Competitive evolution of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses in the United States

Seasonal influenza causes vast public health and economic impact globally. The prevention and control of the annual epidemics remain a challenge due to the antigenic evolution of the viruses. Here, we presented a novel modeling framework based on changes in amino acid sequences and relevant epidemiological data to retrospectively investigate the competitive evolution and transmission of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses in the United States during October 2002 and April 2019. To do so, we estimated the time-varying disease transmission rate from the reported influenza cases and the time-varying evolutionary rate of the viruses from the changes in amino acid sequences. By incorporating these time-varying rates into the transmission models, we found that the models could accurately capture the evolutionary transmission dynamics of influenza viruses in the United States. Our modeling results also showed that models incorporating evolutionary change of the virus could provide better modeling performance suggesting the critical role of the evolutionary change of virus on the disease transmission.

Competitive Evolution of Professional Wheelchair Tennis from the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004 to Rio 2016: An Observational Study

The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the activity pattern and technical-tactical parameters of men’s wheelchair tennis matches from the Paralympic Games (PG) in Athens 2004 (A), Beijing 2008 (B), London 2012 (L) and Rio 2016 (R). A total of 5702 shots from twelve final round matches were analysed. Activity patterns (e.g., rally duration, shots per rally…) and technical effectivity (e.g., errors, winners…) were recorded. An ANOVA test with post hoc pairwise comparisons was conducted to compare the mean differences among matches of different PG. Game duration, points and shots per game differed according to the PG (R and L > B and A). Rally duration (p < 0.001) and shots per rally (p < 0.001) were longer at R and L than B and A. The effectivity of the last shots was different, the errors have been increasing and the winners have been decreasing. The main finding indicates that activity patterns and technical parameters have evolved mainly between A and B to L and R. This study gives an overview of the development of the sport over time, and coaches can use this information to adapt their training sessions to the current needs of the competition.

EDUCAÇÃO E INTEGRAÇÃO TRANSNACIONAL NA AMÉRICA LATINA

O enfoque está direcionado às questões da educação em contexto de integração transnacional, colimando que o processo de integração não abrange somente as dimensões comerciais e econômicas, mas também os aspectos sociais, políticos, educacionais e culturais. O setor educacional do Mercosul engloba diversos programas, subprogramas e linhas de ação. A criação de uma Zona de Livre Comércio e de uma União Aduaneira entre Argentina, Brasil, Paraguai e Uruguai, iniciada a partir do Tratado de Assunção, de 1991, indicou a conformação de um território econômico comum entre os países envolvidos e ajuste dos sistemas educacionais existentes em decorrência da formação de profissionais qualificados que deveriam ser o baluarte da desejada evolução competitiva e independência desses países. A partir disto, iniciou-se uma série de acordos para adequação dos sistemas educativos dos países do Cone Sul, visto que a qualidade do sistema educacional se tornou um fator importante para a prosperidade econômica de todos os países. Contudo, passados 29 anos, constata-se avanços e retrocessos que impediram o deslanche dos projetos inicialmente traçados. Palavras-Chave: Educação. Mercosul. Integração. Transnacionalidade. TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION AND INTEGRATION IN LATIN AMERICA: HISTORICAL ASPECTS Abstract: The focus is on education issues in the context of transnational integration, with the result that the integration process does not only cover the commercial and economic dimensions, but also the social, political, educational and cultural aspects. The Mercosul educational sector includes several programs, subprograms and lines of action. The creation of a Free Trade Zone and a Customs Union between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, initiated after the 1991 Treaty of Asunción, indicated the formation of a common economic territory between the countries involved and the adjustment of educational systems existing due to the training of qualified professionals who should be the bulwark of the desired competitive evolution and independence of these countries. From this, a series of agreements was initiated to adapt the educational systems of the countries of the Southern Cone, since the quality of the educational system has become an important factor for the economic prosperity of all countries. However, after 29 years, there are advances and setbacks that prevented the development of the projects initially planned. Keywords: Education. Mercosur. Integration. Transnationality.

Willian P. Barnett and competitive evolution: a theory of Red Queen

The book "The Red Queen among organizations: how competitiveness evolves" synthesizes and extends several works in which William P. Barnett studies competition among companies, based on the idea that organizations learn through the act of competing and, by doing so, they become stronger competitors over time. A review of this book is presented here, summarizing the theory developed by Barnett and the empirical tests that the author carried out for the validation of his main hypotheses in two industries, with partially confirmatory results. In addition to the exposition of theory and its tests, the results of a bibliometric research carried out at ISI Web of Science, which investigates the impact of Barnett's work and its influence on different lines of research aimed at competition amog companies are also presented.