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A North Atlantic “provincial”: James McGill, empire, “property,” and “improvement”
No full textNo abstract available
Association between active outdoor play and health among children, adolescents, and adults: an umbrella review
No full textBackground: This umbrella review examined the associations between active outdoor play (AOP) and physical, mental, social, and spiritual health across all ages. Methods: A systematic search of 8 bibliographic databases was conducted to identify quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining associations between AOP and human physical, social, mental, and spiritual health. Included reviews were written in English or French and published in or after 2014. Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 was used to assess the quality of reviews. Quantitative findings on statistical observations of null, favorable, and unfavorable findings were used to assess the consistency of evidence. Bradford Hill’s criteria was used to assess causality. Results: Six systematic reviews—3 quantitative, 2 mixed-methods, and 1 qualitative—were included in the umbrella review, encompassing 381 articles. Four and 2 reviews were assessed as critically low and high quality, respectively. For physical, social, and spiritual health, 78% (7/9 observations, 2 reviews), 72% (13/18 observations, 3 reviews), and 100% (9/9 observations, 1 review) showed that AOP was favorably associated with the respective health outcomes based on children and adolescent studies exclusively. By contrast, 71% (53/75 observations, 4 reviews) showed that AOP was favorably associated with mental health inclusive of all ages. There was partial support for causality between AOP and all health outcomes. A figure was created to illustrate possible pathways from AOP to health outcomes. Conclusion: Largely positive associations were observed between AOP and physical, social, mental, and spiritual health, especially among children and adolescents. The greatest source of favorable evidence across all ages was on AOP and mental health, highlighting benefits for public health
Revolutionizing VANET Security: Decentralized Authentication with Edge Aggregation and Blockchain Logging
Get PDFIn the context of vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs), secure and efficient authentication mechanisms are essential to support safety-critical communications within highly dynamic and resource-constrained environments. While traditional certificate-less signature aggregation schemes offer notable advantages, they often suffer from centralized processing bottlenecks, limited scalability, and susceptibility to internal attacks. This paper proposes the hybrid decentralized certificate-less signature aggregation scheme (HD-CLAS)—a novel framework that synergistically combines elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), vehicular edge nodes (VENs), time-based one-time pseudonyms (TOPs), and blockchain-based logging. By decentralizing the signature aggregation process, HD-CLAS significantly improves computational efficiency, while the integration of TOPs enhances privacy through ephemeral identity management. Additionally, an embedded anomaly detection mechanism enables proactive mitigation of malicious behavior. A formal security analysis under the random oracle model confirms the unforgeability of the scheme. Overall, HD-CLAS delivers a robust, scalable, and privacy-preserving authentication solution tailored for heterogeneous VANET environments, including urban and rural areas
Advancing Toxicology Through Machine Learning and Deep Learning-Based Toxicity Prediction
Get PDFIn recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning algorithms has significantly advanced the field of toxicity prediction. This research investigates
the application of various machine learning and deep learning
models for predicting the toxicity of chemical compounds, aiming
to enhance both the accuracy and efficiency of toxicity assessments. The study employs a diverse set of algorithms, including
artificial neural networks (ANN), random forest, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree, and
convolutional neural networks (CNN). The experimental results
demonstrate substantial improvements in predictive accuracy,
with ANN achieving 90.7%, recurrent neural networks (RNN)
87.8%, CNN 95.36%, and long short-term memory (LSTM)
reaching 97.42%. These findings underscore the potential of AIdriven approaches to deliver reliable toxicity predictions, thereby
supporting the development of safer chemical compounds and
pharmaceutical products
Catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol using 2D-molybdenum ditelluride
No full textThe catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol is a crucial reaction in the synthesis of aromatic amines, which serve as key intermediates in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This study explores the phase engineering and catalytic performance of molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) synthesized via a solid-state reaction. By optimizing annealing conditions, a mixed 1T′/2H-MoTe2 phase structure was successfully achieved, exhibiting significantly enhanced catalytic efficiency compared to the individual 1T′-monoclinic and 2H-hexagonal phases. The mixed-phase MoTe2 catalyst facilitated over 80% reduction of 4-nitrophenol within 15 minutes, as confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Further validation through 1H-NMR and LC-MS provided comprehensive insights into product identification, yield quantification, and potential by-product formation. Experimental results, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, demonstrated that the mixed 1T′/2H phase of MoTe2 possesses favorable thermodynamic properties, particularly in hydrogen adsorption. These findings highlight the potential of phase-engineered MoTe2 as an efficient catalyst for amine synthesis application
Stable isotope data indicate origins of mislabelled historical bird specimens
Get PDFNatural history specimens provide valuable insights across diverse research fields, but those needing more accurate metadata have limited scientific value. We applied stable isotope analysis to investigate the origin of 19 th century Atlantic Forest bird specimens attributed to the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, which are the only records for certain species in a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot. Carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analyses indicate that these specimens were collected in Amazonia, not the Atlantic Forest. Stable isotope analysis is a promising tool for verifying specimen origins, enhancing their scientific value and resolving biogeographical questions
Tobacco smoking and the risk of Long COVID: a prospective cohort study with mediation analysis
Get PDFBackground: Tobacco smoking is a well-established risk factor for severe acute COVID-19 outcomes, but evidence regarding its role in Long COVID is limited and inconsistent. This study investigated whether pre-pandemic smoking independently predicted Long COVID and assessed mediation by long-standing illness or disability in a nationally representative cohort. Methods: We analysed data from Waves 10 (2018−19) and 14 (2022−23) of the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Smoking status (current vs non-smoker) and covariates (age, sex, education, income satisfaction, ethnicity, rural/urban residence) were measured at baseline (Wave 10). Long COVID, defined as symptoms lasting ≥12 weeks following initial COVID-19 infection, was assessed at follow-up (Wave 14). Logistic regression was used to estimate the total association between smoking and Long COVID. We then applied generalized structural equation modelling and parametric causal mediation analysis, specifying long-standing illness or disability at baseline as the mediator. Results: Among 11,944 participants, 1097 (9.2 %) reported Long COVID symptoms at follow-up. In the unadjusted model, smoking was associated with increased odds of Long COVID (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.00 −1.48, p = 0.05), although this was only borderline significant. After adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors, the association was no longer statistically significant (adjusted OR = 1.11, 95 % CI: 0.91−1.35, p =0.32). The structural equation model indicated that smoking was associated with higher likelihood of longstanding illness or disability at baseline (β = 0.461, 95 % CI: 0.33−0.59, p <0.001, log-odds scale), which in turn predicted Long COVID (β = 0.435, 95 % CI: 0.30−0.57, p <0.001, log-odds scale). Mediation analysis revealed a small but statistically significant indirect effect of smoking on Long COVID operating through long-standing illness or disability (risk difference = 0.0057, 95 % CI: 0.0020−0.0095, p = 0.003), but no significant direct effect (risk difference = 0.0027, 95 % CI: −0.0144 to 0.0199, p = 0.76). Conclusion: Smoking did not independently predict Long COVID, but may increase vulnerability indirectly through pre-existing long-standing illness or disability
In vivo assessment of buparvaquone resistant Theileria annulata populations: genetic structure, transmission dynamics, drug susceptibility and pharmacokinetics
Get PDFTropical theileriosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata and transmitted by several species of ixodid ticks of the genus Hyalomma, is an economically important disease of bovines. Concerningly, studies conducted in recent years have shown an increase in the rate of failure when using the primary drug of treatment, buparvaquone (BPQ), particularly in infection caused by T. annulata populations bearing V135A and P253S mutations on the Cytochrome b (Cyto b) gene of the parasite mitochondrial genome. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between BPQ-resistance and V135A and P253S mutations utilising an in vivo experimental set-up and to assess the tick transmissibility of drug-resistant populations. Additionally, the pharmacokinetics of BPQ in healthy and infected calves were compared to evaluate any relationship between plasma drug concentration and treatment failure. The study results demonstrated that, despite four consecutive BPQ treatments, animals infected with the resistant isolates exhibited more severe clinical signs, including longer periods of pyrexia, longer periods of schizont and piroplasm parasitemia, and the death of one animal. In addition, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol--yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) analyses showed that all cell lines derived from animals infected with the mutant genotypes exhibited resistance to high BPQ concentrations. Unexpectedly, despite substantial calf-to-calf variation during the experiment, the genetic structure of the parasite population remained largely unchanged and no strong evidence for a major genotypic shift was detected. Plasma BPQ levels were similar in all groups tested. There was no association between plasma concentrations of BPQ and parasitological or clinical response to treatment. Live parasitaemia was observed even at high plasma BPQ levels in animals infected with resistant isolates. Significantly, drug resistant parasite populations harbouring either V135A or P253S mutations was transferred between the host and vector ticks, indicating the potential for resistant parasites to be transmitted from cattle in the field, thereby facilitating their maintenance in natural populations
Low-emissions, high tensions: social media groups and the escalation of climate obstruction
No full textBacklash against climate policy is rare, but it is growing as policies become more present in everyday life, and resistance is becoming more confrontational. In the UK, this includes property destruction, non-compliance and death threats to public officials. This article explores the role of social media groups in the intensifying backlash through qualitative content analysis of posts in two of the UK’s largest public Facebook groups opposing low-emissions transport schemes promoted as essential for reaching net zero and tackling the climate crisis. Social media is now widely recognized as a key channel for contrarian claims, but diffusion models often still assume one-way flow from elites to the public, overlooking how claims also spread across social media groups via sharing, amplification and users generating evidence to fit frames supplied by organized denial. Although a direct link to offline activity cannot be drawn, the article shows how these groups help legitimize and motivate hostile behavior by glorifying saboteurs as heroes and discrediting policy proponents through dehumanizing language. Misinformation matters, though less by fueling opposition than by muddying policy debate and preventing policies from being judged on their merits. The findings offer insight into the changing nature of climate obstruction, with implications for climate engagement and misinformation response
Understanding the self-management experiences of people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), their caregivers and the health care professionals who support them: Systematic review and qualitative meta-study
No full textTo understand the self-management experiences of people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), their caregivers and the health care professionals (HCPs) who support them. A systematic review of qualitative and mixed methods literature, published to July 2023. 4560 abstracts describing patients, caregivers, and HCPs experiences of self-management strategies for HFpEF were identified and screened. Of the 349 full texts identified we included seven papers from three data sources (in 47 patients, 81 caregivers, 129 HCPs) in our final dataset. Key theories, methods and results were extracted, reviewed and synthesised using meta-study techniques.We identified that HFpEF is difficult for HCPs to diagnose and difficult for patients and their caregivers to understand. Patients and caregivers can struggle to access support, which can lead to a 'cycle of decline' over time in patients' outcomes /quality of life. However, self-management can be optimised with adequate support, when the burdens of understanding HFpEF and self-management are acknowledged, when personalised goals are set, and feedback is provided to optimise individualised self-management. The limited capacity of HCPs to support HFpEF patients and caregivers to develop effective self-management understanding and practice can lead to disempowerment and loss of control. Tailored interventions are required to maximise HCP enablement of patients and their caregivers to develop flexible and sustainable self-management strategies. Future research must specify and evaluate the skillset that HCPs require to provide individualised care that is tailored to the holistic needs of people self-managing HFpEF within the local care context
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