Nimble-footed Zimbabwean migrants: (im)mobility and the porousness of borders between South Africa and Zimbabwe during the Covid-19 national lockdown

This ethnographic study highlights the impact of Covid-19 border closures on the migration patterns of Zimbabwean cross-border migrants. Data in this study were collected using qualitative techniques, one-on-one telephonic interviews and social media platforms from 20 participants over a period of five months. The data were analysed using the theoretical framework of conviviality. Our findings indicate that Zimbabwean cross-border migrants managed to cross into South Africa and back despite restrictions, which suggests that border closures had a limited impact on migration. By drawing on the narratives of Zimbabwean cross-border migrants, we illustrate how migrants, goods and remittances managed to move and how social networks such as hushamwari [friendship] played a significant role in facilitating illegal border jumping, revealing the permeability and porousness of state borders to many diverse types of incursions. The closure of national borders during lockdowns highlights the differences between migrants and border jumpers, the latter of which chose to smuggle goods in novel ways, even though they possess legal documentation and economic status. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] Este estudo etnográfico destaca o impacto do fechamento de fronteiras durante a pandemia de Covid-19 nos padrões de migração dos migrantes transfronteiriços do Zimbábue. Os dados deste estudo foram coletados usando técnicas qualitativas, entrevistas telefônicas individuais e plataformas de mídia social com 20 participantes durante um período de cinco meses. Os dados foram analisados a partir do referencial teórico da convivialidade. Nossas descobertas indicam que os migrantes transfronteiriços do Zimbábue conseguiram entrar e voltar da África do Sul apesar das restrições, o que sugere que o fechamento das fronteiras teve um impacto limitado na migração. A partir das narrativas dos migrantes transfronteiriços do Zimbábue, ilustramos como migrantes, bens e remessas conseguiram circular e como as redes sociais como hushamwari [amizade] desempenharam um papel significativo na facilitação do salto ilegal de fronteira, revelando a permeabilidade e a porosidade das fronteiras dos Estados aos mais diversos tipos de incursões. O fechamento das fronteiras nacionais durante o confinamento destaca as diferenças entre migrantes e saltadores de fronteira, tendo estes últimos optado por contrabandear mercadorias de novas maneiras, embora possuam documentação legal e status econômico. (Portuguese) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Anthropology Southern Africa (2332-3256) is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Lesson study with sharing and jumping tasks in online mathematics classrooms for rural area students

Due to the poor instruction process during the Covid-19 Pandemic, especially in mathematics, students frequently need help with data literacy. To overcome these obstacles, they must improve their thinking skills. This study aims to enhance the quality of mathematics instruction, especially students' thinking skills, by implementing Lesson Study to develop sharing and jumping tasks. This qualitative descriptive research was conducted at one of the senior high schools and universities in Manokwari, West Papua, with their students as the research subject. The lesson study was implemented in two cycles through instruction at school and lectures at the university. The lesson study consists of three processes: plan, do, and see. The hypothetical learning trajectory was developed at the lesson design stage and then tested at the teaching-learning stage. The open class results were then analyzed during the reflection step to redesign the sharing and jumping tasks. The success of the research was determined through field notes taken from teachers and students. The frequency distribution table is used as the topic matter. The findings revealed that students' thinking skills developed, indicating they were more interested than in the previous teaching and learning process. The learning process was more exciting and enhanced conceptual comprehension. Because learning was communicable, students were more satisfied. They were more engaged and required further thought to comprehend the topic matter. Also, they produce a variety of responses, which is only feasible if they are capable of critical thought. © The Author(s) 2023.

Acceptability and usability of a soft, flexible, wearable device for cough detection in children with cystic fibrosis

Background: Cough is a common symptom in cystic fibrosis (CF), and an increase in cough is an important sign of worsening lung disease and pulmonary exacerbation, the most common cause of hospitalization in people with CF. Objective monitoring of cough could be an important outcome measure for clinical trials, especially in children too young to perform pulmonary function tests. There are no accurate, objective methods of quantifying the frequency, severity, and duration of cough. Devices that have been tested to measure cough are neither highly reliable nor user friendly. We developed a mechano-acoustic sensor (MAS): a 4.8- cm- x 2.8-cm- (1 inch) long, thin, lightweight, stretchable, wireless device that adheres easily and securely to the skin surface and is worn at the base of the neck. The devicewas validated in adults being monitored for COVID- 19. This study evaluated usability and acceptability to children and their parents. Method(s): In Cohort 1, a small, flexible, fully wireless accelerometer-based MASwas applied to the suprasternal notch of children with CF using gentle adhesives. Participants were asked to perform activities that included forced coughs while sitting, lying down, and performing activities such as jumping or jogging and other pharyngolaryngeal activities such as swallowing, speaking, and throat clearing. The sessions were an average of about 30 minutes long. In Cohort 2, participants were asked to test the device for a longer period of wearable time (4-6 hours) in various settings, including outpatient clinics, inpatient rooms, and outside clinic and athome environments. Upon completion, all participants from both cohorts were asked to fill out the Acceptability and Usability Questionnaire, which consisted of six questions ranked on a 4-point Likert scale. Result(s): Cohort 1 included 21 children aged 3 to 18 (mean age 9.25 +/- 4.85), and Cohort 2 included 12 children aged 7 to 18 (mean age 12.15 +/- 4.42). On 31 (94%) questionnaires returned, 35.5% of participants strongly agreed and 61.3% agreed with the statement "I [or my child] like(s) wearing the cough sensor." Similarly, most participants found the cough sensor easy to use (74.2% strongly agreed, 25.8% agreed) and comfortable to wear (64.5% strongly agreed, 29.0% agreed), although they found the adhesive sticker difficult to take off and the device too obvious or large. Conclusion(s): Although qualitative and quantitative acceptability and usability data were overall positive, we have redesigned the cough sensor for comfort and are continuing enrollment. The new sensor, 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.8 cm, is smaller and sits lower on the neck so participants can better conceal it underneath clothing (Figure 1). We are providing universal adhesive remover wipes to all participants. Future work includes long-term monitoring (1-2 weeks) of pulmonary exacerbations using the new devices and further assessing usability and acceptability from participants.(Figure Presented) Figure 1. New cough sensor design with a longer neck and a smaller body, allowing it to be better concealed underneath a shirtCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

Signs of physical ability of 11-12-year old students during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/2021 school year

Sport and physical activity contribute to people's physical, mental, and social health. The state of students' physical ability is an accurate and objective indicator, with the help of which the influence and efficiency of the educational process in physical education and sports can be revealed. The aim of this study was to determine the level of development of the physical ability of students in 5th and 6th grade, through analysis and evaluation, according to the new regulatory system for evaluation. The research was carried out with 75 pupils at a secondary school in the city of Sofia. To realize it, we used a test battery that carries information about the significant indexes of physical fitness. The battery includes five tests: running 30 m., standing long jump with both feet, 3 kg medicine ball throwing with both hands from a standing position, running 200 m., and agility and spatial coordination test. The testing and mathematical-statistical methods (variation analysis comparative analysis with t-criterion of Student and sigma evaluation method) were used in our study. The analysis of the results showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the students from 5th and 6th grade, only in terms of the indicator of agility and spatial coordination. Such a difference was found in the same test, by gender and age, among the boys from the two study groups. Our research showed that the state of physical ability of the students participating in the study was at a good level, which corresponds to the average in the country.

The Concurrent Validity and Test-Retest Reliability of Possible Remote Assessments for Measuring Countermovement Jump: My Jump 2, HomeCourt & Takei Vertical Jump Meter

Featured ApplicationThe same tool could be used repeatedly to track the changes in CMJ performance. Average jump heights should be analyzed. Practitioners and sports professionals without extensive knowledge of assessment could self-administer CMJ tests using these devices.Mobile applications and portable assessments make remote self-assessment of the countermovement jump (CMJ) test possible. This study aimed to investigate the concurrent validity and test–retest reliability of three portable measurement systems for CMJ. Thirty physically active college students visited the laboratory twice, with two days in between, and performed three jumps each day. All jumps were recorded by My Jump 2, HomeCourt, and the Takei Vertical Jump Meter (TVJM) simultaneously. Results indicated significant differences among the three systems (p < 0.01). HomeCourt tended to present the highest jump height mean value (46.10 ± 7.57 cm) compared with TVJM (42.02 ± 8.11 cm) and My Jump 2 (40.85 ± 7.86 cm). High concurrent validities among assessments were found (r = 0.85–0.93). Good to excellent reliability of jump assessments was demonstrated (ICC3,1 = 0.80–0.96). Reliable coefficients of variation were shown in all measurements (2.58–5.92%). Significant differences were revealed among the three apparatuses while they demonstrated high intra-device test–retest reliability. TVJM was the most reliable, and average jump heights were recommended for analysis.

Study of SARS-nCoV2 Indian Isolates Gaining Insights into Mutation Fre-quencies, Protein Stability and Prospective Effect on Pathogenicity

Background: SARS-nCOV-2 is a variant of the known SARS coronavirus family. The mutations in viruses are very rapid and can play a crucial role in the evolution or devolution of the organism. This has a direct impact on "host jumping" and the pathogenicity of the virus. Objective(s): The study aims to understand the frequency of genomic variations that have occurred in the virus affecting the Indian sub-population. The impact of variations translating to proteins and its consequences affecting protein stability and interaction were studied. Method(s): Phylogenetic analysis of the 140 genomes from the India region was performed, followed by SNP and Indel analysis of both CDS and non-CDS regions. This effort was followed by a prediction of mutations occurring in 8 proteins of interest and the impact on protein stability and prospective drug interactions. Result(s): Genomes showed variability in origin, and major branches can be mapped to the 2002 outbreak of SARS. The mutation frequency in CDS regions showed that 241 C >T, 3037 C >T, 2836 C >T, and 6312 C >A occurred in 81.5% of genomes mapping to major genes. Corresponding mutations were mapped to protein sequences. The effect of mutations occurring in spike glycoprotein, RNA dependent RNA polymerase, nsp8, nucleocapsid and 3c protease was also depicted. Conclusion(s): Whilst the mutations in spike glycoprotein showcased an increase in protein stability, the residues undergoing mutations were also a part of drug binding pockets for hydroxychloro-quine. Mutations occurring in other proteins of interest led to a decrease in protein stability. The mutations were also a part of drug binding pockets for Favipiravir, Remdesivir and Dexametha-sone. The work allows analyzing larger datasets to understand mutation patterns globally.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.

Grand challenges, covid-19 and the future of organizational scholarship

Grand challenges are 'formulations of global problems that can be plausibly addressed through coordinated and collaborative effort'. By this definition, the Covid-19 pandemic certainly registers as a grand challenge. It is a type of problem scientists have been warning about for decades - a pandemic unleashed when a virus jumps from animals to humans, in part due to habitat loss (IPBES, 2019). The pandemic's global reach has no bounds;its economic, social, and health consequences affect us all. We all hope this problem can be plausibly addressed through coordinated and collaborative effort. Indeed, the myriad researchers working globally to develop a vaccine suggest extensive coordinated - though not exclusively collaborative - effort. Could there be a more pressing and urgent grand challenge than this? And, what might its lessons be for how organisational scholars engage in work that seeks to understand and tackle societal grand challenges? This essay reflect on the grand challenges discourse and how it has and should be taken up in our field. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The Proliferation of Living Systematic Reviews (LSRS) - Dead on Arrival? A Review of LSR Methodology

Objectives: Living systematic reviews (LSRs) maintain the relevance of systematic reviews through regular, continuous updates. This research aimed to assess if all LSRs are equal and to identify areas of methodological confusion to provide clarity for those undertaking an LSR. Method(s): A scoping exercise was conducted, informed by pragmatic searches of MEDLINE, Embase and Epistemonikos, to identify records explicitly referring to LSRs. No date limits were applied. Study selection was conducted by double independent reviewers. Where a preprint LSR was superseded by a peer-reviewed publication, the preprint record was excluded. A single reviewer conducted brief data extraction. A narrative synthesis was conducted. Result(s): 760 records were screened at title and , and 241 were assessed for eligibility at full text. 141 LSRs (either full LSR or protocol only) were extracted and synthesised. 97 LSRs focussed on COVID-19, and 44 were non-COVID-19 related. 29 were Cochrane LSRs. Of the 112 non-Cochrane LSRs, 77 were registered on PROSPERO. There appears to be some confusion amongst reviewers regarding PROSPERO's acceptance of LSRs. Justification for the use of LSR methodology and a description of how this methodology would be followed was not always reported. 40 reviews did not describe a clear schedule for search updates or stated that updates would only be conducted if new evidence became available;these may more accurately be described as standard review updates. 32 reviews did not report updates at the purported schedule (whilst not reporting that the review had been officially terminated). Thus, many "living" reviews are effectively dead on arrival. Very few authors reported under what circumstances the LSR would cease. Conclusion(s): LSRs present an opportunity to ensure that a body of evidence is kept up to date. However, caution is advised regarding jumping on a methodological bandwagon without sufficient understanding of the methods and funding required. Copyright © 2022

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns in animals: An unmonitored rising health threat.

Recent findings have highlighted the urgency for rapidly detecting and characterizing SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in companion and wild animals. The significance of active surveillance and genomic investigation on these animals could pave the way for more understanding of the viral circulation and how the variants emerge. It enables us to predict the next viral challenges and prepare for or prevent these challenges. Horrible neglect of this issue could make the COVID-19 pandemic a continuous threat. Continuing to monitor the animal-origin SARS-CoV-2, and tailoring prevention and control measures to avoid large-scale community transmission in the future caused by the virus leaping from animals to humans, is essential. The reliance on only developing vaccines with ignoring this strategy could cost us many lives. Here, we discuss the most recent data about the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) among animals and humans.

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP: A REPORT OF A MISSED DIAGNOSIS

SESSION TITLE: Rare Pulmonary Infections SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Case Reports PRESENTED ON: 10/18/2022 01:35 pm - 02:35 pm INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) rates in the USA are currently at the lowest in history. During 2010-17, only 5175 TB cases occurred in children in the USA. Even in Hidalgo County on the Texas-Mexico border there were only 36 cases of TB among all age groups in 2020. CASE PRESENTATION: An asymptomatic 3-year-old male presented to the PICU with a positive PPD and an infiltrate in the right lower lobe on chest x-ray. Once three morning gastric aspirates were obtained child was started on a 4 drug regimen recommended by the health department, and sent to the pulmonology clinic for further care awaiting identification and sensitivity of an organism. Child was born at 35 weeks gestation, spent 8 days in NICU for unclear reasons requiring intubation and oxygen. Upon review of patient history and chest x-ray, diagnosis of TB became less likely. This was further confirmed by gastric aspirate revealing no organisms and negative QuantiFERON Gold. CT with oral and IV contrast revealed a right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in the foramen of Morgagni. Patient received definitive outpatient surgery in October 2021. At 3-month follow-up there were no surgical complaints and patient reported increased exercise tolerance. DISCUSSION: TB is very rare in the US, even in the Rio Grande Valley where the proportion of cases are higher. This child received 42 doses of TB treatment after a positive PPD and consolidation on chest x-ray. However, x-ray did not clearly indicate TB infection and in fact was suspicious for bowel in the chest cavity. This case clearly indicates the need for careful examination of radiographs and ordering more tests such as the QuantiFERON Gold as needed before jumping to what may seem to be the obvious conclusion. Even though CDH are uncommon and Morgagni hernias are rare making up only 2-3% of CDH, a closer look at the case was warranted. This child's misdiagnosis led to more than simply unnecessary medical treatment, it also led to social stigma for the family that culminated in the father being terminated from his job. This child's surgical repair was delayed due to missed diagnosis of Morgagni hernia in NICU, PICU, and health department and delayed ordering of confirmatory TB tests. Furthermore, patient was referred to surgery in March 2020 but was delayed by 19 months due to COVID-19. The pandemic was also the stimulus for the outpatient nature of the complicated surgery. It is unclear why patient's PPD was positive. It is of note that mother's PPD was also positive due to contact with active TB years prior to child's birth. One hypothesis is this may have caused positive PPD in child and is a future question to pursue. CONCLUSIONS: We want to emphasize to look before you leap and investigate before you treat. There was harm to the child and family done by treating aggressively that could have been prevented and an opportunity to help the child that was delayed. Reference #1: Cowger TL, Wortham JM, Burton DC. Epidemiology of tuberculosis among children and adolescents in the USA, 2007–17: An Analysis of National Surveillance Data. The Lancet Public Health. 2019;4(10). doi:10.1016/s2468-2667(19)30134-3 Reference #2: Leeuwen L, Fitzgerald DA. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2014;50(9):667-673. doi:10.1111/jpc.12508 Reference #3: Mohamed M, Al-Hillan A, Shah J, Zurkovsky E, Asif A, Hossain M. Symptomatic congenital Morgagni hernia presenting as a chest pain: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2020;14(1). doi:10.1186/s13256-019-2336-9 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Isha Mittal No relevant relationships by Barbara Stewart

The role of school physical education on adolescents' fitness levels during the pandemic period from COVID-19: An observational study of the Italian scientific high school-section sport and physical activity.

Objectives: In Italy, in 2013, a new school curriculum with a sport character was established in high schools, called Sports High School (SHS). The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the fitness levels of SHS students who, respecting all the safety rules to limit the spread of COVID-19, practiced physical education (PE) at school with continuity for almost all of 2021, and to compare them with Traditional High School (THS) students; (2) to evaluate as the SHS may have influenced the fitness levels in adolescents. Methods: This is a case-control study in which thirty participants were enrolled (SHS: n = 15; THS: n = 15). To assess the fitness levels, the following tests were administered: the Static Baropodometric and Stabilometric Analyses, the Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), and the Handgrip test. All these tests were administered when the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for COVID-19 allowed the resumption of PE lessons (T0) and 2 months after their resumption (T1). Results: Unpaired t-test between SHS (T0) vs. THS (T0) showed significant differences between: Handgrip test Dx and Handgrip test Sx (both p < 0.001), Surface Sx foot and Surface Dx foot (both p < 0.05), and CMJ (p < 0.001). These results were also confirmed in T1. The performance analysis between T0 and T1 of both SHS and THS showed improvements in SHS: Handgrip test Dx (p < 0.05; d = 0.57), Handgrip test Sx (p < 0.01; d = 0.87), and CMJ (p < 0.05; d = 0.59). Pearson's analysis of the results of the tests showed significant strong correlations between: Handgrip test Dx and Handgrip test Sx (R = 0.959; p < 0.001), Handgrip test Dx and CMJ (R = 0.881; p < 0.001), Handgrip test Sx and CMJ (R = 0.893; p < 0.001). The same analysis showed significant but moderate correlations between: Surface foot Sx and CMJ (R = 0.489; p < 0.01), Surface foot Sx and y-mean (R = 0.485; p < 0.01), Surface foot Dx and CMJ (R = 0.444; p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study is in agreement with the literature showing that the quarantine period and the NPIs for COVID-19 caused a decrease in fitness levels in adolescents. Our results showed that students of SHS recorded higher strength performance both in the Handgrip test and in the CMJ.

Factors Determining Tourists Motivation To Visit A Place for Adventure Tourism: A Systematic Review

India is a country with diversity. It is the gift of nature wherein different rivers, mountains, hill stations, forts, caves, historical places are in the country. It is the social, cultural, religious, and geographical diversity. All these conditions are favourable for travel, tourism and hospitality in India. The young generation, use of technology, expert guidance, safety tools have paved the ways to adventure tourism not only in India but also in the world. The ‘adventure tourism’ is a niche form of tourism which includes deep exploration and extensive travelling to far-flung areas. It is based on the principle of ‘expect the unexpected.’ This is because it is closely association with greater risk as compared to other kinds of tourism. Some of the best examples could be rock climbing, mountaineering expedition, trekking, river rafting, Scuba diving etc. The present study is a review article which examines the different trends, challenges, opportunities, and prospects of adventure tourism in India. The systematic literature review method is applied in this regard. The author has used “Indian Tourism”, “Adventure Tourism”, “Adventure Sports” “Trekking”, “Rock Climbing”, “River Rafting”, “Mountaineering” and other relevant keywords are used to search the existing literature. The study covers the period from 2000 to 2022 as selection criteria. It is applicable for the Indian region. The impact of COVID-19 on adventure tourism is also taken into consideration. The study is unique and significant as it deals with the regional balance, eco-tourism, sustainable development etc. It has historical, cultural, geographical, socio-economic importance from national and international perspectives.

RNA structure-altering mutations underlying positive selection on Spike protein reveal novel putative signatures to trace crossing host-species barriers in Betacoronavirus.

Similar to other RNA viruses, the emergence of Betacoronavirus relies on cross-species viral transmission, which requires careful health surveillance monitoring of protein-coding information as well as genome-wide analysis. Although the evolutionary jump from natural reservoirs to humans may be mainly traced-back by studying the effect that hotspot mutations have on viral proteins, it is largely unexplored if other impacts might emerge on the structured RNA genome of Betacoronavirus. In this survey, the protein-coding and viral genome architecture were simultaneously studied to uncover novel insights into cross-species horizontal transmission events. We analysed 1,252,952 viral genomes of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 distributed across the world in bats, intermediate animals, and humans to build a new landscape of changes in the RNA viral genome. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that bat viruses are the most closely related to the time of most recent common ancestor of Betacoronavirus, and missense mutations in viral proteins, mainly in the S protein S1 subunit: SARS-CoV (G > T; A577S); MERS-CoV (C > T; S746R and C > T; N762A); and SARS-CoV-2 (A > G; D614G) appear to have driven viral diversification. We also found that codon sites under positive selection on S protein overlap with non-compensatory mutations that disrupt secondary RNA structures in the RNA genome complement. These findings provide pivotal factors that might be underlying the eventual jumping the species barrier from bats to intermediate hosts. Lastly, we discovered that nearly half of the Betacoronavirus genomes carry highly conserved RNA structures, and more than 90% of these RNA structures show negative selection signals, suggesting essential functions in the biology of Betacoronavirus that have not been investigated to date. Further research is needed on negatively selected RNA structures to scan for emerging functions like the potential of coding virus-derived small RNAs and to develop new candidate antiviral therapeutic strategies.

Physical fitness and habitual physical activity in children with cystic fibrosis - do they improve with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor therapy?

Objectives: The aim of this ongoing longitudinal study is to examine the effects of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) on aspects of physical fitness (PF, strength endurance, explosive power, coordination under time pressure, coordination for the precision aspect, trunk flexibility, peak workload, habitual physical activity (HPA, steps/day, intensity), and zscores of FEV1 and BMI in children with cystic fibrosis (CF)). All children have been receiving ELX/TEZ/IVA for 19.2 ± 10.4 (11–33) months. Methods: Six children with CF agreed to participate (3f/3 m) mean age 13 ± 4yrs (9–17 yrs), FEV1 z-score − 1.017 ± 1.817 (-3.2–0.8). PFwas assessed using 5 test items at baseline and 4.51 ± 0.98 years later;strength endurance (PU push-ups, SU sit-ups), explosive power (SLJ standing long jump), coordination under time pressure (JSS jumping side to side), coordination for the precision aspect (BB balancing backward on beams), and trunk flexibility (FB, forward bend). Cycle-ergometry (Godfrey-protocol) was used to determine Wpeak. Lung function was measured by spirometry. Results: Significant improvements were seen in test items representing strength endurance (PU, SU) and coordination under time pressure (JSS) (p < .05). Although HPA expressed as steps/day remained the same, thetime of moderate to vigorous intensity of HPA decreases significantly (p < .05). A slight, not significant, improvement of BMI Z-score was observed (p > .05). No or small changes could be observed for the parameter FEV1 z-score, Wpeak, PF, SLJ, BB and FB (p > 0.05). Conclusion: ELX/TEZ/IVA therapy seems to be a facilitator to increase some aspects of PF. The decrease in intensity of HPA is possibly an effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic that has already been described in healthy and asthmatic children. In this ongoing study, we assume that clearer effects will be shown with a greater number of children included. However, ELX/ TEZ/IVA enhanced muscle strength endurance in children with CF.

The Influence of Different Rope Jumping Methods on Adolescents' Lower Limb Biomechanics during the Ground-Contact Phase.

As a simple and beneficial way of exercise, rope skipping is favored by the majority of teenagers, but incorrect rope skipping may lead to the risk of injury. In this study, 16 male adolescent subjects were tested for bounced jump skipping and alternating jump rope skipping. The kinematic data of the hip, knee, ankle and metatarsophalangeal joint of lower extremities and the kinetics data of lower extremity touching the ground during rope skipping were collected, respectively. Moreover, the electromyography (EMG) data of multiple muscles of the lower extremity were collected by Delsys wireless surface EMG tester. Results revealed that bounced jump (BJ) depicted a significantly smaller vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) than alternate jump (AJ) during the 11-82% of the ground-contact stage (p < 0.001), and the peak ground reaction force and average loading rate were significantly smaller than AJ. From the kinematic perspective, in the sagittal plane, when using BJ, the flexion angle of the hip joint was comparably larger at 12-76% of the ground-contact stage (p < 0.01) and the flexion angle of the knee joint was significantly larger at 13-72% of the ground-contact stage (p < 0.001). When using two rope skipping methods, the minimum dorsal extension angle of the metatarsophalangeal joint was more than 25°, and the maximum was even higher than 50°. In the frontal plane, when using AJ, the valgus angle of the knee joint was significantly larger during the whole ground-contact stage (p < 0.001), and the adduction angle of the metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) was significantly larger at 0-97% of the ground-contact stage (p = 0.001). EMG data showed that the standardized value of root mean square amplitude of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateral head of BJ was significantly higher than AJ. At the same time, that of semitendinosus and iliopsoas muscle was significantly lower. According to the above results, compared with AJ, teenagers receive less GRF and have a better landing buffer strategy to reduce load, and have less risk of injury during BJ. In addition, in BJ rope skipping, the lower limbs are more inclined to the calf muscle group force, while AJ is more inclined to the thigh muscle group force. We also found that in using two ways of rope skipping, the extreme metatarsophalangeal joint back extension angle could be a potential risk of injury for rope skipping.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on professional soccer players' body composition and physical fitness.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, professional soccer players ceased their regular team training sessions and were provided with exercise programs to follow independently. This investigation assessed the impact of a 7-week COVID-19 lockdown and home-based individual physical training on professional soccer players' body composition and physical fitness. The study consisted of nineteen division 1 elite soccer players (age 27.68 ± 5.99 years, height 178.47 ± 5.44 cm) and compared the anthropometric and physical fitness parameters obtained post-transition period to those obtained post-COVID-19 lockdown. The statistical analysis indicated that body fat percentage was significantly higher after the lockdown period [t(18) = -5.59, p < 0.01, d = 0.56]. Furthermore, VO2max [t(17) = -11.54, p < 0.01, d = 0.57] and running time [t(17) = 3.94, p < 0.01, d = 0.76] values were significantly higher after the COVID-19 lockdown than those obtained after the transition period. In addition, significantly higher level of performance was demonstrated on squat jump [t(18) = -4.10, p < 0.01, d = 0.30], countermovement jump [t(18) = -7.43, p < 0.01, d = 1.11] and sit and reach tests [t(19) = -5.33, p < 0.01, d = 0.32]. Concurrently, lower body strength was indicated to be significantly greater (p < 0.01) following the COVID-19 lockdown. The training protocol provided during the confinement, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, was effective in keeping physical fitness at a significantly higher level compared to the transition period. Coaches and trainers are encouraged to examine the effectiveness of this protocol, as it may help them develop effective periodization programs during the transition period. This protocol may aid in the development of effective periodization programs that require minimal equipment and can be followed in similar situations.

Encouraging activity and exercise among children and young people using computer vision and machine learning during gaming

IntroductionPopulation health and wellbeing is a priority in the UK, with new initiatives that empower children to live healthier lives. Excess weight has also been associated to worse outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic period, complicated by reduced activity within the confinements of a home environment and coupled by increased screen time with remote classroom practices. As a result, children and young people now interact with computer interfaces in their home environment for education, gaming and healthcare purposes for prolonged periods and in new ways.MethodThere is a growing interest in Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) that use natural hand and body gestures to interact with computers. Advances to these technologies mean that they are now more accurate, easier to use and instead of requiring expensive depth cameras, can be operated using simple webcams. In this study, OpenCV library is used to track user movement by calculating the pixel difference between two frames and create a catalogue of exercises. We use PyTorch exercise recognition model to check the status of the user every 8 frames. These are recognised by using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) with static training from datasets and offer users the option to create personalised exercises.ResultWe present University College London’s (UCL) Motion- Input supporting DirectX: Gestures for at-home exercises. This exercise module can recognise six repetitious static exercises, such as running on the spot, squatting, cycling on an exercise bike, and rowing on a rowing machine using a webcam. This is intended for integrated exercise triggers during gaming in place of a handheld control panel (i.e., jumping to trigger commands), remote coaching for fitness and bespoke treatment plans for physical rehabilitation.ConclusionWebcam-based computer vision exercise catalogues using everyday devices like webcams, hold the potential to encourage healthier and more active behaviours during screen-based activities.

The effects of COVID-19 lockdown on jumping performance and aerobic capacity in elite handball players.

The aim of this research was to analyse the capacity of a home-based training programme to preserve aerobic capacity and jumping performance in top-level handball players during the COVID-19 lockdown. Eleven top-level male handball players from the same team participated in the study. A submaximal shuttle run test and a counter-movement jump test were used to measure the players' aerobic fitness and lower limb explosive strength, respectively. A 9-week home-based training programme was followed during lockdown. Pre-test measurements were assessed before the pandemic on 29 January 2020 and ended on 18 May 2020. Moderate significant mean heart rate increases were found in the late stages of the submaximal shuttle run test after the lockdown (stage 5, 8.6%, P = 0.015; ES = 0.873; stage 6, 7.7%, P = 0.020; ES = 0.886; stage 7, 6.4%, P = 0.019; ES = 0.827). Moderate significant blood lactate increases were observed immediately after the submaximal shuttle run test following the lockdown (30.1%, P = 0.016; ES = 0.670). In contrast, no changes were found in jump performance. A structured home-based training programme during the COVID-19 lockdown preserved lower limb explosive strength but was an insufficient stimulus to maintain aerobic capacity in top-level handball players.

Interspecies Jumping of Bat Coronaviruses.

In the last two decades, several coronavirus (CoV) interspecies jumping events have occurred between bats and other animals/humans, leading to major epidemics/pandemics and high fatalities. The SARS epidemic in 2002/2003 had a ~10% fatality. The discovery of SARS-related CoVs in horseshoe bats and civets and genomic studies have confirmed bat-to-civet-to-human transmission. The MERS epidemic that emerged in 2012 had a ~35% mortality, with dromedaries as the reservoir. Although CoVs with the same genome organization (e.g., Tylonycteris BatCoV HKU4 and Pipistrellus BatCoV HKU5) were also detected in bats, there is still a phylogenetic gap between these bat CoVs and MERS-CoV. In 2016, 10 years after the discovery of Rhinolophus BatCoV HKU2 in Chinese horseshoe bats, fatal swine disease outbreaks caused by this virus were reported in southern China. In late 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread globally, leading to >4,000,000 fatalities so far. Although the genome of SARS-CoV-2 is highly similar to that of SARS-CoV, patient zero and the original source of the pandemic are still unknown. To protect humans from future public health threats, measures should be taken to monitor and reduce the chance of interspecies jumping events, either occurring naturally or through recombineering experiments.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed minks, associated zoonotic concerns, and importance of the One Health approach during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has now affected over 72.5 million people worldwide, with nearly 1.6 million deaths reported globally as of December 17, 2020. SARS-CoV-2 has been implicated to have originated from bats and pangolins, and its intermediate animal hosts are being investigated. Crossing of the species barrier and exhibition of zoonosis have been reported in SARS-CoV-2 in farm (minks), domesticated (cats and dogs), and wild animals (tigers, puma, and lions). Recently, the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in mink farms, which led to the death of a myriad minks. The clinical and pathological findings of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the rapid animal-to-animal transmission in minks are almost similar to the findings observed in patients with COVID-19. Additionally, the rapid virus transmission among minks and the associated mutations resulted in a new mink-associated variant that was identified in both minks and humans, thereby providing evidence of mink-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The new mink-associated SARS-CoV-2 variant with a possible reduced sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies poses serious risks and is expected to have a direct effect on the diagnostic techniques, therapeutics, and vaccines that are currently under development. This article highlights the current evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed minks, and provides an understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in minks and the associated zoonotic concerns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from minks to humans with an emphasis on appropriate mitigation measures and on the necessity of adopting the One Health approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.