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Correction: Canovan et al. Different Sides of University Life: An Exploratory Study Investigating How Multiple Visits to a Campus Nurture a Rounded View of the Setting and Strengthen Intentions Towards Higher Education Progression. Trends High. Educ. 2025, 4, 55
No full textDevelopment of a qPCR assay for Fasciola spp. identification and deep amplicon sequencing method for differentiation of fluke species in UK livestock
No full textBackground
Trematode parasites, or flukes, are a significant economic threat to ruminant production worldwide. Traditional diagnostic methods rely on egg sedimentation from faeces, a time-consuming methodology lacking sensitivity and specificity. This study aimed to develop and validate two detection methods: firstly, qPCR for accurate identification of Fasciola spp., and secondly, a deep amplicon sequencing technique for identifying fluke species using faecal sedimented egg DNA.
Methodology
To detect Fasciola spp., infection, primers targeting mitochondrial DNA were repurposed to develop a SYBR Green qPCR assay. For the identification of fluke species, a deep amplicon sequencing approach was developed. A reference sequence library and taxonomy file were generated for 21 fluke species, potentially enabling species-level sequence read separation for a range of trematodes and extraction of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). To validate the qPCR and deep amplicon sequencing approach, 402 faecal samples were collected from cattle and sheep across the UK. Fluke eggs were isolated by sedimentation, screened by microscopy and qPCR, Sanger sequencing and deep amplicon sequencing to identify fluke eggs to species level.
Results
qPCR demonstrated high analytical sensitivity, detecting Fasciola hepatica DNA down to 19.2 fg and F. gigantica down to 6.4 fg, with no cross-amplification of other flukes. Deep amplicon sequencing was able to detect as few as five F. hepatica and Calicophoron daubneyi eggs and identify mixed infections. High levels of co-infection (14.4%) of F. hepatica and C. daubneyi were observed in faecal samples, followed by single infections with C. daubneyi (12.6%) and F. hepatica (3.2%). Notably, deep amplicon sequencing detected F. hepatica in 20 samples missed by qPCR. Data analysis identified 55 and 32 ASVs for F. hepatica and C. daubneyi, respectively, with phylogenetic clustering within their respective clades.
Conclusion
This study developed a qPCR assay for Fasciola spp. detection and validated a deep amplicon sequencing for fluke species differentiation. These approaches are able to identify fluke species in excreta from infected ruminants and provide additional valuable tools for enhancing fasciolosis surveillance and control
How to use animated absurdity and well-timed jokes to say the things you’re not supposed to say out loud
No full textHumour has functioned as a consistent methodological and thematic thread throughout my animation practice, operating as a vehicle for articulating socially uncomfortable or emotionally fraught experience. Beginning with my short film Family Favourites (Channel 4, 1990), this essay situates humour as a critical strategy within animated television, where dialogue, narrative and visual design converge to produce layered social commentary. Drawing on Bakhtin's (1984) concept of the carnivalesque, the discussion argues that animation intensifies satire through symbolic distortion, visual exaggeration and performative irony, enabling power structures to be temporarily inverted and authority rendered unstable.
This essay traces a lineage from eighteenth-century caricature (Gillray, Hogarth) through Spitting Image and 2DTV, to contemporary works such as Steven Universe demonstrating how humour operates across tonal registers - from grotesque satire to affective, character-driven warmth. Through examples like Crapston Villas, the analysis highlights how animation accommodates both ridicule and care, exposing ideological tensions while sustaining accessibility. Ultimately, animation's formal elasticity allows humour to function simultaneously as satire, ethical reflection and cultural critique, smuggling subversion into popular entertainment through laughter
In the Media We Trust: The Crave for Media Adjudication on Social and Quasi-Legal Issues in Ghana
No full text‘Trial by media’ is a popular phrase that has been used against the media for commenting on pending cases. This is often deemed to be the case when the media thoroughly analyse cases just about to be heard or pending before the court. Currently, a novelty ‘media court’ show, made up of lay people, aptly fits this description in Ghana. The shows generally adjudicate on socio-cultural and quasi-legal issues and have continued to attract people from all walks of life. The objective of these shows is partly to circumvent the lengthy court processes and to provide justice for the vulnerable, especially people who feel they cannot have justice at the courts or have socio-cultural issues to deal with as well as the settlement of family or paternity suits. The chapter examines the allure of these shows and also provides a detailed account of why and how the shows operate
The Impact of Websites on the Survival and Growth of the Tourism Industry in Pakistan
No full textThe tourism industry constitutes a fundamental part of every country's economic infrastructure. Websites and mobile application innovations have become essential tools for boosting tourism worldwide. The United Arab Emirates and Turkey have experienced major tourism growth because they adopted innovative promotional strategies. Certain global regions have failed to experience significant tourism growth through technological or innovative developments. The lack of technology adoption in tourism has resulted in these regions missing economic growth opportunities through tourism expansion. The tourism sector in Pakistan shows minimal expansion while e-tourism activities experience significant growth. The economic situation of Pakistan has suffered because limited tourism has resulted in reduced job opportunities which then drove more people to leave the country. Even though tourism in Pakistan has substantial economic implications there remains an absence of research examining the obstacles and forces behind e-tourism development in Pakistan. The research aimed to explore the effects of online cues on the travel purchasing decisions of potential tourists interested in visiting Pakistan. The research assessed how destination image and holiday packages served as cues that affected online tour destination purchasing decisions through a survey-based approach. Smart PLS software served as the tool to analyze the collected data. Purchase decisions are positively influenced by holiday packages which work through the mediation of customer engagement and purchase intention whereas destination image exerts a minor and weak effect on purchase decisions. The research findings’ practical and policy-based implications appear after this paper
Behavior of sustainable concrete with plastic waste as coarse aggregate: Experimental and numerical approach
No full textThe increasing accumulation of plastic waste (PW) and its low recycling rates pose serious environmental challenges. This study investigates the replacement of coarse aggregate (CA) with polycarbonate PW at levels of 20%, 30%, and 40% in concrete prisms (100×50×400 mm), tested under drop-weight impact loading and validated with finite element method (FEM) simulations. PW incorporation reduced workability (slump from 165 mm to 35 mm) and bulk density (2215 to 1930 kg/m³), alongside compressive strength losses of 25-49% and modulus reductions of 15-34%. However, PW30% demonstrated the highest impact resistance, with a peak Tup load of 14,170 kN at 0.6 ms, bending load of 4152 kN, and inertial load of 5084 kN, confirming its superior energy absorption. Dynamic-to-static ratios also improved with PW, with fracture energy increasing from 3.05 to 10.1. FEM
results confirmed these behaviors, particularly for PW30%. Overall, PW30% offers an optimal balance of ductility and toughness, suggesting its suitability for impact-resistant and lightweight applications
Malcolm Chase: A Roundtable Tribute
No full textThis paper brings together the reflections by three historians who knew Malcolm Chase, presented at the Northern History memorial conference in Leeds on 29 November 2024. It shows how integral Malcolm Chase’s work was to nineteenth-century political and labour history of Britain. It explains his impact and legacy on the study of history, especially in and of northern England, and ends with a call for more work on regional and working-class history
Black Esophagus: A Rare Case of Acute Esophageal Necrosis in a High-Risk Patient
No full textAcute esophageal necrosis (AEN), or "black esophagus," is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by diffuse circumferential black discoloration of the esophageal mucosa. This case report discusses a 71-year-old male with multiple comorbidities who presented with gastrointestinal bleeding and was subsequently diagnosed with AEN. The report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, management strategies, and a review of relevant literature
Mismatched manifestations: lessons from user-initiated changes to architect-designed post-tsunami rehousing in coastal Sri Lanka
No full textAlthough inhabitants are at the core of architecture and associated practices, there seem to be misalignments between architectural outcomes and user expectations, as seen in user-initiated changes to resettlement projects. This phenomenon is quite pronounced in rehousing provided to the displaced people in the aftermath of disasters, particularly among the underserved groups who have already been denied equitable access to decision-making. As found in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami rehousing projects in coastal Sri Lanka, this study explores a few mismatched expectations manifested in the rehousing realities by examining user-initiated changes made in housing provided to them
Physical Education’s Role in Enhancing Fitness Among Children and Adolescents: A Bibliometric Analysis
No full textIntroduction: Physical education (PE) is a key school-based strategy for improving physical fitness (PF) among children and adolescents. However, a systematic synthesis of the most influential literature linking PE to PF development remains limited. Understanding publishing patterns and research hotspots can inform future directions in PE- and PF-related scholarship.
Objective: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the 50 most-cited articles examining the relationship between PE and PF in school-aged children and adolescents, and to identify major contributors, thematic clusters, and evidence gaps.
Methods: A comprehensive search was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection. The 50 most-cited articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Citation patterns, journal productivity, country contributions, co-authorship networks, and keyword co-occurrence were examined using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer. Quantitative indicators—including total citations, citations per paper (CPP), and cluster mapping—were summarized.
Results: The included articles received 52– 687 citations. The United States produced the highest number of publications (n = 19; CPP = 100.3), followed by Australia and Spain (each n = 6). The most active journals were BMC Public Health (5 articles, 481 citations) and PLOS ONE (4 articles, 582 citations). Keyword analyses identified three major thematic clusters: (1) PE-based interventions, (2) health-related fitness components (aerobic capacity, muscular strength, body composition), and (3) cognitive and psychological outcomes linked to PE participation. Across studies, PE consistently improved multiple PF dimensions among children and adolescents.
Conclusion: High-impact evidence shows that well-designed school-based PE programs significantly enhance aerobic fitness, muscular strength, body composition, and overall health-related PF in youth—while also providing emerging cognitive and psychosocial benefits. However, research output remains heavily concentrated in high-income countries, indicating a need for more diverse and equitable global investigations. This bibliometric synthesis clarifies current research patterns and highlights opportunities for advancing evidence-based PE to support youth fitness development