bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medical geology and overview of studies from Africa and Asia
Authors: Warra Aliyu Ahmad , Aziz Atiqah Binti Ab , Abidin Tunku Kamarul Zaman Tunku Zainol
Published: August 2023

Despite some appreciable development of Medical Geology reported in various parts of the world, Africa and Asia are still developing. Indeed, there is substantial evidence to demonstrate that research in this area holds significant relevance for the African and Asian continents. Given the importance of geo-environmental materials, factors, and processes, including both geogenic and anthropogenic activities, as well as the consistently reported cases of diseases associated with such activities in Africa and Asia, it has become imperative to explore genuine relationships. This review delves into comprehensive studies on the impact of geological factors on human health. The geologic sources of contamination by toxic elements in the environment, which lead to human exposure through food and water, are examined closely. Recent case studies, research, and development (R&D) efforts undertaken by scholars, researchers, and government institutions are also thoroughly reviewed, with the aim of charting a course toward viable solutions. Furthermore, the discussion extends to raising awareness about the harmful effects of water contamination caused by toxic metals, such as arsenic and fluoride, and addressing mining hazards in Africa and Asia. The issue of exposure to toxic metals and metalloids, including lead and chromium (II), is also tackled. Recommendations are put forth emphasizing the necessity of synergy among medical scientists, geologists, geochemists, biochemists, and other stakeholders involved in environmental health studies. The importance of creating an environment conducive to brainstorming ideas that contribute to understanding the emergence of new pathologies, as well as the development of pertinent curricula for institutions in Africa and Asia, is also thoroughly discussed.
A Novel Synthesis of iso-nicotinamide ligand and its cobalt complex
Authors: Nurdiana H , Wahyuningsih S , Widjonarko D M , Lestari W W , Rahardjo S B
Published: August 2023

The complex of cobalt(II) with iso-nicotinamide (intmd) was synthesized at a 1:1 mole ratio of metal to ligand. The complex formula obtained is [Co(intmd)2(H2O)2]Cl2.nH2O (n = 0 or 1). The Co(II)-intmd complex was characterized by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), Differential Thermal Analyzer (DTA), Conductivity meter, Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Magnetic Susceptibility Balance (MSB), and Powder X-Ray Diffraction. Thermal analysis showed the complex contained several hydrates. The electrical conductivity of the complex in aquades is 1:1, the complex is electrolyte. The infrared spectrum shows that C=O and -NH2 from intmd are coordinated with metal ion. The electronic spectra show two peaks indicating the transitions 4T1g(F) → 4T1g(P) (ν3) and 4T1g(F) → 4A2g(F) (ν2). The complex is paramagnetic with μeff = 5.31-5.44 BM. It is suggested that the Co(II)-intmd complex has an octahedral geometry and an orthorhombic crystal system.
Effect of Mn substitution in Cr1-xMnxSbSe3 van der Waals ferromagnetic material
Authors: Abiola J A , Perdana M Y , Obad F S , Ramelan A H , Ziq Kh A
Published: August 2023

A solid-state reaction has been used to synthesize Cr1-xMnxSbSe3 samples with a concentration of 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1. The crystalline structure of the prepared samples was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns in a pure single phase. The magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic samples were determined using AC-Susceptibility instruments. Mn substitutions revealed non-monotonic changes in the transition temperature. The XRD patterns of all samples Cr1-xMnxSbSe3 indicate that the crystalline structure is orthorhombic. Moreover, the Mn substitutions did not appreciably change the lattice parameters in the prepared samples. The ac-susceptibility of all samples revealed a sharp first-order ferromagnetic transition at the Curie temperature Tc. The real part of AC susceptibility for all samples is normalized on temperature for various Mn concentrations. XRD and AC-susceptibility analyses agree with the other published work. The activation energy was obtained using the ac-susceptibility measurements at various frequencies.
Valorization of fly ash as zeolite by hydrothermal process for dyes adsorption
Authors: Purbasari A , Purwanto P , Alfizhari A E P , Deasari L
Published: August 2023

Valorization of fly ash as zeolite is one of sustainable ways to reduce environmental burden. In this paper, zeolite was prepared from fly ash by hydrothermal process and applied as dyes adsorbent. In hydrothermal process, fly ash was reacted with 5 N NaOH solution using solid/liquid ratio of 1/30 for 15 hours at temperature of 85°C. Characterization of hydrothermal products consisted of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. The results indicated the formation of Na-X zeolite with higher surface area compared to raw fly ash. The obtained zeolite was applied as Eriochrome Black-T (EBT) dye adsorbent. Adsorption was conducted in batch process with variations in time and dye initial concentration. The adsorption efficiency would increase with increasing time, but after 90 minutes the adsorption efficiency would be relatively constant. The higher the dye initial concentration, the lower the adsorption efficiency. Furthermore, the study of adsorption kinetics model and adsorption isotherm model that had been carried out showed that adsorption process of EBT dye by zeolite from fly ash tended to follow pseudo-second order kinetics model and Freundlich isotherm model.
Modeling of carbon nanoparticle synthesis using arc discharge method in variation through electrode’s shape and gap
Authors: Shafira HM , Anwar M , Saputro JS , Nizam M
Published: August 2023

Modeling of carbon nanoparticle synthesis using the arc discharge method was created by simulation. In this research, the electrode shapes and gaps between them are varied. The electrode’s shape was modeled as pointy, blunt, and square, while the electrode’s gap was modeled as modified at 0.23 mm, 0.38 mm, and 0.57 mm. This research aims to analyze forms of distribution and generated nanoparticles by demonstrating how the difference in electrode design obtains the maximum value of electron density, electron temperature, and electric potential since the discharge process. The simulation results show that the variation in shape and gap between the electrodes affects the maximum value obtained.
Concentration dependence of NaBH4reductant on the optical properties of colloidal silver nanoparticles synthesized from AgNO3solution
Authors: Hardini R D , Saraswati T E
Published: August 2023

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles was successfully synthesized by a chemical reduction method using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as a precursor and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent. The optical properties of silver nanoparticles were studied based on their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon using UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The absorbance spectra of colloidal silver nanoparticles show the peak at the wavelength range of 380 nm to 450 nm. Colloidal silver nanoparticles have good stability after storage at room temperature.
Growth of Nanofibers Zinc Oxide on Porous Silicon Substrates using Electrospinning Method: Effect of Temperatures
Authors: Suryana R , Mustofa M A , Diantoro M
Published: August 2023

Electrospinning successfully grew zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofibers onto porous silicon (PSi). The ZnO sprayed solution was prepared from the mixture of zinc acetate hydrate dissolved in distilled water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) precursor with a ratio of 1:3 wt. %. The obtained ZnO fibers sample was subsequently annealed at RT, 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C. ZnO polycrystal with hexagonal wurtzite structure formed on PSi substrates at the orientation of (002), (102), and (110). SEM characterization revealed that the average diameter of fibers decreased with the increased annealing temperature due to the decomposition of the PVA and acetate groups. The ATR-FTIR spectral showed the presence of a metal oxide bond group owing to ZnO characteristics on the PSi surface.
Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline-polyanethole composites as conductive polymer materials
Authors: Handayani D S , Pratiwi T A
Published: August 2023

Synthesis of polyaniline-polyanethole (PANI-PAN) composite has been successfully carried out by mixing method at room temperature using dichloromethane as solvent. PANI-PAN composites were reacted at 5%, 10%, and 15% polyanethole variations by weight of polyaniline. The synthesis results obtained were structure analyzed by FTIR and characterized by TGA, SEM-EDX, and conductivity. The synthesis of PANI-PAN composites from various variations resulted in the product being a grayish green solid. The success of the PANI-PAN composite synthesis was shown by the results of the FTIR analysis, namely the presence of a typical absorption between polyaniline and polyanethole in the PANI-PAN 5, 10, 15% (w/w) composite, respectively, is indicated by the presence of an amine group (-NH-) at a wavelengths of 3499.94 cm-1, 3457.55 cm-1, and 3506.74 cm-1 for polyaniline and ether groups (C-O-C) at wavelengths 1235.46 cm-1, 1244.14 cm-1, and 1242.21 cm-1 for polyanethole. The morphology of the PANI-PAN composite was performed using SEM-EDX showed the presence of cavity filling in the polyaniline indicated that there had been an even distribution between the polyanethole in the polyaniline. The results of thermal analysis showed an increase in thermal stability compared to polyaniline. The conductivity value of the PANI-PAN composite showed a better value than polyaniline and was optimal at 10 wt% variation.
Improvement of biocorrosion resistance on steel using full annealing heat treatment
Authors: Pratikno H , Titah H S
Published: August 2023

The performance of a material structure can be affected due to corrosion damage. Corrosion is a decrease in metal quality caused by electrochemical reactions between metals and their surrounding environment. One of the causes of corrosion is microalgae or called biocorrosion. Corrosion can cause failure of the pipe structure which causes the pipe to not operate properly. The purpose of the research was to determine the corrosion rate of ASTM A53 steel material with full annealing heat treatment and without heat treatment. Second research aim was to determine the biocorrosion with added of microalgae and without the addition of microalgae. Heat treatment and non-heat treatment materials were testing using the immersion corrosion test method, which was soaked in artificial seawater with a salinity of 35‰. Based on the results, the highest biocorrosion rate on non-heat treated materials with the addition of Chrorella vulgaris reached 0.2780 mpy. While the biocorrosion rate after full annealing treatment was 0.1434 mpy and the size of uniform corrosion and pitting decreased. The percentages reduction of biocorrosion rete was 46.58%. This indicates that the addition of Chlorella vulgaris can accelerate the corrosion rate and full annealing can inhibit the biocorrosion rate.
The effect of sodium hydroxide molarity on setting time, workability, and compressive strength of fly ash-slag-based geopolymer mortar
Authors: Sunarsih E S , As’ad S , Mohd. Sam A R , Kristiawan S A
Published: August 2023

This research investigates the influence of sodium hydroxide (SH) molarity on fly ash-slag-based geopolymer mortar’s workability, setting time, and compressive strength. The molarity of SH varies between 1M, 2M, 4M, 6M, 8M, and 10M. The geopolymer mixture was proportioned to contain 30% slag as a substitution for fly ash, with the alkaline activator to binder (Al/Bi) ratio of 0.45 and the sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio (SS/SH) of 1.5. The results showed that at a range of low molarity SH (1M, 2M, and 4M), the setting time was faster in a mixture containing higher molarities. In contrast, at a range of high molarity (6M, 8M, and 10M), the setting time is slower in a mixture with higher molarity SH. Based on the setting time, the concentration of SH that can be applied in the field is 1M, 2M, 8M, and 10M. Increasing the molarity of SH will decrease the workability but increase compressive strength. However, when SH molarity increased after optimal molarity was established, the compressive strength was reduced. The maximum compressive strength of mortar is 46.86 MPa, obtained at an SH molarity of 6M.
The ATLAS Readout System for LHC Runs 2 and 3
Authors: Borga A. , Blair R. , Crone G.J. , Green B. , Kugel A. , Joos M. , Love J. , Panduro Vazquez J.G. , Schumacher J. , Teixeira-Dias P. , Tremblet L. , Vandelli W. , Vermeulen J.C. , Rifki O. , Werner P. , Wickens F.J.
Published: August 2023

The ReadOut System (ROS) is a central part of the data
acquisition (DAQ) system of the ATLAS Experiment at the CERN Large
Hadron Collider (LHC). The system is responsible for receiving and
buffering event data from all detector subsystems and serving these
to the High Level Trigger (HLT) system via a 10 GbE network,
discarding or transporting data onward once the trigger has
completed its selection process. The ATLAS ROS was completely
replaced during the 2013–2014 experimental shutdown in order to
meet the demanding conditions expected during LHC Run 2 and Run 3
(2015–2025). The ROS consists of roughly one hundred Linux-based
2U-high rack-mounted servers equipped with PCIe I/O cards and
10 GbE interfaces. This paper documents the system requirements
for LHC Runs 2 and 3 and the design choices taken to meet them. The
results of performance measurements and the re-use of ROS technology
for the development of data sources, test platforms for other
systems, and another ATLAS DAQ system component, namely the Region
of Interest Builder (RoIB), are also discussed. Finally performance
results for Run 2 operations are presented before looking at the
upgrade for Run 3.
MFPred: prediction of ncRNA families based on multi-feature fusion
Authors: Chen Kai , Zhu Xiaodong , Wang Jiahao , Zhao Ziqi , Hao Lei , Guo Xinsheng , Liu Yuanning
Published: August 2023

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) plays a critical role in biology. ncRNAs from the same family usually have similar functions, as a result, it is essential to predict ncRNA families before identifying their functions. There are two primary methods for predicting ncRNA families, namely, traditional biological methods and computational methods. In traditional biological methods, a lot of manpower and resources are required to predict ncRNA families. Therefore, this paper proposed a new ncRNA family prediction method called MFPred based on computational methods. MFPred identified ncRNA families by extracting sequence features of ncRNAs, and it possessed three primary modules, including (1) four ncRNA sequences encoding and feature extraction module, which encoded ncRNA sequences and extracted four different features of ncRNA sequences, (2) dynamic Bi_GRU and feature fusion module, which extracted contextual information features of the ncRNA sequence and (3) ResNet_SE module that extracted local information features of the ncRNA sequence. In this study, MFPred was compared with the previously proposed ncRNA family prediction methods using two frequently used public ncRNA datasets, NCY and nRC. The results showed that MFPred outperformed other prediction methods in the two datasets.
Temperature impacts how sugar resources alter reproductive investment in the European corn borer moth
Authors: Enos Arielle N , Velikaneye Brittany A , Kozak Genevieve M
Published: August 2023

Investment of resources in reproduction can be based on individual state, environmental conditions, and perceived mate quality. Changing climates impact many aspects of the environment by increasing temperature, decreasing precipitation, and altering resource availability. Access to high-quality resources is known to improve survival under elevated temperatures, but its effects on reproduction in warming environments are largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the effects of elevated temperature and sugar resources on reproductive output within and between E- and Z-pheromone strains of the European corn borer moth [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)]. Corn borers prefer mates from their own strain, with reproductive output being highest for within-strain pairs. In this experiment, mating pairs were provided with a 20% sugar solution while exposed to either ambient (23 °C) or elevated (28 °C) temperatures. We measured reproductive investment as the total number of egg clusters laid 3 days after pairing. We found that at ambient temperature, sugar supplementation resulted in high investment across all pairs, including with usually unpreferred mates. However, when sugar was provided at elevated temperature, more egg clusters were laid in pairs with preferred (within-strain) mates as compared to less preferred (between-strain) mates. These results differ from temperature effects in the absence of sugar and suggest that the effects of sugar on reproductive investment in less preferred mates depend on temperature. Changes in investment may be due to differences in the allocation of extra resources to thermoregulation at elevated temperatures. Our results suggest the possibility of interactive effects of temperature and resources on sexual selection.
Binge Drinking and Cannabis Use among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Young Adults in Michigan
Authors: Lee Guijin , Hicks Danielle L , Sabol Brianna M , Ellis Jennifer D , Brown Suzanne , Kcomt Luisa , Agius Elizabeth , Resko Stella M
Published: August 2023

Substance use rates are higher among transgender and gender-diverse people than cisgender people. Rates of substance use are also higher among young adults compared with other age groups. However, little research examines substance use among transgender and gender-diverse young adults. This study examines factors associated with binge drinking and cannabis use among transgender and gender-diverse young adults in Michigan. Participants (N = 78; ages 18–25) completed an online survey that included demographics and substance use and related characteristics. Race, stimulant misuse, and sedative misuse were associated with more frequent binge drinking. Older age and past-year pain reliever misuse were associated with less frequent cannabis use. Past-year stimulant use and using cannabis alone were associated with more frequent cannabis use. These findings suggest that additional marginalized identities may increase the risk for maladaptive substance use. Future research should examine substance use behaviors and correlates to inform interventions among this population.
Haemoglobinopathies in mobile populations from sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Norman Francesca F , Gonzalez-Sanz Marta , Gullón-Peña Beatriz , Chamorro-Tojeiro Sandra , Rosas Marta , Crespillo-Andujar Clara , Monge-Maillo Begoña , Comeche Belen , Corbacho-Loarte Maria-Dolores , Arcas Cristina , Peña Ignacio , Tenorio Maria C , Lopez-Vélez Rogelio , Pérez-Molina Jose A
Published: August 2023

A frequency of HbS or haemoglobin C trait of 15% was found in a cohort of recently arrived, mainly asymptomatic, young sub-Saharan Africans, using a simple point-of-care screening test. Screening allows early diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies in vulnerable populations facilitating linkage to care, genetic counselling and implementation of treatment and prevention strategies.
Growth and maturation
Authors: Baxter-Jones Adam DG
Published: August 2023

The concepts of a child’s growth and maturation are central to all studies related to paediatric exercise science. It is imperative that any studies investigating responses to exercise and/or physical activity take into consideration the growth and maturity status of the participant. Distinguishing influences of physical activity and/or exercise on growth from those associated with normal growth and development is problematic. This is because the effects of normal growth and maturation can mask those associated with exercise. As children grow, they become taller and heavier, they increase their lean and fat tissues, and their organs increase in size, which all affect performance outcomes. Children also mature into the adult state. The major distinction between size per se and maturation is that all children eventually achieve the same adult maturity, whereas adult size and body dimensions vary considerably. It is therefore important to remember that growth and maturation occur simultaneously and interact. There are also sex differences with girls reaching maturity, on average, 2 years earlier than boys. However, both sexes show the same patterns in growth, both in terms of the curve of growth and the changes in proportionality. There is wide variation among children both within and between sexes as to the exact timing and tempo of maturation. Therefore, to adequately distinguish the effects of exercise and/or physical activity on a group of children, biological maturity needs to be controlled. The most widely used methods to assess maturity are skeletal maturity, sexual maturity, and somatic or morphological maturity.
Muscle and pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics
Authors: Barker Alan R , Armstrong Neil
Published: August 2023

Studying the pulmonary oxygen uptake (pV.O2) kinetic response to exercise provides a non-invasive window into the underlying muscle metabolic response in children. However, high methodological rigour is required to study the pV.O2 kinetic responses to exercise in youth in terms of the prescription of exercise intensity domains and ensuring high statistical confidence in the derived kinetic estimates. Currently, there are limited data on the phase I increase in pV.O2 at the onset of exercise, meaning robust inferences regarding age and sex effects are unknown. Although there is a trend for marginally faster phase II pV.O2 kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise in children compared to adolescents or adults, the literature is inconsistent and limited to cross-sectional observations. However, consistent data from longitudinal and cross-sectional studies have demonstrated age- and sex-related differences in pV.O2 kinetics during heavy- and very heavy-intensity exercise. Recent advances in the application of 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy have provided valuable insights into the muscle phosphate controllers of pV.O2 during exercise. Current data suggest age- and sex-related differences are dependent on exercise intensity, with effects becoming more pronounced during high-intensity exercise, which are consistent with pV.O2 observations. The application of innovative methodologies and experimental designs have provided unique insights into the potential for muscle oxygen delivery and muscle fibre recruitment to alter pV.O2 kinetics in youth. Current data suggest faster pV.O2 kinetics in youth are related to lower requirement for substrate-level phosphorylation, increased muscle oxygen delivery and utilisation, and reduced requirement to recruit high-order muscle fibres (type II) during exercise.
Assessment of physical activity behaviours: methods, levels, and time trends
Authors: Dalene Knut Eirik , Ekelund Ulf
Published: August 2023

Physical activity is a complex human behaviour comprising several dimensions, including intensity, frequency, duration, type/mode, and domain. Physical activity outcomes can be divided into two main categories: the estimation of energy expenditure and other quantifying metrics of physical activity. Self-report methods, including questionnaires and diaries, are often easy to use, cost-effective, and can assess type of activity and rank individuals according to their physical activity levels. However, they are prone to several limitations and are not able to provide accurate estimates of physical activity energy expenditure or intensity. Device-based methods, including accelerometers and heart rate monitors, provide a reasonably accurate quantification of intensity, frequency, duration, and physical activity energy expenditure. When choosing a method for assessing physical activity in research, several factors need to be considered, including validity, reliability, and responsiveness, as well as the purpose of the study, the population being studied, and the outcome of interest.
Genetics of physical activity and physical fitness
Authors: Zi Yahua , Bartels Meike , de Geus Eco JC
Published: August 2023

Regular physical activity and physical fitness are key contributors to children’s health. It is, therefore, important to understand sources of variation in the phenotypes seen among children and adolescents. Twin and family studies enable calculation of the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors to the observed individual differences. Heritability estimates of physical activity vary widely (0–85%), depending mostly on age. Shared environmental influences decrease from childhood to adolescence with genetic effects becoming more prominent in adolescence. Heritability estimates of most physical fitness traits are stable and high in childhood and adolescence, with only a few studies reporting on shared environmental influences. Gene-finding studies of physical activity and physical fitness for children are sparse, but weight-related genes (LEPR and MC4R) have been found to be associated with physical activity and the ACE and ACTN3 genes with physical fitness. It is concluded that the extent to which heredity contributes to individual differences during childhood and adolescence should be a priority for future research because knowledge of the source of individual differences in physical activity and physical fitness can optimise the choice and timing of physical activity and physical fitness interventions.
Resistance training
Authors: Faigenbaum Avery D , Lloyd Rhodri S
Published: August 2023

Regular participation in well-designed resistance training programmes can offer observable health and fitness benefits to children and adolescents. In addition to increasing muscular strength and power, resistance training can increase bone mineral density, improve cardiovascular risk factors, fuel metabolic health, facilitate weight control, enhance psychosocial well-being, and prepare youth for the demands of daily physical activity and sport. Since muscular strength and power underpin many of the bio-motor qualities that are needed to move proficiently on the playground and on the sports field, an integrative approach to training that targets strength and power development early in life can optimise children’s fitness potential while reducing the risk of sports-related injury. Without ongoing exposure to strength-building activities throughout childhood and adolescence, the divergence in performance between weaker and stronger youth will likely widen over developmental time. Weaker youth may eventually need to address strength deficits to attain a level of physical fitness that facilitates ongoing participation in exercise and sport activities. The planned manipulation of resistance training programme variables along with meaningful instruction from qualified professionals can develop resistance training skill literacy, optimise training adaptations, and promote long-term adherence.
Long-term athletic development
Authors: Lloyd Rhodri S , Oliver Jon L
Published: August 2023

Over the last two decades, the topic of long-term athletic development has grown in popularity within the academic literature and has influenced the structure of talent development pathways for youth athletes across many sports. The premise of long-term athletic development is salient on the habitual development of ‘athleticism’ over time to improve health and fitness, enhance physical performance, and reduce the relative risk of injury. Developing ‘athletic’ children requires the integration of a range of exercise modes that target motor skills, muscle strength and power, speed, agility, and aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Understanding how a youth athlete’s response to exercise is mediated by growth and maturation as youth athletes transition from their childhood years to early adulthood is a critical component of long-term athletic development. This chapter critically examines how the principles of paediatric exercise physiology and training science can be used to inform the prescription of individualised exercise programmes that promote long-term athletic development.
Epidemiology and prevention of injuries in physical education classes
Authors: Collard Dorine CM , Nauta Joske , Backx Frank JG
Published: August 2023

Since physical education classes are often obligatory, the number of injuries sustained during those classes is high. The type of injury in physical education classes that is most often reported changes as children grow older. Young children (<12 years of age) most often injure their wrist and elbow, while the incidence of injuries in older children (>12 years of age) is highest in the hand and ankle. Physical education classes containing activities such as gymnastics and ball games provoke most damage. Physical education teachers play a key role in the prevention of physical education-related injuries. They are responsible for creating a safe environment for sports and play, not only by making sure that protective devices are used properly, and that equipment is in good order, but also by modifying rules and screening of physical limitations in their pupils.
Lower limb injuries
Authors: Aicale Rocco , Maffulli Nicola
Published: August 2023

Physical activity plays a significant role in the well-being of a child. Long-term health benefits depend on continuation of physical activity, thus enhancing well-being and favouring the balanced development of a child. Injuries can counter the beneficial effects of sports participation, especially if a child is unable to continue participation because of the residual effects of injury. Prevention of sports injuries has been largely implemented in the last few years. An example is the injury prevention programme ‘The 11’, developed with the support of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), with the aim to reduce the impact of intrinsic injury risk factors in football. An overview of the clinical aspects of common lower limb injuries in children is provided in this chapter, including ligament, muscle and tendon injuries, fractures, as well as injuries to the joints. Also, typical injuries in youth are discussed, such as growth plate injuries and osteochondritis dissecans.
Disability, youth sport, and clinical care of the youth Para athlete
Authors: Derman Wayne , Africa Eileen , Vermaak Candace
Published: August 2023

The number of youths with a disability is on the rise, with the prevalence being higher in poorer households, indigenous populations, and ethnic minorities. This creates an increased demand for opportunities to participate and compete in Para sport. The Paralympic Movement provides opportunities for Para athletes to compete at the top level. Sport provides many benefits which include improved quality of life and psychological well-being, and completing activities of daily living with ease. Sport should specifically focus on improving independence, overall health, and enjoyment. Yet, despite its many benefits, not enough youth with disabilities participate in regular exercise or sport. Youth with disabilities face many barriers in partaking and competing in sport. These barriers and challenges include lack of finances (lack of transportation and sponsorships), lack of access (inadequate spaces and opportunities), and low confidence as well as marginalisation (stereotyping and discrimination). Medical care of youth athletes with disabilities is complex and this is because youth Para athletes are considered ‘a special population within a special population’. The medical team is often confronted with different challenges including conditions specific to the youth athlete but also specific to the Para athlete. Clinical pearls and pitfalls are presented in this chapter to assist the clinician in the management of athletes with the more common disabilities: spinal cord injury, limb deficiency, cerebral palsy, and visual impairment. Awareness of these aspects is important to provide a holistic approach in managing youth Para athletes.
Dietary supplements in youth sport
Authors: Maughan Ronald J , Shirreffs Susan M
Published: August 2023

The oral consumption of nutrition/dietary supplements is widespread in the general population and among sports people. This is true for children as well as adults. Despite the well-recognised benefits of supplementation with some essential micronutrients (vitamins B12 and D, iron, and a few others) in the prevention of deficiency diseases, there is very little research on any aspect of dietary supplement consumption in child/youth athletes. A few supplements have the potential to enhance performance in adults, but translation of information from adult populations should be undertaken with great caution. Safety considerations around the use of dietary supplements by youth athletes are the same as those for the adult population with the additional aspect of consideration of effects on growth and development. For all athletes, a food-first approach is preferred, but each individual is different, and each case should be assessed using a cost–benefit analysis that takes account of the athlete’s physical, cognitive, and emotional maturity. In spite of their popularity, it is likely that only a very small number of dietary supplements will have a beneficial effect on performance for youth athletes who have no underlying nutritional deficiencies. Against this must be weighed the potential negative effects on health and performance and the possibility of inadvertent ingestion of a toxic substance or a prohibited doping agent.
Respiratory
Authors: Molloy Phillip
Published: August 2023

This chapter studies basic respiratory anatomy. Drawing the lungs in particular will give the reader a better anatomical understanding behind the interpretation of chest radiographs which is key to passing exams and when working within medicine.
Miscellaneous
Authors: Molloy Phillip
Published: August 2023

This chapter contains a wide variety of important anatomical structures that you should have a good awareness of. Exam favourites such as the femoral triangle teaches you a very basic and quick way to not only draw these structures but also recall them when asked within surgery.
Musculoskeletal Histology
Authors: Molloy Phillip
Published: August 2023

This chapter allows you to appreciate muscle histology.
Basic Physics and Physiology of MEG and EEG
Authors: Hari Riitta , Puce Aina
Published: August 2023

The chapter gives a general overview of the basic physics and physiology of MEG and EEG signals. The relationship between electric charges and electric currents is described, as well as some basic laws that relate current to voltage, resistance, and conductivity. Next, the relationship between currents and magnetic fields is examined, followed by introduction of superconductivity and its relevance to MEG. This leads into a discussion of source currents in the brain and how they can be identified by solving the so-called inverse problem. It is shown that the shape and conductivity of the volume conductor—comprising different tissues of the head—affect MEG and EEG differently, as relating to the detectability of currents in the brain. General points about volume conduction and cancellation of activity are also stressed. The chapter ends by touching on the spatial and temporal resolution and precision of MEG and EEG.
Instrumentation for EEG and MEG
Authors: Hari Riitta , Puce Aina
Published: August 2023

This chapter discusses all aspects of EEG and MEG hardware and instrumentation. Various electrode types for recording of EEG and other electrophysiological signals are presented and their usage and advantages and disadvantages evaluated. Principles of differential EEG amplifiers are introduced. Common-mode rejection is explained with simple examples. The influence of the reference electrode site on the potential distributions is explained in detail, together with different options for digital re-referencing. The working principles are described for superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), which are the sensors used in traditional low-temperature MEG systems. The vastly different effects of the shape of the flux transformers for the measured field patterns are illustrated. The newest developments in “room-temperature MEG” carried out with optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) are described. The chapter ends by discussing shielding requirements for MEG installations and ways in which noise-free environments might be maintained in MEG and EEG laboratories.
Artifacts
Authors: Hari Riitta , Puce Aina
Published: August 2023

This chapter takes a comprehensive look at physiological and nonphysiological artifacts commonly encountered in MEG and EEG studies. After description of the occurrence, morphology, and topographical distribution of the artifacts, suggestions are given for their removal. Physiological artifacts can be caused by eye movements and blinks; muscle contractions (in the face, head, and body); heart’s pulsation and electrical activity; respiration; and sweating. Examples of nonphysiological artifacts are provided and include power-line noise, response-box artifacts, and artifacts generated by poorly sited EEG electrodes, or malfunctioning MEG or EEG sensors. We also discuss artifacts produced by other equipment used in conjunction with EEG/MEG, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and noninvasive brain stimulators. The chapter concludes with some thoughts about how to ensure that the measured signals arise from the brain.
Analyzing the Data
Authors: Hari Riitta , Puce Aina
Published: August 2023

This chapter discusses the strengths, pitfalls, and practicalities of MEG and EEG data analysis methods and visualization strategies. Data-set segmentation, signal-to-noise considerations, signal levels, and power are examined as these may drive the chosen data analysis strategy. After basic analyses of averaged and unaveraged data, brain microstates, event-related desynchronization/synchronization, temporal spectral evolution, and time-frequency analyses, phase synchronization, and cross-frequency coupling are discussed. Measures of the introduced association and functional/effective connectivity, as studied in the time or frequency domains, include correlation, coherence, phase-locking factor, phase-locking value, phase-lag index and their variants, mutual information, transfer entropy, cross-correlation, Granger causality, dynamic causal modeling, and graph-theoretical analysis. The MEG/EEG source modeling section covers forward and inverse problems, head models, single- and multidipole models, distributed models, and beamformers. After discussion of spatial resolution, source extent, and effects of synchrony complete the topics, the chapter ends with statistical considerations regarding signal detectability in individual and group-level data.
Guide-specific loss of efficiency and off-target reduction with Cas9 variants
Authors: Zhang Liang , He Wei , Fu Rongjie , Wang Shuyue , Chen Yiwen , Xu Han
Published: August 2023

High-fidelity clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9) variants have been developed to reduce the off-target effects of CRISPR systems at a cost of efficiency loss. To systematically evaluate the efficiency and off-target tolerance of Cas9 variants in complex with different single guide RNAs (sgRNAs), we applied high-throughput viability screens and a synthetic paired sgRNA–target system to assess thousands of sgRNAs in combination with two high-fidelity Cas9 variants HiFi and LZ3. Comparing these variants against wild-type SpCas9, we found that ∼20% of sgRNAs are associated with a significant loss of efficiency when complexed with either HiFi or LZ3. The loss of efficiency is dependent on the sequence context in the seed region of sgRNAs, as well as at positions 15–18 in the non-seed region that interacts with the REC3 domain of Cas9, suggesting that the variant-specific mutations in the REC3 domain account for the loss of efficiency. We also observed various degrees of sequence-dependent off-target reduction when different sgRNAs are used in combination with the variants. Given these observations, we developed GuideVar, a transfer learning-based computational framework for the prediction of on-target efficiency and off-target effects with high-fidelity variants. GuideVar facilitates the prioritization of sgRNAs in the applications with HiFi and LZ3, as demonstrated by the improvement of signal-to-noise ratios in high-throughput viability screens using these high-fidelity variants.
People’s Song, People’s Weapon
Authors: De Aniket
Published: August 2023

The years between the two World Wars was an era of mass politics, and in this period Gambhira emerged as a political space for Hindu and Muslim peasants and labourers of Malda. This chapter examines how Gambhira changed from a swadeshi era ‘national’ art to a ‘popular’ political form during the 1920s and 1930s. While several historians have designated this period as the high point of ‘communal’ conflict between Hindus and Muslims in Bengal, the story of Gambhira reveals a different history of the shared social lives, relations and interactions between the two communities. An examination of elite and popular politics of Malda in the interwar years- including the rebellion of Jitu Santal, the politics of the Hindu Mahasabha and the rise of gana-sangit or ‘people’s song’- shows how Gambhira was forged as a popular weapon in a specific historical moment.
Elite and Popular Connoisseurship at the Louvre c.1848–1870
Authors: Stammers Tom
Published: August 2023

This chapter asks: how far can we better understand the function and meaning of museums by a history of what they did not acquire? It explores the extraordinarily rich accession records for the Louvre, working through the often eccentric postbag of letters that the museum staff received during the Second Empire. This was a decisive period for relationships between the museum and private collectors, who were courted by the administration headed by Émilien de Nieuwerkerke as collaborators for exhibitions and as potential donors. In this intermingling of professional standards with the knowledge of the amateur, the Louvre invited art-lovers across France to write in with information about artworks that had been unexpectedly scattered across France and might add further luster to the museum galleries. Tracing some of these letters and their consequences reveals how deeply the museum was dependent on a network of dealers, entrepreneurs, and private enthusiasts.
Ghosts of Finance Pasts
Authors: Dixon Marion W.
Published: August 2023

Chapter 7 shows how family business groups and financial firms re-emerged from the long nineteenth century by the 1990s to help build Egypt’s corporate agri-food system. Three stages of the system’s development are detailed: 1970s–1980s—the rise of an agribusiness political coalition; 1991–2003—corporatization of the agri-food industry; and 2003–2011—financialization of the agri-food industry. The intertwining of social networks, cultural institutions, kinship, and economic exchange is also important to the building of this new capitalist class. Their class power is constituted through two related processes: The first is a basic tension that they become subjected to popular critiques as they cement their class position. The direct transmission of wealth and privilege within these two types of capitalist enterprise makes them susceptible to popular critiques. The second is the continual process of negotiation within the transnational framework of doing business legally and legitimately. This framework is called the corporate standard.
Crisis and Collapse
Authors: Corduwener Pepijn
Published: August 2023

While Chapter 2 turned to the problems of mass parties broadening their social base, this chapter turns to the other aspect in which Interwar mass parties failed to transform into people’s parties: striking difficult compromises with adversaries and taking on government responsibility. This problem was evident in some places, notably Italy, from the start, but became more widespread and structural during the 1930s almost everywhere. Also in this aspect, pre-war legacies and the mutual mistrust these created played a role. In the face of a deep economic crisis, the rise of political extremism, and growing geopolitical tensions, the mass parties became more firmly entrenched in their own subcultures. This further dented governmental stability and boosted feelings of democratic fatigue, even among people and groups who had first supported the new democratic order. The tendency of mass parties to move away from the centre ultimately contributed to instances of democratic collapse such as in Italy, Austria, and Germany. It seemed as if the ideal of a broad-based people’s party lost out in a clash between competing conceptions of mass politics, against the mass party model or its the authoritarian version in the guise of the Nazi and Fascist parties and their offshoots elsewhere.
The Decline of the People’s Party, Fast and Slow
Authors: Corduwener Pepijn
Published: August 2023

The final chapter centres on the developments of the people’s parties in the 1990s. In this decade, several trends that had started earlier came together and brought the slumbering crisis of the people’s party into full light. One was the decline in membership numbers, which culminated this decade in a real haemorrhage in support. A second was that these parties now started to show a serious decline in voters. A third was the trend of party leaders to emphasize their governing capacities and qualities over anything else, stressed in particular during the acceleration of European integration (and the external constraint of the euro), but also in the boost of neo-liberalist policy proposals and reforms. And, finally, party leaders built on previous attempts to open their parties to people beyond their traditional membership base by inventing new initiatives to connect their parties to society, which further undermined their organizational capacity. All together, despite great optimism about the future of democracy that marked the start of this decade, there were growing concerns about the prospects of the people’s parties themselves—and the fate of democracy at large. This chapter provides a window on the decline of the people’s party and its various consequences, such as the breakthrough of Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, Jörg Haider in Austria, and Marine Le Pen in France.
Introduction
Authors: Seddon Toby
Published: August 2023

This chapter introduces the book’s focus and aims: to provide a radical intellectual reappraisal of how the international drug control system functions, where it came from, and the possibilities for alternative futures, through a critical interdisciplinary analysis. It sets out a concise overview of the background and context for the rest of the book, including patterns and trends over time in global drug supply and consumption as well as the evolution of international drug control. It concludes by outlining the three main parts of the book and describing how these build the book’s central argument that seeing the ‘drug question’ differently can allow us to imagine alternative and better ways of dealing with this thorniest of contemporary policy problems.