis. This occurs due to erosion of the pancreatic or peripancreatic artery by the pancreatic enzyme-rich pancreatic secretion pseudocyst. If left untreated, it may cause massive and even fatal haemorrhage. Interventional radiology with coil embolisation of the pseudoaneurysm is the standard of care in such cases. We describe a patient who developed a pseudoaneurysm involving the origin of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA). This was successfully managed by coil embolisation of the pseudoaneurysm along with placement of a flow diverter-like stent in the common hepatic artery across the origin of the GDA leading to exclusion of the diseased segment.
“I think people have been in survival mode”: a qualitative study of community connectivity in a neighbourhood of North East England before and during COVID-19
Authors: Cheetham Mandy , Gorman Sarah , Pollard Fiona , Ward Stephen , Wiseman Alice
Published: July 2022

Objectives

The aim of the study was to examine whether and how community-centred approaches facilitate community connectivity by exploring changes that matter to communities.

Design

Qualitative study comprising ethnographic methods, participant observation and interviews.Setting Economically deprived neighbourhood of North East England.

Participants

Interviews with community members (n=14) and staff and stakeholders (n=14) involved in a National Lottery Community-funded initiative and 567 hours of participatory observation were undertaken between September 2019 and July 2020. Data were thematically analysed using a community-centred public health framework.

Results

Communities experiencing disadvantage approached the pandemic adversely affected by stigma, austerity and reductions in public sector funding. Community members’ priorities centred on the environment, housing, activities for children and young people, crime, community safety and area reputation. Multiagency efforts to promote connectivity, led by voluntary and community sector organisations, were prerequisites in community-centred approaches to public health. Stakeholders reported that these approaches can help alleviate some of the health, social and financial burdens facing communities that are marginalised. Findings suggest community-centred responses were facilitated by trusting relationships, visionary leadership and lived experience of adversity among staff. Issues which appeared to hamper progress included interorganisational power dynamics and attempts to impose solutions. The strength of stakeholders’ connections to the area and to people living there contributed to laying the foundations for local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Relational, values-informed work with communities provided a platform to mobilise recovery assets.

Conclusions

Whole-system approaches, codesigned with communities most affected, can help address the long-term consequences of COVID-19 and its negative effects on health and social inequalities. Further comparative implementation research is needed to examine the partnerships, values and principles that drive success and inclusion.
Medico-legal litigation of UK physiotherapists in relation to cauda equina syndrome: a multimethods study
Authors: Yeowell Gillian , Leech Rachel , Greenhalgh Susan , Willis Emma , Selfe James
Published: July 2022

Objective

The aim was to investigate the extent of cauda equina syndrome (CES) litigation and explore the process of medico-legal litigation in relation to physiotherapy in the UK.

Design

A multimethods inquiry that followed on from a previously conducted scoping literature review was undertaken to address the aim. This included freedom of information requests and direct communication with relevant stakeholders and organisations.

Results

A total of 2496 CES claims were found in the UK between 2012 and 2020. 51 of these were attributed to physiotherapists. There was little information available to physiotherapists regarding the legal process of litigation and much of this information was not from a physiotherapist’s perspective.

Conclusion

This is the first study that has investigated the extent and process of CES litigation in physiotherapy in the UK. The extent of CES litigation appears to be high considering CES is a rare spinal condition. Furthermore, the extent of CES litigation is suspected to be considerably higher than the data reported in this study due to the issues identified in how CES claims are recorded. Finally, there is no clearly articulated, easily accessible information describing the process and support available for physiotherapists in receipt of a legal claim.
Moderate-to-vigorous group aerobic exercise versus group leisure activities for mild-to-moderate depression in adolescents: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Mortazavi Rebecca , Lalouni Maria , Grudin Rebecca , Serlachius Eva , Sundberg Carl Johan , Norrbom Jessica , Larsson Ingrid , Haglund Emma , Ivarsson Andreas , Lenhard Fabian , Cronqvist Tina , Ingemarsson Kristina , Mårsell Åsa , Rask Olof , Jarbin Håkan
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Depression is common, increasing among adolescents and carries risk of disability, lower educational achievements, cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide. The effects of evidence-based treatments with medication or psychotherapy are modest. Aerobic exercise is a promising intervention for adolescents with depression, but available studies are hampered by methodological shortcomings. This study aims to evaluate aerobic group exercise versus an active comparator of leisure group activities in adolescents from clinical services with mild-to-moderate depression.

Methods and analysis

This study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial at four psychiatric clinics in Sweden. Participants (n=122) will be randomised 1:1 to group exercise delivered by exercise professionals and supported by mental health (MH) workers or leisure activities lead by the same MH workers for 1 hour three times a week for 12 weeks. Participants will be assessed at baseline, single blind after 13 weeks and 26 weeks and openly after 1 year. Participants randomised to the leisure group will be offered exercise in the open phase. The primary outcome is clinician-rated Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised. Secondary outcomes are self-rated Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, self-rated functioning; clinician-rated improvement and functioning; objectively measured aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and presence or activity of selected biological markers of neuroprotection and neuroinflammation in blood samples. Further outcomes are cost-effectiveness and adolescents’, parents’ and coaches’ experiences of the interventions and an exploration of how the adolescents’ health and lifestyle are influenced by the interventions through qualitative interviews.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Ref. 2021-05307-01). Informed consent in writing will be provided from patients and parents of participants below 15 years of age. The results of this study will be communicated to the included participants and healthcare providers and also submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT05076214.
Development and wildfire dynamics of dry coastal temperate forests, BC, Canada
Authors: Brown K.J. , Hebda N.J.R. , Hebda R.J. , Fitton R. , Trofymow J.A. , Conder N.
Published: July 2022

The vegetation and fire history at the Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) and Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH) boundary on east-central Vancouver Island was reconstructed. A basal non-arboreal assemblage at the most inland site likely represents an open parkland community during the cold early late-glacial interval. Widespread Pinus woodland followed under cold, dry climate, yielding to closed-canopy mixed conifer forest as climate moistened. While fire disturbance was initially rare, it increased in the late-glacial mixed conifer forest. In the early-Holocene, dry coastal temperate forest replaced the mixed-conifer assemblage. Fire disturbance was widespread, characterized by frequent, possibly lower severity burns. These CDF-like forests expanded northward and westward under warm, dry conditions, attaining maximum extent 9500 – 10 500 calendar years before present, retreating thereafter towards the modern CDF–CWH boundary, which established ∼6000 years ago as climate moistened. Quercus garryana communities were scattered along the coast at this time, maintained by surface fire. Throughout the remainder of the record, the forest canopy closed as modern forests developed and a mixed-severity fire regime developed. The extended early-Holocene range of CDF-like forest suggests that the existing CWHxm biogeoclimatic subzone may be replaced by CDF stands with climate change.
Correlations between soybean seed quality traits using a genome-wide association study panel grown in Canadian and Ukrainian mega-environments
Authors: Hong Huilin , Yoosefzadeh-Najafabadi Mohsen , Rajcan Istvan
Published: July 2022

Improvement of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed quality traits in addition to agronomic traits requires a detailed understanding of correlations between these traits. The objective of this study was to determine the correlations between seed compositions in soybeans grown in Canadian and Ukrainian mega-environments (MEs). The correlations between seed quality traits and agronomic traits were also studied. A genome-wide association study panel consisting of 184 soybean accessions was used for the study. The panel was grown in three Ontario field locations and two Ukrainian locations for 2 years, from 2018 to 2019. A total of 18 traits were measured and analyzed. The Pearson's correlation coefficients ( r) were calculated, and the genotype-by-trait biplots were generated to analyze the linear correlations between the traits. The well-documented negative correlations between protein and oil, as well as oil and the amino acids Lys, Cys, Met, and Thr, were confirmed. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between stearic acid and palmitic acid, while linolenic acid and oleic acid concentrations were negatively correlated. Sucrose was positively correlated with linolenic acid and raffinose and negatively with protein and the four amino acids. Most of the agronomic traits had positive correlations with each other, while there was no strong linear association detected between agronomic traits and the seed quality traits in either ME. The results of this study suggest that improvement of yield and other agronomic traits through breeding may be possible in both Canada and Ukraine without affecting the important seed quality traits.
Rescaling the isospin triangle argument for constraining $$\phi _2$$ ($$\alpha$$): Consolidating Belle II and a potential path forward for LHCb
Authors: Dalseno J.
Published: July 2022

A rescaling of the SU(2) isospin triangles constraining $$\phi _2$$

ϕ
2

($$\alpha$$
α
) that relies on measurements of the experimentally cleaner relative branching fractions, as opposed to those absolute, is proposed. Paving the way towards more systematically sustainable analysis, this method promises to eliminate a dominant systematic at Belle II amongst others, namely the uncertainty on the number of $$B {\bar{B}}$$

B

B

¯

pairs in data. Furthermore, a $$\phi _2$$

ϕ
2

constraint in the $$B \rightarrow \rho \rho$$

B
→
ρ
ρ

system at LHCb that is more independent of Belle II input is shown to become viable even without a measurement of $$C\!P$$

C

P

violation in $$B^0 \rightarrow \rho ^+\rho ^-$$

B
0

→

ρ
+

ρ
-

.
Analysis of some new wave solutions of DNA-Peyrard–Bishop equation via mathematical method
Authors: Rani Attia , Ashraf Muhammad , Shakeel Muhammad , Mahmood-Ul-Hassan Qazi , Ahmad Jamshad
Published: July 2022

The main goal of this paper is to extract the closed-form wave solutions by means of [Formula: see text]-expansion method to the DNA flow known as the Peyrard–Bishop model which describes the nonlinear interaction between neighboring displacements and hydrogen bonds. The aforementioned model is investigated for the time-fractional order and the fractional derivatives are used in the sense of conformable derivatives. The projected method provides additional generic and comprehensive wave solutions incorporated with physical parameters whose specific values reveal different shapes of the waveform such as periodic soliton, singular kink soliton, singular anti-kink soliton, and other different types of solitons. The obtained soliton solutions are novel, advanced, distinct, and relevant based on the available information in the literature which may be applied to more complex phenomena. The three-dimensional, two-dimensional, and contour plots of some of the attained results are sketched by assigning individual values of the parameters to scrutinize the dynamic behavior of the waves.
A Multi-functional terahertz metamaterial with polarization-controlled EIT and broadband absorption
Authors: Liu Ziyu , Qi Limei , Ahmed Uqaili Junaid , Yang Jun , Tao Xiang , Sun DanDan , Lan Chuwen
Published: July 2022

A multi-functional terahertz metamaterial with electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and broadband absorptions is proposed. The unit cell of the metamaterial is comprised of an E shape and a split-ring resonator on the top of the polyimide. For TE and TM polarization, the temporal coupled-mode theory reveals that the EIT effect arises from coupling two resonators. The transparent windows are experimentally demonstrated at 0.205 THz and 0.44 THz for the TM and TE polarization, respectively. When the vanadium dioxide ([Formula: see text] film is added to the bottom of the polyimide and works in the metallic state, the metamaterial could absorb electromagnetic waves in the broadband for the two polarizations, even in the case of oblique incidence. For the TE polarization, the relative bandwidth of the absorption over 60 % absorptance is 119.8 % in the range of 0.307 THz–1.225 THz. Meanwhile, for the TM polarization, the bandwidth over 60 % absorption is 68.8 % within the range of 0.52 THz–1.065 THz. The proposed multi-functional terahertz metamaterial can be widely used in sensing technology, optical storage, stealth technology, and other fields in reality.
EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF MOBILE MONEY ON FIRM PRODUCTIVITY IN AFRICA: A COMPARISON OF THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL SECTORS
Authors: KABENGELE CHRISTIAN , ROESSLING JAKOB
Published: July 2022

We explore the relationship between firms’ mobile money use and their productivity using a sample of 994 formal and 1,499 informal, predominantly micro-, small- and medium firms from Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Our findings reveal a positive and statistically significant relationship between mobile money use and labor productivity for informal firms. The effect also appears to be stronger for female-led than for male-led informal firms, suggesting that mobile money could be a valuable tool to promote gender equity in Africa’s informal sector. In contrast, for formal firms, the effect vanishes once all relevant controls are accounted for. Thus, for formal firms, mobile money may be insufficient to overcome the impediments of their business environments in Africa. Further, a complementary fsQCA reveals configurations of conditions that appear important for informal firms to truly benefit from the productivity enhancing potential of mobile money. The combination of founders’ education, firms’ location, their sector and their use of traditional bank accounts appear particularly crucial. The fsQCA findings give additional nuance to our regression results. Overall, our findings suggest that firms more exposed to transaction costs benefit more from mobile money.
COAGGLOMERATION AND NEW ECONOMIC ACTIVITY: EVIDENCE FROM FORMAL AND INFORMAL MANUFACTURING FIRMS
Authors: DWIVEDI AASHEERWAD , DUBEY AMARESH
Published: July 2022

For much of the twentieth century the predominant belief was that informal entrepreneurship would disappear with higher rates of economic growth. However, the informal sector has persisted in most countries and has grown in some, which calls for a re-evaluation of the existing notions of informal entrepreneurship. An important strand of literature in the form of structuralist and neo-liberal theory provides an alternative explanation. We use the coagglomeration framework to understand the relevance of these theories in the case of India. Using firm-level data, we use the Coagglomeration index to calculate the tendency of formal and informal firms to locate in the same region. We also calculate three types of linkages between formal and informal sectors: buyer-supplier, labor and technology. Further, we use panel data to estimate the relative importance of these linkages in explaining coagglomeration between formal and informal manufacturing firms. We find that coagglomeration in India is driven by buyer-supplier linkage. We then use count data models to determine the effect of coagglomeration and agglomeration measures on new firm birth in the formal and informal sector. We find that coagglomeration positively affects new firm birth in the formal sector but not in the informal sector. The evidence provided in the paper supports the structuralist theory.
CASE REPORT: ENTEROCOCCUS HIRAE INFECTION IN SUCKLING PIGS
Authors: Lo Dan-Yuan , Kuo Hung-Chih , Twu Ning-Chieh , Wu Ching-Fen
Published: July 2022

This case report describes New Neonatal Porcine Diarrhea Syndrome (NNPDS) caused by Enterococcus hirae. Four piglets at 3–5 days old with diarrhea were submitted for diagnostic investigation. The histopathological analysis revealed numerous large Gram-positive cocci adherent to the luminal surface from the tip to the base of the villi. The organisms were tightly adherent to enterocytes on the villous tips and exfoliated enterocytes within the luminal detritus. In situ hybridization revealed positive signals of E. hirae, the enteroadherent Gram-positive cocci, in the intestinal tissue. The swab of distal jejunum and gut content was cultured positive for E. hirae. Taken all results together, it was concluded that neonatal diarrhea in piglets was caused by E. hirae.
Taiwan’s Party Politics
Authors: COPPER John F
Published: July 2022

In this article, the author assesses the current status of Taiwan’s two main political parties focusing on the Democratic Progress Party’s (DPP) current popularity and its ruling party status and the Kuomintang’s (KMT) feelings of defeatism and malaise. Lack of party unity is a big factor. So are recent laws that handicap the KMT. Thus, it appears the KMT will do poorly in the upcoming election in late 2022. However, the situation may be different in 2024. The KMT has time to fix its problems while other factors suggest certain trends may operate to its advantage.
China’s Religious United Front and its Passive Resistance in Taiwan
Authors: CHU Feng-Yi
Published: July 2022

This article uses the 2017 Meizhou Mazu’s visit to Taiwan as a case study to demonstrate how Religious United Front operated in the civil religious exchange between Taiwan and China, and how various actors—including event organisers, local politicians, local temple managers and devotees—acted differently. Considering the disproportionality in the amount of resources that the Taiwanese and Chinese governments inject in the cultural battle, this article offers the Taiwanese government several tactics to overcome the challenge.
Strategising Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy
Authors: YANG Alan Hao
Published: July 2022

The New Southbound Policy (NSP) is the signature foreign policy of Taiwan that enables collaborative partnerships to be built among public, private and the third sector in advancing its presence. This article unpacks the P-P-P-P practice of the NSP since 2016. It articulates that the cross-sectoral partnership and its synergy for delivering the NSP enables Taiwan to navigate in the changing dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia–China Relations at 50
Authors: YUAN Jingdong
Published: July 2022

Australia–China relations are at a turning point 50 years after diplomatic recognition. While the past five decades have witnessed extensive growth in economic exchanges, in recent years, bilateral ties have experienced serious deterioration. Australia’s alliance with the United States, domestic politics—in particular the two major parties’ approaches to foreign policy—and economic interdependence are important variables in Canberra’s approach to China. There will be no exception for the incoming Australian Labor Party government to deal with these.
Adaptive and Optimized Control Channel Utilization in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Mohammed Marwan Aziz , Shareef Shareef M. , Ghafoor Kayhan Zrar
Published: July 2022

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are counted as a state-of-art technology which can be considered to provide reliable communication which is increase the safety and convenience of drivers in the road. Due to channel congestion occurrence in both highway and urban scenario, many VANET’s safety applications face degradation in their quality of service especially in a high-density environment. To improve the performance, reliability, and safety of VANETs, message overhead on the standard wireless channel dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) should be alleviated to guarantee safety-related applications. To this end, this paper proposes an approach to optimize the utilization of the control channel (CCH) and make the control channel interval (CCHI) adaptive to the emergency cases in the vehicular scenarios. More precisely, when there is an emergency cases, a part of service channel interval (SCHI) is exploited to ensure the guarantee of emergency message delivery. When a vehicle intended to transmit the safety message to the surround vehicles, the proposed method granted that CCH is allocated to meet the traffic safety demands; then, the safety messages disseminate properly to the transmission range. A part of the service channel interval (SCHI) is exploited to ensure the guarantee of emergency message delivery, Then, applying the laying chicken algorithm (LCA) to solve the derived CCH optimized utilization. Finally, extensive simulations are carried out to validate the proposed optimized CCH utilization. To validate the performance of the proposed adaptive congestion control approach (ACCA), we used the network simulator Ns-3 [35] to simulate the vehicle’s environment, after generating vehicles’ mobility traces of the nodes using the network simulator for urban mobility (SUMO) with OpenStreetMap (OSM). The simulation indicates that our congestion algorithm (ACCA) performs better service quality than other existing algorithms. We got a better network connection regarding safety messages, beacon rate with time, and packet length for different vehicles’ densities.
Identification and Validation of a Potential Stemness-Associated Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yangyang , Zhang Ruike , Zeng Lingxiu , Wang Haizhou , Peng Ruyi , Zhang Meng , Zhang Hailin , Yang Zhenwei , Gao Liping , Wang Meng , Liu Jing
Published: July 2022

Background. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are typically related to metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance in malignant tumors. However, the biomarker and mechanism of CSCs need further exploration. This study is aimed at comprehensively depicting the stemness characteristics and identify a potential stemness-associated biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. The data of HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were collected and divided based on the mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) in this study. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were performed, and the genes were screened through the Cytoscape software. Then, we constructed a prognostic expression signature using the multivariable Cox analysis and verified using the GEO and ICGC databases. Even more importantly, we used the three-dimensional (3D) fibrin gel to enrich the tumor-repopulating cells (TRCs) to validate the expression of the signature in CSCs by quantitative RT-PCR. Results. mRNAsi was significantly elevated in tumor and high-mRNAsi score was associated with poor overall survival in HCC. The positive stemness-associated (blue) module with 737 genes were screened based on WGCNA, and Budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1) was identified as the hub gene highly related to stemness in HCC. Then, the prognostic value and stemness characteristics were well validated in the ICGC and GSE14520 cohorts. Further analysis showed the expression of BUB1 was elevated in TRCs. Conclusion. BUB1, as a potential stemness-associated biomarker, could serve as a therapeutic CSCs-target and predicted the clinical outcomes of patients with HCC.
Review on Hybrid Segmentation Methods for Identification of Brain Tumor in MRI
Authors: Ejaz Khurram , Mohd Rahim Mohd Shafry , Arif Muhammad , Izdrui Diana , Craciun Daniela Maria , Geman Oana
Published: July 2022

Modalities like MRI give information about organs and highlight diseases. Organ information is visualized in intensities. The segmentation method plays an important role in the identification of the region of interest (ROI). The ROI can be segmented from the image using clustering, features, and region extraction. Segmentation can be performed in steps; firstly, the region is extracted from the image. Secondly, feature extraction performed, and better features are selected. They can be shape, texture, or intensity. Thirdly, clustering segments the shape of tumor, tumor has specified shape, and shape is detected by feature. Clustering consists of FCM, K‐means, FKM, and their hybrid. To support the segmentation, we conducted three studies (region extraction, feature, and clustering) which are discussed in the first line of this review paper. All these studies are targeting MRI as a modality. MRI visualization proved to be more accurate for the identification of diseases compared with other modalities. Information of the modality is compromised due to low pass image. In MRI Images, the tumor intensities are variable in tumor areas as well as in tumor boundaries.