Week-long Periods Research Articles

Integration of Sensor-Based and Self-Reported Metrics in a Sleep Diary: A Pilot Exploration

ABSTRACT Objectives Discrepancies between sleep diaries and sensor-based sleep parameters are widely recognized. This study examined the effect of showing sensor-based sleep parameters while completing a daily diary. The provision of sensor-based data was expected to reduce variance but not change the mean of self-reported sleep parameters, which would in turn align better with sensor-based data compared to a control diary. Method In a crossover study, 24 volunteers completed week-long periods of control diary (digital sleep diary without sensor-based data feedback) or integrated diary (diary with device feedback), washout, and then the other diary condition. Results The integrated diary reduced self-reported total sleep time (TST) by <10 minutes and reduced variance in TST. The integrated diary did not impact mean sleep onset latency (SOL) and, unexpectedly, the variance in SOL increased. The integrated diary improved both bias and limits of agreement for SOL and TST. Conclusions Integration of wearable, sensor-based device data in a sleep diary has little impact on means, mixed evidence for less variance, and better agreement with sensor-based data than a traditional diary. How the diary impacts reporting and sensor-based sleep measurements should be explored.

0327 The Effects of Wearable Device Data on Sleep Diary-Derived Metrics of Sleep

Abstract Introduction Precision measurement of sleep metrics like sleep onset latency (SOL) and total sleep time (TST) has long been a challenge. Multiple studies have demonstrated significant discrepancies between sleep diaries and wearable device derived sleep metrics especially in patients with subjective-objective sleep discrepancy (SOSD; e.g., some patients with insomnia). Typically SOSD manifests as longer than expected self-reported SOL and shorter than expected TST. Without a method of reconciliation between sleep diaries and wearable devices, the current practice is to rely on sleep diary data which is suboptimal in the context of SOSD, and could contribute to blunted or nonsignificant effects in clinical trials. The current study investigated the effects of providing wearable device data feedback contemporaneously with the completion of the sleep diary, on a daily basis across 288 nights. We expected that by providing wearable device data feedback, participants with SOSD could be identified and potentially self-correct their SOSD. Methods A 3 phase, randomized, crossover design study was used in which 24 undergraduate college students without a diagnosed sleep disorder completed week-long periods of control condition (digital sleep diary without wearable device data feedback), washout, and then test phase (diary with device feedback). Participants were randomized to start with control or test conditions. Results Within and between subjects analyses were performed to understand the effect of the wearable device data feedback on sleep diary responses. Two participants (8.3%) with SOSD were identified and had marked differences in their estimated SOL (~47 min) that were corrected when provided with their wearable device data. Importantly no subjects copied their wearable device data into their sleep diary. Between subjects analyses revealed no differences in the average or variability of sleep metrics. Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that presenting wearable device data during sleep diary completion may impact self-reporting by individuals with SOSD but not by those without SOSD. In the setting of a clinical trial, participants who have significant SOSD may be contributing to non-disease/non-treatment related variability that may be ameliorated by providing wearable device data during sleep diary completion. Support (if any)

Modelling floating riverine litter in the south-eastern Bay of Biscay: a regional distribution from a seasonal perspective

Abstract. Although rivers contribute to the flux of litter to the marine environment, estimates of riverine litter amounts and detailed studies on floating riverine litter behaviour once it has reached the sea are still scarce. This paper provides an analysis of the seasonal behaviour of floating marine litter released by rivers within the south-eastern Bay of Biscay based on riverine litter characterizations, drifters, and high-frequency radar observations and Lagrangian simulations. Virtual particles were released in the coastal area as a proxy of the floating fraction of riverine litter entering from rivers and reaching the open waters. Particles were parameterized with a wind drag coefficient (Cd) to represent their trajectories and fate according to the buoyancy of the litter items. They were forced with numerical winds and measured currents provided by high-frequency radars covering selected seasonal week-long periods between 2009 and 2021. To gain a better insight into the type and buoyancy of the items, samples collected from a barrier placed at the Deba River (Spain) were characterized at the laboratory. Items were grouped into two categories: low-buoyancy items (objects not exposed to wind forcing, e.g. plastic bags) and highly buoyant items (objects highly exposed to wind forcing, e.g. bottles). Overall, low-buoyancy items encompassed almost 90 % by number and 68 % by weight. Weakly buoyant items were parameterized with Cd = 0 % and highly buoyant items with Cd = 4 %; this latter value is the result of the joint analysis of modelled and observed trajectories of four satellite drifting buoys released at the Adour (France), Deba (Spain), and Oria (Spain) river mouths. Particles parameterized with Cd = 4 % drifted faster towards the coast through the wind, notably during the first 24 h. In summer, over 97 % of particles beached after 1 week of simulation. In autumn this value fell to 54 %. In contrast, low-buoyancy items took longer to arrive at the shoreline, particularly during spring with fewer than 25 % of particles beached by the end of the simulations. The highest concentrations (&gt;200 particles km−1) were recorded during summer for Cd = 4 % in the French region of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Results showed that the regions in the study area were highly affected by rivers within or nearby the region itself. These results couple observations and a river-by-river modelling approach and can assist decision-makers on setting emergency responses to high fluxes of floating riverine litter and on defining future monitoring strategies for heavily polluted regions within the south-eastern Bay of Biscay.

‘Saying goodbye’ during the COVID-19 pandemic: A document analysis of online newspapers with implications for end of life care

Background: News media create a sense-making narrative, shaping, reflecting and enforcing cultural ideas and experiences. Reportage of COVID-related death and bereavement illuminates public perceptions of, and responses to, the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: We aimed to explore British newspaper representations of ‘saying goodbye’ before and after a COVID-related death and consider clinical implications. Design: Document analysis of UK online newspaper articles published during 2 week-long periods in March–April 2020. Data sources: The seven most-read online newspapers were searched: The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Mirror, The Sun, The Times and The Metro. Fifty-five articles discussed bereavement after a human death from COVID-19, published during 18/03–24/03/2020 (the UK’s transition into lockdown) or 08/04–14/04/2020 (the UK peak of the pandemic’s first wave). Results: The act of ‘saying goodbye’ (before, during and after death) was central to media representations of COVID bereavement, represented as inherently important and profoundly disrupted. Bedside access was portrayed as restricted, variable and uncertain, with families begging or bargaining for contact. Video-link goodbyes were described with ambivalence. Patients were portrayed as ‘dying alone’ regardless of clinician presence. Funerals were portrayed as travesties and grieving alone as unnatural. Articles focused on what was forbidden and offered little practical guidance. Conclusion: Newspapers portrayed COVID-19 as disruptive to rituals of ‘saying goodbye’ before, during and after death. Adaptations were presented as insufficient attempts to ameliorate tragic situations. More nuanced and supportive reporting is recommended. Clinicians and other professionals supporting the bereaved can play an important role in offering alternative narratives.

Rise in Use of Digital Mental Health Tools and Technologies in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey Study.

BackgroundAccompanying the rising rates of reported mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a reported increase in the use of digital technologies to manage health generally, and mental health more specifically.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to systematically examine whether there was a COVID-19 pandemic–related increase in the self-reported use of digital mental health tools and other technologies to manage mental health.MethodsWe analyzed results from a survey of 5907 individuals in the United States using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk); the survey was administered during 4 week-long periods in 2020 and survey respondents were from all 50 states and Washington DC. The first set of analyses employed two different logistic regression models to estimate the likelihood of having symptoms indicative of clinical depression and anxiety, respectively, as a function of the rate of COVID-19 cases per 10 people and survey time point. The second set employed seven different logistic regression models to estimate the likelihood of using seven different types of digital mental health tools and other technologies to manage one’s mental health, as a function of symptoms indicative of clinical depression and anxiety, rate of COVID-19 cases per 10 people, and survey time point. These models also examined potential interactions between symptoms of clinical depression and anxiety, respectively, and rate of COVID-19 cases. All models controlled for respondent sociodemographic characteristics and state fixed effects.ResultsHigher COVID-19 case rates were associated with a significantly greater likelihood of reporting symptoms of depression (odds ratio [OR] 2.06, 95% CI 1.27-3.35), but not anxiety (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.77-1.88). Survey time point, a proxy for time, was associated with a greater likelihood of reporting clinically meaningful symptoms of depression and anxiety (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12-1.27 and OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.19, respectively). Reported symptoms of depression and anxiety were associated with a greater likelihood of using each type of technology. Higher COVID-19 case rates were associated with a significantly greater likelihood of using mental health forums, websites, or apps (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.49-4.88), and other health forums, websites, or apps (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.55-4.34). Time was associated with increased odds of reported use of mental health forums, websites, or apps (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11-1.30), phone-based or text-based crisis lines (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10-1.31), and online, computer, or console gaming/video gaming (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.19). Interactions between COVID-19 case rate and mental health symptoms were not significantly associated with any of the technology types.ConclusionsFindings suggested increased use of digital mental health tools and other technologies over time during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, additional effort is urgently needed to consider the quality of these products, either by ensuring users have access to evidence-based and evidence-informed technologies and/or by providing them with the skills to make informed decisions around their potential efficacy.

'It's like being in a war with an invisible enemy': A document analysis of bereavement due to COVID-19 in UK newspapers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been followed intensely by the global news media, with deaths and bereavement a major focus. The media reflect and reinforce cultural conventions and sense-making, offering a lens which shapes personal experiences and attitudes. How COVID-19 bereavement is reported therefore has important societal implications. We aimed to explore the reportage and portrayal of COVID-19 related bereavement in the top seven most-read British online newspapers during two week-long periods in March and April 2020. We conducted a qualitative document analysis of all articles that described grief or bereavement after a death from COVID-19. Analysis of 55 articles was informed by critical discourse analysis and Terror Management Theory, which describes a psychological conflict arising between the realisation that death is inevitable and largely unpredictable and the human need for self-preservation. We identified three main narratives: (1) fear of an uncontrollable, unknown new virus and its uncertain consequences-associated with sensationalist language and a sense of helplessness and confusion; (2) managing uncertainty and fear via prediction of the future and calls for behaviour change, associated with use of war metaphors; and (3) mourning and loss narratives that paid respect to the deceased and gave voice to grief, associated with euphemistic or glorifying language ('passed away', 'heroes'). Accounts of death and grief were largely homogenous, with bereavement due to COVID-19 presented as a series of tragedies, and there was limited practical advice about what to do if a loved one became seriously ill or died. Reporting reflected the tension between focusing on existential threat and the need to retreat from or attempt to control that threat. While the impact of this reporting on the public is unknown, a more nuanced approach is recommended to better support those bereaved by COVID-19.

Automated Microscopy Techniques on Passively Collected Samples Provide Reliable Quantitative Data on Airborne Pollen

ABSTRACT Data on airborne particles are critical to protecthuman health. Anthropogenic (e.g., soot, and tire and brake wear) as well as biogenic (e.g., pollen and spores) particles are usually monitored by active samplers located in urban environments; thus, very few data are available for remote, mountainous areas. In addition, bioaerosol analysis is time-consuming and skill-intensive. Hence, to avoid the obstacles of active sampling (i.e., the high cost and power consumption) and simplify data analysis, we investigated passive sampling combined with automated analysis as a method for pollen detection. We deployed two Sigma-2 passive samplers for 12 week-long periods during 2018 in San Michele all’Adige, Italy, where airborne pollen has been monitored by a volumetric Hirst-type sampler since 1990. To obtain the morpho-chemical information of single particles, we then analyzed the samples using (i) automated optical microscopy (OM) followed by image analysis based on the particle sizes and grey values, and (ii) automated scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). The automated OM detected bright particles (i.e., from natural sources) in the size range of 20–80 µm, which accurately represented the total pollen, and the SEM/EDX filtered the particles by size, shape and chemical composition, which enabled us to identify the likely pollen candidates (the “pollen-like” fraction). Overall, automated analytical techniques can concurrently provide data on airborne anthropogenic, geogenic and biogenic particles, including pollen. Furthermore, passive sampling offers a reliable option for collecting data in aerobiological studies, especially in remote areas, where maintaining active samplers is challenging.

COVID's Impact on the US 2020 Election: Insights from Social Media Discourse in the Early Campaign Period

The impact of COVID on the upcoming November 2020 US electionwill be an important topic in the coming months. In order to contribute to these debates, this data memo, the final in our summer 2020 series on COVID, considers this question based on an analysis of social media discourse in two week-long periods in late May and early July. We findthat only a very small proportion of tweets in election-related trends concern both the election and COVID. In the May period, there was much evidence of conspiracy-style and misinformative content, largely attacking the Democrats, the seriousness of COVID and postal-voting. Tweets also showed that the stances of the Presidential nominees towards the coronavirus has emerged as a major point of political differentiation. In the July period, tweets about COIVD and the election were dominated by the influence of a new anti-Trump Political Action Committee's viral videos, with the hashtags associated with these videos found in 2.5% of all tweets in election-related trends across the period. However, this criticism was not mirrored in the wider dataset of election-related or political tweets in election-related trends. Criticism of Trump was frequent across all time periods and samples, but discourse focused far more on Trump especially in the July period in which tweets about Trump outnumbered tweets about Biden 2 to 1. We conclude that these patterns suggest the issue of COVID in the US has become so highly politicised that it is largely only one side of the political spectrum engaging with how COVID will impact the US election. Thus, we must ask going forward not how COVID will impact the process and outcome of the election but rather how COVID will be used as a political and campaign issue in the coming election.

Diarrhoeal events can trigger long-term Clostridium difficile colonization with recurrent blooms.

Although Clostridium difficile is widely considered an antibiotic- and hospital-associated pathogen, recent evidence indicates that this is an insufficient depiction of the risks and reservoirs. A common thread that links all major risk factors of infection is their association with gastrointestinal disturbances, but this relationship to C. difficile colonization has never been tested directly. Here, we show that disturbances caused by diarrhoeal events trigger susceptibility to C. difficile colonization. Using survey data of the human gut microbiome, we detected C. difficile colonization and blooms in people recovering from food poisoning and Vibrio cholerae infections. Carriers remained colonized for year-long time scales and experienced highly variable patterns of C. difficile abundance, where increased shedding over short periods of 1-2 d interrupted week-long periods in which C. difficile was undetectable. Given that short shedding events were often linked to gastrointestinal disturbances, our results help explain why C. difficile is frequently detected as a co-infecting pathogen in patients with diarrhoea. To directly test the impact of diarrhoea on susceptibility to colonization, we developed a mouse model of variable disturbance intensity, which allowed us to monitor colonization in the absence of disease. As mice exposed to avirulent C. difficile spores ingested increasing quantities of laxatives, more individuals experienced C. difficile blooms. Our results indicate that the likelihood of colonization is highest in the days immediately following acute disturbances, suggesting that this could be an important window during which transmission could be interrupted and the incidence of infection lowered.

Modeling atmospheric volatile organic compound concentrations resulting from a deepwater oil well blowout – Mitigation by subsea dispersant injection

The atmospheric concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated by surface slicks during an oil spill have not been extensively studied. We modeled oil transport and fate, air emissions, and atmospheric dispersion of VOCs from a hypothetical deepwater well blowout in De Soto Canyon of the Gulf of Mexico assuming no intervention and use of SubSea Dispersant Injection (SSDI) at the source during three week-long periods representing different atmospheric mixing conditions. Spatially varying time histories of atmospheric VOCs within ~2 km from the release site were estimated. As compared to the no-intervention case, SSDI dispersed the discharged oil over a larger water volume at depth and enhanced VOC dissolution and biodegradation, thereby reducing both the total mass of VOCs released to the atmosphere and the concentration of VOCs within 2 km from the release site. Atmospheric conditions also influenced the VOC concentrations, although to a lesser degree than SSDI.

Computer-based tools for assessing micro-longitudinal patterns of cognitive function in older adults

Patterns of cognitive change over micro-longitudinal timescales (i.e., ranging from hours to days) are associated with a wide range of age-related health and functional outcomes. However, practical issues of conducting high-frequency assessments make investigations of micro-longitudinal cognition costly and burdensome to run. One way of addressing this is to develop cognitive assessments that can be performed by older adults, in their own homes, without a researcher being present. Here, we address the question of whether reliable and valid cognitive data can be collected over micro-longitudinal timescales using unsupervised cognitive tests.In study 1, 48 older adults completed two touchscreen cognitive tests, on three occasions, in controlled conditions, alongside a battery of standard tests of cognitive functions. In study 2, 40 older adults completed the same two computerized tasks on multiple occasions, over three separate week-long periods, in their own homes, without a researcher present. Here, the tasks were incorporated into a wider touchscreen system (Novel Assessment of Nutrition and Ageing (NANA)) developed to assess multiple domains of health and behavior. Standard tests of cognitive function were also administered prior to participants using the NANA system.Performance on the two “NANA” cognitive tasks showed convergent validity with, and similar levels of reliability to, the standard cognitive battery in both studies. Completion and accuracy rates were also very high. These results show that reliable and valid cognitive data can be collected from older adults using unsupervised computerized tests, thus affording new opportunities for the investigation of cognitive.

P132 Review of smoking, alcohol and drug use within an inner-city integrated GUM service

Background/introduction Evidence suggests alcohol and drug use correspond to poorer sexual health outcomes. NICE recommend routine screening for alcohol use disorders, with adults and young people regularly attending GUM services identified as a high risk group. Assessment for drug and alcohol misuse enables health promotion through brief intervention. Aim(s)/objectives To assess the prevalence of cigarette, alcohol and drug use within our GUM clinic population. Methods Patients were requested to complete a questionnaire as part of the clinic triage form, including data on smoking status, alcohol use using AUDIT-C and recreational drug use. Cases were randomly selected for retrospective review over two week-long periods in June-July 2015. Results 493 patients were reviewed: 261 (52.9%) female vs 232 (47.1%) male. Ages ranged from 14–79 (median = 28). 27.9% were current smokers (F = 26.8%, M = 29.2%). 391 (79.3%) patients completed questions to allow adequate assessment of their alcohol use. 220 (56.3%) scored ≥5 using the AUDIT-C screening tool, indicating need for further discussion. 317/409 (77.5%) disclosed binge drinking. Of the 418 patients (84.8%) who responded, 73 (17.5%) admitted recreational drug use. The most common method of use disclosed was smoking (71.2%), followed by snorting (49.3%) and pills (30.1%). (31 reported more than 1 method.) Discussion/conclusion Over half of patients attending our clinic warranted further assessment or brief intervention regarding their alcohol use. Recreational drug use and smoking was higher than that of the general population. Further staff training and developing links with local support services will improve the holistic management of our patients.

Characterizing Damage of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Blueberries.

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a severe economic pest of growing importance in the United States, Canada, and Europe. While feeding damage from H. halys has been characterized in tree fruit, vegetables, and agronomic crops, less is known about the impacts of stink bugs on small fruits such as blueberries. In this study, we examined H. halys feeding on two representative early and late ripening blueberry cultivars in Oregon and New Jersey. This research examined how different densities of H. halys confined on blueberry clusters for week-long periods affected fruit quality at harvest. After fruit were ripe, we stained and quantified the number of salivary sheaths on berries as an indication of feeding pressure. Feeding by H. halys damaged the fruits by causing increased levels of external discoloration, and internal damage in the form of tissue necrosis. Exposure of berries to H. halys was also associated with decreasing berry weights and lower soluble solids in fruits. However, the different cultivars did not respond consistently to feeding pressure from H. halys. Weekly variability in feeding pressure of two of the cultivars as quantified by the number of stylet sheaths per berry was largely accounted for by environmental variables. We conclude that H. halys does have potential to severely damage blueberries and may become an important economic pest. Characterization of damage is important because correct identification of insect damage is key for successful management.

Tropical cyclones cause CaCO3undersaturation of coral reef seawater in a high-CO2world

[1] Ocean acidification is the global decline in seawater pH and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) saturation state (Ω) due to the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 by the world's oceans. Acidification impairs CaCO3 shell and skeleton construction by marine organisms. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable, as they are constructed by the CaCO3 skeletons of corals and other calcifiers. We understand relatively little about how coral reefs will respond to ocean acidification in combination with other disturbances, such as tropical cyclones. Seawater carbonate chemistry data collected from two reefs in the Florida Keys before, during, and after Tropical Storm Isaac provide the most thorough data to-date on how tropical cyclones affect the seawater CO2 system of coral reefs. Tropical Storm Isaac caused both an immediate and prolonged decline in seawater pH. Aragonite saturation state was depressed by 1.0 for a full week after the storm impact. Based on current “business-as-usual” CO2 emissions scenarios, we show that tropical cyclones with high rainfall and runoff can cause periods of undersaturation (Ω < 1.0) for high-Mg calcite and aragonite mineral phases at acidification levels before the end of this century. Week-long periods of undersaturation occur for 18 mol % high-Mg calcite after storms by the end of the century. In a high-CO2 world, CaCO3 undersaturation of coral reef seawater will occur as a result of even modest tropical cyclones. The expected increase in the strength, frequency, and rainfall of the most severe tropical cyclones with climate change in combination with ocean acidification will negatively impact the structural persistence of coral reefs.

Individual exposure to size-fractionated particulate matter and carbon monoxide in selected microenvironments of the Milan urban area

Background Human exposure in transport micro-environments (MEs) is of particular interest because many citizens and commuters spend a substantial component of their time in these spaces. Fixed monitoring stations measuring outdoor air quality are used to estimate exposure levels, however, this approach may significantly underestimate the exposure of particular population subgroups, pointing to the need for direct personal exposure measurements. Aims Ultrafine particles (UFPs), size-fractionated particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) were measured in the central area of Milan, in order to assess the influence of time and space on individual exposures. Methods Individual exposures to CO (passive analyser - electrochemical cell), UFPs and PM (Condensation and Optical Particle Counters) were continuously collected along an established urban pathway, moving afoot or by different private and public means of transport during three week-long periods (summer, autumn and winter) and through three sampling sessions per day. Results The analysis of the exposure measures showed statistically significant differences between different MEs and sampling periods. The highest mean concentrations were observed during time spent along busy streets (walking or moving by motorized vehicles), in metro trains and on working-day mornings; the lowest exposures were observed in green areas and in indoor environments. PM and CO showed different seasonal behaviours: the highest mean concentrations were observed in summer for CO and for the coarser fractions of PM, and in winter for the finer fractions of PM. Conclusions Appreciable differences among MEs and sampling periods were observed. Exposure patterns appeared to be mostly related to the proximity to traffic sources, to peculiarities of MEs, as well as to time periods during the day, days of the week, and seasons of the year.

ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF ROAD CATEGORY AND DAY OF THE WEEK ON ACCIDENT HAZARD IN THE ROAD TRANSPORT OF GOODS IN POLAND

The current accident hazard caused by road transport of goods has been analysed, with the location (road categories) and time circumstances (specific days of the week) having been additionally taken into account. Calculations were done that made it possible to quantify this hazard, which is chiefly caused by the traffic of goods vehicles. The importance of this problem is increasing in the situation of persisting strong and steady upward trend in the traffic of goods vehicles. In a recent period of 10 years, the rate of growth of the traffic of goods vehicles was almost twice as high as that of the traffic of passenger cars. The hazard and fatality risk indicator values were estimated by analysing an isolated set of accident data. The period covered by the analysis of the events that occurred in the road transport of goods extended for the years from 2002 to 2011 and the numerical values have been specified in relation to repeatable week-long periods and to four road categories. The calculated hazard indicator values have been compared with the share of goods vehicles in the whole motor vehicle market, road traffic, and goods transport.

Native Birds and Alien Insects: Spatial Density Dependence in Songbird Predation of Invading Oak Gallwasps

Revealing the interactions between alien species and native communities is central to understanding the ecological consequences of range expansion. Much has been learned through study of the communities developing around invading herbivorous insects. Much less, however, is known about the significance of such aliens for native vertebrate predators for which invaders may represent a novel food source. We quantified spatial patterns in native bird predation of invading gall-inducing Andricus wasps associated with introduced Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) at eight sites across the UK. These gallwasps are available at high density before the emergence of caterpillars that are the principle spring food of native insectivorous birds. Native birds showed positive spatial density dependence in gall attack rates at two sites in southern England, foraging most extensively on trees with highest gall densities. In a subsequent study at one of these sites, positive spatial density dependence persisted through four of five sequential week-long periods of data collection. Both patterns imply that invading galls are a significant resource for at least some native bird populations. Density dependence was strongest in southern UK bird populations that have had longest exposure to the invading gallwasps. We hypothesise that this pattern results from the time taken for native bird populations to learn how to exploit this novel resource.

Particulate matter concentrations in residences: an intervention study evaluating stand-alone filters and air conditioners

This study, a randomized controlled trial, evaluated the effectiveness of free-standing air filters and window air conditioners (ACs) in 126 low-income households of children with asthma. Households were randomized into a control group, a group receiving a free-standing HEPA filter placed in the child's sleeping area, and a group receiving the filter and a window-mounted AC. Indoor air quality (IAQ) was monitored for week-long periods over three to four seasons. High concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide were frequently seen. When IAQ was monitored, filters reduced PM levels in the child's bedroom by an average of 50%. Filter use varied greatly among households and declined over time, for example, during weeks when pollutants were monitored, filter use was initially high, averaging 84±27%, but dropped to 63±33% in subsequent seasons. In months when households were not visited, use averaged only 34±30%. Filter effectiveness did not vary in homes with central or room ACs. The study shows that measurements over multiple seasons are needed to characterize air quality and filter performance. The effectiveness of interventions using free-standing air filters depends on occupant behavior, and strategies to ensure filter use should be an integral part of interventions. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) increased particulate matter (PM) levels by about 14 μg/m3 and was often detected using ETS-specific tracers despite restrictions on smoking in the house as reported on questionnaires administered to caregivers. PM concentrations depended on season, filter usage, relative humidity, air exchange ratios, number of children, outdoor PM levels, sweeping/dusting, and presence of a central air conditioner (AC). Free-standing air filters can be an effective intervention that provides substantial reductions in PM concentrations if the filters are used. However, filter use was variable across the study population and declined over the study duration, and thus strategies are needed to encourage and maintain use of filters. The variability in filter use suggests that exposure misclassification is a potential problem in intervention studies using filters. The installation of a room AC in the bedroom, intended to limit air exchange ratios, along with an air filter, did not lower PM levels more than the filter alone.

Validation of a home environment test battery for supporting assessments in advanced Parkinson’s disease

Test sequences in a test battery for Parkinson's disease patients, consisting of self-assessments and motor tests, were carried out repeatedly in a telemedicine setting, during week-long test periods and results were summarized in an 'overall score'. 35 patients in stable and fluctuating conditions (15 age- and gender-matched pairs) used the test battery for 1 week, and were then assessed with UPDRS and PDQ-39. This procedure was repeated 1 week later, without treatment changes. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients and Cronbach's alpha. Convergent validity was assessed by Spearman rank correlations and known-groups' validity, by the Mann-Whitney test. According to anonymous usability questionnaires, the patients could easily complete the tasks. Median compliance (93%) and test-retest reliability (0.88) were good. The correlations between overall score and total UPDRS (-0.64) and PDQ-39 (-0.72) were adequate. Median overall score was 18% better in the stable compared to the fluctuating group (p = 0.0014).

The Picture of Mental Health/Illness in the Printed Media in Three Central European Countries

Even in the era of the Internet, printed media are still among the most frequently identified sources of mental health information. Many studies have shown that this information is frequently negative and contributes to stigmatization of people with mental illness. This international comparative study describes the content of media messages about mental health/illness in terms of stigma in three Central European countries. The study sample comprised all articles pertaining to the topic of mental health/illness (N = 450) identified during five week-long periods in 2007 chosen from the six most widely read newspapers and magazines in each country. The authors used content analysis methods to achieve quantitative and qualitative objectives. More than half of all articles contained negative statements reflecting stigma toward persons with mental illness. Substance abuse disorders are the most frequent mental conditions covered in all three countries (22%), and psychotic disorders are the most stigmatized. Countries significantly differ in length of articles, in the association of aggressive behavior with persons with mental illness, and in the use of a sensationalized style of writing. Coverage of mental health/illness issues differs to some extent across countries but is generally of poor quality. On the basis of the authors' findings, practical recommendations for journalists can be tailored specifically for each country.