June October Research Articles

Tecovirimat use among patients with monkeypox (mpox) in Alameda County, California, June–October 2022

Background: Tecovirimat (TPOXX) is an antiviral drug only available via an Expanded Access Program (EAP) investigational new drug protocol and is recommended for treatment of select patients with monkeypox (mpox) infection. Alameda County Public Health Department prioritizes health equity but does not have a dedicated public health clinic. Therefore, we partnered closely with local healthcare providers that serve communities disproportionally impacted by mpox to ensure there was access to TPOXX. Using data collected during the outbreak we assessed whether populations in Alameda County most affected by mpox received treatment. Methods: We describe Alameda County patients with confirmed or probable mpox who received TPOXX during June–October 2022. Data were collected from case investigation interviews with patients and state-wide reportable disease database(s), which included demographic, clinical, and behavioral information. Confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the exact method for Poisson counts. We compared characteristics of mpox patients who received and did not receive TPOXX using the Pearson χ2 or Fisher exact test. P < .05 was considered significant. Results: Mpox case rates in Alameda County were highest among Black or African-American residents (35.6 per 100,000, 95% CI, 26.7–46.4) and Hispanic or Latinx residents (25.2, 95% CI, 20.2–31.0) compared to Asian residents (3.9, 95% CI, 2.3–6.1) and white residents (10.4, 95% CI, 7.7–13.9) residents. Among 242 mpox patients, 69 patients (28.5%) received TPOXX. The distribution of demographic and clinical characteristics among patients who received TPOXX was not significantly different than among those who did not, including residents aged 31–40 years (36.2% vs 34.7%), Black or African-American residents (20% vs 26.3%), Hispanic or Latinx residents (38.5% vs 41%), male residents (89.9% vs 95.3%), gay, lesbian, or same-gender loving residents (67.2% vs 67.4%) in the city of Oakland (63.2% vs 61.5%), or residents with human immunodeficiency virus infection (43.5% vs 36.6%). Conclusions: During the Alameda County mpox outbreak, nearly one-third of patients received TPOXX. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar among TPOXX recipients and nonrecipients. A proactive approach to obtaining TPOXX in Alameda County and strong relationships with local providers may have allowed for treatment to be accessible to mpox patients. Regular review of outbreak data can inform public health activities, ensure health equity, and help refine local response efforts.Disclosures: None

Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non-use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart.

Qualitative research aimed at understanding the decline in youth drinking has so far been hampered by a lack of baseline data for comparison. This New Zealand study overcomes this limitation by comparing archival qualitative data collected at the height of youth drinking (1999-2001) with contemporary data collected for this study (June-October 2022). The aim is to explore changes in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non-use) for two cohorts about 20 years apart. Both archival and contemporary data were collected from 14 to 17 year old secondary school students (years 10-12) through individual and small-group/pair interviews in matched suburban co-ed schools. Interviews explored friendships, lifestyles, romantic relationships and experiences and perceptions of substance use and non-use. Comparative analysis highlighted changes that may help to explain the decline in youth drinking, including an increased value placed on personal choice and acceptance of diversity; decreased face-to-face socialising and the emergence of social media as a central feature of adolescent social life, perhaps displacing key functions of drinking and partying; increased pervasiveness of risk discourses and increased awareness of health and social risks of alcohol; and increased framing of alcohol use as a coping mechanism by both drinkers and non-drinkers. Collectively, these changes appear to have shifted the social position of drinking from an almost compulsory component of adolescent social life in 1999-2001, to an optional activity that many contemporary adolescents perceive to have high risks and few benefits.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination during June-October 2021: A multi-site prospective study.

Vaccine hesitancy presents a challenge to COVID-19 control efforts. To identify beliefs associated with delayed vaccine uptake, we developed and implemented a vaccine hesitancy survey for the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership. In June 2021, we assessed attitudes and beliefs associated with COVID-19 vaccination using an online survey. Self-reported vaccination data were requested daily through October 2021. We compared responses between vaccinated and unvaccinated respondents using absolute standardized mean differences (ASMD). We assessed validity and reliability using exploratory factor analysis and identified latent factors associated with a subset of survey items. Cox proportional hazards models and mediation analyses assessed predictors of subsequent vaccination among those initially unvaccinated. In June 2021, 29,522 vaccinated and 1,272 unvaccinated participants completed surveys. Among those unvaccinated in June 2021, 559 (43.9%) became vaccinated by October 31, 2021. In June, unvaccinated participants were less likely to feel "very concerned" about getting COVID-19 than vaccinated participants (10.6% vs. 43.3%, ASMD 0.792). Among those initially unvaccinated, greater intent to become vaccinated was associated with getting vaccinated and shorter time to vaccination. However, even among participants who reported no intention to become vaccinated, 28.5% reported vaccination before study end. Two latent factors predicted subsequent vaccination-being 'more receptive' was derived from motivation to protect one's own or others' health and resume usual activities; being 'less receptive' was derived from concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. In a Cox model, both factors were partially mediated by vaccination intention. This study characterizes vaccine hesitant individuals and identifies predictors of eventual COVID-19 vaccination through October 31, 2021. Even individuals with no intention to be vaccinated can shift to vaccine uptake. Our data suggest factors of perceived severity of COVID-19 disease, vaccine safety, and trust in the vaccine development process are predictive of vaccination and may be important opportunities for ongoing interventions.

Clostridioides difficile infection surveillance in intensive care units and oncology wards using machine learning.

Screening individuals admitted to the hospital for Clostridioides difficile presents opportunities to limit transmission and hospital-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI). However, detection from rectal swabs is resource intensive. In contrast, machine learning (ML) models may accurately assess patient risk without significant resource usage. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of swab surveillance to daily risk estimates produced by an ML model to identify patients who will likely develop HO-CDI in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. A prospective cohort study was conducted with patient carriage of toxigenic C. difficile identified by rectal swabs analyzed by anaerobic culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A previously validated ML model using electronic health record data generated daily risk of HO-CDI for every patient. Swab results and risk predictions were compared to the eventual HO-CDI status. Adult inpatient admissions taking place in University of Michigan Hospitals' medical and surgical intensive care units and oncology wards between June 6th and October 8th, 2020. In total, 2,979 admissions, representing 2,044 patients, were observed over the course of the study period, with 39 admissions developing HO-CDIs. Swab surveillance identified 9 true-positive and 87 false-positive HO-CDIs. The ML model identified 9 true-positive and 226 false-positive HO-CDIs; 8 of the true-positives identified by the model differed from those identified by the swab surveillance. With limited resources, an ML model identified the same number of HO-CDI admissions as swab-based surveillance, though it generated more false-positives. The patients identified by the ML model were not yet colonized with C. difficile. Additionally, the ML model identifies at-risk admissions before disease onset, providing opportunities for prevention.

Differential Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Occupation: Evidence from the Virus Watch prospective cohort study in England and Wales

BackgroundWorkers across different occupations vary in their risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the direct contribution of occupation to this relationship is unclear. This study aimed to investigate how infection risk differed across occupational groups in England and Wales up to April 2022, after adjustment for potential confounding and stratification by pandemic phase.MethodsData from 15,190 employed/self-employed participants in the Virus Watch prospective cohort study were used to generate risk ratios for virologically- or serologically-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using robust Poisson regression, adjusting for socio-demographic and health-related factors and non-work public activities. We calculated attributable fractions (AF) amongst the exposed for belonging to each occupational group based on adjusted risk ratios (aRR).ResultsIncreased risk was seen in nurses (aRR = 1.44, 1.25–1.65; AF = 30%, 20–39%), doctors (aRR = 1.33, 1.08–1.65; AF = 25%, 7–39%), carers (1.45, 1.19–1.76; AF = 31%, 16–43%), primary school teachers (aRR = 1.67, 1.42- 1.96; AF = 40%, 30–49%), secondary school teachers (aRR = 1.48, 1.26–1.72; AF = 32%, 21–42%), and teaching support occupations (aRR = 1.42, 1.23–1.64; AF = 29%, 18–39%) compared to office-based professional occupations. Differential risk was apparent in the earlier phases (Feb 2020—May 2021) and attenuated later (June—October 2021) for most groups, although teachers and teaching support workers demonstrated persistently elevated risk across waves.ConclusionsOccupational differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk vary over time and are robust to adjustment for socio-demographic, health-related, and non-workplace activity-related potential confounders. Direct investigation into workplace factors underlying elevated risk and how these change over time is needed to inform occupational health interventions.

Spring Snowpack Influences on the Volume and Timing of Spring and Peak-Season Overnight Visitation to Yosemite Wilderness

Abstract Wilderness visitation, particularly overnight use, is reactive to climate variability because backpackers face greater exposure to and dependence on environmental conditions. This study examines the effect that spring snowpack had on the timing and volume of permits issued for overnight use of the Yosemite Wilderness during peak and shoulder-season months (April–October) from 2002 to 2019. We categorize 1 April snowpack at Tuolumne Meadows into snow drought (<75%), high snowpack (>125%), and near-average snowpack (75%–125%). Results confirm wilderness-wide differences between snowpack categories, including change in spring overnight visitors (April–June: +20% snow drought and −28% high snowpack). Our findings confirm that snow drought allows for more access to high-elevation trailheads when seasonal roads are open earlier in spring (May–June: +74% Tioga Road and +81% Tuolumne Meadows). Mid- to high-elevation trailheads experience a sustained increase in use during high-snowpack years (June–October: +12% Yosemite Valley and Big Oak Flat; +15% Glacier Point Road and Wawona; +32% Hetch Hetchy) because a narrower seasonal access window leads to filled permit quotas in the high country and displaces use to lower-elevation trailheads. These findings have implications for wilderness stewards, including biophysical and experiential impacts on wilderness character from earlier and longer seasons, especially at higher elevation and in fragile alpine and subalpine areas, as snow drought in mountain-protected areas becomes more common. Recommendations to address greater early-season use and its attendant impacts include adaptively managing permits for different types of snowpack years, including potential changes in the number, timing, and destination of select trailhead quotas.

Estimation of blood pressure In adult population in Baiji

Data was collected from 60 cases in age groups from 40-60 years ( 30 female and 30 male ).The cases included in this study was collected randomly in Baiji hospital from June to October 2006 .The data was obtained by using a questionnaire . It was found that the most common cases use Beta blockers as antihypertensive drugs , 12 cases use B-blocker plus Angiotensin converting enzymeinhibitors and 5 cases use B-blocker with diuretics.There are 8 cases use Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor only and 7 cases use vasodilator drugs .Regarding the measurement of bloodpressure and heart rate , in 36 cases complaining from increase blood pressure above the normal level there is increase in heart rate in 30 cases ( heart rate more than 100 beat / minute ) , andin24cases of normal blood pressure there is increase in heart rate in 5 cases only .The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of hypertension in age groups from 40-60 years in Baiji from June toOctober with some investigations

Drivers of future streamflow changes in watersheds across the Northeastern United States

AbstractAccurate projections of streamflow, which have implications for flooding, water resources, hydropower, and ecosystems, are critical to climate change adaptation and require an understanding of streamflow sensitivity to climate drivers. The northeastern United States has experienced a dramatic increase in extreme precipitation over the past 25 years; however, the effects of these changes, as well as changes in other drivers of streamflow, remain unclear. Here, we use a random forest model forced with a regional climate model to examine historical and future streamflow dynamics of four watersheds across the Northeast. We find that streamflow in the cold season (November–May) is primarily driven by 3‐day rainfall and antecedent wetness (Antecedent Precipitation Index) in three rainfall‐dominant watersheds, and 30‐day rainfall, antecedent wetness, and 30‐day snowmelt in the fourth, more snowmelt‐dominated watershed. In the warm season (June–October), streamflow is driven by antecedent wetness and rainfall in all watersheds. By the end of the century (2070–2099), cold season streamflow depends on the importance placed on snow in the machine learning model, with changes ranging from −7% (with snow) to +40% (without snow) in a single watershed. Simulated future warm season streamflow increases in two watersheds (56% and 193%) due to increased precipitation and antecedent soil wetness, but decreases in the other two watersheds (−6% and −27%) due to reduced precipitation.

The impact of COVID-19 related adversity on the course of mental health during the pandemic and the role of protective factors: a longitudinal study among older adults in The Netherlands

PurposeMany studies report about risk factors associated with adverse changes in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic while few studies report about protective and buffering factors, especially in older adults. We present an observational study to assess protective and buffering factors against COVID-19 related adverse mental health changes in older adults.Methods899 older adults (55 +) in the Netherlands were followed from 2018/19 to two pandemic time points (June–October 2020 and March–August 2021). Questionnaires included exposure to pandemic-related adversities (“COVID-19 exposure”), depressive and anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and pre-pandemic functioning. Linear regression analyses estimated main effects of COVID-19 exposure and protective factors on mental health changes; interaction effects were tested to identify buffering factors.ResultsCompared to pre-pandemic, anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms and loneliness increased. A higher score on the COVID-19 adversity index was associated with stronger negative mental health changes. Main effects: internet use and high mastery decreased depressive symptoms; a larger network decreased anxiety symptoms; female gender, larger network size and praying decreased loneliness. COVID-19 vaccination buffered against COVID-19 exposure-induced anxiety and loneliness, a partner buffered against COVID-19 exposure induced loneliness.ConclusionExposure to COVID-19 adversity had a cumulative negative impact on mental health. Improving coping, finding meaning, stimulating existing religious and spiritual resources, network interventions and stimulating internet use may enable older adults to maintain mental health during events with large societal impact, yet these factors appear protective regardless of exposure to specific adversities. COVID-19 vaccination had a positive effect on mental health.

Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study.

BackgroundEngagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and risk taking. We assessed the association between pre-COVID impulsivity levels and engagement in preventative measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal South African sample, in order to inform future pandemic planning.MethodsData were collected from N = 214 youths (mean age at baseline: M = 17.81 (SD = .71), 55.6% female) living in a South African peri-urban settlement characterised by high poverty and deprivation. Baseline assessments were taken in 2018/19 and the COVID follow-up was conducted in June–October 2020 via remote data collection. Impulsivity was assessed using the Balloon Analogue Task (BART), while hygiene and social distancing behaviours were captured through self-report. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses were performed to estimate effects of impulsivity on measure adherence.ResultsSelf-rated engagement in hygiene behaviours was high (67.1–86.1% “most of the time”, except for “coughing/sneezing into one’s elbow” at 33.3%), while engagement in social distancing behaviours varied (22.4–57.8% “most of the time”). Higher impulsivity predicted lower levels of hygiene (β = .14, p = .041) but not social distancing behaviours (β = −.02, p = .82). This association was retained when controlling for a range of demographic and COVID-related factors (β = .14, p = .047) and was slightly reduced when including the effects of a life-skills interventions on hygiene behaviour (β = −.13, p = .073).ConclusionsOur data indicate that impulsivity may predict adolescent engagement in hygiene behaviours post COVID-19 pandemic onset in a high risk, sub-Saharan African setting, albeit with a small effect size. For future pandemics, it is important to understand predictors of engagement, particularly in the context of adversity, where adherence may be challenging. Limitations include a small sample size and potential measure shortcomings.

Data-driven models for flood prediction in an ungauged karst wetland: Napahai wetland, Yunnan, China.

Flood prediction for ungauged karst wetland is facing a great challenge. How to build a wetland hydrological model when there is a lack of basic hydrological data is the key to dealing with the above challenge. Napahai wetland is a typical ungauged karst wetland. In ungauged wetland/condition, this article used the wetland open water area (OWA) extracted from Landsat remote sensing images during 1987-2018 to characterize the hydrological characteristics of Napahai wetland. The local daily precipitation in the 1987-2018 rainy season (June-October) was used to set the variables. Based on the following hypothesis: in the rainy season, the OWA of the Napahai wetland rises when there is an increase in accumulated precipitation (AP), two data-driven models were established. The study took the area difference (AD) between two adjacent OWAs as the dependent variable, the accumulated precipitation (AP) within the acquisition time of two adjacent OWAs, and the corresponding time interval (TI) of the OWA as explanatory variables. Two data-driven models (a piecewise linear regression model and a decision tree model) were established to carry out flood forecasting simulations. The decision tree provided higher goodness of fit while the piecewise linear regression could offer a better interpretability between the variables which offset the decision tree. The results showed that: (1) the goodness of fit of the decision tree is higher than that of the piecewise linear regression model (2) the piecewise linear model has a better interpretation. When AP increased by 1 mm, the average AD increased by 2.41 ha; when TI exceeded 182 d and increased by 1 d, the average AD decreased to 3.66 ha. This article proposed an easy decision plan to help the local Napahai water managers forecast floods based on the results from the two models above. In addition, the modelling method proposed in this article, based on the idea of difference for non-equidistant time series, can be applied to karst wetland hydrological simulation problems with data acquisition difficulty.

Space-time quantification of aboveground net primary productivity service supply capacity in high Andean bofedales using remote sensors

The aboveground net primary productivity ( ANPP) of bofedales is one of the most important indicators for the provision of ecosystem services in the high Andean areas. In the case of bofedales, the evaluation of the ANPP supply capacity as a service on a spatial and temporal scale through remote sensing has been little addressed. The capacity, intra and interannual, to provide the ANPP of the high Andean wetlands was quantified at a spatial and temporal level through remote sensing. The normalized difference vegetation index ( NDVI) of the MODIS sensor was used according to the Monteith model (1972), product of the incident photosynthetically active radiation, fraction of the absorbed radiation, and the efficiency of using the radiation of the calibrated vegetation with dry matter sampling in the field. Results show an ANPP prediction R 2 of 0.52 (p < 0.05), with no significant spatial difference between field samples. When applying the model, the intra-annual temporary ANPP supply capacity presents a maximum average of 160.54 kg DM·ha –1·month –1 in the rainy season (December–May) and a maximum average of 81.17 kg DM·ha –1·month –1 in the dry season (June–October). In 2003–2020, the interannual temporary capacity presented values of 1100–1700 kg DM·ha –1·year –1. This makes it possible not to affect the sustainability of the wetlands and prevent their depletion and degradation. Understanding the ANPP supply capacity of bofedales can favour the efficient use of the resource and indirectly benefit its conservation.

Changing Insect Catch in Viennese Museums during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in societies across the globe. In many countries in Europe, national lockdowns during the spring of 2020 meant that museums were closed, and maintenance and housekeeping were at a minimum. We compared the insect monitoring data of 15 museums in and around Vienna between the years 2018 and 2022 to see potential effects of the two lockdowns (spring 2020 and winter 2020/21) on insect populations. In Vienna, these changes altered the presence of pests, most notably an increase in silverfish by late spring (March–May 2020). We also found increased numbers of other pest species (notably Tineola bisselliella and Attagenus sp.), though these changes were seen later (June–October 2020). Thylodrias contractus, although found only in one museum, appeared to show decreased numbers during 2020. Storage areas in some of the museums revealed no significant increase in insect catch during the COVID-19 related closures. Since there are rarely visitors in such spaces, the situation did not change much during the closures. Silverfish are shy insects, but they were able to range more freely during the closures in the mostly darkened rooms. The increase of Tineola bisselliella and Attagenus sp. could be a result of reduced cleaning in the first lockdown. In the second lockdown, no significant changes were found. Human activity from staff was much higher compared to the first closure; a second reason could be the time of year, as in the winter period, it is mainly larvae that are active. Increased insect populations remind us that even when museums are unoccupied, they still need monitoring for possible risks from pests. No damage to the objects from the pests was observed in the museums investigated.

Queering Public Health: A Critical Examination of Healthcare Access and Gender Expression among Trans, Nonbinary, and Other Gender Nonconforming People during COVID-19

Research documenting the impact of COVID-19 on Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) populations in Canada is limited. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the lives of trans, nonbinary, and other gender nonconforming (TGNC) people. Engage COVID-19 is a mixed methods study examining the impact of COVID-19 on gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men (GBQM) living in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, Canada. Using purposive sampling, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews (between November 2020–February 2021 and June–October 2021) with 93 participants who discussed the impact of COVID-19 on their lives. Seventeen participants were identified as TGNC. TGNC participants reported barriers to trans healthcare during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several participants indicated that some public health interventions during COVID-19 (i.e., lockdowns) eased the pressure to “perform” gender due to fewer in-person interactions. During lockdowns, TGNC participants increasingly cultivated community networks online. Nevertheless, participants reported longing for the social support that was available to them during pre-COVID. Lack of access to community spaces during lockdowns had a negative impact on participants’ mental health, despite reduced pressure to perform gender and opportunities for social engagement in online spaces.

Groundwater recharge in northern New England: Meteorological drivers and relations with low streamflow

AbstractMeteorological drivers of groundwater recharge for spring (February–June), fall (October–January), and recharge‐year (October–June) recharge seasons were evaluated for northern New England and upstate New York from 1989 to 2018. Monthly groundwater recharge was computed at 21 observation wells by subtracting the water levels at the end of each month from the level of the previous month; only positive monthly values were used to compute seasonal recharge. Precipitation, temperature, sea‐level pressure, 500‐mb geopotential heights, and various teleconnection indices were tested as explanatory variables for the interannual variability of recharge using random forest machine learning models. Precipitation within recharge seasons was positively correlated with groundwater recharge for most wells in all seasons. In general, whilst groundwater recharge in the study area was generally highest during the months of March and April, October precipitation was an important month for explaining the interannual groundwater recharge variability. This is likely because the variability in recharge in October may be high or low for given years. Sea‐level pressure and 500‐mb heights were typically inversely correlated with groundwater recharge during the recharge‐year and fall recharge seasons, as higher sea‐level pressure and heights are usually associated with clearer skies and less precipitation. The North Atlantic Oscillation, Pacific‐North American pattern, and Pacific Decadal Oscillation teleconnections affected groundwater recharge differently by well and season. The influence of groundwater recharge on minimum daily streamflows during the subsequent summer/fall was also analysed. Summer precipitation was the most important explanatory variable for study streams whilst groundwater recharge and summer air temperature were significant variables for a few streams.

Gradients of Variation in the At-Vessel Mortality Rate between Twelve Species of Sharks and Skates Sampled through a Fishery-Independent Trawl Survey in the Asinara Gulf (NW Mediterranean Sea)

Elasmobranchs are priority species for conservation due to their rapid decline determined by the unbalanced struggle between a fragile bio-ecology and strong anthropogenic impacts, such as bycatch from professional fishing. In this context, measuring species resistance to catch of poorly selective gear is of paramount importance. During June-October 2022, five experimental fishing campaigns were carried out in the Asinara Gulf (northern Sardinia) through 35 geographically and bathymetrically representative hauls of an area between 30 and 600 m in depth. Skates prevailed over sharks in the number of species, with seven and five species, respectively. We first evaluated the status of each individual with respect to stress due to the trawl's catch using a three-graded scale. We also recorded individual biometrics (total and disk length, weight and sex, and maturity for males) on board by implementing the best practices in manipulating individuals for physiological recovery and release at sea. After capture, skates resulted in generally better conditions than sharks, although deepwater species of both groups exhibited a worse state than coastal species. The estimated vitality rates also depended on the size of the individuals. This work provides standardized data on the intermingled effect of size, species type, and inhabited depth on the resistance response of some elasmobranch species against capture by trawl fishery activities.

Incidence and course of acute coronary syndrome cases after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The collateral damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected cardiovascular disease patients, mainly acute coronary syndrome (ACS) cases. Additionally, lockdown caused treatment-related concerns and reluctance to seek medical help, factors that can delay treatment. We aimed to analyze the incidence and course of ACS after the first COVID-19 wave. The report is based on a multi-institutional registry of 10 interventional cardiology departments. ACS patient data were gathered from June to October 2020, i.e. in the period following the first lockdown in Poland (March 30-May 31, 2020) and compared with the corresponding 2019 timeframe. Patients (2801 and 2620) hospitalized for ACS in 2019 and 2020 (June-October) represented 52.8% and 57.9% of coronary artery disease admissions, respectively. In 2020 vs. 2019, more cases of arterial hypertension (80.2% vs. 71.5%; P <0.001), diabetes (32.7% vs. 28.2%; P <0.001) hyperlipidemia (53.2% vs. 49.8%; P = 0.01), and smoking history (29.5% vs. 25.8%; P = 0.003) were detected. Median troponin and cholesterol values, as well as glycemia, were higher in 2020. Patients were more likely to undergo percutaneous treatment (91.2% vs. 87.5%; P <0.001) and were less often referred for surgery (3.7% vs. 4.9%; P = 0.03). No differences in deaths from repeat myocardial infarction, stroke, and/or composite endpoint (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [MACCE]) were noted. However, suffering from ACS in 2020 (June-October) was a risk factor for mortality based on multivariable analysis. The COVID-19 pandemic affected ACS patient profile, course of treatment, and increased risk for mortality.

Prognosis prediction of the mean tracheal air column area in COVID-19 patients

Aim: SARS-CoV-2 infection frequently affects the lungs, it can also cause severe inflammation in the lower respiratory tract, leading to tracheal damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the mean tracheal air column and COVID-19.Material and Method: Chest computed tomography scans of COVID-19 patients treated in an intensive care unit between June 1st, 2020 and October 1st 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. The air column area of the trachea was measured and the effect of the values obtained on mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit for patients COVID-19 was examined.Results: We found that an increase in the mean tracheal air column increased mortality by 1.218 times. We also determined that an increase in the mean area of the tracheal air column increased the length of stay in the intensive care unit. Furthermore, we showed that advanced age and an increase in the length of stay in the intensive care unit were factors that increased mortality.Conclusion: Tracheomegaly is a poor prognostic factor in COVID-19 disease and is easily diagnosed with CT.

Divergent litterfall nutrient responses to rainfall seasonality revealed through long-term observations in a tropical dry forest

Abstract Long-term climate and vegetation data were used to determine the role of rainfall variability and its seasonal distribution on litterfall nutrients. Based on a 20-year data set on rainfall (range 334–1,506 mm per year) and litterfall nutrients from old-growth tropical dry forest (TDF) in Mexico, we examined litterfall N and P concentrations from the rainy and dry seasons in response to rainfall in the rainy (June–October) and the dry (November–May) seasons, the latter referred to as out-of-season precipitation (OSP). Rainy-season litterfall N concentrations, but not P concentrations nor N:P ratios, changed positively (p &lt; 0.001) in response to rainy-season precipitation. Dry-season litterfall N concentrations and N:P ratios, but not litterfall P, increased (p ≤ 0.02) in response to rainfall from the preceding rainy season. N:P ratios of dry-season litterfall in years with OSP were higher only during dry years and N concentrations decreased in wet years (p &lt; 0.05). The narrow range in dry-season litterfall P concentrations (1.00–1.15 mg g-1), irrespective of rainfall amount and OSP, suggests P conservation. The variation in litterfall N, but not litterfall P, in response to rainfall variability reveals a divergent nutrient response along steep changes in water availability in this TDF.

Effect of Iron Nutrition on Growth and Productivity of Aerobic Rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons (June–October) of 2012 and 2013 at College Farm, College of Agriculture, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telengana, India to evaluate the response of rice cultivars and iron nutrition on growth and yield of aerobic rice. Experiment comprising of three rice cultivars (Tellahamsa, MTU 1010 and KRH 2) and twelve sources and modes of iron nutrition i.e. control (no iron), basal application of iron sulphate @ 25 kg ha-1, basal application of Iron chelate @ 25 kg ha-1, 3 foliar sprays of 2% iron sulphate @ 7 days interval, 3 foliar sprays of 2% iron sulphate @ 10 days interval and 3 foliar sprays of 2% iron sulphate @ 15 days interval. Next 3 treatments were three foliar sprays of 2% iron sulphate in conjunction with basal application of iron sulphate @ 25 kg ha-1. Subsequent treatments were three foliar sprays of 2% iron sulphate with basal combination of iron chelate @ 25 kg ha-1. Results indicated that among rice cultivars KRH 2 gave significantly better agronomic performance with respect to growth parameters and yield. Iron nutrition treatments significantly affected the plant height, tillers, dry matter accumulation and yield of aerobic rice. Basal application of iron chelate @ 25 kg ha-1 with 3 foliar sprays of iron sulphate at 7 days interval produced tallest plants, maximum number of tillers, accumulated highest dry matter and produced maximum yield during both the years.