Search

This article revisits complex dynamic systems theory (CDST) and provides a new synthesis that, the authors argue, may empower language teachers. The particular focus is on the interplay between change and stability in complex dynamic systems, including language teaching and learning. The article identifies four key dynamical properties of complex dynamic systems, which reflect change, stability, and the interplay between these two. The dynamical properties are historicity, adaptiveness, nonlinearity, and emergence. The authors associate these dynamic properties with four recognisable types of activity: normative, contingent, creative, and purposeful teaching and learning. The central argument is that language teaching and learning are interconnected, and language teaching that promotes these four types of teaching and learning activity may also promote opportunities for language learning. The authors conclude with a discussion of how teachers may use this CDST perspective to reflect on three aspects of their professional context--teaching, language, and agency--and how such reflection, followed by action, may promote opportunities for language learning in their contexts.

Background & methods: This paper describes a pilot application of the Epidemic Volatility Index (EVI) to data from the pulmonary clinic of the University Hospital of Thessaly, Greece, for monitoring respiratory infections, COVID-19, and flu cases. EVI, a simple and easily implemented early warning method based on the volatility of newly reported cases, exhibited consistent and stable performance in detecting new waves of epidemics. The study highlights the importance of implementing early warning tools to address the effects of epidemics, including containment of outbreaks, timely intervention strategies, and resource allocation within real-world clinical settings as part of a broader public health strategy. Results: The results presented in the figures demonstrate the association between successive early warnings and the onset of new waves, providing valuable insights for proactive decision-making. A web-based application enabling real-time monitoring and informed decision-making by healthcare professionals, public health officials, and policymakers was developed. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the significant role of early warning methods in managing epidemics and safeguarding public health. Future research may explore extensions and combinations of multiple warning systems for optimal outbreak interventions and application of the methods in the context of personalized medicine.

Limiting the search date is a common approach utilised in therapeutic/interventional rapid reviews. Yet the accuracy of pooled estimates is unknown when applied to rapid reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies. Data from all systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, until February 2022 were collected. Meta-analyses with at least five studies were included to emulate rapid reviews by limiting the search to the recent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. The magnitude of the pooled area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity for the full meta-analysis and the rapid reviews were compared. A total of 846 diagnostic meta-analyses were included. When the search date was limited to the recent 10 and 15 years, more than 75% and 80% of meta-analyses presented less than 5% difference between the pooled AUC, sensitivity and specificity of the full meta-analysis and the rapid review. There was little gain in the precision of the pooled estimates when the emulated rapid reviews included more than 15 years in the search. Rapid reviews restricted by search date are a valid and reliable approach for diagnostic test accuracy studies. Robust evidence can be achieved by restricting the search date to the recent 10--15 years. Future studies need to examine the reduction in workload and time to finish the rapid reviews under different search date limits.

Abstract Investigating emotions relies on pre-validated stimuli to evaluate induced responses through subjective self-ratings and physiological changes. The creation of precise affect models necessitates extensive datasets. While datasets related to pictures, words, and sounds are abundant, those associated with videos are comparatively scarce. To overcome this challenge, we present the first virtual reality (VR) database with continuous self-ratings and physiological measures, including facial EMG. Videos were rated online using a head-mounted VR device (HMD) with attached emteqPRO mask and a cinema VR environment in remote home and laboratory settings with minimal setup requirements. This led to an affective video database with continuous valence and arousal self-rating measures and physiological responses (PPG, facial-EMG (7x), IMU). The AVDOS-VR database includes data from 37 participants who watched 30 randomly ordered videos (10 positive, neutral, and negative). Each 30-second video was assessed with two-minute relaxation between categories. Validation results suggest that remote data collection is ecologically valid, providing an effective strategy for future affective study designs. All data can be accessed via: www.gnacek.com/affective-video-database-online-study .

Retrotransposons are invasive genetic elements, which replicate by copying and pasting themselves throughout the genome in a process called retrotransposition. The most abundant retrotransposons by number in the human genome are Alu and LINE-1 elements, which comprise approximately 40% of the human genome. The ability of retrotransposons to expand and colonize eukaryotic genomes has rendered them evolutionarily successful and is responsible for creating genetic alterations leading to significant impacts on their hosts. Previous research suggested that hypomethylation of Alu and LINE-1 elements is associated with global hypomethylation and genomic instability in several types of cancer and diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, and diabetes mellitus (DM). With the advancement of sequencing technologies and computational tools, the study of the retrotransposon’s association with physiology and diseases is becoming a hot topic among researchers. Quantifying Alu and LINE-1 methylation is thought to serve as a surrogate measurement of global DNA methylation level. Although Alu and LINE-1 hypomethylation appears to serve as a cellular senescence biomarker promoting genomic instability, there is sparse information available regarding their potential functional and biological significance in DM. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on the involvement of the main epigenetic alterations in the methylation status of Alu and LINE-1 retrotransposons and their potential role as epigenetic markers of global DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of DM.

A wide variety of control and surveillance programmes that are designed and implemented based on country-specific conditions exists for infectious cattle diseases that are not regulated. This heterogeneity renders difficult the comparison of probabilities of freedom from infection estimated from collected surveillance data. The objectives of this review were to outline the methodological and epidemiological considerations for the estimation of probabilities of freedom from infection from surveillance information and review state-of-the-art methods estimating the probabilities of freedom from infection from heterogeneous surveillance data. Substantiating freedom from infection consists in quantifying the evidence of absence from the absence of evidence. The quantification usually consists in estimating the probability of observing no positive test result, in a given sample, assuming that the infection is present at a chosen (low) prevalence, called the design prevalence. The usual surveillance outputs are the sensitivity of surveillance and the probability of freedom from infection. A variety of factors influencing the choice of a method are presented; disease prevalence context, performance of the tests used, risk factors of infection, structure of the surveillance programme and frequency of testing. The existing methods for estimating the probability of freedom from infection are scenario trees, Bayesian belief networks, simulation methods, Bayesian prevalence estimation methods and the STOC free model. Scenario trees analysis is the current reference method for proving freedom from infection and is widely used in countries that claim freedom. Bayesian belief networks and simulation methods are considered extensions of scenario trees. They can be applied to more complex surveillance schemes and represent complex infection dynamics. Bayesian prevalence estimation methods and the STOC free model allow freedom from infection estimation at the herd-level from longitudinal surveillance data, considering risk factor information and the structure of the population. Comparison of surveillance outputs from heterogeneous surveillance programmes for estimating the probability of freedom from infection is a difficult task. This paper is a ‘guide towards substantiating freedom from infection’ that describes both all assumptions-limitations and available methods that can be applied in different settings.

Background: Rabies remains a deadly zoonotic disease, primarily prevalent in Eastern European countries, with a significant global burden in Asia and Africa. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is critical to prevent clinical rabies. Serbia, a country with a relatively low animal rabies incidence, has been implementing a 4-dose Essen PEP regimen for 13 years. This real-world study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the 4-dose Essen regimen, considering demographic and clinical factors, after WHO Category III exposure. Method: The study included 601 patients who received the 4-dose Essen PEP and 79 who received an additional 5th dose. Results: Age emerged as a critical factor influencing seroconversion rates after the 4-dose regimen, with older individuals exhibiting lower RVNA titers. Logistic regression indicated a 3.18% decrease in seroconversion odds for each added year of age. The Cox proportional hazards mixed model highlighted age-related risks, with age groups 45–60 and 75–92 at the highest risk of non-seroconversion. Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG) administration was associated with lower RVNA values after the 4-dose regimen, suggesting interference with vaccine immunogenicity among people who received larger doses of HRIG. Conclusions: This study provides valuable real-world evidence for rabies PEP in a non-homogeneous population with potential comorbidities. The results underscore the importance of optimizing PEP strategies, particularly in older individuals, and reconsidering HRIG dosing to improve seroconversion rates.

This paper describes the processes of embedding Sustainability Justice in secondary education curricula for economic courses in Greece applying the DeCoRe plus methodology and participatory action research. These processes resulted in a reconstructed curriculum that was implemented by nine teachers teaching courses in economics. Sustainability justice emphasizes the ethics and praxis of education for sustainability and requires an understanding of the curriculum as a process and praxis and teaching as an ethical and political praxis. The implementation of the diagnostic evaluation of DeCoRe plus showed that economics teachers in Greece select more behavioral than constructive-emancipatory teaching approaches. On the other hand, the implementation of the reconstructed curriculum units in their courses using the DeCoRe plus methodology revealed a shift from instructive to constructivist and emancipatory teaching and learning approaches. Teachers by the great majority declared the political and ethical perspective of teaching and seeing curriculum as a living text that can always be under the process of deconstruction, construction, and reconstruction.

Abstract Background Even though communities in low-resource areas across the globe are aging, older adult mental and cognitive health services remain mainly embedded in tertiary- or secondary hospital settings, and thus not easily accessible by older adults living in such communities. Here, the iterative development of INTegRated InterveNtion of pSychogerIatric Care (INTRINSIC) services addressing the mental and cognitive healthcare needs of older adults residing in low-resource areas of Greece is depicted. Methods INTRINSIC was developed and piloted in three iterative phases: (i) INTRINSIC initial version conceptualization; (ii) A 5-year field testing in Andros island; and (iii) Extending the services. The INTRINSIC initial version relied on a digital platform enabling videoconferencing, a flexible battery of diagnostic tools, pharmacological treatment and psychosocial support and the active involvement of local communities in service shaping. Results Ιn 61% of the 119 participants of the pilot study, new diagnoses of mental and/or neurocognitive disorders were established. INTRINSIC resulted in a significant reduction in the distance travelled and time spent to visit mental and cognitive healthcare services. Participation was prematurely terminated due to dissatisfaction, lack of interest or insight in 13 cases (11%). Based on feedback and gained experiences, a new digital platform, facilitating e-training of healthcare professionals and public awareness raising, and a risk factor surveillance system were created, while INTRINSIC services were extended to incorporate a standardized sensory assessment and the modified problem adaptation therapy. Conclusion The INTRINSIC model may be a pragmatic strategy to improve access of older adults with mental and cognitive disorders living in low-resource areas to healthcare services.

This manuscript introduces the convergence Epidemic Volatility Index (cEVI), a modification of the recently introduced Epidemic Volatility Index (EVI), as an early warning tool for emerging epidemic waves. cEVI has a similar architectural structure as EVI, but with an optimization process inspired by a Geweke diagnostic-type test. Our approach triggers an early warning based on a comparison of the most recently available window of data samples and a window based on the previous time frame. Application of cEVI to data from the COVID-19 pandemic data revealed steady performance in predicting early, intermediate epidemic waves and retaining a warning during an epidemic wave. Furthermore, we present two basic combinations of EVI and cEVI: (1) their disjunction cEVI + that respectively identifies waves earlier than the original index, (2) their conjunction cEVI- that results in higher accuracy. Combination of multiple warning systems could potentially create a surveillance umbrella that would result in early implementation of optimal outbreak interventions.

Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a significant concern in the camel population of Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to provide epidemiological insights into the disease by estimating the true prevalence in camels in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, using a Bayesian estimation framework, and exploring the associated risk factors through a frequentist approach. A total of 1200 camel blood samples were collected and analyzed using an indirect ELISA method. The true herd-level prevalence was estimated at 0.7 (95% probability interval: 0.57 to 0.81), and the mean expected true animal-level prevalence was 0.17 (0.14 to 0.20). Risk factors associated with Map seropositivity were identified, including sex, breed, raising system, and production type. Females, single breed camels, and nomadic raising systems were found to have lower odds of seropositivity, while camels used for racing and show had significantly higher odds. The study's Bayesian approach, adjusting for the imperfect accuracy of MAP tests, provides a nuanced understanding of the disease's prevalence in the region. The integration of true prevalence estimates with risk factor analysis offers a comprehensive framework that can guide future policies and strategies in the fight against paratuberculosis in Saudi Arabia. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted control measures, underscoring the urgent need for interventions in Saudi Arabia's camel population. By understanding the true disease prevalence and its associated risk factors, we can enhance disease management strategies, offering valuable insights for future control and eradication efforts in the region.

IntroductionTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an emerging vector-borne and food-borne disease caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV; Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis), with a distribution spanning the Eurasian continent. Despite its significant public health impact in various European regions, TBE remains largely underdiagnosed in Serbia due to limited awareness and diagnostic challenges. In response to this, our study aimed to comprehensively assess TBEV exposure in individuals infested with ticks and to identify potential TBEV foci within Serbia.Materials and methodsFrom 2019 to 2021, we conducted an observational study involving 450 patients who reported tick infestations.ResultsOur demographic analysis revealed a median age of 38 years, with a slight male predominance among the participants. We documented tick infestations in 38 municipalities across 14 districts of Serbia, with a notable concentration in proximity to Fruška Gora Mountain. The ticks most frequently removed were Ixodes ricinus, with nymphs and adult females being the predominant stages. On average, nymphs were removed after about 27.1 hours of feeding, while adult females remained attached for approximately 44.4 hours. Notably, we found age as a significant predictor of infestation time for both nymphs and adult females. Furthermore, we detected TBEV-neutralizing antibodies in 0.66% of the serum samples, shedding light on potential TBEV foci, particularly in Fruška Gora Mountain and other regions of Serbia.ConclusionOur study emphasizes the urgent need for active TBE surveillance programs, especially in areas suspected of hosting TBEV foci, in order to assess the true TBE burden, identify at-risk populations, and implement effective preventive measures.

Abstract Background Piglet isosporosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases in modern pig production. To prevent clinical disease, prophylactic treatment of piglets with toltrazuril (BAYCOX® 5%, Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health, Monheim, Germany) is widely practiced in the past 20 years. There are only very few reports documenting the likely effect of managerial practices, such as hygiene measures, all-in-all-out management of farrowing facilities and piglet manipulations, and/or farm-specific environment - i.e. design and materials of the farrowing pen and room - in the risk of disease occurrence and transmission. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we identified litter- and herd-level factors associated with the odds and the level of Isospora suis oocyst excretion in nursing piglets of Greek farrow-to-finish pig herds. Faecal samples were collected from 314 liters of 55 randomly selected herds. Oocyst counts were determined by a modified McMaster technique and possible risk-factor data were collected through a questionnaire. In the analysis, we employed a two-part model that simultaneously assessed the odds and the level of oocyst excretion. Results Factors associated with lower odds of oocyst excretion were: use of toltrazuril treatment, all-in all-out management of the farrowing rooms, no cross-fostering or fostering during the first 24 hours after farrowing, plastic flooring in the farrowing pens, farrowing rooms with more than fourteen farrowing pens and employment of more than two caretakers in the farrowing section. Factors associated with lower oocyst excretion level were: use of toltrazuril treatment and caretakers averting from entering into farrowing pens. Conclusion Apart from prophylactic treatment with toltrazuril, the risk and the level of I. suis oocyst excretion from piglets in their second week of life, was associated with managerial and environmental factors. Changes in these factors, which may enhance prevention of piglet isosporosis – either alternatively or supplementary to medical control – are of increasing importance because of the likely development of resistant parasites under the currently widespread use of anticoccidial compounds.

Holliday junctions are the first recognized templates of legitimate recombination. Their prime physiological role is meiotic homologous recombination, resulting in rearrangements of the genetic material. In humans, recombination hotspots follow a distinct epigenetic pattern designated by the presence of PR domain-containing protein 9 (PRDM9). Repetitive DNA elements can replicate in the genome and can pair with short inverted repeats (SIRs) that form Holliday junctions in a significantly high frequency in vitro. Remarkably, PRDM9 and SIR sequence motifs, which may have the potential to act as recombination primers associated with transposable elements (TEs) and their presence, may lead to gradual spreading of recombination events in human genomes. Microdeletion and microduplication syndromes (MMSs) constitute a significant entity of genetic abnormalities, almost equal in frequency to aneuploidies. Based on our custom database, which includes all MMSs shorter than 5 Mbs in length which is the cut-off point for the standard cytogenetic resolution, we found that the majority of MMSs were present in sequences shorter than 0.5 Mbs. A high probability of TE-associated and non-TE-associated PRDM9/SIR sequence motifs was found in short and long MMSs. Significantly, following the Reactome pathway analysis, a number of affected genes have been associated with the pathophysiological pathways linked to MMSs. In conclusion, PRDM9 or SIR sequence motifs in regions spanning MMSs hotspots underlie a potential functional mechanism for MMS occurrences during recombination.

This paper reports on an exploratory qualitative investigation of the discourses of plurilingual children's parents, with a view to developing an understanding of their family language policy. Drawing loosely on Spolsky [2004. "Language Policy." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press], family language policy was conceptualised as having two components: (a) linguistic ideology, i.e. beliefs and attitudes towards language, linguistic development and plurilingualism, and (b) language transmission and management practices. A data corpus (242,178 words) was generated by drawing data from two online parent communities, focusing on families where Modern Greek was one of the family languages. Thematic analysis was used to explore the parents' stated attitudes, beliefs and practices about language, family and education as they related to plurilingualism and linguistic development. We documented strong positive views about fostering plurilingualism, as well as a range of concerns about balancing different aspects of the children's developing linguistic repertoire. We also noted that established language development and management practices (e.g. 'OPOL', 'Minority Language at Home') were supplemented with more flexible ones, suggesting adjustment to emerging multilingual norms. The findings suggest that there is scope for developing conceptual models of family language policy that are more responsive to emerging patterns of language contact and plurilingualism.

One-carbon (1-C) metabolic deficiency impairs homeostasis, driving disease development, including infertility. It is of importance to summarize the current evidence regarding the clinical utility of 1-C metabolism-related biomolecules and methyl donors, namely, folate, betaine, choline, vitamin B12, homocysteine (Hcy), and zinc, as potential biomarkers, dietary supplements, and culture media supplements in the context of medically assisted reproduction (MAR). A narrative review of the literature was conducted in the PubMed/Medline database. Diet, ageing, and the endocrine milieu of individuals affect both 1-C metabolism and fertility status. In vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, and culture conditions in particular, have a direct impact on 1-C metabolic activity in gametes and embryos. Critical analysis indicated that zinc supplementation in cryopreservation media may be a promising approach to reducing oxidative damage, while female serum homocysteine levels may be employed as a possible biomarker for predicting IVF outcomes. Nonetheless, the level of evidence is low, and future studies are needed to verify these data. One-carbon metabolism-related processes, including redox defense and epigenetic regulation, may be compromised in IVF-derived embryos. The study of 1-C metabolism may lead the way towards improving MAR efficiency and safety and ensuring the lifelong health of MAR infants.

The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of a novel mycotoxin detoxifier whose formulation includes clay (bentonite and sepiolite), phytogenic feed additives (curcumin and silymarin) and postbiotics (yeast products) on the health, performance and redox status of weaned piglets under the dietary challenge of fumonisins (FUMs). The study was conducted in duplicate in the course of two independent trials on two different farms. One hundred and fifty (150) weaned piglets per trial farm were allocated into two separate groups: (a) T1 (control group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed and (b) T2 (experimental group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed with the mycotoxin-detoxifying agent from the day of weaning (28 days) until 70 days of age. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), protein carbonyls (CARBs) and the overall antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in plasma as indicators of redox status at 45 and 70 days of age. Furthermore, mortality and performance parameters were recorded at 28, 45 and 70 days of age, while histopathological examination was performed at the end of the trial period (day 70). The results of the present study reveal the beneficial effects of supplementing a novel mycotoxin detoxifier in the diets of weaners, including improved redox status, potential hepatoprotective properties and enhanced growth performance.

Due to the increasing risk of extreme events caused by climate change (i.e., floods, fires and hurricanes) or wars, European veterinary public health may need some improvement. Utilizing a mix of qualitative (participatory observation) and quantitative methods (Internet mining), we analyzed the Greek media’s responses to the millennial flood in Thessaly (September 2023), focusing on animal health (including wild, companion animals and livestock) and public sentiment towards epizootic/epidemic threats. The study revealed a gap in crisis management plans regarding veterinary-related issues, emphasizing the need for comprehensive emergency response strategies. Our findings show how (i) the lay referral system is projecting the perception of epidemic threats into the population; (ii) the emotional load of images of animal carcasses is misused by media creators aiming for a big audience; and (iii) pets’ owners are creating online communities for the searching and treatment of their pets. Our results stress the importance of integrating crisis communication in consecutive phases of the discourse, such as the following: (i) weather change; (ii) acute flood; (iii) recovery; and (iv) outbreaks, into veterinary practices to better prepare for such disasters.

Abstract Background and Aims Street children face a disproportionately higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to high‐risk sexual and drug use practices. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of these infections and related risk behaviors among street children in Iran. Methods We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the English‐language records and Iranian databases, including SID, Magiran, and IRANDOC for the Farsi‐language records up to September 18, 2022. Random effects analysis was used to obtain prevalence estimates for each condition. Homogeneity across included studies was assessed using I2. Results We extracted data from 18 eligible studies, representing 5646 children (83.2% boys), with a mean age of 10.2 (range: 5–18). The prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV were 0.79% (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.0–5.56), 1.97% (95% CI: 1.01–3.19), and 1.88% (95% CI: 0.74–3.46), respectively. The prevalence of lifetime drug use and sexual abuse was 8.32% (95% CI: 4.83–12.62) and 10.18% (95% CI: 3.02–20.67) among street children, respectively. Conclusion The estimated prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV among street children in Iran was higher than the estimates in the general population. Moreover, drug use and the experience of sexual abuse were prevalent among this population. These findings suggest the need for targeted prevention programs for street children in Iran.

Abstract Safe and effective vaccines are crucial for the control of Covid-19 and to protect individuals at higher risk of severe disease. The test-negative design is a popular option for evaluating the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines. However, the findings could be biased by several factors, including imperfect sensitivity and/or specificity of the test used for diagnosing the SARS-Cov-2 infection. We propose a simple Bayesian modeling approach for estimating vaccine effectiveness that is robust even when the diagnostic test is imperfect. We use simulation studies to demonstrate the robustness of our method to misclassification bias and illustrate the utility of our approach using real-world examples.

Background Cut-offs on self-report depression screening tools are designed to identify many more people than those who meet criteria for major depressive disorder. In a recent analysis of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the percentage of participants with Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) scores ≥10 was reported as major depression prevalence.Objective We used a Bayesian framework to re-analyse EHIS PHQ-8 data, accounting for the imperfect diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8.Methods The EHIS is a cross-sectional, population-based survey in 27 countries across Europe with 258 888 participants from the general population. We incorporated evidence from a comprehensive individual participant data meta-analysis on the accuracy of the PHQ-8 cut-off of ≥10. We evaluated the joint posterior distribution to estimate the major depression prevalence, prevalence differences between countries and compared with previous EHIS results.Findings Overall, major depression prevalence was 2.1% (95% credible interval (CrI) 1.0% to 3.8%). Mean posterior prevalence estimates ranged from 0.6% (0.0% to 1.9%) in the Czech Republic to 4.2% (0.2% to 11.3%) in Iceland. Accounting for the imperfect diagnostic accuracy resulted in insufficient power to establish prevalence differences. 76.4% (38.0% to 96.0%) of observed positive tests were estimated to be false positives. Prevalence was lower than the 6.4% (95% CI 6.2% to 6.5%) estimated previously.Conclusions Prevalence estimation needs to account for imperfect diagnostic accuracy.Clinical implications Major depression prevalence in European countries is likely lower than previously reported on the basis of the EHIS survey.

Military and law enforcement members’ shooting ability is influenced by their postural balance, which affects their performance and survivability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a proprioception training program (standing or walking on unstable surfaces) on postural balance and shooting performance. Twenty participants, divided into two groups, completed 60 shots in a shooting simulator while standing, before and after a 4-week proprioception training program. One group (n = 10) followed the training program (EXP), while the other group followed the regular military academy program (CON). The shooting was conducted under four conditions: without load on a stable surface, with load on a stable surface, without load on an unstable surface, and with load on an unstable surface. The findings reveal that the training program had a significant impact on the EXP, improving their balance (p < 0.01). Additionally, only in the EXP, shooting score and the percentage center of gravity increased (p < 0.01) and the stability of the shots, measured by holding time on the target, doubled from 2.2 to 4.5 s (p < 0.01). These improvements were more pronounced when participants had a load and/or were on an unstable surface. In conclusion, a proprioception training program could be beneficial for improving postural balance and shooting performance.

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a learning disorder. Although risk genes have been identified, environmental factors, and particularly stress arising from constant difficulties, have been associated with the occurrence of DD by affecting brain plasticity and function, especially during critical neurodevelopmental stages. In this work, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings were coupled with the genetic and epigenetic molecular signatures of individuals with DD and matched controls. Specifically, we investigated the genetic and epigenetic correlates of key stress-associated genes (NR3C1, NR3C2, FKBP5, GILZ, SLC6A4) with psychological characteristics (depression, anxiety, and stress) often included in DD diagnostic criteria, as well as with brain EEG findings. We paired the observed brain rhythms with the expression levels of stress-related genes, investigated the epigenetic profile of the stress regulator glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and correlated such indices with demographic findings. This study presents a new interdisciplinary approach and findings that support the idea that stress, attributed to the demands of the school environment, may act as a contributing factor in the occurrence of the DD phenotype.

In the early years of the 21st century, humanity faced two unprecedented global challenges: the intensifying effects of climate change and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic [...]

Abstract Early warning tools are crucial for the timely application of intervention strategies and the mitigation of the adverse health, social and economic effects associated with outbreaks of epidemic potential such as COVID-19. This paper introduces, the Epidemic Volatility Index (EVI), a new, conceptually simple, early warning tool for oncoming epidemic waves. EVI is based on the volatility of newly reported cases per unit of time, ideally per day, and issues an early warning when the volatility change rate exceeds a threshold. Data on the daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 are used to demonstrate the use of EVI. Results from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy and New York State are presented here, based on the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, from January 22, 2020, until April 13, 2021. Live daily updated predictions for all world countries and each of the United States of America are publicly available online. For Italy, the overall sensitivity for EVI was 0.82 (95% Confidence Intervals: 0.75; 0.89) and the specificity was 0.91 (0.88; 0.94). For New York, the corresponding values were 0.55 (0.47; 0.64) and 0.88 (0.84; 0.91). Consecutive issuance of early warnings is a strong indicator of main epidemic waves in any country or state. EVI’s application to data from the current COVID-19 pandemic revealed a consistent and stable performance in terms of detecting new waves. The application of EVI to other epidemics and syndromic surveillance tasks in combination with existing early warning systems will enhance our ability to act swiftly and thereby enhance containment of outbreaks.

The PR domain-containing 9 or PRDM9 is a gene recognized for its fundamental role in meiosis, a process essential for forming reproductive cells. Recent findings have implicated alterations in the PRDM9, particularly its zinc finger motifs, in the onset and progression of cancer. This association is manifested through genomic instability and the misregulation of genes critical to cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. In our comprehensive study, we harnessed advanced bioinformatic mining tools to delve deep into the intricate relationship between PRDM9F and cancer. We analyzed 136,752 breakpoints and found an undeniable association between specific PRDM9 motifs and the occurrence of double-strand breaks, a phenomenon evidenced in every cancer profile examined. Utilizing R statistical querying and the Regioner package, 55 unique sequence variations of PRDM9 were statistically correlated with cancer, from a pool of 1024 variations. A robust analysis using the Enrichr tool revealed prominent associations with various cancer types. Moreover, connections were noted with specific phenotypic conditions and molecular functions, underlining the pervasive influence of PRDM9 variations in the biological spectrum. The Reactome tool identified 25 significant pathways associated with cancer, offering insights into the mechanistic underpinnings linking PRDM9 to cancer progression. This detailed analysis not only confirms the pivotal role of PRDM9 in cancer development, but also unveils a complex network of biological processes influenced by its variations. The insights gained lay a solid foundation for future research aimed at deciphering the mechanistic pathways of PRDM9, offering prospects for targeted interventions and innovative therapeutic approaches in cancer management.

Swine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza A virus infection. Pigs play an important role in the overall epidemiology of influenza because of their ability to transmit influenza viruses of avian and human origin, which plays a potential role in the emergence of zoonotic strains with pandemic potential. The aim of our study was to assess the seroprevalence of Swine Influenza Viruses (swIAVs) in commercial pig farms in Greece. A total of 1416 blood samples were collected from breeding animals (gilts and sows) and pigs aged 3 weeks to market age from 40 different swIAV vaccinated and unvaccinated commercial farrow-to-finish pig farms. For the detection of anti-SIV antibodies, sera were analyzed using an indirect ELISA kit CIVTEST SUIS INFLUENZA®, Hipra (Amer, Spain). Of the total 1416 animals tested, 498 were seropositive, indicating that the virus circulates in both vaccinated (54% seroprevalence) and unvaccinated Greek pig farms (23% seroprevalence). In addition, maternally derived antibody (MDA) levels were lower in pigs at 4 and 7 weeks of age in unvaccinated farms than in vaccinated farms. In conclusion, our results underscore the importance of vaccination as an effective tool for the prevention of swIAV infections in commercial farrow-to-finish pig farms.

The displacement of thousands of people from countries facing war and violence has resulted in a refugee crisis that most host countries were not prepared to cope with. As a significant number of them are children, the education systems and educators were found unprepared to respond to the rights of refugee children for education. In this paper, we will present a learning design methodology entitled CARE aimed at helping teachers, especially in the early years education to develop student-driven learning activities focusing on refugee responsive teaching and learning. The CARE methodology has been developed through the experiences gained from training interventions with teacher educators in Egypt, a country that has received thousands of refugees in recent years. We have used an exemplary theme entitled 'Refugees Crossing the Aegean: Learning from History' to show the innovative aspects of the CARE learning design methodology.

Abstract Background This study aimed to screen the sera of goats and sheep from flocks suspected of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection by a newly standardized Mce-truncated ELISA (Mt-ELISA) kit for the detection of antibodies against MAP. Four diagnostic applied tests were evaluated including Indigenous plate-ELISA (IP-ELISA), Mt-ELISA, fecal Polymerase Chain Reaction (f-PCR) and fecal culture (FC). Materials and methods Assuming the absence of a gold standard, latent-class models in a Bayesian framework were used to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the four tests for MAP. Results Mt-ELISA had higher Sensitivity (Se) in sheep (posterior median: 0.68 (95% Probability Interval (PI): 0.43–0.95), while IP-ELISA recorded the highest Se in goats as 0.83 (95% PI, 0.61–0.97). The f-PCR Se estimate slightly differed between species [sheep 0.36 (0.19–0.58), goats 0.19 (0.08–0.35)], while the Se of FC was similar between species [sheep 0.29 (0.15–0.51), goats 0.27 (0.13–0.45)]. The specificity estimates for all tests were high, close to unity, and similar between species. Conclusion Overall, the results showed that the Mt-ELISA method can be used for MAP detection in small ruminants’ flocks.

Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms in oncological patients with greater prevalence in lung cancer and advanced disease states. Causes of dyspnea can be directly or indirectly associated with cancer, anti-neoplastic therapies and comorbidities unrelated to cancer. Routine screening of dyspnea is suggested for all oncological patients by using unidimensional, simple scales and multidimensional tools to capture more domains affected by this symptom and to assess the effectiveness of interventions. The first step in the treatment algorithm of dyspnea is the identification of potentially reversible causes; if no specific cause is depicted, symptomatic treatment with nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions is suggested. Referral to palliative care and continuous palliative sedation are the last resort in patients with a very limited life expectancy of not more than a few days for symptomatic relief and to decrease of the distress of patients and caregivers.

This paper presents an ecological perspective on meaning-making, conceptualised as developing intentionality and exemplified with reference to three international TESOL settings. The paper draws on philosophical and folk-psychological perspectives on intentionality, including Searle's (1983) distinction between intrinsic (individual) and derived (social) forms of intentionality and Young, DePalma and Garrett's (2002) modelling of intentional dynamics in educational settings. The paper illustrates the analytical affordances of the perspective through sample analyses of intentional dynamics found in three international TESOL settings. This includes: (i) young learners' interpretations of love and marriage in a joint writing task in a Norwegian primary L2 classroom, (ii) a Turkish teacher's first experience of teaching English to young learners, and (iii) the impact of the "English as the global language" phenomenon on the teaching of English to young learners in South Korea. The paper concludes that explorations of intentional dynamics on different levels of language education activities can enhance our ecological understanding of the cognitive, social and political dimensions of TESOL.

Modified live virus (MLV) vaccines for the control of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) have been associated with the vertical and horizontal transmission of vaccine viruses. The present study aimed to describe pathological lung lesions in piglets born by gilts vaccinated with PRRSV-1 MLV. In total, 25 gilts were vaccinated at late gestation (100th day) and were divided into five groups according to the different vaccines (Vac) used: no vaccine—control group, Vac-1—strain DV, Vac-2—strain VP-046 BIS, Vac-3—strain 94881, Vac-4—strain 96V198. Within the first 0–9 h of the farrowing, blood samples were collected from all newborn piglets and lung samples were exanimated grossly, histopathologically and with scanning electron microscopy. PRRSV (RT-PCR-positive) and antibodies were detected in the serum of piglets from gilts vaccinated with Vac-2. In these piglets, moderate to severe interstitial pneumonia with thickened alveolar septa was noticed. Type II pneumocyte hyperplasia was also observed. The rest of the trial piglets showed unremarkable lung lesions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the 98.7% similarity of the PRRSV field strain (GR 2019-1) to the PRRS MLV vaccine strain VP-046 BIS. In conclusion, the Vac-2 PRRSV vaccine strain can act as an infectious strain when vaccination is administrated at late gestation, causing lung lesions.

Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are important tick-borne diseases in Europe. This study aimed to investigate the seroreactivity against Borrelia burgdorferi and TBE virus (TBEV) in tick-infested individuals in North Macedonia and Serbia. Serum samples were collected from tick-infested individuals and from healthy individuals in the same regions. Samples were tested for anti-Borrelia IgG reactivity and TBEV-neutralizing antibodies. Results showed higher seroreactivity against Borrelia antigens in patients and healthy donors from Novi Sad compared to those from the Skopje region. However, there was no statistically significant difference between tick-infested patients and healthy donors within each region. No TBEV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in participants from Novi Sad or in the control groups, except for one person from North Macedonia who had a moderate TBEV-neutralizing reaction. The study highlights the need for improved surveillance and diagnostic capabilities for LB and TBE in these regions. It also suggests the potential existence of TBEV foci in North Macedonia. The findings provide a complementary understanding of the LB and TBE epidemiology in the studied regions; however, further research is needed to investigate the presence and distribution of Borrelia spp. and TBEV in ticks to assess the significance of detected seroreactivity.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a commercial phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on the prevention of post-weaning diarrhea and oxidative stress in piglets. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls (CARBS) were investigated as biomarkers for oxidative damage, as were the health and performance parameters of weaned piglets. In total, 100 weaned piglets were divided into two groups: a control group (T1), which was fed regular weaning feed; an experimental group (T2), which was fed regular weaning feed supplemented with a phenolic feed additive (PFA) for 3 weeks. The TBARS and CARBS concentrations in plasma samples from 20 piglets per group were measured at 45 and 65 days of age. Fecal samples were collected from 24 weaned piglets per group using FTA ELUTE cards. Diarrhea score, body weight (BW) at weaning, and average daily weight gain (ADWG) were recorded. The TBARS (p < 0.001) and CARBS (p = 0.001) concentrations were significantly higher in the T1 group compared to those in the T2 group. The lowest diarrhea score was noted in the T2 group for the age groups of 45 (p < 0.001) and 65 days (p = 0.008). In conclusion, the use of a phenolic PFA in the current study had beneficial antioxidative and antimicrobial effects on weaned piglets, which improved their health and growth performance.