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Purpose: Adapted physical activity (APA) provides children and youth with disabilities more opportunities to be physically active. Nevertheless, it is not well known how APA implementation in different services has benefited them. This study reviews the existing literature on APA interventions to identify characteristics and program descriptions, and to primarily synthesize information relating to the goals, for children and youth with disabilities. Methods: A literature search was performed using (1) electronic databases Scopus and EBSCO ALL and (2) manual and individual scrutinization of the four major APA journals. The characteristics and program were summarized narratively, and outcome items were extracted using the established International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Children and Youth version (ICF-CY) linking rules. Results: Thirty-five APA intervention studies published between 1987 and 2020 (with the majority in North America, since 2000) were included. Children with autism are the largest target group. Rich and diverse programs implemented were proved to be effective. Among the 184 outcome items coded within the categories of ICF-CY, 48% focused on Body Functions while 52% focused on Activities and Participation. Conclusions: This scoping review provides APA professionals and non-professionals (e.g. guardians) a broader and systematic overview on existing APA interventions for children and youth with disabilities.

Water pollution is one of the most serious aquatic environmental problems worldwide. In China, recent agricultural and industrial development has resulted in rapid changes in aquatic ecosystems. Here, we reveal the effects of water pollution on the phylogenetic community structure of aquatic macrophytes in the Tiaoxi River, China.We placed a rectangular plot at 47 sites within the Tiaoxi River from the mouth of the river to 88.5 km upstream, in which we recorded species abundance and measured 22 physico‐chemical variables. Bayesian phylogeny using the rbcL and matK gene sequences was employed to quantify phylogenetic α‐ and β‐diversity, and test the phylogenetic signal in four growth forms: emergent, floating‐leaved, free‐floating, and submerged. Within communities, water contamination and phytoplankton abundance decreased species richness and phylogenetic diversity, which resulted in phylogenetic clustering; species within communities were more closely related to each other than expected. Between communities, differences in geographical distance and phytoplankton abundance resulted in phylogenetic dissimilarity among plots. Aquatic macrophytes showed phylogenetic signals in which related species responded more similarly to disturbance. Thus, the observed patterns could be explained by environmental filtering and suggested that water pollution by human activity has added more filters to the existing environmental filters that drive the species assembly of macrophyte communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The intra- and inter-site spatial variability of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes were investigated in three alpine ecosystems at Haibei station on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) in summer 2005 and in sixteen alpine ecosystems with various vegetations across the QTP in summer 2006, respectively. The magnitude of average CH4 emissions from wetlands was at least 100 times larger than average CH4 uptake by grassland, suggesting that the entire QTP is likely to be a source of methane in summertime because of a significant fractional area of wetlands (∼ 2.2%) on the plateau. Intra-site investigation, with sixteen chambers, revealed a significant negative relationship of CH4 emissions with the C/N ratio of aboveground biomass and soil pH in the alpine wetland when all chambers were considered. Moreover, soil oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) had a remarkably strong influence on CH4 emissions for nine chambers above the water level, resulting in a negative exponential relationship. For N2O flux in alpine meadows, a negative relationship with both soil pH and livestock dung biomass was observed. Aboveground plant biomass and soil pH were important variables overall in wetlands. Inter-site investigation found positive and negative relationships between CH4 flux and soil biomass to 5 cm depth in nine grassland and seven wetland sites, respectively. N2O flux showed a moderately strong negative exponential relationship with the C/N ratio of surface soil in the grassland sites. In the wetlands, soil pH was negatively correlated with N2O flux, perhaps due to both reduced N2O release from suppressed nitrification and denitrification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: Recent studies have shown that alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau act as significant CO2 sinks. On the plateau, alpine shrub meadow is one of typical grassland ecosystems. The major alpine shrub on the plateau is Potentilla fruticosa L. (Rosaceae), which is distributed widely from 3 200 to 4 000 m. Shrub species play an important role on carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems. In addition, alpine shrubs are sensitive to climate change such as global warming. Considering global warming, the biomass and productivity of P. fruticosa will increase on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Thus, understanding the carbon dynamics in alpine shrub meadow and the role of shrubs around the upper distribution limit at present is essential to predict the change in carbon sequestration on the plateau. However, the role of shrubs on the carbon dynamics in alpine shrub meadow remains unclear. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the magnitude of CO2 exchange of P. fruticosa shrub patches around the upper distribution limit and to elucidate the role of P. fruticosa on ecosystem CO2 fluxes in an alpine meadow. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Previous studies in Western populations have linked caffeine intake with health status. While detailed dietary assessment studies in these populations have shown that the main contributors to caffeine intake are coffee and tea, the wide consumption of Japanese and Chinese teas in Japan suggests that sources of intake in Japan may differ from those in Western populations. Among these teas, moreover, caffeine content varies widely among the different forms consumed (brewed, canned or bottled), suggesting the need for detailed dietary assessment in estimating intake in Japanese populations. Here, because a caffeine composition database or data obtained from detailed dietary assessment have not been available, we developed a database for caffeine content in Japanese foods and beverages, and then used it to estimate intake in a Japanese population. Design: The caffeine food composition database was developed using analytic values from the literature, 16 d weighed diet records were collected, and caffeine intake was estimated from the 16 d weighed diet records. Setting: Four areas in Japan, Osaka (Osaka City), Okinawa (Ginowan City), Nagano (Matsumoto City) and Tottori (Kurayoshi City), between November 2002 and September 2003. Subjects: Two hundred and thirty Japanese adults aged 30-69 years. Results: Mean caffeine intake was 256∙2 mg/d for women and 268?3 mg/d for men. The major contributors to intake were Japanese and Chinese teas and coffee (47% each). Caffeine intake above 400 mg/d, suggested in reviews to possibly have negative health effects, was seen in 11% of women and 15% of men. Conclusions: In this Japanese population, caffeine intake was comparable to the estimated values reported in Western populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To describe the biodiversity patterns of plants along an altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and to clarify the bias in plant specimen records at high altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims: The aims of this study were to compare the fungal communities developing on cotton strips at three different altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau and to assess the environmental variables influencing them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims: Recent studies have recognized the alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau as a significant sink for atmospheric CO2. The carbon-sink strength may differ among grassland ecosystems at various altitudes because of contrasting biotic and physical environments. This study aims (i) to clarify the altitudinal pattern of ecosystem CO2 fluxes, including gross primary production (GPP), daytime ecosystem respiration (Redaytime) and net ecosystem production (NEP), during the period with peak above-ground biomass; and (ii) to elucidate the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the altitudinal variation of ecosystem CO2 fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract  To initially describe vegetation structure and spatial variation in plant biomass in a typical alpine wetland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, net primary productivity and vegetation in relationship to environmental factors were investigated. In 2002, the wetland remained flooded to an average water depth of 25 cm during the growing season, from July to mid-September. We mapped the floodline and vegetation distribution using GPS (global positioning system). Coverage of vegetation in the wetland was 100%, and the vegetation was zonally distributed along a water depth gradient, with three emergent plant zones (Hippuris vulgaris-dominated zone, Scirpus distigmaticus-dominated zone, and Carex allivescers-dominated zone) and one submerged plant zone (Potamogeton pectinatus-dominated zone). Both aboveground and belowground biomass varied temporally within and among the vegetation zones. Further, net primary productivity (NPP) as estimated by peak biomass also differed among the vegetation zones; aboveground NPP was highest in the Carex-dominated zone with shallowest water and lowest in the Potamogeton zone with deepest water. The area occupied by each zone was 73.5% for P. pectinatus, 2.6% for H. vulgaris, 20.5% for S. distigmaticus, and 3.4% for C. allivescers. Morphological features in relationship to gas-transport efficiency of the aerial part differed among the emergent plants. Of the three emergent plants, H. vulgaris, which dominated in the deeper water, showed greater morphological adaptability to deep water than the other two emergent plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three years of eddy covariance measurements were used to characterize the seasonal and interannual variability of the CO2 fluxes above an alpine meadow (3250 m a.s.l.) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. This alpine meadow was a weak sink for atmospheric CO2, with a net ecosystem production (NEP) of 78.5, 91.7, and 192.5 g C m−2 yr−1 in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively. The prominent, high NEP in 2004 resulted from the combination of high gross primary production (GPP) and low ecosystem respiration ( Re) during the growing season. The period of net absorption of CO2 in 2004, 179 days, was 10 days longer than that in 2002 and 5 days longer than that in 2003. Moreover, the date on which the mean air temperature first exceeded 5.0°C was 10 days earlier in 2004 (DOY110) than in 2002 or 2003. This date agrees well with that on which the green aboveground biomass (Green AGB) started to increase. The relationship between light-use efficiency and Green AGB was similar among the three years. In 2002, however, earlier senescence possibly caused low autumn GPP, and thus the annual NEP, to be lower. The low summertime Re in 2004 was apparently caused by lower soil temperatures and the relatively lower temperature dependence of Re in comparison with the other years. These results suggest that (1) the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau plays a potentially significant role in global carbon sequestration, because alpine meadow covers about one-third of this vast plateau, and (2) the annual NEP in the alpine meadow was comprehensively controlled by the temperature environment, including its effect on biomass growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We examined the CO2 exchange of a Kobresia meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau using a chamber system. CO2 efflux from the ecosystem was strongly dependence on soil surface temperature. The CO2 efflux–temperature relationship was identical under both light and dark conditions, indicating that no photosynthesis could be detected under light conditions during the measurement period. The temperature sensitivity (Q 10) of the CO2 efflux showed a marked transition around −1.0°C; Q 10 was 2.14 at soil surface temperatures above and equal to −1.0°C but was 15.3 at temperatures below −1.0°C. Our findings suggest that soil surface temperature was the major factor controlling winter CO2 flux for the alpine meadow ecosystem and that freeze–thaw cycles at the soil surface layer play an important role in the temperature dependence of winter CO2 flux. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports on the isolation and structural elucidation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging compounds from dou-chi, a traditional soybean food fermented with Aspergillus sp. in China and Taiwan. Measurements of mushroom tyrosinase (MT) and soybean lipoxygenase (SBL) inhibitory activities; Measurements of estrogenic activity and antimutagenic activity toward AF-2 in the Ames test when using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98; Contents of isoflavones in the fermentation process of dou-chi.

We measured methane (CH4) emissions in the Luanhaizi wetland, a typical alpine wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, during the plant growth season (early July to mid-September) in 2002. Our aim was to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of CH4 flux and to elucidate key factors in this variation. Static chamber measurements of CH4 flux were made in four vegetation zones along a gradient of water depth. There were three emergent-plant zones (Hippuris-dominated; Scirpus-dominated; and Carex-dominated) and one submerged-plant zone (Potamogeton-dominated). The smallest CH4 flux (seasonal mean=33.1 mg CH4 m−2 d−1) was observed in the Potamogeton-dominated zone, which occupied about 74% of the total area of the wetland. The greatest CH4 flux (seasonal mean=214 mg CH4 m−2 d−1) was observed in the Hippuris-dominated zone, in the second-deepest water area. CH4 flux from three zones (excluding the Carex-dominated zone) showed a marked diurnal change and decreased dramatically under dark conditions. Light intensity had a major influence on the temporal variation in CH4 flux, at least in three of the zones. Methane fluxes from all zones increased during the growing season with increasing aboveground biomass. CH4 flux from the Scirpus-dominated zone was significantly lower than in the other emergent-plant zones despite the large biomass, because the root and rhizome intake ports for CH4 transport in the dominant species were distributed in shallower and more oxidative soil than occupied in the other zones. Spatial and temporal variation in CH4 flux from the alpine wetland was determined by the vegetation zone. Among the dominant species in each zone, there were variations in the density and biomass of shoots, gas-transport system, and root–rhizome architecture. The CH4 flux from a typical alpine wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was as high as those of other boreal and alpine wetlands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents research which assessed the distribution patterns of Teleostei: Cobitoidea or loaches that are found in the River East Tiaoxi in China. The researchers performed a macroscale analysis of the geographical distribution of the species which they have segregated based on longitudinal alterations along the river course. The detailed evaluation found that two Vanmanenia species, V. stenosoma, L. tchangi and V. pingchowensis stayed in the lotic habitats while C. sinensis and C. laterimaculata preferred the lentic habitats.

Abstract: Studies that have addressed the association between the intake of coffee or caffeine and Parkinson’s disease (PD) were conducted mainly in Western countries. Little is known about this relationship in an Asian population. Therefore, we performed an assessment of the association of the intake of coffee, other caffeine-containing beverages, and caffeine with the risk of PD in Japan. The study involved 249 PD cases and 368 control subjects. Information on dietary factors was obtained through a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, educational level, pack-years of smoking, body mass index, the dietary glycemic index, and intake of cholesterol, vitamin E, β-carotene, vitamin B6, alcohol, and iron. Intake of coffee, black tea, and Japanese and Chinese teas was significantly inversely associated with the risk of PD: the adjusted odds ratios in comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile were 0.52, 0.58, and 0.59, respectively (95% confidence intervals = 0.30–0.90, 0.35–0.97, and 0.35–0.995, respectively). A clear inverse dose–response relationship between total caffeine intake and PD risk was observed. We confirmed that the intake of coffee and caffeine reduced the risk of PD. Furthermore, this is the first study to show a significant inverse relationship between the intake of Japanese and Chinese teas and the risk of PD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, the environmental load of photovoltaic power generation system (PV) during its life cycle and energy payback time (EPT) are evaluated by LCA scheme. Two hypothetical case studies in Toyohashi, Japan and Gobi dessert in China have been carried out to investigate the influence of installation location and PV type on environmental load and EPT. The environmental load and EPT of a high-concentration photovoltaic power generation system (hcpV) and a multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic power generation system (mc-Si PV) are studied. The study shows for a PV of 100MW size, the total impacts of the hcpV installed in Toyohashi is larger than that of the hcpV installed in Gobi desert by 5% without consideration of recycling stage. The EPT of the hcpV assumed to be installed in Gobi desert is shorter than EPT of the hcpV assumed to be installed in Toyohashi by 0.64year. From these results, the superiority to install PV in Gobi desert is certificated. Comparing with hcpV and mc-Si PV, the ratio of the total impacts of mc-Si PV to that of hcpV is 0.34 without consideration of recycling stage. The EPT of hcpV is longer than EPT of mc-Si PV by 0.27year. The amount of global solar radiation contributing to the amount of power generation of mc-Si PV is larger than the amount of direct solar radiation contributing to the amount of power generation of hcpV by about 188kWh/(m2 year) in Gobi desert. Consequently, it appears that using mc-Si PV in Gobi desert is the best option. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We used the eddy covariance method to measure the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and an alpine meadow ecosystem (37°29–45′N, 101°12–23′E, 3250 m a.s.l.) on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China in the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons. The maximum rates of CO2 uptake and release derived from the diurnal course of CO2 flux (FCO2) were -10.8 and 4.4 μmol m-2 s-1, respectively, indicating a relatively high net carbon sequestration potential as compared to subalpine coniferous forest at similar elevation and latitude. The largest daily CO2 uptake was 3.9 g C m-2 per day on 7 July 2002, which is less than half of those reported for lowland grassland and forest at similar latitudes. The daily CO2 uptake during the measurement period indicated that the alpine ecosystem might behave as a sink of atmospheric CO2 during the growing season if the carbon lost due to grazing is not significant. The daytime CO2 uptake was linearly correlated with the daily photosynthetic photon flux density each month. The nighttime averaged FCO2 showed a positive exponential correlation with the soil temperature, but apparently negative correlation with the soil water content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Observed dew formation and environmental elements in a semiarid cornfield. • Dew rarely occurred in the spring while frequently occurred in the summer. • Dew was limited by water vapor in the spring and radiative cooling in the summer. • Dew would be an important water resource in dryland agriculture. Understanding how seasonal and annual variations in dew formation are controlled by environmental elements of a crop field is necessary for utilizing dew as a water resource for agricultural production. Radiative cooling intensity, wind speed, and water vapor pressure are the key environmental elements for the dew formation. However, a detailed investigation of how seasonal and annual variations in these environmental elements affect the variation in dew formation is unexplored. We examined the relationship between dew characteristics (frequency, amount, and duration) and environmental elements of a semiarid crop field during the cultivation period of corn (April–September) for three years. In spring (April–June), though large nighttime negative net radiation, which indicates strong radiative cooling intensity, was observed, dew rarely occurred and only in small amounts. Conversely, in summer (July–September), dew frequently occurred and in larger amounts despite the lower radiative cooling intensity. In spring, lower water vapor pressure was observed, and thus dew formation was limited by the lack of water source of dew. In summer, water vapor pressure was high, and dew formation was predominantly limited by the radiative cooling intensity. The dew amount during the cultivation period accounted for 5.4% of the rainfall amount on average over the 3 years. However, dew occurred more frequently than rainfall at 53% of the days comprising the cultivation period. Additionally, the occurrence of dew wet the leaves for approximately 10 h indicating the significant impact of leaf wetting by dew on plant eco-physiological functions. The results of this study should advance the understanding of how dew formation is controlled by variations in the environmental elements of a semiarid crop field, which will contribute to improving the utilization of dew as a water resource for agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]