Natural Exposure Research Articles

Modulatory effect of the fruit rind extract of Garcinia indica Choisy against gamma radiation induced damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: a preliminary study

Purpose Nowadays people are exposed to radiation due to various reasons, including natural, diagnostic, occupational or accidental exposure. High level of exposure to ionizing radiation can be fatal to human body. Synthetic drugs used to prevent radiation-induced damage are toxic in nature. Recently, Herbal drugs are being screened as an alternative due to their mechanism of action. Garcinia indica (G. indica) is one of the traditional medicinal plant which contains phytochemicals having several medicinal properties. Materials and methods In this study, G. indica extract was observed for its modulatory effect against 3 Gray (Gy) gamma radiation-induced damages in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Various concentrations of G. indica extract ranging from 1 to 25 µg/mL was added to the blood post irradiation at 0 hr. Chromosomal aberration (CA) and Cytochalasin B blocked Micronuclei Cytome (CBMN) Assay were performed as per standard procedure. Results Radiomodulatory effect of Garcinia indica fruit rind extract (GIFRE) on CA and MN formation was observed in this study. Treatment of GIFRE did not affect the mitotic index. Positive inhibition percentages for dicentrics, total chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei were observed except for one instance. Conclusion Owing to the various properties of Garcinia extracts, it makes it a potential candidate to be tested for its radiomodulatory effect. Based on the results observed in this preliminary study, it could act as a radiomodulatory agent. Radiomodulatory effect of GIFRE could possibly serve it as a potential herbal medicinal alternative to current drugs. However, results of this study need to be validated on larger sample size.

Effect of Degradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) on Dynamic Mechanical Response of 3D Printed Lattice Structures.

Material-extrusion-based 3D printing with polylactic acid (PLA) has transformed the production of lightweight lattice structures with a high strength-to-weight ratio for various industries. While PLA offers advantages such as eco-friendliness, affordability, and printability, its mechanical properties degrade due to environmental factors. This study investigated the impact resistance of PLA lattice structures subjected to material degradation under room temperature, humidity, and natural light exposure. Four lattice core types (auxetic, negative-to-positive (NTP) gradient in terms of Poisson's ratio, positive-to-negative (PTN) gradient in terms of Poisson's ratio, and honeycomb) were analyzed for variations in mechanical properties due to declines in yield stress and failure strain. Mechanical testing and numerical simulations at various yield stress and failure strain levels evaluated the degradation effect, using undegraded material as a reference. The results showed that structures with a negative Poisson's ratio exhibited superior resistance to local crushing despite material weakening. Reducing the material's brittleness (failure strain) had a greater impact on impact response compared to reducing its yield stress. This study also revealed the potential of gradient cores, which exhibited a balance between strength (maintaining similar peak force to auxetic cores around 800 N) and energy absorption (up to 40% higher than auxetic cores) under moderate degradation (yield strength and failure strain at 60% and 80% of reference values). These findings suggest that gradient structures with varying Poisson's ratios employing auxetic designs are valuable choices for AM parts requiring both strength and resilience in variable environmental conditions.

Natural mercury exposure of European insectivorous bats may exceed a recognized toxicity threshold

Heavy metals are an important group of toxic substances harmful for many organisms. Of these, mercury is one of the most monitored in the environment. Several matrices are used for the monitoring of environmental load, including a range of organisms; bats, however, have only been examined rarely. Insectivorous bats are apex predators threatened by several human interventions in their natural environment, including heavy metal pollution. The aim of this study was to analyze the content of total mercury in the fur, flight membrane, and pectoral muscle of greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis). Total mercury concentrations were also measured in carabid beetles from the catch locality Zastávka u Brna. Samples were obtained from 43 bat carcasses at two different localities in the Czech Republic (Zastávka u Brna, Malá Morávka). Total mercury content varied between 1.76–72.20 µg/g in fur, 0.04–0.14 µg/g in skin, and 0.05–0.20 µg/g in muscle. Total mercury values in the fur of some individuals from Malá Morávka exceeded the recognized toxicity limit. Furthermore, there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in content of total mercury in fur between localities, and there was a clear effect of age on concentrations in fur, skin, and muscle, the concentrations being significantly correlated (fur and skin rs = 0.783; fur and muscle rs = 0.716; skin and muscle rs = 0.884). These findings confirm the usefulness of fur samples from living bats for biomonitoring mercury burden in the environment.

Multisensory nature exposure in the workplace: Exploring the restorative benefits of smell experiences

Previous research has extensively documented several benefits of interacting with nature. Biophilic design applications aimed at connecting the built environment back to nature have been shown to improve employee health, well-being, and productivity at workplaces. However, most research regarding restorative environments has prioritized the visual qualities of nature experiences, neglecting other sensory modalities. The significance of the sense of smell in the restoration process has been largely ignored. This research investigates the combined effects of multi-domain nature experiences within workplace contexts. Specifically, the restorative benefits of combined multisensory elements, including visual, olfactory, and auditory, and the relative contributions of each sensory cue to the restoration process were examined. A pretest-posttest experimental approach was employed to compare the restorative outcomes of workplaces under two conditions, one lacking natural elements vs another offering multi-domain experiences of nature. Thirty-two participants engaged in a multisensory virtual reality simulation replicating the environmental conditions of an actual workplace in Sydney, Australia. The results revealed that the multisensory biophilic workplace significantly improved cognitive performance, reduced stress levels, and enhanced mood states compared to the non-biophilic one. There was a statistically significant association between the sense of smell and restorative benefits. Although visual elements emerged as the primary means of creating restorative workplace environments, our results suggest that the sense of smell plays a significant role in the restoration process. This paper provides empirical evidence on the paramount importance of olfactory cues in nature-based experiences, contributing to the knowledge within the realms of biophilia and architectural discourse.

Nurtured by nature: Body appreciation and adaptive appearance management increase with nature exposure

Nature-based interventions have demonstrated positive effects on health behaviours and psychological states. Recent research has expanded to investigate the impact of nature exposure on body image, leaving ample room for further exploration into the influence of nature exposure on positive concerns related to appearance management. This paper examined the effect of nature exposure on body appreciation, adaptive appearance management, and the underlying psychological mechanism through an outdoor field study and two psychological experiments. Study 1 demonstrated that natural outdoor recreation increased body appreciation, and this effect was mediated by individuals' level of nature connectedness. Study 2 found that viewing images of natural outdoor environments facilitated greater adaptive appearance management. This relationship was sequentially mediated by both nature connectedness and body appreciation. Study 3 conducted a field study and revealed that viewing images of natural outdoor environments not only fostered body appreciation but also influenced participants’ intention to purchase grooming products, which are regarded as practices related to adaptive appearance management. These findings provide empirical evidence regarding the beneficial outcomes of exposure to natural outdoor environment, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the domain of body image and appearance management.

Does daily nature exposure enhance children’s self-worth and positive feelings? An experience sampling study

ABSTRACT Previous studies suggest that nature exposure has positive effects on children’s cognitive performance and well-being . However, inconsistent evidence was found for effects on children’s self-worth and feelings. These inconsistencies may be resolved by studying children’s actual exposure and experiences in detail. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of daily nature exposure on children’s self-worth and feelings with an experience sampling method. Sixty-six third graders (29 girls, mean age = 9.04 years) participated two to three times per day consecutively for 9 days. The resulting 1199 observations were analyzed and showed that when exposed to nature children reported significantly higher self-worth and positive feelings than when not exposed to nature, with baseline levels controlled. Positive feelings played mediating roles in relationships between nature exposure and children’s self-worth. Our study strengthens the evidence on beneficial effects of nature on children’s well-being. The mechanisms involved in this effect are discussed.

Nature Exposure, Even as Little as 10 Minutes, is Likely to Yield Short-Term Benefits for Adults with Mental Illness: A Meta Analysis

Nature Exposure, Even as Little as 10 Minutes, is Likely to Yield Short-Term Benefits for Adults with Mental Illness: A Meta Analysis

Are we afraid of the woods? – An investigation of the implicit and explicit fear reactions to forests

The beneficial effects of nature exposure have been repeatedly documented and encourage frequent and regular contact with nature and especially highlight forests. However, in human history, forests have also been associated with negative emotions such as fear and were seen as dangerous environments. While existing literature could demonstrate that natural environments can evoke fear, the focus was on the explicit perception. Given that research has shown the significance of additional implicit processes in fear-related behaviour, we aim to explore the presence of an implicit fear response to forests. Therefore, in an online study, we investigated the explicit and implicit fear reactions to forests by a Northern German sample of N = 256. Using three explicit measurements, we investigated fear and danger perception on a semantic and visual level of the stimulus category "forest" compared to the human-made urban green space "park" and the urban setting "house". Additionally, we assessed the unconscious response tendencies towards the forest within three implicit tasks: Subliminal Priming Procedure (SPP), Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) and Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT). Within the analyzed sample, the subliminally presented word forest evoked a stronger positive valence response compared to park (SPP). In contrast to houses, the forest showed a stronger approach and weaker avoidance tendency (AAT). At the same time, both the three explicit and one implicit measurement (AMP) showed a stronger fear perception of forests compared to parks or houses. Considering the increasingly utilised beneficial effects of nature in interventions, these findings should be acknowledged when implementing nature exposure in interventions and treatments.

Exploring the Connections Between Nature Exposure and Stress During COVID-19 Using Latent Profile Analysis

Exploring the Connections Between Nature Exposure and Stress During COVID-19 Using Latent Profile Analysis

Age at natural menopause and its associated characteristics among Brazilian women: cross-sectional results from ELSI-Brazil.

This study aimed to determine the median age at natural menopause and analyze lifestyle, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics associated with the age at natural menopause among Brazilian women. This cross-sectional study involved 2,731 women 50 years and over, drawn from the baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil, 2015/16). Nonparametric Kaplan-Meier cumulative survivorship estimates were used to assess the median timing of natural menopause. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to estimate the associations between age at natural menopause and exposure variables. The overall median age at natural menopause was 50 years. In the adjusted Cox model, current smoking (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23) and underweight (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.61) were associated with earlier natural menopause. Conversely, performing recommended levels of physical activity in the last week (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97), being overweight (HR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99), and adhering to two or three healthy eating markers (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.97; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61-0.94, respectively) were associated with later age at natural menopause. Binge drinking and waist circumference were not associated with age at natural menopause. Lifestyle, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics are significant factors that affect the age at natural menopause. Our findings can contribute to public policies targeted at Brazilian women's health.

Radiological Assessment of Background Radiation and it’s Associated Risk in Junior Secondary School Idu-Koro Abuja, Nigeria

The primary cause of natural background radiation exposure in the general public has been radon and its shortlived decay products in homes, which account for around 50% of the population's effective dose worldwide. Radon (222Rn) and its progeny inside building and environments have been recognized as a global issue and a substantial risk factor for lung cancer. In this research,Inspector alert nuclear radiation meter (manufactured by S.E international U.S.A SN:35440) with inbuilt Geiger-Muller tube was employed to determine the concentration of 222Rn in the eleven (11) investigated points at Junior Secondary School Idu-Koro Abuja, to calculate the tenants' effective dose from 222Rn and its progeny. The meter was held at the abdominal level (about 1 m above the ground surface). The dosimetric measurements were taken in count per minute (cpm) mode and the radon concentration range from to . Conversion was made from count rate to dose rate, absorb dose rate, annual dose rate and finally effective dose rate for comparison. The effective dose to the occupants was estimated ranging from to , with a mean of . The radon contents were establish to be lesser than the reference value from the international commission for radiological protection (ICRP) as the appropriate safety; hence it may not result to any health effect of lung cancer to the occupants and the members of public within the investigated areas.

Efficacy of a Haemonchus contortus vaccine under field conditions in young alpacas

Anthelmintic resistance to Haemonchus contortus creates increasing management challenges with small ruminants and camelids. The commercial vaccine, Barbervax®, contains H11 and H-gal-GP antigens, derived from gut mucosal membrane enzymes of H. contortus involved in digesting blood. Antibody neutralization of these antigens causes failure of H. contortus to digest blood, resulting in parasite death. H11 and H-gal-GP are considered “hidden” antigens, meaning the host immune system does not encounter these proteins under natural infection. Therefore, repeat immunization is required to maintain protective humoral responses. One previous study evaluated the safety of Barbervax® in camelids but the efficacy could not be assessed due to lack of successful infection in the controls. The objective of the current study was to evaluate clinical parameters of anemia, fecal egg counts (FECs), and humoral immune responses of healthy alpacas after immunizing with Barbervax® compared to non-vaccinated controls, all under natural environmental exposure on parasite-laden pastures. A crossover-like study was performed where twenty alpacas (298 ± 66 days of age) were assigned to be initially vaccinated with Barbervax® (n=10) or receive no treatment (n=10). Three doses of Barbervax® were administered at three-week intervals. Feces and blood were collected on Day −10, 0, 21, 43, 64, 85, 106, and 135 to evaluate FECs, packed cell volume (PCV), and antibody titers. Each group was kept on separate adjacent pastures. Tracer sheep (n=2 per study group) were introduced on Day 43 for a three-week period to ensure parasite acquisition. For the crossover-like component on Day 85, the initial non-vaccinated group was administered Barbervax® with dosing repeated on Day 106 and 135. Results indicated all initially vaccinated alpacas produced antibody titers to vaccine antigen that corresponded to lower mean FECs compared to the initially non-vaccinated group. A reduced mean FEC in the vaccinate group was observed 21 days after peak antibody titers. Similarly, when pooled vaccinate antibody titers were noted to wane on Day 106, an increase in FEC was observed at the following time point (Day 135). Conclusions from our study support the use of Barbervax® to reduce H. contortus burdens in alpacas. Furthermore, a less than 30-day lag time between antibody titer and resultant effect in FECs was observed. Additional studies assessing the ability of Barbervax® to reduce H. contortus burdens during subsequent grazing seasons would provide even greater information regarding the use of Barbervax® within alpaca herds to modulate H. contortus infections, refugia, and anthelmintic use.

Desulfovibrio-induced gauzy FeS for efficient hexavalent chromium removal: The influence of SRB metabolism regulated by carbon source and electron carriers

Biosynthetic metal sulfides showed great application prospects in the environmental treatment against high-valence metal pollutants. However, the efficiency of biosynthesis, agglomeration during the reaction process, and the formation of the passivation layer during the reduction process were always the important factors restricting its development. This study explored the composition of the culture medium to promote the growth of highly corrosive sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and its metabolism to produce FeS nanoparticles (NPs). The results showed that reducing the carbon source (CS) and adding electron carriers in the culture medium effectively promoted the production of small, dispersed, and loose FeS NPs in cells. At pH = 7, 24 °C and 10 min reaction time, 0.1 g/L FeS NPs produced by SRB under the conditions of 10 % CS with 10 ppm cytochrome c medium could achieve 100 % removal efficiency of 1 mM hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Under this condition, FeS NPs could be produced by intracellular metabolism in SRB cells, and environmental factors such as pH, metal cations, and Cl− had little effect on the removal of Cr(VI) by this FeS NPs. The surface proteins of FeS NPs significantly enhanced their antioxidant properties. After 7 days of natural environment exposure, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency of FeS NPs was only reduced by 16 % compared with the initial sample. This work provided an in-depth understanding of Cr(VI) removal by SRB biosynthesis of FeS and contributes to the widespread application of FeS in the future.

Detection and Analysis of Corrosion on Coated Metal Surfaces Using Enhanced YOLO v5 Algorithm for Anti-Corrosion Performance Evaluation

This study addresses the severe corrosion issues in the coastal regions of southern China by proposing an improved YOLO v5-GOLD-NWD model. Utilizing corrosion data from the National Center for Materials Corrosion and Protection Science of China, a dataset was constructed for metal-surface corrosion under different protective coatings. This dataset was used for model training, testing, and comparison. Model accuracy was validated using precision, recall, F1 score, and prediction probability. The results demonstrate that the proposed improved model exhibits better identification precision in metal corrosion detection, achieving 78%, a 4% improvement compared to traditional YOLO v5 models. Additionally, through identification and statistical analysis of corrosion image datasets from five types of coated metal specimens, it was found that powder epoxy coating, fluorocarbon coating, epoxy coating, and chlorinated rubber coating showed good corrosion resistance after 24 months of exposure. Conversely, Wuxi anti-fouling coating exhibited poor corrosion resistance. After 60 months of natural exposure, the powder epoxy coating specimens had the highest corrosion occurrence probability, followed by chlorinated rubber coating and epoxy coating, with fluorocarbon coating showing relatively lower probability. The fluorocarbon coating demonstrated relatively good corrosion resistance at both 24 and 60 months of exposure. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for enhancing the corrosion protection effectiveness of steel structures in coastal areas.

Assessing the well-being benefits of VR nature experiences on group: Heart rate variability insights from a cross-over study

Recent trends show a rise in stress and psychological disorders, necessitating innovative strategies for recovery. Our study examines the psychophysiological effects of virtual reality (VR) nature, based on the biophilia hypothesis, within real-life group settings. A randomized, acute cross-over design was employed, involving 57 participants who experienced a 10-min session in either a VR nature or a reference room, separated by a 2-min interval. Participants were measured in groups of 7–10 individuals. The VR setup featured a landscape video projected around the participants, creating a captivating 3D environment, whereas the reference room utilized the same space but without the VR elements, maintaining a basic meeting room atmosphere with white walls and a quiet setting. The primary outcome measured was heart rate variability (HRV), complemented by exploratory outcomes including the heart and respiratory rates, and questionnaires on affective well-being, creativity, and sense of belonging. Findings revealed that VR nature exposure resulted in higher HRV and reduced heart rate, indicative of enhanced parasympathetic activity. Participants reported decreased feelings of anxiety and depression, with an increase in comfort, enthusiasm, creativity, and belonging. These results present the VR nature's physiological and psychological benefits, demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting relaxation and recovery in a real-life group setting. In conclusion, the VR nature room can emerge as a versatile tool for stress alleviation and well-being improvement.

Randomized trial comparing the effects of tulathromycin, tildipirosin and gamithromycin used as first treatment for clinical bovine respiratory disease in commercial feedlot steers

Our objective was to compare effects of 3 macrolide antibiot­ics used as first-time bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treat­ment on primary health outcomes (retreatment, removal and mortality) in feedlot steers. Secondary outcomes included days-on-feed, rectal temperature and weight at the time of event occurrences. Crossbred beef steers (n = 978; average body weight [± SD] 655 ± 84.0 lb [297 ± 38.1 kg]) were enrolled across 2 commercial feedlots in the U.S. High Plains in a ran­domized complete block design. Steers were eligible for in­clusion if they were exhibiting clinical BRD symptoms from natural exposure and had not been previously treated with an antimicrobial drug for any reason including metaphylaxis. Treatment was administration of tulathromycin, tildipirosin or gamithromycin, at the time of first BRD diagnosis. Linear and generalized linear mixed models were used for statisti­cal analyses with significance threshold α = 0.05. At enroll­ment, animal weight (P = 0.98), rectal temperature (P = 0.58), and days-on-feed (P = 0.28) did not differ significantly between treatments. There was no evidence of differences for any health outcome (P ≥ 0.30), nor for any cattle characteristics at the time of retreatment, removal, or mortality (P ≥ 0.15). Treatment success (steers that were never retreated, removed, and/or were a BRD case fatality) ranged from 62.7 to 64.8% between treatments (P = 0.87). There was no evidence to reject the null hypothesis of similar effectiveness between these macrolides when administered to similar steer populations as first-time clinical BRD treatments.

Outdoor learning in urban schools: Effects on 4–5 year old children's noise and physiological stress

Natural outdoor environments reduce physiological stress. But in an urban school context, does outdoor learning still have beneficial effects even where nature exposure is more limited? The current, pre-registered study used wearable devices including heart rate monitors and actigraphs to examine physiological stress in 4–5 year old children across 8 matched indoor and outdoor sessions (N = 76 children, N = 601 sessions in total). Results revealed that children's resting heart rates while seated and listening to a teacher were significantly lower when outside compared to indoors (p < 0.001, d = 0.512). Children also moved more while seated during indoor sessions (p < 0.001, d = 0.546). Despite activities and resources being matched across conditions, outdoor learning sessions were significantly quieter than indoor ones, both when children were seated, listening to a teacher (p = 0.004, d = −0.455) and when actively engaged in play and learning activities (p < 0.001, d = 1.064). There was a significant positive correlation between noise levels and resting heart rate in the indoor condition (r(97) = 0.364, p < 0.001) but not in the outdoor condition. These findings suggest that learning outdoors, even in urban settings, associates with lower physiological stress in children and that this effect may partly be due to reduced noise. The fact that noise associates with resting heart rate indoors but not outdoors may indicate that being outside buffers children against the stressful effects of excess noise.

Effects of Different Doses of sUV-B Exposure on Taxane Compounds' Metabolism in Taxus wallichiana var. Mairei.

UV-B is an important environmental factor that differentially affects plant growth and secondary metabolites. The effects of supplemental ultraviolet-B (sUV-B) exposure (T1, 1.40 kJ·m-2·day-1; T2, 2.81 kJ·m-2·day-1; and T3, 5.62 kJ·m-2·day-1) on the growth biomass, physiological characteristics, and secondary metabolites were studied. Our results indicated that leaf thickness was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced under T3 relative to the control (natural light exposure, CK); The contents of 6-BA and IAA were significantly reduced (p < 0.05); and the contents of ABA, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, and baccatin III were significantly (p < 0.05) increased under T1 and T2. The paclitaxel content was the highest (0.036 ± 0.0018 mg·g-1) under T3. The cephalomannine content was significantly increased under T1. Hmgr gene expression was upregulated under T1 and T3. The gene expressions of Bapt and Dbtnbt were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated under sUV-B exposure, and the gene expressions of CoA, Ts, and Dbat were significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated. A correlation analysis showed that the 6-BA content had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with Dbat gene expression. The IAA content had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with the gene expression of Hmgr, CoA, Ts, and Dbtnbt. The ABA content had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with Bapt gene expression. Dbat gene expression had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with the 10-deacetylbaccatin content. Hmgr gene expression was positively correlated with the contents of baccatin III and cephalomannine. Bapt gene expression had a significantly (p < 0.01) positive correlation with the paclitaxel content. A factor analysis showed that the accumulation of paclitaxel content was promoted under T2, which was helpful in clarifying the accumulation of taxane compounds after sUV-B exposure.

Nature-based social prescribing programmes: opportunities, challenges, and facilitators for implementation

BackgroundEvidence on the health benefits of spending time in nature has highlighted the importance of provision of blue and green spaces where people live. The potential for health benefits offered by nature exposure, however, extends beyond health promotion to health treatment. Social prescribing links people with health or social care needs to community-based, non-clinical health and social care interventions to improve health and wellbeing. Nature-based social prescribing (NBSP) is a variant that uses the health-promoting benefits of activities carried out in natural environments, such as gardening and walking. Much current NBSP practice has been developed in the UK, and there is increasing global interest in its implementation. This requires interventions to be adapted for different contexts, considering the needs of populations and the structure of healthcare systems. MethodsThis paper presents results from an expert group participatory workshop involving 29 practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from the UK and Germany’s health and environmental sectors. Using the UK and Germany, two countries with different healthcare systems and in different developmental stages of NBSP practice, as case studies, we analysed opportunities, challenges, and facilitators for the development and implementation of NBSP. ResultsWe identified five overarching themes for developing, implementing, and evaluating NBSP: Capacity Building; Accessibility and Acceptability; Networks and Collaborations; Standardised Implementation and Evaluation; and Sustainability. We also discuss key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for each overarching theme to understand how they could be developed to support NBSP implementation. ConclusionsNBSP could offer significant public health benefits using available blue and green spaces. We offer guidance on how NBSP implementation, from wider policy support to the design and evaluation of individual programmes, could be adapted to different contexts. This research could help inform the development and evaluation of NBSP programmes to support planetary health from local and global scales.

A systematic review on the role of biosecurity to prevent or control colibacillosis in broiler production

This systematic review aimed at investigating the role that biosecurity can have in preventing or controlling colibacillosis in broiler production. Primary studies with natural or experimental exposure to avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, evaluating any biosecurity measure to prevent or control colibacillosis in broiler chickens with at least one of the following outcomes: feed conversion ratio (FCR), condemnations at slaughter, and mortality due to colibacillosis, were included. A systematic search was carried out in 4 databases according to the Cochrane handbook and reported following the PRISMA 2020 directions. Studies (n = 3,886) were screened in a 2-phase process and data matching the inclusion criteria were extracted. Risk of bias assessment was performed. Four studies reporting biosecurity measures to prevent or control colibacillosis in broiler production were included. In all studies, only disinfection during either the pre-hatching period (n = 3) or the post-hatching period (n = 1) was evaluated as biosecurity measure in broiler production, as well as its effect on FCR (n = 2) and mortality (n = 4) due to colibacillosis. No studies with effects on condemnations at slaughter were found. Due to the heterogeneity of studies in regard to interventions and outcomes, meta-analysis was not carried out. The limited findings of this systematic review do not provide a comprehensive evidence to statistically evaluate the efficacy of biosecurity to prevent or control colibacillosis in broiler production. The scarcity of evidence found suggests that further and deeper investigations on the topic are needed, considering the variety of interventions related to biosecurity.