Mobility Capacity Research Articles

Phylogeography of the Neotropical sciurid Guerlinguetus brasiliensis (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Abstract The Brazilian squirrel Guerlinguetus brasiliensis is the only sciurid species occurring in the Atlantic Forest. We investigated the geographical distribution of the genetic diversity of this sciurid species across the Central Corridor of the Atlantic Forest, using two mitochondrial markers and one nuclear marker. We also inferred the demographic history and estimated the present and past habitat suitability for the species. We found strong mitochondrial DNA structure, possibly with both the Doce River and the valley of Paraíba do Sul River restricting gene flow between populations. The demography and ecological niche modelling highlighted a shared evolutionary history amongst several forest-dependent species in the Atlantic Forest. A pattern of isolation by distance was also found, revealing the low mobility and/or dispersal capacity of the species. Further data are required to disentangle exactly how past and/or recent habitat changes have affected population-level genetic diversity of G. brasiliensis.

Comparison of the mass and amount of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the trunk and lower extremity muscles between patients with Parkinson's disease and community-dwelling older adults.

This study compared the masses and amounts of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the trunk and lower extremity muscles, sagittal spinal alignment, and mobility and balance ability between patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and older adults. This study included 26 older adults (control [CTR] group) and eight patients with PD (PD group). Muscle thicknesses and echo intensities of the trunk and lower extremity muscles were measured using an ultrasound imaging device. Sagittal spinal alignments in the standing and prone positions were assessed using a Spinal Mouse. Mobility capacity was assessed based on the measurements of usual and maximal walking speeds, timed up-and-go (TUG) time, and five-chair-stand time, while balance ability was assessed based on the measurement of one-legged stance (OLS) time. Our results showed significantly lower gluteus maximus and tibialis anterior muscle thicknesses, higher thickness of the short head of the biceps femoris muscle, and higher echo intensity of the gluteus maximus muscle in the PD group than in the CTR group. Lumbar lordosis angle in the standing position, usual and maximal walking speeds, and OLS time were significantly lower, while the TUG and five-chair-stand times were significantly higher in the PD group than in the CTR group. The other factors did not differ significantly between groups. Our results revealed lower masses of the gluteus maximus and tibialis anterior muscles, higher mass of the short head of the biceps femoris muscle, and higher amounts of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the gluteus maximus muscle in patients with PD.

A Novel Approach to the Measurement of Bourdieusian Social Capital within Institutional Pages and Profiles

We present in this paper a novel approach for measuring Bourdieusian Social Capital (BSC) within Institutional Pages and Profiles. We analyse Facebook's Institutional Pages and Twitter's Institutional Profiles. Supported by Pierre Bourdie's theory, we search for directions to identify and capture data related to sociability practices, i. e. actions performed such as Like, Comment and Share. The system of symbolic exchanges and mutual recognition treated by Pierre Bourdieu is represented and extracted automatically from these data in the form of generalized sequential patterns. In this format, the social interactions captured from each page are represented as sequences of actions. Next, we also use such data to measure the frequency of occurrence of each sequence. From such frequencies, we compute the effective mobilization capacity. Finally, the volume of BSC is computed based on the capacity of effective mobilization, the number of social interactions captured and the number of followers on each page. The results are aligned with Bourdieu's theory. The approach can be generalized to institutional pages or profiles in Online Social Networks.

Climate events and the role of adaptive capacity for (im-)mobility

The study examines the relationship between sudden- and gradual-onset climate events and migration, hypothesizing that this relationship is mediated by the adaptive capacity of affected individuals. We use survey data from regions of Cambodia, Nicaragua, Peru, Uganda, and Vietnam that were affected by both types of events with representative samples of non-migrant residents and referral samples of migrants. Although some patterns are country-specific, the general findings indicate that less educated and lower-income people are less likely to migrate after exposure to sudden-onset climate events compared to their counterparts with higher levels of education and economic resources. These results caution against sweeping predictions that future climate-related events will be accompanied by widespread migration.

Mobility and the Role of Pedestrian in the Making of Public Space: The Case Study of Mersin

Public spaces, being inevitable components of cities, are evolving spaces that transform, expand or shrink. Ideally, they should be publicly-owned and controlled, equally accessible to all, and function in the public interest. As the main actor of public spaces, this research aims to reveal the roles of pedestrians’ behaviour and mobility in making public space. It proposes a model to assess the mobility capacity and pedestrian behaviours regarding pre-determined inner and outer factors and indicators. The coastal park, which was developed through the coastal reclamation in Mersin that is a Mediterranean city in Turkey, is selected as the case study. The findings of the spatial morphological analyses, direct observations and users survey show that, while some areas in Mersin coastal park are used very effectively by pedestrians, some areas are not used sufficiently and remain idle. Based on the proposed model, this research reveals how pedestrian behaviour and movement affect the public space-making in the coastal park, and discusses the findings of the research in relation to the inner and outer factors of making public spaces. It ultimately seeks to show the critical role of the pedestrians’ behaviours and their mobility capacities in creating lively and high-quality public spaces.

Glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: it is bitter-sweet.

Glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: it is bitter-sweet.

Success and Challenges: China’s State Capacity of Popular Mobilization in the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world into chaos and disturbed almost all normality in people’s daily lives. Furthermore, this global pandemic of health crises has also put governments at tests; whether or not COVID can be prevented, contained, and controlled has become a pressing issue for governments of different countries worldwide. As the situation develops, different counties have also demonstrated distinctively different practices and methods on how to handle the health crisis, ranging from strict elimination controls to the attempt of herd immunity. Surprising to many, China, being the first country that experienced the hit of COVID, has turned out to be one of the few that successfully contained the spread of the virus within its large population. Although some of China’s practice during the pandemic has been criticized for violating human rights and privacies, it is undeniable that the country did perform well in containing the spread of COVID, especially in 2020 (Serikbayeva et al., 2021). However, global health governance and pandemic management cannot rely on only a few countries for problem-solving. As we gradually enter what is known as the post-pandemic world, a series of new issues and challenges also began to emerge, even for countries with fewer COVID cases, like China. Under a qualitative design, this paper aims to examine and analyze China’s success in the early stages of the pandemic, in terms of state capacity and the use of popular mobilization. Then, this paper would like to discuss and predict some of the challenges that China is facing or likely to face with its zero-tolerance policies in the post-pandemic world.

DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINIAN CRYPTO INDUSTRY: FROM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE TO DIGITAL LEADERSHIP

The urgency of the problem. The urgency of this topic is dictated by the strengthening of the global crypto lobby and the involvement of large and system capital in the crypto industry. Ignoring this fact can mean losing the investment race before it starts. High mobility and unlimited capacity of the crypto industry can be a good chance for Ukraine to know its niche in global cooperation. Methods: methodological and informational basis of the work are: scientific works, materials of periodicals, internet resources, normative-legal acts. In the course of the research are methods of structural-logical analysis, comparison and generalization were used. Results: A number of tax and economic incentives for the development of cryptographic investment are proposed. Directions of development in specialization and cooperation of Ukraine in the world crypt industry are offered. Scientific novelty: firstly identified and proposed the perspective, place and specialization of Ukraine in the interstate cooperation from the crypt industry point of view. Practical significance: The urgency of the topic is determined by the specialization and cooperation of Ukraine in the world of crypt industry and all significant opportunities that this young industry opens. In addition, the willingness of private investors to take higher risks, comparing with classic investments, makes Ukraine one of the few areas that concentrates both unprofessional and professional investors. That fact gives some benefits to the starting crypt industry development. First of them- to go through the formation of an expert layer,second- to form a group of professional investors and the third one- to explore the impact of cryptographic investment on GDP and competitiveness index.

Understanding mobile learning, imagination capacity, and team creativity through people-learn-framework and creativity theory perspective

Understanding mobile learning, imagination capacity, and team creativity through people-learn-framework and creativity theory perspective

Performance metrics for vehicular visible light communication systems

Vehicular Visible Light communication (VVLC) presents a new paradigm for providing vehicle connectivity, increasing road safety, and achieving autonomous driving. It can be chosen as an alternative solution to radio frequency-based inter-vehicle communication systems and/or as a complementary solution to ensure redundancy. Nevertheless, there are still significant challenges in incorporating visible light communication systems into vehicular networks. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an outline of the performance metrics of a VVLC system. Furthermore, the study is performed based on a vehicle-to-vehicle dynamic model close to reality, considering the effect of geometrical changes in the LOS path and the variation of the inter-vehicular distance. The analysis of the proposed system is discussed in terms of Signal to noise (SNR), Field of view (FOV), mobility, and average capacity.

The Armed Forces in the fight against COVID-19 in Brazil: pandemics as a theme of the Defense and Security Agendas

Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil required actions from the Federal Government, through its Ministries and Local Authorities. The Armed Forces were called upon by the Ministry of Defense to act in Operation COVID-19, which began in March 2020. In total, 10 (ten) Joint Commands were created for the integrated use of the means of logistics, intelligence, and communications, in support to public health and safety agencies. In addition to these Joint Commands, the Aerospace Command, which is permanent, provided support to the other commands. The present work aimed to study the performance of the Armed Forces in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing issues related to interoperability, integration between civilians and military personnel, and impacts on the operation of the Armed Forces. The questionnaire was applied to Joint Commands members, both military and civilian. The study found that the Brazilian Armed Forces have a great capacity for mobilization, as evidenced by the numbers and diversity of the activities performed. The interoperability and relational capability of the military provided agility and integration in actions. However, suggestions and opportunities for improvement to increase the readiness of the Armed Forces and the State itself in similar situations were pointed out.

Two-Stage Multiclass Modeling Approach for Intermodal Rail-Road Transport Networks

In this paper, a two-stage modeling framework is proposed to represent the route choices and dynamics of two classes of traffic flows, namely passengers and freight, in a large-scale intermodal transportation network. More in details, the transport modes considered in this model are road transport, represented through a highway network, and rail transport. The methodology adopted in this work relies on a multi-class intermodal assignment model combined with a multi-class intermodal dynamic model. The proposed modeling scheme can be adopted for different purposes, such as to support decision makers who intend to utilize the full mobility capacity of a geographical area by allocating the mobility demand on different modes or by suggesting intermodal itineraries also when the network is affected by disruptive events. The proposed framework has been tested on a benchmark network with the aim of showing the mutual relations that occur between different modes of transport in case a connection of the intermodal network fails. Specifically, the analysis reported in the paper shows that the collapse of a railway arc can cause a high increase in travel times for some highway arcs, which result 30-40% higher than in the pre-disruption scenario, and an even greater growth in the average occupancy of many arcs.

Multilingual education development in Ukraine

In a world that is becoming more globalized, learning a language is a crucial component of developing one's consciousness and their capacity for social mobility. Changes in the definition of the degree of foreign language proficiency, new definitions of the selection of content and organization of resources, and the employment of appropriate forms and methods of control are all necessary in response to new realities. In light of Common-European polymeric trends, our state's integration into the European educational space, the proliferation of student exchange practices, and the accessibility of our nation's educational system to international students, multilingual education on the principle of Ukrainian + foreign is of particular relevance. The expansion of foreign language learning is consistent with European directives, which advise that Member States teach two more EU languages in addition to their national tongue in educational institutions. The issue of linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe can be adequately addressed through multilingual education in Ukraine. The consideration of regional demands of local ethnic populations, national features, and Common European trends is a crucial aspect of multilingual education in Ukraine.

Resource Management in Converged Optical and Millimeter Wave Radio Networks: A Review

Three convergent processes are likely to shape the future of the internet beyond-5G: The convergence of optical and millimeter wave radio networks to boost mobile internet capacity, the convergence of machine learning solutions and communication technologies, and the convergence of virtualized and programmable network management mechanisms towards fully integrated autonomic network resource management. The integration of network virtualization technologies creates the incentive to customize and dynamically manage the resources of a network, making network functions, and storage capabilities at the edge key resources similar to the available bandwidth in network communication channels. Aiming to understand the relationship between resource management, virtualization, and the dense 5G access and fronthaul with an emphasis on converged radio and optical communications, this article presents a review of how resource management solutions have dealt with optimizing millimeter wave radio and optical resources from an autonomic network management perspective. A research agenda is also proposed by identifying current state-of-the-art solutions and the need to shift all the convergent issues towards building an advanced resource management mechanism for beyond-5G.

Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry

Can the present learn from the past? Moreover, if so, what lessons can we learn? The Danish Parliament instructed the Armed Forces to create a light infantry unit. What resulted is the Slesvig Regiment of Foot, designed to conduct operations using helicopters and/or navy vessels. This article is an analysis of the lessons that can be learned from three historic cases using light infantry in an air mobile capacity and under an air mobility doctrine. The need for such an analysis comes from the fact that this is a new way of conducting military operations for the Danish Army. The cases are the American insertion at Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam 1965, the Rhodesian Bush War 1974–1980 and the British Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone 2000; all three chosen because they illustrate similarities and differences that will give the analysis the broader perspective needed to provide suitable lessons for a future Danish concept of operations for the light infantry unit. All three cases have a doctrinal background that are applicable in a Danish context. The article argues that there are a number of lessons to be learned, such as the adherence to an air mobile doctrine, command and control measures, the level of training, and the experience and mind-set of the commanders. The elements of surprise, fire support, aggression when needed, flexibility, communication and the units’ organization and equipment also provide valuable lessons.

Effects of Vitamin D3 Supplementation and Resistance Training on 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status and Functional Performance of Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Vitamin D status is associated with muscle strength and performance in older adults. To examine the additive effects of vitamin D3 supplementation during resistance training, 100 seniors (65–85 years) participated in a 16-week intervention. Besides a daily dose of 400 mg of calcium, participants received either 800 IU vitamin D3 per day (VDD), 50,000 IU vitamin D3 per month (VDM) or nothing (CON). After the initial loading phase of four weeks, all groups started a 10-week resistance training program. Assessments of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status, muscle strength endurance (30-s chair stand and arm curl tests), aerobic capacity (6-min walk test) and functional mobility (gait speed and timed up and go test) were undertaken at baseline, after four weeks and at the end of the study. 25(OH)D status significantly improved in VDD and VDM, but not in CON (time x group: p = 0.021), as 15.2% of CON, 40.0% of VDD and 61.1% of VDM reached vitamin D sufficiency (>30 ng/mL; p = 0.004). Chair stand test, arm curl test, 6-min walk test, gait speed and timed up and go test improved over the whole intervention period (p < 0.05), however only chair stand and arm curl test were selectively affected by resistance training (p < 0.001). Neither muscle strength endurance, nor functional mobility or aerobic capacity were modulated by vitamin D supplementation. Therefore, the mere amelioration of 25(OH)D status of older adults does not lead to an additive effect on muscular performance during RT.

The Relationship Between Knee Pain and Heart Failure in Older Black and Latino Women

Background: Knee pain is the second-most prevalent and disabling common pain condition globally, having deleterious effects on daily function including mobility and exercise capacity; chronic knee pain is especially prevalent in older adults. There is substantial evidence to indicate that physically inactive individuals have higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, studies investigating cardiovascular risks with osteoarthritis have had mixed results. Objective: This study explores the relationship between knee pain and heart failure especially examining the factors of age, gender, race in U.S. older adults. Methods: Retrospective secondary analysis of Medicare claims data for 1.478 million adults over age 65. The standard analytical file for 2017 was segmented according to the presence of any of several ICD-10 codes for heart failure (HF). Medicare beneficiaries with and without HF diagnoses were evaluated for knee pain and other common pain-associated conditions; pain condition data was stratified by age, gender and race codes. Results: Knee pain was markedly increased in women with HF in the 65-70- and 70–75-year-old age-cohorts and relatively less increased in older age-cohorts and males. Knee pain in women was especially elevated in those with Medicare race codes indicating Black and Hispanic status. Conclusion: in a large cohort of Medicare beneficiaries, knee pain was noted to be markedly increased in younger cohorts of older women with HF, and more prevalent in Black and Hispanic women. Further studies should evaluate lifestyle, biomechanics, and inflammatory factors that may be contributing to this relationship.

Digital Mobility Assessment for Regulatory and Clinical Endorsement in Hip Fracture Patients

Hip fracture is the most frequent non-intentional injury of older persons leading to hospital admission in Europe and North America. Until recently, in regulatory submissions no attention was given to patients’ mobility after sustaining/recovering from a hip fracture. To better evaluate efficacy and effectiveness of new drugs and treatments, it is necessary to develop mobility biomarkers since failure to recover and regain pre-fracture mobility is considered the single most important disability symptom experienced by hip fracture patients, often leading to care home admission. However, regularly used measures of mobility capacity are not representative of individuals’ performance in real life, intermittent in nature, and require visiting study centers. Digital technology has the potential to revolutionize mobility assessment in a real-life setting. With this presentation we build a case for a valid solution for real-world digital mobility assessment in hip fracture patients as carried out in the “Mobilise-D” clinical validation study.

Bacteria versus fungi for predicting anthropogenic pollution in subtropical coastal sediments: Assembly process and environmental response

Coastal regions support the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, and anthropogenic activities have been significantly affecting both habitat structure and ecological quality. Understanding the dynamics of ecological response to multiple stresses is a precondition for management and restoration of largely disturbed coastal ecosystems. Among diverse taxa in coastal regions, benthic organisms are widely recognized as promising targets for assessing ecological causes and consequences of anthropogenic activity-derived stressors, such as environmental pollution. However, spatial and local environmental factors play important but different roles in shaping community structure of different benthic taxa, mainly owing to their distinct body size, mobility, and metabolic capacity. Here, we applied metabarcoding, coupled with physicochemical analyses, to determine the benthic microbial community composition in a typical subtropical coast area, Beibu Gulf in Southern China. Stochastic processes were found as the dominant ecological driver in shaping the community assembly of both bacteria and fungi. Moreover, environmental factors explained a considerable portion of variation in bacterial communities, while spatial factors were more influential in structuring larger body size and weak mobility fungal communities. Mantel tests and network analysis revealed significant relationships between several environmental variables and bacterial communities. More importantly, the concentrations of heavy metals, particularly Cr and Zn, could be predicted using the constructed random forest model based on bacterial communities. The results obtained here provide new insights into causes and consequences of various factors for influencing healthy coasts, thus further clearing the road to the integration of biological information into routine ecological monitoring of coastal ecosystems.

Association of mobility capacity with the masses and amounts of intramuscular non-contractile tissue of the trunk and lower extremity muscles in community-dwelling older adults.

We examined the association of mobility capacity with muscle thicknesses and echo intensities of the trunk and lower extremity muscles measured using an ultrasound imaging device in community-dwelling older adults. The participants were 57 community-dwelling older adults. Mobility capacity was assessed based on the measurement of usual and maximal walking speeds and timed up-and-go (TUG) time. Muscle thickness and echo intensity of the trunk and lower extremity muscles were measured using an ultrasound imaging device. Finally, sagittal spinal alignment was assessed based on the measurement of thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral anterior inclination angles in the standing position using a Spinal Mouse. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the tibialis anterior muscle thickness, tibialis posterior muscle echo intensity, and body weight were significant and independent factors of usual walking speed, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.25. The thicknesses of the thoracic erector spinae and obliquus externus abdominis muscles were significant and independent factors of maximal walking speed (R2=0.26). Moreover, only age was a significant and independent factor for TUG time (R2=0.10). The results of this study suggested associations 1) between slow usual walking speed and low tibialis anterior muscle thicknesses and high echo intensity of the tibialis posterior muscle and 2) between slow maximal walking speed and low thoracic erector spinae and obliquus externus abdominis thicknesses in community-dwelling older adults.