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Device-measured change in physical activity in primary school children during the UK COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a longitudinal study
Get PDFBackground: Lockdown measures, including school closures, due to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused widespread disruption to children’s lives. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a national lockdown on children’s physical activity using seasonally matched accelerometry data. Methods: Using a pre/post observational design, 179 children aged 8 to 11 years provided physical activity data measured using hip-worn triaxial accelerometers worn for 5 consecutive days prepandemic and during the January to March 2021 lockdown. Multilevel regression analyses adjusted for covariates were used to assess the impact of lockdown on time spent in sedentary and moderate to vigorous physical activity. Results: A 10.8-minute reduction in daily time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (standard error: 2.3 min/d, P < .001) and a 33.2-minute increase in daily sedentary activity (standard error: 5.5 min/d, P < .001) were observed during lockdown. This reflected a reduction in daily moderate to vigorous physical activity for those unable to attend school (−13.1 [2.3] min/d, P < .001) during lockdown, with no significant change for those who continued to attend school (0.4 [4.0] min/d, P < .925). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the loss of in-person schooling was the single largest impact on physical activity in this cohort of primary school children in London, Luton, and Dunstable, United Kingdom
Widening the care gap? an international comparison of care-leaving in the time of COVID-19
Get PDFFollowing COVID-19, young people who transitioned to adulthood from different types of alternative care (care-leavers) experienced an exacerbation of the challenges they had before the pandemic. The purpose of this international survey was to explore the range of policy and service responses that have or have not been implemented around the world to support care-leavers during COVID-19. Responses were collected from care-leaving researchers from 19 countries towards the end of 2020. Half of the participating countries reported that the state had issued directives about measures that should be taken to support care-leavers following COVID-19 outbreak, but only three reported actual changes in legislation. Additionally, NGOs in various countries took steps to guide and support care-leavers, while two thirds reported on special initiatives that were mounted. The most common change in practices during COVID-19 was the postponement of exits from care, and the second was an increase in contact from workers. These findings are critically discussed in relation to the impact of policy changes on an already vulnerable group. In particular, we indicate that there appears to be a widening care-gap: some countries with stronger leaving-care legal and policy frameworks pre-COVID-19 were more inclined to introduce additional supportive measures during the pandemic, whereas some with under-developed services tended not to increase support. By contrast, other countries used this crisis to develop services that were not available before. The creativity and flexibility in the services provided during the COVID-19 outbreak are required on an ongoing basis and thus should be implemented overall
RNA-binding proteins and their emerging roles in cancer: beyond the tip of the iceberg
Get PDFRNA-binding proteins (RBPs) represent a large family of proteins with an extensive array of roles that contribute to coordinating and directing multiple functions in RNA metabolism and transcription [...]
Interaction between gut microbiota metabolites and dietary components in lipid metabolism and metabolic diseases
Get PDFGut microbiota composition has caused perplexity in developing precision therapy to cure metabolic disorders. However, recent research has focused on using daily diet and natural bioactive compounds to correct gut microbiota dysbiosis and regulate host metabolism. Complex interactions between the gut microbiota and dietary compounds disrupt or integrate the gut barrier and lipid metabolism. In this review, we investigate the role of diet and bioactive natural compounds in gut microbiota dysbiosis and also the modulation of lipid metabolism by their metabolites. Recent studies have revealed that diet, natural compounds and phytochemicals impact significantly on lipid metabolism in animals and humans. These findings suggest that dietary components or natural bioactive compounds have a significant impact on microbial dysbiosis linked to metabolic diseases. The interaction between dietary components or natural bioactive compounds and gut microbiota metabolites can regulate lipid metabolism. Additionally, natural products can shape the gut microbiota and improve barrier integrity by interacting with gut metabolites and their precursors, even in unfavourable conditions, potentially contributing to the alignment of host physiology
Group work as a mechanism for the collective participation of children and young people with lived experience of child sexual abuse and exploitation: practitioner briefing
Get PDFWe have produced this briefing to share what our panel of experts felt were some of the potential positive outcomes for young survivors who engage in collective, group-based participation. While there was agreement that participatory group work could support a number of positive outcomes, it was also highlighted that this very much depended on the focus, aims, content and activities included in these sessions. Often there is potential for both positive and negative outcomes to co-exist. Facilitators are key to moderating the potential outcomes for young survivors engaged in participatory group work. Facilitators being equipped with the right skills, experience and knowledge is central to supporting positive outcomes
Creole cultures, vol. 1: safeguarding creole intangible cultural heritage
No full textThis edited collection considers the significance of Creole cultures within current, changing global contexts. With a particular focus on post-colonial Small Island Developing States, it brings together perspectives from academics, policy makers and practitioners including those based in Dominica, St Lucia, Seychelles and Mauritius. Together they provide a rich exploration of issues that arise in relation to safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage that sustains Creole identities. Commencing with considerations of the UNESCO (2003) Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), the collection then presents case studies from the Seychelles, Mauritius, St. Lucia and Dominica. These attest to the many and different ways through which Creole cultural practices remain significant to the lived experiences of Creole communities. These chapters exemplify how through activities such as storytelling, singing, dancing, making artworks and the alternative economic practice of koudmen, Creole peoples sustain cultural identities that draw strength from their traditions. Yet there is also recognition of the continual struggle to sustain Creole cultural practices in the face of global economic and political pressures and related uncertainties. This global economic landscape also has an impact upon how Creole cultures are presented to tourists and hence upon the ways in which cultural practices are supported
Fighting food waste: how can artificial intelligence and analytics help?
No full textThe application domains of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Analytics are ever increasing, specifically in food production globally. The availability of huge amounts of data, machine-to-machine communications, cloud storage, blockchain and the emergence of newer methods of data analytics have helped to kindle renewed interest in AI developments for the European food sector. Some experiences from a large European project, called the REAMIT project, will be used in this chapter to discover the possibilities of using AI to identify causes, patterns, and solutions to the food wastage crisis. Approximately one-third of food produced gets wasted in both developed and developing nations. The REAMIT project uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to sense food quality. This chapter will uncover some promising potentials of using AI techniques with sensor data. The various criteria that influence the selection of the right AI tool under various scenarios of the IoT system implementation are captured through a hierarchical multi-criteria framework. This chapter also proposes an innovative analytics framework for food waste reduction which can be adapted widely by individuals and practitioners
A systematic review of interventions targeting physical activity and/or healthy eating behaviours in adolescents: practice and training
Get PDFDespite the many health benefits of physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) most adolescents do not meet current guidelines which poses future health risks. This review aimed to (1) identify whether adolescent PA and HE interventions show promise at promoting behaviour change and maintenance, (2) identify which behaviour change techniques (BCTs) are associated with promising interventions, and (3) explore the optimal approaches to training deliverers of adolescent PA/HE interventions. Nine databases were searched for randomised controlled, or quasi-experimental, trials targeting 10-19 year olds, with a primary aim to increase PA/HE, measured at baseline and at least six months post-intervention, in addition to papers reporting training of deliverers of adolescent PA/HE interventions. Included were seven PA studies, three HE studies and four studies targeting both, with two training papers. For PA studies, two were promising post-intervention with two promising BCTs, and five were promising for maintenance with two promising BCTs. For HE studies, three were promising at post-intervention and four at maintenance, both with four promising BCTs. There is preliminary evidence that interventions support adolescents to improve their PA and HE behaviours over a period of at least six months
Recycling and resistance to change in physical education: the informal recruitment of physical education teachers in schools
Get PDFPurpose: Physical education (PE) teachers’ interactions with students were explored to examine self- selection for PE teaching as a career option during school. Method: Semi – structured life story interviews were conducted with 29 PE teachers at different career stages. Complementing occupational socialisation, Bourdieu’s habitus, capital, field and practice were adopted as thinking tools to inform thematic analysis. Results: 3 key themes were identified: a) Acceptance into the inner sanctum based on physical competence, effort and enthusiasm for the traditional curriculum, b) Opportunities provided to students accepted into the inner sanctum, and c) Outside the inner sanctum: Mismatched habitus and self-selection for PE teaching. Conclusion: Students exchanged competence, effort and enthusiasm in the traditional curriculum for acceptance and opportunities to encourage self – selection for teaching PE. Without acceptance, individuals experienced challenges gaining career support. Dominated by a homogenous group resistant to change, PE needs independent careers information to promote change through heterogeneity
Genome-wide identification and characterization of the chemosensory relative protein genes in Rhus gall aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis.
Get PDFThe Rhus gall aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis specially uses the only species Rhus chinensis and certain moss species (Mniaceae) as its primary host plant and secondary host plants, respectively. Rhus galls are formed on the primary host by the sucking of aphids, and used in traditional medicine as well as other various areas due to their high tannin contents. Chemoreception is critical for insect behaviors such as host searching, location and identification of mates and reproductive behavior. The process of chemoreception is mediated by a series of protein gene families, including odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs), olfactory receptors (ORs), gustatory receptors (GRs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). However, there have been no reports on the analysis of molecular components related to the chemoreception system of S. chinensis at the genome level. We examined the genes of eight OBPs, nine CSPs, 24 ORs, 16 GRs, 22 IRs, and five SNMPs in the S. chinensis genome using homological searches, and these chemosensory genes appeared mostly on chromosome 1. Phylogenetic and gene number analysis revealed that the gene families, e.g., ORs, GRs, CSPs and SNMPs in S. chinensis, have experienced major contractions by comparing to Myzus persicae, while the two gene families OBPs and IRs had slight expansion. The current results might be related to the broader host range of M. persicae versus the specialization of S. chinensis on only a host plant. There were 28 gene pairs between genomes of S. chinensis and Acyrthosiphon pisum in the chemoreceptor gene families by collinear comparison. Ka/Ks ratios (< 1) indicated that the genes of S. chinensis were mainly affected by purification selection during evolution. We also found the lower number and expression level of chemoreception genes in S. chinensis than in other 11 aphid species, such as ORs, GRs and IRs, which play an important role in host search. Our study firstly identified the genes of the different chemosensory protein gene families in the S. chinensis genome, and analyzed their general features and expression profile, demonstrating the importance of chemoreception in the aphid and providing new information for further functional research
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