Mean Daily Levels Research Articles

Impact of drought on Oncomelania hupensis snails breeding in the Poyang Lake area

To examine the impact of arid climates on distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in the Poyang Lake area, so as to provide insights into precision control of O. hupensis snails in the Poyang Lake area. O. hupensis snails-infested grass islands in Hukou County, Lianxi District and Lushan City in the northern Poyang Lake area, and Jinxian County, Nanchang County and Poyang County in the southern Poyang Lake area were selected as the study areas, and the occurrence of frames with living snails and the mean density of living snails were captured from snail surveys in the study areas in spring and autumn each year from 2006 to 2023. Five years 2007, 2011, 2013, 2019 and 2022 were selected as drought years, and the mean daily water levels were collected at the Xingzi hydrological station in the drought years, normal flow year (2012) and flood year (2020). The numbers of days with water levels ranging from the lower elevation (11 m) to the upper elevation (16 m) for snail survival and the numbers of days with water levels of 11 m and below were collected in the Poyang Lake area, and the changes of snail indicators were compared in different grass islands in the Poyang Lake area before and after drought. The numbers of days with water levels ranging from 11 to 16 m were 110, 88, 136 d and 125 d at the Xingzi hydrological station in four drought years 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2019, which were less than in the flow year and flood year, and the days with water levels of 11 m and below were 242, 277, 220 d and 198 d in four drought years 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2019, which were longer than in the flow year and flood year. A total of 416 snails-infested marshlands were surveyed in the Poyang Lake area from 2006 to 2021, and the survey marshlands accounted for 43.12% (307/712) and 46.98% (109/232) of total marshlands in the southern and northern Poyang Lake areas, respectively. The median occurrence of frames with living snails and mean density of living snails were 0.60% (interquartile range, 4.04%) and 0.010 1 snail/0.1 m2 (interquartile range, 0.076 1 snail/0.1 m2) in drought years, which were both lower than those [1.33% (5.19%) and 0.022 8 (0.098 9) snail/0.1 m2] in non-drought years (χ2= 42.170 and 44.911, both P values < 0.01). The proportion of grass islands with a continuous decline in snail indicators was higher in the southern Poyang Lake area than in the northern Poyang Lake area after the next year of drought (24.24% vs. 2.33%; χ2 = 10.633, P < 0.01), and the proportion of grass islands with rebounding snail indicators was higher in the northern Poyang Lake area than in the southern Poyang Lake area (53.49% vs. 15.76%; χ2 = 26.966, P < 0.01). A longitudinal analysis of snail indicators in marshlands with rebounding snail indicators after drought showed 1 to 5 years for return to pre-drought snail status, with a median of 2 (interquartile range, 1) years, and snail status was more likely to rebound if the occurrence of frames with living snails and the mean density of living snails were 2.11% and 0.025 5 snail/0.1 m2 and greater in snails-infested grass islands. Drought causes a remarkable decline in O. hupensis snail indicators in the Poyang Lake area, with a more remarkable impact in the southern Poyang Lake area, and 1 to 5 years are required for return to pre-drought snail status.

The impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) on opioid consumption and postoperative pain levels in elective spine surgery

ObjectiveEnhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols were developed to counteract the adverse effects of the surgical stress response, aiming for quicker postoperative recovery. Initially applied in abdominal surgeries, ERAS principles have extended to orthopedic spine surgery, but research in this area is still in its infancy. The current study investigated the impact of ERAS on postoperative pain and opioid consumption in elective spine surgeries. MethodsA single-center retrospective study of patients undergoing elective spine surgery from May 2019 to July 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups: those enrolled in the ERAS pathway and those adhering to traditional surgical protocols. Data on demographics, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), surgical procedures, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), while opioid utilization was quantified in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). NRS and MME were averaged for each patient across all days under observation. Differences in outcomes between groups (ERAS vs. treatment as usual) were tested using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and Pearson’s or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. ResultsThe median of patient’s mean daily NRS scores for postoperative pain were not statistically significantly different between groups (median = 5.55 (ERAS) and 5.28 (non-ERAS), p=.2). Additionally, the median of patients’ mean daily levels of MME were similar between groups (median = 17.24 (ERAS) and 16.44 (non-ERAS), p=.3) ERAS patients experienced notably shorter LOS (median=2 days) than their non-ERAS counterparts (median=3 days, p=.001). The effect of ERAS was moderated by whether the patient had ACDF surgery. ERAS (vs. non-ERAS) patients who had ACDF surgery had 1.64 lower average NRS (p=.006). ERAS (vs. non-ERAS) patients who had a different surgery had 0.72 higher average NRS (p=.02) but had almost half the length of stay, on average (p<.001). ConclusionsThe current study underscores the dynamic nature of ERAS protocols within the realm of spine surgery. While ERAS demonstrates advantages such as reduced LOS and improved patient-reported outcomes, it requires careful implementation and customization to address the specific demands of each surgical discipline. The potential to expedite recovery, optimize resource utilization, and enhance patient satisfaction cannot be overstated. However, the fine balance between achieving these benefits and ensuring comprehensive patient care, especially in the context of postoperative pain management, must be maintained. As ERAS continues to evolve and find its place in diverse surgical domains, it is crucial for healthcare providers to remain attentive to patient needs, adapting ERAS protocols to suit individual patient populations and surgical contexts.

Exploring the relationship of the winter-spring crop’s rice yield with meteorological drought and water resources in Ben Tre province

Recent environmental changes have significantly impacted rice cultivation in Ben Tre province, the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) coastal province. This research employed the Mann-Kendall (MK) non-parametric method and Sen’s slope (SS) technique to detect trends in the rice yield of the winter-spring crop (WSC) in Ben Tre province and environmental parameters from 2009 to 2020. These environmental parameters include the meteorological drought index and key water resource metrics, potentially affecting the region’s rice yield. Furthermore, it established the relationship between these environmental parameters and rice yield using multiple linear regression. The results indicated an average decrease of 0.13 ton/ha/year in the WSC’s rice yield, with a severe reduction to 2.86 ton/ha in 2016. This decline in rice yield is likely attributed to environmental shifts, particularly during years with extreme hydrological events. The study found that during the months of dry season, from January to April, there was a decrease of 0.14 per year in the minimum Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-4min) at the Ben Tre meteorological station; an increase in the minimum daily discharge at the Tan Chau station (QTCmin) by 81 m3/s/year; a decrease in the mean daily water level at the My Thuan station (QMTmean) by 0.22 cm/year; and an increase in the maximum daily water level at the Ben Trai station (HBTmax) by 0.67 cm/year. However, the maximum daily salinity concentration at the Tra Vinh station (STVmax) showed no significant trend, oscillating between 6.5 and 15 g/l, potentially because the three-hourly monitoring intervals might not have fully captured peak salinity levels. The regression model identified SPEI-4min (with a Correlation Index (CI) of 0.450) and STVmax (CI = 0.372) as the primary factors influencing rice yield. Additionally, QTCmin and HBTmax were also significant, though to a lesser extent, with correlation indices of 0.310 and 0.303, respectively. Conversely, QMTmean had a relatively minor influence, with a correlation index of 0.136. These findings are crucial to developing adaptive strategies and policies for improving the resilience of rice production in the study province and throughout the VMD.

Assessment of arterial rigidity and daily profile of arterial pressure in women with newly detected breast cancer

Research objective: to evaluate arterial stiff ness indicators and its correlation with parameters of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC).Material and methods: a prospective cohort study in 158 women aged 27 to 64 years with a median age of 45.4 years and newly diagnosed BC at stage IIA–IIIB before chemotherapy was conducted. The first group included 109 patients with normal or high-normal office blood pressure (BP), and the second group included 49 women with previously diagnosed stage 1– 2 essential hypertension (EH) with low or moderate cardiovascular risk. All patients underwent indirect arteriography and ABPM. Results. According to ABPM data, “masked” arterial hypertension (MAH) was diagnosed in 54 (49.5%) women in the fi rst group. In patients with MAH, the mean daily level and diastolic BP time index exceeded the corresponding indicators in EH, and the magnitude of the morning rise in systolic BP was significantly lower. In 35.4% of the examined patients with EH, the pulse wave velocity (PWV) was increased, and in 17.4% it was pathological. With MAH, these changes were recorded in 28.5% and 14.1% of cases, respectively. The odds ratio showed that in women with normal BP, the probability of an increase in PWV &gt;10 m/s increased by 1.6 times, and in the presence of comorbidity with MAH and EH, it increased by 2.2 and 2.4 times, respectively. The risk of an increase in central systolic BP &gt;125 mm Hg and pulse BP &gt;60 mm Hg was highest in patients with EH.Conclusion: Among young and middle-aged women with newly diagnosed BC, a significant number of cases of MAH and EH are detected, which determines the need to evaluate arterial stiff ness and daily BP profiles before starting antitumor therapy.

Identifying episodic carbon monoxide emission events in the MOPITT measurement dataset

Abstract. The Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite has been measuring upwelling radiance in a nadir-viewing mode since March 2000. These radiance measurements are inverted to yield estimates of carbon monoxide (CO) profiles and total columns, providing the longest satellite record of this trace gas to date. The CO measurements from MOPITT have been used in a variety of ways, including trend analyses and the construction of CO budgets. However, their use is complicated by the influence of episodic emission events, which release large quantities of CO into the atmosphere with irregular timing, such as large sporadic wildfires of natural or anthropogenic origin. The chaotic nature of these events is a large source of variability in CO budgets and models, requiring that these events be well characterized in order to develop an improved understanding of the role they have in influencing tropospheric CO. This study describes the development of a multistep algorithm that is used to identify large episodic emission events using daily mean Level 2 (L2) MOPITT total column measurements gridded to a 0.5 by 0.5° spatial resolution. The core component of this procedure involves empirically determining the expectation density function (EDF) that describes the departure of daily-mean CO observations from the baseline behaviour of CO, as described by its periodic components and trends. The EDFs employed are not assumed to be symmetric but instead are constructed from a pair of superimposed normal distributions. Enhancement flag files are produced following this methodology, identifying the episodic events that show strong enhancement of CO outside of the range of expected CO behaviour and are now made available for the period 3 March 2000 to 31 July 2022. The distribution and frequency of these flagged measurements over this 22-year period are analyzed in order to illustrate the robustness of this method.

The impact of tightened prescribing restrictions for PBS-subsidised opioid medicines and the introduction of half-pack sizes, Australia, 2020-21: an interrupted time series analysis.

To evaluate the impact of the tightened Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescribing rules for immediate release (IR) and controlled release (CR) opioid medicines (1 June 2020), which also eliminated repeat dispensing without authorisation for codeine/paracetamol and tramadol IR and introduced half-pack size item codes for IR formulations. Population-based interrupted time series analysis of PBS dispensing data claims for a 10% sample of PBS-eligible residents and IQVIA national opioid medicine sales data (PBS-subsidised and private prescriptions), 28 May 2018 - 6 June 2021. Mean amount of PBS-subsidised opioid medicines dispensed per day and mean overall amount sold per day- each expressed as oral morphine equivalent milligrams (OME) - overall, by formulation type (IR, CR), and by specific formulation. During the twelve months following the PBS changes, daily PBS-subsidised opioid medicine dispensing was 81 565 OME lower (95% CI, -106 146 to -56 984 OME) than the mean daily level for 2018-20, a decline of 3.8% after adjusting for the pre-intervention trend; the relative reduction was greater for IR (8.4%) than CR formulations (2.6%). Total daily sales of all, IR formulation, and CR formulation opioid medicines did not change significantly after the PBS changes. Repeat dispensing of prescriptions comprised 7.4% of PBS-subsidised opioid dispensing before 1 June 2020, and 1.3% after the changes. Half-pack sizes comprised 8.4% of PBS-subsidised IR opioid medicine dispensing and 2.8% of all opioid medicines sold in the twelve months after the PBS changes. The introduction of new PBS rules for subsidised opioid medicines was followed by a decline in PBS-subsidised dispensing. Some people may have bypassed the new restrictions by switching to private prescriptions, but our findings suggest that opioid medicine use in Australia declined as a result of the new restrictions.

Predictors of 2-Year Post-Discharge Mortality in Hospitalized Older Patients.

Understanding prognostic factors for adverse health outcomes is clinically relevant for improving treatment decision-making processes, potentially leading to enhanced patient prognosis. This secondary analysis of a prospective observational study aimed to identify independent factors associated with 2-year post-discharge mortality in acutely hospitalized older patients. All-cause mortality and date of death of 115 patients (83.3 ± 6.3 years, females: n = 75, 65.2%) admitted to acute geriatric wards were determined two years after hospital discharge through telephone interviews. Potential prognostic factors measured at hospital admission included demographic and clinical characteristics, nutritional, cognitive, and psychological status, Fried frailty phenotype, functioning in activities of daily living, locomotor capacity, and 24 h in-hospital mobility and objectively measured physical activity (PA) behaviors. The 2-year mortality rate was 36.7% (n = 41). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models revealed that mean daily PA level (hazards ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-1.00; p = 0.042), frailty (HR = 3.39, 95% CI 1.20-9.51; p = 0.020), and underweight, in contrast to overweight (HR = 3.10, 95% CI 1.07-9.01; p = 0.038), at hospital admission were independently predictive of post-discharge mortality. PA, frailty, and underweight at hospital admission should be considered when evaluating long-term survival prognosis, establishing risk profiles, and developing personalized care pathways in acute hospital care of older adults.

REVISITING POSITIVE AFFECT: THE ROLE OF AFFECT MEAN LEVELS AND VARIABILITY ON DEPRESSION IN MID AND LATER LIFE

Abstract Recent research suggests that affect dynamics (e.g., variability) combined with mean levels are important predictors of psychological and physical health outcomes. This study explores the joint effect of affect levels and variability on depression across 10 years among middle-aged and older adults. We used the data from the second and third waves of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. During telephone interviews, daily positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) were assessed across eight consecutive evenings. Daily affect mean levels were calculated by averaging daily affect across interview days, and daily affect variability was calculated as the individual’s standard deviation (iSD). Depression status was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short form at baseline and 10-year follow-up. The final analytic sample includes 1,499 adults aged 55 years old on average (age range = 34-83; 55.7% female; 93% white). Logistic regression analysis was performed to test the interaction effect of daily affect mean levels and variability on depression. We found a significant interaction effect between PA mean levels and variability on depression status at follow-up. For individuals with high PA levels, higher PA variability was associated with higher odds of developing depression, after adjusting for depression and anxiety disorder at baseline. For NA, we only found main effects where higher NA variability was associated with higher odds of depression at follow-up. Findings suggest fragile high PA (i.e., variable high PA) may be a significant predictor of depression, highlighting the need for understanding PA as multidimensional construct.

Mobility outcomes and associated factors of acute geriatric care in hospitalized older patients: results from the PAGER study

Key summary pointsAimTo examine different mobility outcomes of acute geriatric care in acutely hospitalized older adults and identify associated factors.FindingsPatients showed significant increases in locomotor capacity, physical activity, and life-space mobility from hospital admission to discharge, for which frailty was consistently identified as a negative independent predictor. A higher mean daily physical activity level was independently predictive of improvements in locomotor capacity.MessageOlder hospitalized patients benefit from acute geriatric care in terms of distinct mobility outcomes; however, frailty-specific adaptations may be needed for frail patients to optimize their mobility outcomes.

Association between ambient air pollutants and birthweight of singletons following assisted reproductive technologies

ObjectiveTo investigate the associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and birthweight following ART treatment. DesignRetrospective cohort study. MethodsWe included 11,599 singletons derived from fresh cycles or frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles between Jan 2013 and Dec 2019. Exposure to six air pollutants (SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM2.5, and PM10) at patients` residences and the clinic site were estimated using the inverse distance weighting interpolation method based on data obtained from monitor sites. The daily mean levels of pollutants were estimated in potential exposure windows (the period from three months before treatment to oocyte retrieval, the period of ovarian stimulation, the period of in vitro culture, the period from embryo transfer to hCG test, the period of entire pregnancy, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester) were calculated. Generalized additive models adjusted for confounders including maternal age, BMI, and parity were used to evaluate the association between exposures and birthweight. Interaction of exposures and ART-associated factors, such as supraphysiologic estradiol and frozen-thawed, were explored in an XGboost model. Main outcome measuresBirthweight and z-score of singletons. ResultsIn fresh cycles, O3 exposure during the period from three months before treatment to oocyte retrieval and SO2 exposure during in vitro culture at the ART clinic showed a linear association with birthweight (7.24, 95% CI: 1.18–13.31 g per 10 μg/m3 increase in O3; 25.92, 95% CI: 8.26–43.58 g per 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2, respectively). For patients receiving single blastocyst transfer with exposures below the China standard of 20 μg/m3, an increase of 10 μg/m3 in SO2 was associated with a 61.52 (95% CI: 1.13–121.91) g increase in birthweight. In FET cycles, no significant association was found between air pollution and birthweight. XGboost model did not reveal a strong interaction between the exposures and ART-related factors, except for the interactions between O3 exposure and BMI. However, none of the interactions reached a higher rank of importance. ConclusionsAir pollution exposure during ART treatment may affect the birthweight of the offspring.

Life goal selection pattern and purpose in adolescence: A latent class analysis.

This study aims to investigate the goal selection patterns among adolescents and examines the extent to which goals focused on oneself, relationships, and the larger community were associated with variability of daily purpose and mean level sense of purpose in life. Participants were 213 high school students with an average age of 15.18 years in an urban public school district in the Northeast United States. Students were asked to select their three most important goals one time and report on their sense of purpose once a day for 3 weeks in spring of 2022. Latent class analysis was used to classify students by the type of goals selected. Differences in the overall sense of purpose and its subscales by class were examined. A model with four classes (Self and Inner Circle, Inner Circle, Other-Oriented, and Self-Oriented) best fits the data. There were no statistical group differences in the variability of daily purpose and overall sense of purpose. Only one pairwise comparison was significant and indicated that students in the Other-Oriented group perceived their purpose as more meaningful than students in the Self and Inner Circle group. Findings from this study provide a lens into goal prioritization patterns among adolescents. Further, although students who were more likely to select other-oriented goals had somewhat higher perceptions of sense of purpose, findings support the concept of equifinality by suggesting that a sense of purpose may be actualized through a diverse set of specific goals.

1486-P: Effects of the COVID-19 Booster Vaccine on Glycemia and Insulin Resistance in People with Type 1 Diabetes—A Prospective Pilot Study

Background: Inflammation is well-known to worsen glycemia in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). COVID-19 vaccines are vital for protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection, but by necessity trigger an acute immune response. Case reports have described hyperglycemic crises shortly after a booster dose. However, effects of COVID-19 vaccines on glycemic control in T1D is poorly understood. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of adults with T1D receiving a COVID-19 booster dose. At the baseline visit a blinded Dexcom G6 Pro CGM was placed, subjects received COVID-19 booster vaccine 3-4 days later, and returned 6 days post-vaccination to have the CGM removed. Primary outcome was change in mean daily glucose level from baseline. Secondary outcomes included total daily insulin dose (TDI), total daily insulin resistance (TDIR = mean glucose * TDI), and time in range (TIR = %glucose readings between 70-180mg/dL). Data were transformed as necessary to maintain normality. Results: We enrolled 20 adults with T1D; one subject was excluded for nonadherence with study procedures. Baseline characteristics included (mean±SD) age: 48.9±19.4y, sex: 68.4%F, BMI: 29.6±6.2kg/m2, A1c: 7.0±1.0%. 42% received a Moderna and 58% Pfizer-BioNTech booster. Mean glucose on Day#2 post-vaccination was significantly greater than baseline (165.1±27.4 vs 154.5±30.2 mg/dL, p=0.04), as was TDIR (7970±4113 vs 7036±3999; p=0.02). No other days had significant differences in glycemic metrics as compared to baseline. There were no differences in any outcome metrics between booster vaccine manufacturers. Conclusions: These results suggest that adults with T1D may experience transient glycemic elevations after receiving a COVID-19 booster. Clinicians may need to warn people with T1D to be more vigilant with glucose testing and insulin dosing temporarily after vaccination. Larger studies are warranted to corroborate these findings. Disclosure M.Zilbermint: Consultant; EMD Serono, Other Relationship; American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. M.Motevalli: None. K.Batty: None. J.Venner-walcott: None. A.Edwards: None. T.Burley: None. K.Jackson: None. M.Akhtar: None. A.Demidowich: Research Support; Dexcom, Inc. Funding Dexcom, Inc. (IIS-2021-136)

Toward an optimal contraception dosing strategy.

Anovulation refers to a menstrual cycle characterized by the absence of ovulation. Exogenous hormones such as synthetic progesterone and estrogen have been used to attain this state to achieve contraception. However, large doses are associated with adverse effects such as increased risk for thrombosis and myocardial infarction. This study utilizes optimal control theory on a modified menstrual cycle model to determine the minimum total exogenous estrogen/progesterone dose, and timing of administration to induce anovulation. The mathematical model correctly predicts the mean daily levels of pituitary hormones LH and FSH, and ovarian hormones E2, P4, and Inh throughout a normal menstrual cycle and reflects the reduction in these hormone levels caused by exogenous estrogen and/or progesterone. Results show that it is possible to reduce the total dose by 92% in estrogen monotherapy, 43% in progesterone monotherapy, and that it is most effective to deliver the estrogen contraceptive in the mid follicular phase. Finally, we show that by combining estrogen and progesterone the dose can be lowered even more. These results may give clinicians insights into optimal formulations and schedule of therapy that can suppress ovulation.

Exposure to respirable dust and factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function among stone diggers in Kayole quarries, Nairobi City County, Kenya

Background: In Kenya, the quarry industry suffers several constraints: some quarry workers get injured, others get chronic diseases, while some die. This study assessed occupational exposure to respirable dust and factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function among quarry stone diggers in Mihang’o and Matopeni quarries in Kayole Nairobi City County, Kenya. Methods: The study was done in Mihang’o and Matopeni quarries. An analytical cross-sectional design was used and a sample size of 165 respondents was taken. An interviewer administered semi structured questionnaire. Spirometry tests were done by a qualified technician to assess pulmonary function. Respirable dust levels were determined with the aid of a particle counter. Descriptive statistics like frequency, means were used to summarize data and results were presented in frequency tables and graphs. Chi square tests and logistic regression were done. T tests were done to compare the means of dust levels in the two quarries. Results: This study found the daily mean levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were higher than the levels recommended by WHO. The age of the respondents, presence of respiratory symptoms, years of work experience, nostril covering, and smoking were factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function at (p≤0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, chronic exposure to quarry dust increases the risk of developing respiratory symptoms and abnormal pulmonary function. This study recommended that routine particulate matter monitoring should be done in Nairobi quarries to provide data that can inform decisions on air pollution control actions.

Riding to health: Investigating the relationship between micromobility use and objective physical activity in Barcelona adults

BackgroundIn recent years there has been an increase in the use of micromobility devices in cities worldwide. Due to their novelty, their effects on population health are still unknown. In this study, we aim to explore the association between conventional and electric micromobility modes and daily physical activity levels in an adult population in the city of Barcelona. MethodsTracking data for 129 adults were collected in 2020 and 2021 as part of the NEWMOB project. Participants each wore an accelerometer and answered daily travel diaries for a week. Participants reported their daily use of micromobility devices through the travel log. Objective daily reports of physical activity levels were obtained from the accelerometer data. Statistical analysis explored the association between self-reported use of micromobility modes -shared bike, shared e-bike, e-scooter- and objective levels of physical activity. ResultsOn average, bike users, and users that combined different micromobility modes reported higher daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than other users. The lowest mean daily levels of MVPA were found among electric scooter users and non-micromobility users. In terms of light activity levels, the highest mean daily levels correspond to users of mixed modes and electric scooters. Analysing health guidelines compliance, bike users and mix modes users were the groups that more often met physical activity guidelines. ConclusionsMicromobility modes such as conventional and electric bikes can help to maintain high levels of MVPA, while meeting health guidelines, in contrast to e-scooters.

Characterization of organic aerosols at the Natura 2000 remote environment of Sanabria Lake (Spain): Evaluating the influence of African dust and regional biomass burning smoke

This work presents a thorough analysis of PM10 speciated organic composition at Sanabria Lake Natural Park, a rural remote area in NW-Spain, including diacids, hydroxy and poliacids, fatty acids, alkenoic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, n-alkanes, PAHs, quinones, hopanes, tracers of biomass burning, and biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA) from isoprene and α-pinene.PM10 ambient concentrations at Sanabria (mean value of 12.2 μg m−3) were within the typical range registered in regional-background air quality monitoring stations in Spain. However, the occurrence of African dust outbreaks and biomass burning events produced significant increases in the PM10 levels at this monitoring site (daily mean levels of 29.2 μg m−3 and 13.7 μg m−3, respectively).Major organic compounds were levoglucosan, sacharides and 2-methyltetrols, markers for biomass burning, soil dust and BSOA respectively.SOA contributed more than 53% of the total measured organics in summer Samples with high levels of SOA include most of the African dust events, suggesting that African dust might promote the formation of oxygenated species such as SOA derivatives in this area. This contribution decreased to a 14% in winter. Biomass burning tracers represented 37% of the analysed organic pollutants in winter, indicating that this is the main source of organic compounds in the colder seasons, mainly due to the influence of regional biomass burning events and the use of biomass as fuel in domestic heating. Hence, the fact that African dust outbreaks and biomass burning events are likely to become increasingly frequent in the context of climate change makes this type of analysis particularly relevant for assessing their impact on natural protected areas.

Sleep Quality Moderates the Relationship Between Daily Mean Levels and Variability of Positive Affect

Despite the well-established bidirectional association between sleep and daytime affect, most studies examining this relationship have focused on mean levels of affect. However, research solely focusing on mean levels of affect inherently neglects variability in affect, which has been shown to predict both psychological and physical well-being beyond mean levels. The present study assessed sleep quality and daytime affect using ecological momentary assessment in a combined sample of individuals (N = 80; 8,881 observations) with and without anxiety and mood disorders. Results from the present study partially replicated extant work on the negative association between negative affect (NA) variability and subsequent sleep quality. Furthermore, less satisfying sleep amplified the positive relationship between daily mean levels and variability of positive affect (PA). The results did not differ by clinical status. The present study offers novel evidence suggesting that previous night’s sleep quality influences the stability of varying daily levels of PA. Uncovering the dynamics of sleep and affect beyond mean levels will help further elucidate mechanisms linking sleep and subsequent affective experiences.

Exposure Assessment of Aflatoxin B1 through Consumption of Rice in the United Arab Emirates.

Rice is one of the most consumed staple foods worldwide and a major part of the diet for half of the global population. Being primarily cultivated in countries with warm and humid environments increases rice's susceptibility for mycotoxins contamination, especially the hepatotoxic and carcinogenic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Since no study was published before on the exposure to AFB1 from consuming rice in the UAE, our study aims to assess the levels of AFB1 in rice marketed in the country and determine the estimated daily exposure of the population for this carcinogenic metabolite and its associated liver cancer risk. All white, brown, and parboiled rice brands available in the retail markets in the UAE were procured twice. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, AFB1 was detected in 48 out of 128 rice samples (38%). The average contamination ± standard deviation of AFB1 among positive samples (above the detection limit) was found to be 1.66 ± 0.89 μg/kg, ranging from 1 μg/kg (detection limit) to 4.69 μg/kg. The contamination level in all the samples was below the limit set by the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (≤5 μg/kg), while 10 (20.8%) of the positive samples had a contamination level above the maximum limit set by the European Union (≥2 μg/kg). The moisture content in all the assessed samples was ≤14%. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in AFB1 between samples in both collections (p-value = 0.043). However, the rice type, grain size, packing country, packing season, country of origin, collection season, and packing to purchasing time had no significant effect on AFB1. The calculated mean daily exposure level of the Emirati population to AFB1 from consuming rice was 4.83 ng/kg.

PM2.5 and PM10 air pollution peaks are associated with emergency department visits for psychotic and mood disorders.

Particulate matters with a diameter of less than 10 µm (PM10) or less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) are major air pollutants. Their relationship to psychiatric disorders has not yet been extensively studied. We aimed to explore the relationship between PM10 and PM2.5 air pollution peaks and the daily number of emergency visits for psychotic and mood disorders. Clinical data were collected from the Emergency Department of a Paris suburb (Créteil, France) from 2008 to 2018. Air pollution data were measured by the Paris region air quality network (Airparif) and collected from public databases. Pollution peak periods were defined as days for which the daily mean level of PM was above nationally predefined warning thresholds (20 µg/m3 for PM2.5, and 50 µg/m3 for PM10), and the 6 following days. Multivariable analyses compared the number of daily visits for psychotic and mood (unipolar and bipolar) disorders according to pollution peak, using negative binomial regression. After adjustment on meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, amount of sunshine in minutes), the daily number of emergency visits for psychotic disorders was significantly higher during PM2.5 and PM10 air pollution peak periods; while the number of visits for unipolar depressive disorders was higher only during PM10 peak periods (β = 0.059, p-value = 0.034). There were no significant differences between peak and non-peak periods for bipolar disorders. Differences in the effects of PM air pollution on psychotic and mood disorders should be analyzed in further studies.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-21964-7.

“On-Line” Heating Emissions Based on WRF Meteorology—Application and Evaluation of a Modeling System over Greece

The main objective of the present study is the development of an “on-line” heating emissions modeling system based on simulated meteorological data and its integration with air quality modeling systems in order to improve their accuracy. The WRF-CAMx air quality modeling system is applied over Greece for the cold period of 2015 (January–April, October–December) for two emissions scenarios: using the (a) “on-line” heating emissions based on WRF meteorology and (b) “static” heating emissions based on static temporal profiles. The monthly variation in total “on-line” heating emissions followed the temporal pattern of the air temperature over Greece, leading to the highest heating emissions in January and February, while higher differences in emissions between winter and spring/autumn months were identified in comparison with the static ones. The overall evaluation of the WRF-CAMx modeling system using the “on-line” heating emissions revealed satisfactory model performance for the mean daily air quality levels. The comparison between the simulated and observed mean monthly concentrations revealed an improvement in the pattern of mean monthly concentrations for the “on-line” scenario. Higher values of the index of agreement and correlation for the mean daily values were also identified for the “on-line” scenario in most monitoring sites.