Full Survey Research Articles

Pest survey card on non‐EU Tephritidae affecting citrus

This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M-2020-0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for non-EU Tephritidae affecting citrus is published and available online at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/tephritidae-citrus. EFSA pest survey cards on non-EU Tephritidae affecting different crops can be found and selected using a dedicated StoryMap available in the EFSA Plant Pest Survey Cards Gallery: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/tephritidae-pestsurveycards

Prevalence of hypertension in a rural community in southeastern Nigeria; an opportunity for early intervention.

Hypertension is a leading cause of non-communicable morbidity in Sub Saharan Africa. Recent studies suggest and increase in the prevalence of hypertension in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. Using a three-phase approach, a structured questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of hypertension in a rural settlement is Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. Blood pressure measurement was done according to the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension. Out of 1576 participants aged 18 years and above, 1082 (68.7%) completed the full survey, their blood pressure was measured, and data analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension in this study was 27.6%, (95%CI 25-30.4), similar in males 29.2, (95%CI 24.7-30.4) and females 26.8%, (95%CI 23.5-30.2). p = 0.39. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age reaching a peak of 32.8% (95%CI 26.2-40) in the 40-49 age group, however this was not statistically significant P = 0.22. This age-related increase in the prevalence of hypertension tended towards significance in males (p = 0.05) but not in females (p = 0.44). Awareness of hypertension was 7.2%. Systolic blood pressure positively correlated with older age, higher blood glucose levels and waist-hip ratio. Diastolic blood pressure correlated with the type of work the patients is involved in and blood glucose levels. In conclusion, the prevalence of hypertension in a rural southeastern Nigeria community was 27.6%, however awareness was very low (7.9%). Most participants had mild hypertension thus offering a window of opportunity for public health educators in preventing the complications of hypertension. There is therefore the need for awareness campaigns to be intensified in rural communities.

Shared decision-making and the caregiver experience in tuberous sclerosis complex: results from a UK survey

BackgroundTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic condition commonly accompanied by neurological and neuropsychological disorders, resulting in a high burden of illness for individuals and a substantial impact on their caregivers. Due to the diversity and complexity of clinical manifestations, patients with TSC need aligned multidisciplinary healthcare services starting in childhood through to adulthood. However, patients and caregivers are sometimes dissatisfied with the care provided, for which one of the most common reasons is a lack of involvement in clinical decision-making. Shared decision-making, whereby clinicians make clinical management decisions together with patients and their caregivers, is advocated for in the management of epilepsy, but evidence of its benefit in managing TSC is currently lacking. In this cross-sectional, UK-based analysis we used an online survey to capture the experiences of primary caregivers for individuals with TSC, including the impact on work productivity, clinical shared decision-making, satisfaction with care, and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.ResultsIn total, 73 eligible caregivers provided consent (analysis set), with 14 completing the survey partially and 59 completing the full survey. Many caregivers (72%) reported receiving recommendations about new treatments from their doctor and discussing the treatment together, with a high proportion (89%) preferring that treatment was initiated at a low dose. Most caregivers (69%) were satisfied or extremely satisfied with pediatric TSC healthcare services, but only 25% were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the transition to adult TSC healthcare services. Several (n = 30) caregivers specified the impact of caring on their work productivity and career in optional open-ended survey responses. Finally, 80% of caregivers indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic had a “large” or “very large” impact on their caring activities, negatively affecting the emotional wellbeing and behavior of individuals with TSC, and caregivers’ ability to work and arrange medical appointments.ConclusionsCaregivers largely feel involved in treatment decisions, and the majority were satisfied with healthcare services for children with TSC. However, many highlighted the need for an improved transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services. The survey also showed that COVID-19 has considerably affected caregivers and individuals with TSC.

Psychosocial Care of Early Bereaved Parents - A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study at German Maternity Wards

The death of an infant shortly after birth places a massive psychological burden on the parents involved. The availability of compassionate obstetric care is an important contributor to the prevention of sequelae. The aim of this study is to survey the current practice of psychosocial care for parents in perinatal infant death in German hospitals and to investigate the association between hospital size and number of information services for parents and between support services for hospital staff and number of information services for bereaved parents. In a quantitative cross-sectional study in the form of a full survey, professionals in 206 German hospitals with maternity wards were interviewed using questionnaires. The data were analyzed using a regression analysis. 206 hospitals participated in the survey. The analyses confirm: Hospital size has a highly significant positive influence on the number of services for bereaved parents. The number of services provided to hospital staff has a highly significant positive influence on the number of informational services provided to bereaved parents. Recommendations for action from this study are: Special training of clinic staff on the topic of perinatal infant death, strengthening of the doctor-patient relationship through Balint or supervision groups, and promotion of internal and external interdisciplinary collaboration.

Pest survey card on Eotetranychus lewisi

This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M-2020-0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Eotetranychus lewisi is published and available online in the EFSA Plant Pest Survey Cards Gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/eotetranychus-lewisi.

Athletic Training Preceptor Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice in Clinical Learning Experiences

Background: Interprofessional education and collaborative practice are standards that have been added to the accreditation standards for athletic training education. Athletic training educators will need to provide interprofessional experiences to their students to remain compliant with the standards. The goal of the mixed methods study was to explore athletic training preceptors' perceptions of interprofessional education and collaborative practice in the clinical setting. Methods: A total of 34 athletic training preceptors completed the full online survey, and of those, 5 completed the semi structured interview. Participants completed an asynchronous online module and a retrospective pretest survey using the ISVS-21 about their beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes about interprofessional education and practice. Participants that volunteered were asked additional questions during a semi-structured interview. Results: The findings of this study found that the educational module was effective in increasing the beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes of athletic training preceptors with a short online module and that preceptors had positive attitudes/beliefs about IPE/IPCP, however, preceptors identified lack of education about IPE/IPCP and barriers to implementing IPE/IPCP with and without students that influenced their use of IPE/IPCP. Conclusion: Athletic training programs could educate and develop athletic training preceptors in interprofessional education and clinical practice to help develop opportunities for athletic training students in the clinical setting.

SimBIG: mock challenge for a forward modeling approach to galaxy clustering

Simulation-Based Inference of Galaxies (SimBIG) is a forward modeling framework for analyzing galaxy clustering using simulation-based inference. In this work, we present the SimBIG forward model, which is designed to match the observed SDSS-III BOSS CMASS galaxy sample. The forward model is based on high-resolution Quijote N-body simulations and a flexible halo occupation model. It includes full survey realism and models observational systematics such as angular masking and fiber collisions. We present the “mock challenge” for validating the accuracy of posteriors inferred from SimBIG using a suite of 1,500 test simulations constructed using forward models with a different N-body simulation, halo finder, and halo occupation prescription. As a demonstration of SimBIG, we analyze the power spectrum multipoles out to k max = 0.5 h/Mpc and infer the posterior of ΛCDM cosmological and halo occupation parameters. Based on the mock challenge, we find that our constraints on Ω m and σ 8 are unbiased, but conservative. Hence, the mock challenge demonstrates that SimBIG provides a robust framework for inferring cosmological parameters from galaxy clustering on non-linear scales and a complete framework for handling observational systematics. In subsequent work, we will use SimBIG to analyze summary statistics beyond the power spectrum including the bispectrum, marked power spectrum, skew spectrum, wavelet statistics, and field-level statistics.

Global Resilience in Plastic Surgery Study (GRIPS): Resilience is Associated with Lower Burnout Rates.

A survey was sent via email to the members of plastic surgery societies (ICOPLAST) and the trainees from (ASPS) Resident Council from November 2021 through January 2022. The data included: demographics, training program characteristics, physician wellness resources, and single item Maslach-Burnout Inventory and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale questionnaire. One-hundred seventy-five plastic surgery trainees responded to the survey. Of these, 119 (68%) trainees from 24 countries completed the full survey. Most respondents 110 (92%) had heard of physician burnout, and almost half of respondents (45%) had burnout. The average Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale score varied significantly amongst trainees self-reporting burnout and those who did not (28.6 versus 31.3, P = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that increased work hours per week were associated with an increased risk of burnout (OR = 1.03, P = 0.04). Higher resilience score (OR = 0.92; P = 0.04) and access to wellness programs (OR = 0.60, P = 0.0004) were associated with lower risk of burnout. Burnout is prevalent across plastic surgery trainees from diverse countries. Increased work hours were associated with burnout, whereas access to wellness programs and higher resilience scores were "protective." Our data suggest that efforts to build resilience may mitigate burnout in plastic surgery trainees.

Comparison of Herbs in Prescription Composition of Consumptive Disease and Internal Injury in Donguibogam Through Network Analysis

Objective: Internal injuries and consumptive disease have different causes, yet they can affect each other. The relationship and combination of prescription drugs in the clinical practice of internal injuries and consumptive disease were analyzed for various diseases of “Donguibogam” through network analysis.Methods: The prescriptions used in consumptive disease and internal injury were established by conducting a full survey on the papers extracted from Donguibogam. The R version 4.0.3 (2020-10-10) and the igraph and arules package were used to perform network analysis and association rule relationship mining analysis in the first and second prescription compositions. Results: The herb frequently used for internal injury was Glycyrrhizae Radix, while the herb combination frequently used was Citri Pericarpium-Glycyrrhizae Radix. For centrality, the main factor was generally Glycyrrhizae Radix. In the case of consumptive disease, the herb most frequently used was Angelicae Gigantis Radix, and the combination most frequently used was Rehmanniae Radix Preparata-Angelicae Gigantis Radix. In terms of centrality, it was Angelicae Gigantis Radix. As a result of the network analysis of herbal prescription frequency, each group was divided into three.Conclusion: The interrelationship between internal injury and consumptive disease prescription drugs may reveal the differences and similarities between internal injury and consumptive disease and may serve as a basis for the development of new drugs or materials that can enhance mutual effectiveness in the treatment of internal injury and consumptive diseases.

Electronic Cigarette Usage Patterns and Perceptions in Adult Australians.

Despite their increasing popularity, and Australia's unique regulatory environment, how and why Australian adults use e-cigarettes and their perceptions of their safety, efficacy and regulation have not been extensively reported before. In this study, we screened 2217 adult Australians with the aim of assessing these questions in a sample of current or former e-cigarette users. A total of 505 out of 2217 respondents were current or former e-cigarette users, with only these respondents completing the full survey. Key findings of this survey included the high proportion of respondents who indicated they were currently using e-cigarettes (307 out of 2217 = 13.8%), and the high proportion of current e-cigarette users that were also smokers (74.6%). The majority of respondents used e-liquids containing nicotine (70.3%), despite it being illegal in Australia without a prescription, and the majority bought their devices and liquids in Australia (65.7%). Respondents reported using e-cigarettes in a variety of places, including inside the home, inside public places (where it is illegal to smoke tobacco cigarettes), and around other people-which has implications for second and third hand exposures. A significant proportion of current e-cigarette users (30.6%) thought that e-cigarettes were completely safe to use long-term, although in general, there was a large amount of uncertainty/ambivalence with respect to perceptions of e-cigarette safety and efficacy as smoking cessation tools. This study shows that e-cigarette use is common in Australia, and that appropriate dissemination of unbiased research findings on their safety and efficacy in smoking cessation is urgently required.

Evaluation of an Innovative Rosette Flight Plan Design for Wildlife Aerial Surveys with UAS

(1) Regular wildlife abundance surveys are a key conservation tool. Manned aircraft flying transects often remain the best alternative for counting large ungulates. Drones have cheaper and safer logistics, however their range is generally too short for large-scale application of the traditional method. Our paper investigates an innovative rosette flight plan for wildlife census, and evaluates relevance of this sampling protocol by comparing its statistical performance with transects, based on numerical simulations. (2) The UAS flight plan consisted in two rosettes of 6 triangular “petals” spread across the survey area, for a theoretical sampling rate of 2.95%, as opposed to a 20.04% classic sampling protocol with systematic transects. We tested the logistics of our survey design in Garamba National Park. We then modeled theoretical population distributions for both antelopes and buffaloes. We calculated animal densities in the simulated footprints of the theoretical rosette and transect flight plans. We also tested aggregating results for 2, 3 and 4 repetitions of the same rosette flight plan to increase the sampling rate. (3) Simulation results showed that the coefficient of variation associated with density estimates decreases with the number of repetitions of the rosette flight plan, and aggregating four repetitions is enough to give antelope densities with acceptable accuracy and precision while staying at a lower sampling rate. Buffalo densities displayed much higher variability and it shows the significant impact of gregariousness on density estimate accuracy and precision. (4) The method was found to be inappropriate for highly aggregative species but efficient for species that disperse widely and more randomly in their environment. Logistics required to perform a full survey in the field remain time- and resources-intensive. Therefore, we recommend it for remote parks facing difficulties to organize manned aerial counts. Lower costs and developments such as solar UASs offer interesting future perspectives.

Cross-Sectional Survey of Acupuncturists in the United States Who Prescribed Chinese Herbal Medicine for Patients with Symptoms Likely Related to COVID-19.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the prescribing of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) by licensed acupuncturists in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A 28-question survey with nine branching questions was disseminated through collegial networks, paid advertisements, and a study website in April-July 2021. Participants indicated that they were licensed acupuncturists who treated more than five patients for symptoms likely related to COVID-19 to gain entry to the full survey. Surveys were undertaken electronically through the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system. Results: The survey was undertaken by 103 participants representing all US geographic regions and had an average of 17 years in practice. Sixty-five percent received or intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Phone and videoconference were the predominant methods of patient contact; granules and pill forms of CHM were the most prescribed. A wide variety of information sources were used in devising patient treatments inclusive of anecdotal, observational, and scientific sources. Most patients were not receiving biomedical treatment. Ninety-seven percent of participants reported that they had no patients die of COVID-19, and the majority reported that <25% of their patients developed long hauler syndrome (post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that licensed acupuncturists were treating COVID-19 infected individuals in the United States during the early stages of the pandemic, and for many such patients this was the only therapeutic intervention they had access to from a licensed health care provider. Information disseminated from China through collegial networks, along with published sources including scientific studies, informed the approach to treatment. This study provides insight into an unusual circumstance in which clinicians needed to establish evidence-based approaches to the treatment of a new disease during a public health emergency.

Pest survey card on Anisogramma anomala

This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M-2020-0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Anisogramma anomala is published and available online in the EFSA Plant Pest Survey Cards Gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/anisogramma-anomala

Pest survey card on Diabrotica barberi and Diabrotica virgifera zeae

This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M-2020-0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Diabrotica barberi and Diabrotica virgifera zeae is published and available online in the EFSA Plant Pest Survey Cards Gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/diabrotica-barberi-virgifera-zeae

Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces and subdural collections—when to evaluate for abuse

In infants without a history of trauma, subdural haemorrhages should raise the concern for an abusive head injury, particularly when they are associated with bridging vein clotting/rupture or with septations. However, non-haemorrhagic, fluid-appearing subdural collections (also called hygromas) may also be the result of abuse. Subdural collections have also been uncommonly observed in patients with benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces (BESS) and a few large-scale studies accurately investigate the incidence and the significance. Currently, there is a wide variation of practices in children with BESS and subdural collections. Due to the social risks associated with abuse evaluation and the perceived risk of radiation exposure, there might be a reluctance to fully evaluate these children in some centres. The diagnosis of physical abuse cannot be substantiated nor safely excluded in infants with BESS and subdural collection(s), without investigation for concomitant traumatic findings. The exact prevalence of occult injuries and abuse in these infants is unknown. In macrocephalic infants with subdural collections and imaging features of BESS, thorough investigations for abuse are warranted and paediatricians should consider performing full skeletal surveys even when fundoscopy, social work consult, and detailed clinical evaluation are unremarkable.

Eat Sleep Console for the Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Process and Outcomes Evaluation

This project aimed to evaluate a practice change to Eat Sleep Console (ESC) in the postpartum unit and neonatal intensive care unit of a single Baby-Friendly tertiary hospital. Guided by Donabedian's quality care model, a process and outcomes evaluation of ESC was conducted through a retrospective chart review and the Eat Sleep Console Nurse Questionnaire, which assessed processes of care and knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of nurses. Improvement in neonatal outcomes, including a decreased number of morphine doses (12.33 vs. 3.17; p=.045), was noted from preintervention to postintervention. Breastfeeding at discharge increased from 38% to 57% but did not reach statistical significance. Thirty-seven nurses (71%) completed the full survey. The use of ESC resulted in positive neonatal outcomes. Nurse-identified areas for improvement resulted in a plan for continued improvement.

Identifying anomalous radio sources in the Evolutionary Map of the Universe Pilot Survey using a complexity-based approach

ABSTRACTThe Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) large-area radio continuum survey will detect tens of millions of radio galaxies, giving an opportunity for the detection of previously unknown classes of objects. To maximize the scientific value and make new discoveries, the analysis of these data will need to go beyond simple visual inspection. We propose the coarse-grained complexity, a simple scalar quantity relating to the minimum description length of an image that can be used to identify unusual structures. The complexity can be computed without reference to the broader sample or existing catalogue data, making the computation efficient on new surveys at very large scales (such as the full EMU survey). We apply our coarse-grained complexity measure to data from the EMU Pilot Survey to detect and confirm anomalous objects in this data set and produce an anomaly catalogue. Rather than work with existing catalogue data using a specific source detection algorithm, we perform a blind scan of the area, computing the complexity using a sliding square aperture. The effectiveness of the complexity measure for identifying anomalous objects is evaluated using crowd-sourced labels generated via the Zooniverse.org platform. We find that the complexity scan identifies unusual sources, such as odd radio circles, by partitioning on complexity. We achieve partitions where 5 per cent of the data is estimated to be 86 per cent complete, and 0.5 per cent is estimated to be 94 per cent pure, with respect to anomalies and use this to produce an anomaly catalogue.

Pest survey card on Citrus leprosis viruses

This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M-2020-0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for citrus leprosis viruses is published and available online in the EFSA Plant Pest Survey Cards Gallery at the following link and will be updated whenever new information becomes available: https://efsa.europa.eu/plants/planthealth/monitoring/surveillance/citrus-leprosis-viruses

Basic techniques of mound construction of the Yamnaya culture in the Southern Urals

The aim of the study. To determine the material and basic techniques for constructing burial mounds (kurgans) of the Yamnaya culture of the Bronze Age in the Southern Urals based on a comprehensive analysis with an emphasis on meso- and micromorphological analysis. Location and time of the study. The research objects are located in the Orenburg region within the East European Plain. Security excavations were carried out in 2019-2022 at three burial mounds located in the Tashlinsky (mound burial grounds Boldyrevo IV and Tashla IV) and Grachevsky districts (kurgan burial ground Kalikino II) of the Orenburg region. Mound 1 in the Boldyrevo IV burial mound, due to its significant size of 4.2 m in height and 60 m in diameter was chosen as a key object for which a full survey was carried out. Additionally, the smaller in size mounds of the 1st burial mound Tashla IV, as well as 1, 4 and 5 of the Kalikino II burial mound were studied. Methods. To determine the source of building materials and the basic techniques of soil and ground subsoil substrates for mound construction, a comprehensive analysis was carried out with an emphasis on macro-, meso- and micromorphological properties of the substrates. For the analytical study, which was carried out only for the Boldyrevo IV mound 1, total carbon content, organic and inorganic (carbonates) carbon content, loss on ignition, particle size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and pH were determinied. Results. The structure and materials of five burial mounds of the Yamnaya culture of the Bronze Age (5500 - 4300 years ago) were studied. The kurgans were proven to have been built from the local soils with the addition of anthropogenic material (silt, bones, shells). Representatives of the Yamnaya culture created variegated flowers using the construction techniques such as kneading, ramming, and the inclusion of anthropogenic material. At the micromorphological level, these techniques produces patterns of light loose and more compacted dark microzones in construction materials. Conclusions. Based on meso- and micromorphological analysis of the studied mound structures, we conclude that the representatives of the Yamnaya culture had knowledge of construction technologies and used them appropriately. The main method of mound constructing was creating a variegated mixed soil from humus or carbonate horizons with admixtures of anthropogenic and carbonate material. When building small mounds, people used rough kneading and tamping, but for larger mounds, either more complex construction was used, or more thorough kneading and tamping, as well as longer exposure to water.

Forecasts for cosmological measurements based on the angular power spectra of AGN and clusters of galaxies in the SRG/eROSITA all-sky survey

Context. The eROSITA X-ray telescope aboard the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) orbital observatory, in the course of its all-sky survey, is expected to detect about three million active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and approximately one hundred thousand clusters and groups of galaxies. Such a sample, clean and uniform, complemented with redshift information, will open a new window into the studies of the large-scale structure (LSS) of the Universe and the determination of its cosmological parameters. Aims. The purpose of this work is to assess the prospects of cosmological measurements with the eROSITA sample of AGNs and clusters of galaxies. We assumed the availability of photometric redshift measurements for eROSITA sources and explored the impact of their quality on our forecasts. Methods. As the LSS probe, we use the redshift-resolved angular power spectrum of the density fluctuations of objects. We employed a Fisher-matrix formalism and assumed flat ΛCDM cosmology to forecast the constraining power of eROSITA samples of AGNs and clusters of galaxies. We computed the LSS-relevant characteristics of AGNs and clusters in the framework of the halo model and their X-ray luminosity functions. As the baseline scenario, we considered the full four-year all-sky survey and investigated the impact of reducing the survey length to two years. Results. We find that the accuracy of photometric redshift estimates has a more profound effect on cosmological measurements than the fraction of catastrophic errors. Under realistic assumptions about the photometric redshift quality, the marginalised errors on the cosmological parameters achieve 1 − 10% accuracy depending on the cosmological priors used from other experiments. The statistical significance of Baryon acoustic oscillation detection in angular power spectra of AGNs and clusters of galaxies considered individually achieves 5 − 6σ. Our results demonstrate that the eROSITA sample of AGNs and clusters of galaxies used in combination with currently available photometric redshift estimates will provide cosmological constraints on a par with dedicated optical LSS surveys.