Geographical Location Research Articles

Stock market liberalization and corporate environmental violations: quasi-natural experiment from stock connect in China

Purpose This paper aims to reveal the green governance role played by stock connect in transition economies from the perspective of corporates’ environmental violations and provides implications for the coordination and optimization of subsequent stock market liberalization and green transformation policies in pursuit of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Design/methodology/approach With the data of Chinese listed enterprises, this paper takes the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect or Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect in China as a quasi-natural experiment and applies the multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) model to identify the impact of stock market liberalization on the corporates’ environmental violations. Findings The findings reveal that the stock market liberalization significantly restrains the corporates’ environmental violations. These findings are robust to a series of sensitivity tests, including excluding two-way effects, adjusting the year of policy implementation, replacing the core variables, introducing the regional fixed effects and excluding the interference effect of other relevant policies during the sample period. Furthermore, the stock market liberalization is beneficial for upgrading information disclosure quality, improving internal governance capability, strengthening environmental protection incentives, and thus restrains corporates’ environmental violations. Meanwhile, heterogeneity tests show that the inhibitory effects are more significant in those grouped samples which is large scale, state-owned nature, located in eastern region, with poor evaluation performances and heavy tax burden. Originality/value We make two marginal contributions to the current literature. First, this paper enriches the literature on the factors influencing corporate environmental violations by focusing on how the macro-level financial policy influences the micro-level corporate environmental violations. One the one hand, prior studies mainly focused on the consequences of corporate environmental violations; however, there is still a puzzle that the effect of stock market liberalization cannot be fully justified to influence corporate environmental violations. The findings help explain this puzzle by examining that stock market liberalization can restrain corporate environmental violations. Moreover, prior studies mainly focused on corporate share price (Yunsen Chen et al., 2022), market liquidity (Han Kim and Singal, 2000), information disclosure (Liang, Lin, and Chin 2012), corporate governance (Bae and Goyal, 2010) and corporate violations (Lingyun Xiong et al., 2021), but not on corporate environmental violations. We assume that the suppression effect of stock market liberalization on corporate environmental violations can help reduce corporate environmental violations, improve corporates’ awareness of environmental compliance. Second, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the literature on stock market liberalization by investigating the restraining effect of Stock Connect on corporate environmental violations from the perspective of information channel, corporate governance channel and motivation channel, which is of practical significance. Moreover, we investigate the differences in the inhibitory effects of stock market liberalization on different enterprises' environmental violations, from firm size, property rights, enterprise assessment results, tax burden to geographical location, which is conducive to the construction of a green financial system and the promotion of sustainable economic development. Our results show that firms which are large scale, state-owned nature, located in eastern region, with poor evaluation performances and heavy tax burden tend to compliance with environmental laws. These findings emphasize the importance and benefits of Stock Connect.

The challenges of confronting racism as a social disease by second-generation Indians in social and professional space in Australia: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT This qualitative study investigated the experiences of racism encountered by second-generation Indian Australians in social and professional domains through semi-structured interviews with 30 participants aged 15–25 years living in Melbourne and Sydney. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit participants. Data was analysed thematically using critical race theory. Key findings included experiences of racism in educational settings, which had psychological impacts. Moreover, racism also influenced family life and career opportunities, reflecting tangible consequences. The study underlines distinct challenges that emerged based on gender, religion, geographic location and socio-economic background, highlighting intersectionality. Racism was found to permeate multiple life spheres through institutional and individual biases. The findings highlight that anti-racism strategies addressing educational, workplace and community inclusion in an intersectional framework, thereby advancing multicultural societies of equity and belonging for all.

Digital finance reduces urban carbon footprint pressure in 277 Chinese cities

As global warming's impact on humanity surpasses initial predictions, numerous countries confront heightened risks associated with escalating urban carbon footprints. Concurrently, digital finance has flourished, propelled by advancements in digital technology. This convergence underscores the urgency of exploring digital finance's role in mitigating urban carbon footprint pressures. This study analyzes data spanning 277 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2020, yielding several key findings: Firstly, we developed a dataset detailing the carbon footprint pressures in these cities, revealing that variations in these pressures predominantly correlate with economic growth. Secondly, our analysis indicates that digital finance has a significant impact on reducing urban carbon footprint pressures, through mechanisms such as reducing the number of physical bank branches and enhancing residents' environmental awareness. Thirdly, the study identifies that the efficacy of digital finance in reducing carbon footprint pressures varies according to factors like sunshine duration and geographic location. The insights from this research aim to contribute substantively to strategies for sustainable urban development.

Two novel members of Onygenales, Keratinophyton kautmanovae and K. keniense spp. nov. from soil

Two new Keratinophyton species, K. kautmanovae sp. nov. and K. keniense sp. nov., isolated from soil samples originating from two different geographical and environmental locations (Africa and Europe) are described and illustrated. Phylogenetically informative sequences obtained from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rDNA, as well as their unique phenotype, fully support novelty of these two fungi for this genus. Based on ITS and LSU combined phylogeny, both taxa are resolved in a cluster with eight accepted species, including K. alvearium, K. chongqingense, K. hubeiense, K. durum, K. lemmensii, K. siglerae, K. submersum, and K. sichuanense. The new taxon, K. kautmanovae, is characterized by clavate, smooth to coarsely verrucose conidia, absence of arthroconidia, slow growth at 25 °C, and no growth at 30 °C, while K. keniense is morphologically unique with a high diversity of conidial shapes (clavate, filiform, globose, cymbiform and rhomboid). Both species are described based on their asexual, a chrysosporium-like morph. While the majority of hitherto described Keratinophyton taxa came from Europe, India and China, the new species K. keniense represents the first reported taxonomic novelty for this genus from Africa.

A three-years survey of microbial contaminants in industrial hemp inflorescences from two Italian cultivation sites

BackgroundThe use of industrial Cannabis sativa L. for recreational, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and medicinal purposes has gained momentum due to its rich content of valuable phytochemicals, such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG). However, there are concerns regarding the risk of microbial contamination in plants grown outside controlled environments. Microbes associated with hemp can be either epiphytes or endophytes and may pose a risk of infectious illness for humans.MethodsSeven Italian hemp genotypes, including Bernabeo, Carmagnola, Carmaleonte, Codimono, CS, Eletta Campana, and Fibranova, were cultivated in two distinct geographic locations, Catania and Rovigo, for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021. Total aerobic microbes (TAMC), total combined yeasts/moulds (TYMC), the presence of bile-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria, and the absence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were evaluated and compared. The main phytocannabinoid content was measured and correlated with microbial contamination.ResultsMost samples analyzed in this study did not meet the European Pharmacopoeia microbiological limits. The detection of potential pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella spp., in the samples indicates that the use of inflorescences may represent a possible source of infection. Microbial contamination varied among harvesting seasons and production sites, with agroclimatic conditions influencing microbial load and composition. The presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria was less associated with seasonal climate variability and more likely affected by sporadic contamination from external sources. CBD concentration exhibited a negative correlation with bile-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria and total yeasts/moulds levels. Samples with lower CBD content were more contaminated than those with higher CBD levels, suggesting a potential protective effect of this phytochemical on the plant.ConclusionsThe threshing residues (inflorescences, floral bracts, and leaves) of industrial hemp varieties represent a valuable product and a source of beneficial phytochemicals that warrants further exploration. While post-harvest sterilization methods may reduce microbiological risks, they may also degrade heat- and light-sensitive bioactive phytochemicals. The most promising strategy involves implementing best agronomic practices to maintain healthy and uncontaminated cultures. Rigorous monitoring and quality certification protocols are essential to mitigate the microbiological risk associated with the consumption of hemp-derived products.

Special Issue on Informatics Education: Characteristics of U.S. Baccalaureate Health Informatics Programs.

Health informatics (HI) is a growing field of study, yet sparse data is available on the characteristics of undergraduate health informatics programs in the United States (U.S.). The lack of a central location for U.S. HI undergraduate program data has led to a gap in information to support current efforts to promote academic standards in the field and attract potential students. The objective of this study was to perform an environment scan of colleges and universities within the U.S. and Puerto Rico to identify undergraduate programs in HI including majors, minors, and undergraduate level certificates. Potential institutions offering HI programs were identified from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Commission for Accreditation of Health Informatics and Health Information Management Education (CAHIIM), the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Publicly available materials for these institutions were reviewed, and data were captured for identified HI programs including geographic location; college or school in which the program was offered; type of degree (if applicable); program title; total credits to complete the program; delivery format; and source of data. 83 HI programs were identified from 60 institutions and 26 states. The primary finding of this environment scan was that inconsistencies exist among U.S. HI undergraduate programs including variations in offering college/school, title of program, number of credits required, delivery formats, CIP codes, and the type of information published on university/college websites. This environment scan was a first step in exploring the characteristics of undergraduate HI programs within the U.S. Further research is needed on the curricular similarities and differences among the programs, the administrative methods of these interdisciplinary programs, and the information most needed by current and potential undergraduate students.

Synthetic Classification of Provinces and Cities in Vietnam as a Guide for Regional Policy

Vietnam is a country with a relatively high level of regional inequality. The General Statistics Office of Vietnam groups the provinces based on their geographic location. This article presents the classification of the provinces and cities of Vietnam based not only on geography, but also on their socio-economic characteristics, economic structure, and the membership in free economic zones (FEZs). The analysis identifies four groups of provinces and cities: i) highly developed (FEZ members with high GRP per capita and a developed technological industry) ii) developed (FEZ members with high untapped economic growth potential and a highly diversified economic base), iii) moderately developed (with a vast primary sector and high potential for the development of the tourism sector) and iv) less developed (the poorest regions). The article highlights individual provinces, the level of socio-economic development of which (ceteris paribus) will allow them to transfer towards the group of more developed provinces in the near future. In order to reduce inequality in other provinces, we propose to use approaches, which have been successfully implemented in highly developed and developed regions, such as incentives for foreign investors or tax preferences for the development of significant industries in individual provinces.

Assessing Drought Vulnerability in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Using High-Frequency Data

This research investigates the exposure of plant species to extreme drought events in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, employing an extensive dataset collected from 205 automatic weather stations across the region. Meteorological indicators derived from hourly data, encompassing precipitation and maximum and minimum air temperature, were utilized to quantify past, current, and future drought conditions. The dataset, comprising 10,299,236 data points, spans a substantial temporal window and exhibits a modest percentage of missing data. Missing data were excluded from analysis, aligning with the decision to refrain from using imputation methods due to potential bias. Drought quantification involved the computation of the aridity index, the analysis of consecutive hours without precipitation, and the classification of wet and dry days per month. Mann–Kendall trend analysis was applied to assess trends in evapotranspiration and maximum air temperature, considering their significance. The hazard assessment, incorporating environmental factors influencing tree growth dynamics, facilitated the ranking of meteorological indicators to identify regions most exposed to drought events. The results revealed consistent occurrences of extreme rainfall events, indicated by positive outliers in monthly precipitation values. However, significant trends were observed, including an increase in daily maximum temperature and consecutive hours without precipitation, coupled with a decrease in daily precipitation across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. No significant correlation between vulnerability ranks and weather station latitudes and elevation were found, suggesting that geographical location and elevation do not strongly influence observed dryness trends.

The Impact of Smart Home Technologies on Energy Efficiency, Cost Savings, and Environmental Benefits

The results of this study addressed the effectiveness of smart home technologies in terms of energy consumption, cost reduction, and environmental advantages in Nigerian homes. Given the growing energy requirements and concern for the environment, assessing the efficiency of such technologies is critical for socioeconomic development. We collected data using a combination of surveys and statistical analysis in five major Nigerian cities: Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. We evaluated smart home technologies such as smart thermostats, lighting systems, appliances, plugs, and energy monitoring systems based on their energy savings (%), monthly cost savings (NGN), kilogram of CO2 emissions cut, and percent adoption. We used descriptive analysis and regression modeling to analyze the data collected from the respondents. The introduction of smart technologies reduced general energy use by fifteen to twenty-five percent, with smart appliances recording the highest reduction of up to 25%. This feature demonstrated how monthly cost savings varied depending on the technology and geographical location, resulting in significant increases of up to 4000 NGN per household, each household saw a reduction in CO2 emissions by 500 kg to 700 kg annually, resulting in significant environmental benefits. According to the studies, smart home technologies can help promote energy conservation and therefore reduce CO2 emissions in Nigerian households. However, there are still widely recognized obstacles, like high initial costs and a low level of awareness. offering financial incentives, improving Information Promotion of existing policies and overhauling the distribution systems to increase the pace of uptake and impact returns.

Development Strategy Based on Combination Typologies of Building Carbon Emissions and Urban Vibrancy—A Multi-Sourced Data-Driven Approach in Beijing, China

When confronting the dual challenges of rapid urbanization and climate change, although extensive research has investigated the factors influencing urban carbon emissions and the practical strategies regarding urban vibrancy, the unclear mutual nexus between them and the development strategy for collaborative optimization requires further in-depth analysis. This study explores the delicate balance between urban vibrancy and low-carbon sustainability within the confines of Beijing’s Fifth Ring Road. By integrating OpenStreetMap, land use, population, and buildings’ carbon emission data, we have developed a reproducible method to estimate total carbon emissions and emission intensity. Furthermore, we have introduced vibrancy index data to distinguish the vibrancy evaluation of residential and non-residential land and applied cross-combinational classification technology to dissect the spatial correlation between urban carbon emissions and urban vibrancy. The results reveal that the four combination typologies show more significant differences and regularity in residential land. Based on the discovery of spatial correlation, this study puts forward corresponding development strategy suggestions for each of these four typologies based on the geographical location and requirements of urban development policies. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of integrating carbon emissions and urban vibrancy comprehensively in sustainable urban planning and proposes that various land use combinations need targeted development strategies to achieve this goal, which need to consider population, energy, service facilities, and other diverse aspects.

Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Food Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae.

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) emissions and subsequent transport and deposition are major concerns within protected lands, including national parks, where Hg can bioaccumulate to levels detrimental to human and wildlife health. Despite this risk to biological resources, there is limited understanding of the relative importance of different Hg sources and delivery pathways within the protected regions. Here, we used Hg stable isotope measurements within a single aquatic bioindicator, dragonfly larvae, to determine if these tracers can resolve spatial patterns in Hg sources, delivery mechanisms, and aquatic cycling at a national scale. Mercury isotope values in dragonfly tissues varied among habitat types (e.g., lentic, lotic, and wetland) and geographic location. Photochemical-derived isotope fractionation was habitat-dependent and influenced by factors that impact light penetration directly or indirectly, including dissolved organic matter, canopy cover, and total phosphorus. Strong patterns for Δ200Hg emerged in the western United States, highlighting the relative importance of wet deposition sources in arid regions in contrast to dry deposition delivery in forested regions. This work demonstrates the efficacy of dragonfly larvae as biosentinels for Hg isotope studies due to their ubiquity across freshwater ecosystems and ability to track variation in Hg sources and processing attributed to small-scale habitat and large-scale regional patterns.

Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Different Types of Word-of-Mouth Information on Consumer Purchase Intention

This study aims to explore the impact of different types of word-of-mouth (WOM) information and their dissemination channels on consumer purchase intentions. Through a questionnaire survey, 540 valid data samples were collected, covering consumers of various ages, consumption habits, technology usage habits, and geographic locations. Multiple regression analysis and cluster analysis methods were employed to thoroughly analyze the influence and dissemination effects of WOM information. The results indicate that positive WOM significantly enhances consumer purchase intention, while negative WOM has the opposite effect. Neutral WOM has no significant impact on purchase intention. Additionally, the dissemination channels of WOM information, such as social media, have a significant positive impact on consumer purchase intention. Based on these findings, specific market strategy recommendations are proposed to optimize brand management and enhance consumer engagement.

Lexical variation of woods and bush in Ontario English

AbstractThis paper examines ongoing lexical variability among words that describe areas with trees, such as woods, bush and forest, among others. The historical perspective shows ongoing semantic evolution of these terms, from wood(s) (c.825) to the emergence of bush in the late 16th century or early 17th century. We assess regional, social and linguistic patterns of variation in 1849 tokens, from individuals born in the late 1800s to early 200s across 21 communities in Ontario, Canada. The most common word is bush; use of woods is moderate while forest is rare. Ancestry and migration play key roles in their distribution, demonstrating that ancestral roots, migration and language contact play into the selection of a word. We argue that lexical variation, when analysed in a comparative sociolinguistic perspective in the context of social typology, history and geographic location, offers important insights into language use and human behaviour.

EXPORT POTENTIAL OF KYRGYZSTAN IN THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

The article examines the export potential of Kyrgyzstan in the agro-industrial complex. The unique geographical location of the country and eco-friendly agriculture contribute to the cultivation of fruits with a large amount of useful micronutrients. In such conditions, Kyrgyz products receive certificates of compliance with international standards. Financial and non-financial export support measures by the Government of the country and the EAEU help farmers to promote their products on international markets.In turn, in the UAE one can observe an increase in the popularity of organic products, including dried fruits. Customs agreements have been concluded between the countries, contributing to stable cooperation. To assess the prospects of trade relations between the countries, the authors conducted a PEST and SWOT analysis. The article presents recommendations for the promotion of Kyrgyz dried fruits in the UAE market.

Possible impact of the 43 BCE Okmok volcanic eruption in Alaska on the climate of China as revealed in historical documents

Abstract. The Okmok volcanic eruption in Alaska has recently been discovered and is precisely dated to have occurred in 43 BCE. Some Chinese climate records of 43–33 BCE have been found in historical documents that provide descriptions of observed environmental abnormities that appear to be consistent with the anticipated changes due to volcanic climate forcing. In this paper, we provide a full translation with discussions of the Chinese climate records that may be related to the Okmok eruption. We have converted ancient Chinese calendar dates to modern Gregorian dates and provided the latitudes and longitudes of the geographical locations mentioned in the records. Relevant climate information in similar areas of China in the decades after the 1783 Laki eruption is also briefly summarized for comparison. We believe the detailed information contained in these records will be useful for further research on the climate impact of volcanic eruptions.

Nespaustuvinė periodika Vrublevskių bibliotekoje: ką Lietuvos leidybos istorijai pasakoja rinkinys?

In Lithuania, non-print periodicals have been of interest to scholars, librarians, and local historians for over a hundred years. To understand the phenomenon of non-print periodicals in Lithuania, its place in the increasing national information flow, and the history of state publishing, it is necessary to gather as extensive a base of these periodical sources as possible and know the main collections. This article aims to present the study of the non-print periodicals collection stored in the Manuscripts Department of the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences from the perspective of book science and reveal its informativeness as a whole for the history of Lithuanian publishing. The research object became all the identified non-print periodical publications collected into a conditional collection regardless of chronological frameworks, language, writing system, font, or publishing geographic location. Currently, the Manuscripts Department has recorded as many as 154 titles of small newspapers. To achieve the goal, first, historiography dedicated to non-print periodicals in Lithuania and the Wroblewski Library will be discussed, the history of object collection in the library will be determined, and the formed collection will be analysed in chronological, geographical, linguistic, typological, and genre aspects. The study of the information recorded in the publications’ metrics and texts provided insights into the processes of non-print publishing and allowed for comparisons with the processes of professional periodicals publishing. The history of the collection led to another multilingual collection of non-print periodicals covering the period between the late 19th century to 1946 in the Manuscripts Department of the Wroblewski Library, different in composition from the collection in the Rare Books and Old Periodicals Department. The analysis of the collection’s composition by designated aspects confirms the linguistic, genre, and typological diversity of publications that existed in Lithuania. The study allows us to state that although published in small volumes, non-print periodicals approached professional ones and contributed to the national information flow, filling informational and content gaps. They became a space for young creators to unfold and demonstrate practical knowledge, showcasing the potential of non-print periodicals publishing activities, which nurtured more than one professional press figure in Lithuania. The objects of the collection testify to the diversity of periodical publishing practices, and social groups involved in the publishing processes, and reveal the changing society and its aspirations. The collection gathered for the study provides new, unused information for scientific research on the reading and creativity of young people and soldiers, revealing their areas of interest. The collection’s objects become a relevant source for research on language, art history, gender, issues of the reuse of works, etc.

Comparison of morphological and molecular Strongylus spp. identification in equine larval cultures and first report of a patent Strongylus asini infection in a horse.

Surveillance of Strongylus vulgaris and other Strongylus spp. in equids is important for targeted intervention in parasite control, requiring reliable routine diagnostic methods. Comparing morphological examination and PCR analyses of larval cultures to identify Strongylus spp. species based on German diagnostic samples from 2018. Method comparison. During the routine diagnostic investigations, in total 712 strongyle-egg positive equine faecal samples were cultured. Third-stage larvae (L3) were morphologically differentiated. For molecular validation, samples were examined using S. vulgaris real-time PCR and Strongylus edentatus/Strongylus equinus/Strongylus asini high-resolution melting PCRs. Based on 28S rRNA PCR, 594 samples positive for nematode DNA were included in the study. The inter-rater reliability to compare morphological and molecular species identification was fair for Strongylus spp. without species identification and for S. edentatus, slight for S. equinus and poor for S. vulgaris. The frequency based on morphological and molecular data in this study were for S. vulgaris 0% and 0.8%, respectively, for S. edentatus 0.3% and 1.5%, respectively, and for S. equinus 2.0% and 0.2%, respectively. Based on molecular analyses, one sample obtained from a domestic horse contained S. asini DNA, which was confirmed by sequencing. For many samples, no or only incomplete data regarding clinical history, the exact geographical location and whether samples were obtained on individual or farm level, were available. Results of morphological and molecular examination methods of strongyle L3 from equine samples can differ substantially. Further evaluation of these methods is required to provide reliable and cost-effective methods of screening equine parasites. Further studies using approaches suitable to detect S. asini are needed to evaluate its clinical and epidemiological relevance.

Identification of distinct genotypes in circulating RSV A strains based on variants in the virus replication-associated genes.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory infection that often leads to hospitalization of infected younger children and older adults. RSV is classified into two strains, A and B, each with several subgroups or genotypes. One issue with the definition of these subgroups is the lack of a unified method of identification or genotyping. We propose that genotyping strategies based on the genes coding for replication-associated proteins could provide critical information on the replication capacity of the distinct subgroups, while clearly distinguishing genotypes. Here, we analyzed the virus replication-associated genes N, P, M2, and L from de novo assembled RSV A sequences obtained from 31 newly sequenced samples from hospitalized patients in Philadelphia and 78 additional publicly available sequences from different geographic locations within the United States. In-depth analysis and annotation of variants in the replication-associated proteins identified the polymerase protein L as a robust target for genotyping RSV subgroups. Importantly, our analysis revealed non-synonymous variations in L that were consistently accompanied by conserved changes in its co-factor P or the M2-2 protein, suggesting associations and interactions between specific domains of these proteins. Similar associations were seen among sequences of the related human metapneumovirus. These results highlight L as an alternative to other RSV genotyping targets and demonstrate the value of in-depth analyses and annotations of RSV sequences as it can serve as a foundation for subsequent in vitro and clinical studies on the efficiency of the polymerase and fitness of different virus isolates.IMPORTANCEGiven the historical heterogeneity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the disease it causes, there is a need to understand the properties of the circulating RSV strains each season. This information would benefit from an informative and consensus method of genotyping the virus. Here, we carried out a variant analysis that shows a pattern of specific variations among the replication-associated genes of RSV A across different seasons. Interestingly, these variation patterns, which were also seen in human metapneumovirus sequences, point to previously defined interactions of domains within these genes, suggesting co-variation in the replication-associated genes. Our results also suggest a genotyping strategy that can prove to be particularly important in understanding the genotype-phenotype correlation in the era of RSV vaccination, where selective pressure on the virus to evolve is anticipated. More importantly, the categorization of pneumoviruses based on these patterns may be of prognostic value.

The Genomic Epidemiology of Clinical Burkholderia pseudomallei Isolates in North Queensland, Australia

Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is highly genetically recombinant, resulting in significant genomic diversity. Multiple virulence factors have been associated with specific disease presentations. To date, there are limited data relating to genomic diversity and virulence factors associated with melioidosis cases in North Queensland, Australia. Aim: To describe the genetic diversity of B. pseudomallei and identify virulence factors associated with clinical risk factors and patient outcomes. Methods: Whole genome sequencing of clinical isolates was performed and analysed with clinical data obtained from a retrospective melioidosis cohort study. Results: Fifty-nine distinct sequence types (STs) were identified from the 128 clinical isolates. Six STs comprised 64/128 (50%) isolates. Novel STs accounted for 38/59 (64%) STs, with ST TSV-13 as the most prevalent (n = 7), and were less likely to possess an LPS A genotype or YLF gene cluster (p < 0.001). These isolates were most likely to be found outside the inner city (aOR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.7–9.0, p = 0.001). ST TSV-13 was associated with increased mortality (aOR: 6.1, 95% CI: 1.2–30.9, p = 0.03). Patients with a history of alcohol excess were less likely to be infected by fhaB3 (aOR 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7, p = 0.01) or YLF (aOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.9, p = 0.04) positive isolates. Conclusions: There are a significant number of novel sequence types in Townsville, Australia. An emerging novel ST appears to have an association with geographic location and mortality. Ongoing investigation is required to further understand the impact of this ST on the Townsville region.

The Violence of Peace: Post Good Friday Agreement Paramilitary Vigilantism in Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on post Belfast/Good Friday Agreement paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland, specifically the vigilantism of paramilitary style attacks (PSAs) carried out by the loyalist and republican paramilitaries. This localised form of violence, formerly referred to as punishment attacks, has been the most persistent form of paramilitary violence in a post-conflict Northern Ireland. This paper critically analyses the broad criminological literature on the emergence of vigilantism, including consideration of factors impacting police confidence. The findings are applied to Northern Irish PSAs from 1998 to 2023. The author analyses data relating to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The results of these FOIs indicate that loyalist and republican paramilitaries combined have been responsible for 3,260 PSAs from 1998 to February 2023. Paramilitary republicans have been responsible for 1,196 attacks and loyalists responsible for 2,064. The article considers the post-Agreement evolution of this violence in terms of victims, injuries, geographical location, and police response. The most recent data indicate a downturn in PSAs. However, there are still significant challenges faced in the development of broader trust for the criminal justice system, within certain areas of Northern Ireland.