Abstract
Background
A comprehensive smokefree prison policy (SFPP) was introduced in Scottish prisons from November 2018, reflecting concern about inequalities in occupational exposures to ...second-hand smoke (SHS) and tobacco-related harms among people in custody (PiC). We aimed to address a gap, whereby few studies have sought to understand SFPP from the perspectives of people living and working in prisons.
Methods
As part of a comprehensive evaluation, focus groups and interviews with staff (n = 99) and interviews with PiC (n = 23) were conducted 6–9 months post-implementation of SFPP in Scotland. Data were analysed using the framework approach.
Results
Our study found that new restrictions on smoking had been widely accepted by PiC, after a period of adjustment which was less troublesome than participants had anticipated. Benefits of the SFPP for the safety and comfort of staff and PiC who were no longer exposed to SHS, and additionally for the health of PiC who were now smoking-abstinent, were widely acknowledged. Drawbacks of the SFPP, such as difficulties managing without tobacco and use of alternatives (e.g. e-cigarettes and changes in use of illegal drugs), were also reported. Contraband tobacco was not reported to be a major problem following prisons becoming smokefree.
Conclusions
The findings strengthen evidence that SFPPs can be implemented without causing major disruption and highlight the need for removal of tobacco to be underpinned by careful planning, partnership working and ensuring the availability of support for smokers. Experiences from Scotland may be of interest and some comfort, internationally for jurisdictions considering smoke-free rules in prisons.
Aerobic exercise facilitates postconcussion symptom resolution at the group level, but patient-level characteristics may affect the likelihood of treatment efficacy.
This study aimed to investigate ...demographic and clinical characteristics, which differentiate postconcussion aerobic exercise treatment efficacy from nonefficacy in the intervention arm of a randomized clinical trial.
Adolescent and young adult participants initiated a standardized aerobic exercise intervention within 14 d of concussion, consisting of self-selected exercise for 100 min·wk -1 at an individualized heart rate (80% of heart rate induced symptom exacerbation during graded exercise testing). Treatment efficacy was defined as symptom resolution within 28-d postconcussion. Treatment efficacy and nonefficacy groups were compared on demographics, clinical characteristics, intervention adherence, and persistent symptom risk using the Predicting Persistent Postconcussive Problems in Pediatrics (5P) clinical risk score.
A total of 27 participants (16.1 ± 2.3 yr old; range, 11-21 yr; 52% female) began the intervention, with a mean of 9.5 ± 3.7 d after concussion; half ( n = 13; 48%) demonstrated treatment efficacy (symptom resolution within 28 d postconcussion). Those whose symptoms resolved within 28 d had significantly lower preintervention postconcussion symptom inventory scores (21.2 ± 13.2 vs 41.4 ± 22.2; P < 0.01), greater adherence to the intervention (77% vs 36%; P = 0.05), and longer average exercise duration (median interquartile range, 49.7 36.8-68.6 vs 30.4 20.7-34.7 min; P < 0.01) than those whose symptoms lasted more than 28 d. Groups were similar in age, sex, timing of intervention, and preintervention 5P risk score.
A standardized aerobic exercise intervention initiated within 14 d of concussion demonstrated efficacy for approximately half of participants, according to our definition of treatment efficacy. This multisite aerobic exercise intervention suggests that lower symptom severity, higher intervention adherence, and greater exercise duration are factors that increase the likelihood of symptoms resolving within 28 d of concussion.
High tropical and low polar biodiversity is one of the most fundamental patterns characterising marine ecosystems, and the influence of temperature on such marine latitudinal diversity gradients is ...increasingly well documented. However, the temporal stability of quantitative relationships among diversity, latitude and temperature is largely unknown. Herein we document marine zooplankton species diversity patterns at four time slices modern, Last Glacial Maximum (18 000 years ago), last interglacial (120 000 years ago), and Pliocene (~3.3–3.0 million years ago) and show that, although the diversity‐latitude relationship has been dynamic, diversity‐temperature relationships are remarkably constant over the past three million years. These results suggest that species diversity is rapidly reorganised as species' ranges respond to temperature change on ecological time scales, and that the ecological impact of future human‐induced temperature change may be partly predictable from fossil and paleoclimatological records.
•Dark Triad traits are associated with greater infidelity.•Dark Triad traits predict perceived susceptibility to a partner’s infidelity.•Narcissism and secondary psychopathy exert the greatest ...influence on infidelity.•Dark Triad traits predict greater willingness to engage in romantic revenge.
Dark Triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy) are characterized by manipulation, emotional coldness, and a lack of empathy. The current studies investigated the influence of Dark Triad traits on heterosexual women’s infidelity and romantic revenge. For Study 1, women (N=102) completed the Mach IV, NPI-16, Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, bespoke Infidelity Experience Scale, Intentions Towards Infidelity Scale, and Susceptibility to Infidelity Instrument. Findings demonstrated that Dark Triad traits predict prior experience of infidelity, intentions to engage in infidelity and perceived susceptibility to a partner’s infidelity. Narcissism and secondary psychopathy were the most influential traits. For Study 2, women (N=108) completed the aforementioned Dark Triad trait measures and responded to a hypothetical scenario describing a partner’s infidelity. Dark Triad traits predicted each type of revenge assessed except willingness to terminate the relationship. Secondary psychopathy was the only Dark Triad trait to emerge as a significant individual predictor. Together, these studies demonstrate that Dark Triad traits predict women’s own infidelity, their perceived vulnerability to a partner’s infidelity and revenge in response to this infidelity. Findings also highlight the importance of distinguishing between primary and secondary psychopathy.
•Adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones can be quantified in spines using EIA kits.•No visible growth marks could be identified in echidna spines.•Excellent assay validation characteristics suggest ...that steroid hormones can be accurately detected in spines.•Growth rate must be determined prior to physiological validations.
The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is a monotreme endemic to Australia and New Guinea, and is the most widespread native mammal in Australia. Despite its abundance, there are considerable gaps in our understanding of echidna life history such as reproductive cycles in both sexes, patterns of stress physiology, and possible seasonal changes in metabolism. Slow-growing integumentary sample types comprised of keratin (hair, claw, etc.) have been used in other wildlife to assess these questions via analysis of longitudinal patterns in steroid and thyroid hormones that are deposited in these tissues as they grow. Hairs and spines comprise the pelage of echidnas, the spines being keratinized structures homologous to hair. Thus, echidna spines could be a viable sample type for hormone analysis contributing to a better understanding of the biology of echidnas. The aim of this work was to determine whether steroid hormones are detectable in echidna spines, to perform assay validations, and to establish a protocol for extracting and quantifying hormones in echidna spines using commercially available assay kits. We also inspected cross-sectioned spines using light and electron microscopy for any evidence of annual growth markers that might enable inferences about spine growth rate. Corticosterone, progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone were detectable in all samples, and echidna spine extract passed standard assay validations (parallelism and accuracy), indicating that commercially available assay kits can quantify hormones accurately in this sample type. No visible growth marks were identified in the spines and thus spine growth rate is currently unknown. Echidna spines show promise as a novel matrix from which hormones can be quantified; next steps should involve determination of spine annual growth rate, possible seasonal changes in growth rate, and persistence of spines over time in order to perform physiological validations, i.e., relationship between physiological status and hormone concentrations in spines.
Aerobic exercise has become a useful method to assist with postconcussion management. Exercise can exacerbate concussion symptoms even when symptoms are not apparent at rest. Few studies have ...examined the reasons for symptom exacerbation during exercise following a concussion. We had 2 primary objectives: (1) to delineate cardiopulmonary and cerebrovascular responses to exercise in adolescents and young adults with a concussion and healthy controls and (2) to determine the association between cerebrovascular responses and symptom burden.
We recruited participants with a recent concussion from a sport concussion clinic between September 1, 2018, and February 22, 2020. They were included if their concussion occurred <3 weeks before initial testing and if they were symptomatic at rest. Participants were excluded if they sustained a concussion in the past year (excluding index injury), reported history of neurologic disorders, or were using medications/devices that may alter neurologic function. Participants completed a progressive, symptom-limited, submaximal exercise protocol on a stationary bicycle. We assessed heart rate, blood pressure, fraction of end tidal CO
(FETCO
), and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (CBF) and cerebrovascular function (vasoactivity and autoregulation) at seated rest and during exercise.
We conducted 107 exercise tests (40 concussed, 37 healthy participants initially; 30 concussed at follow-up). Concussed participants were tested initially (mean 17.6 ± 2.2 SD years of age; 55% female; mean 12.5 ± 4.7 days postconcussion) and again 8 weeks later (mean 73.3 ± 9.5 days postconcussion). Control participants (mean 18.3 ± 2.4 years; 62% female) were tested once. FETCO
increased throughout the exercise protocol as heart rate increased, reached a plateau, and declined at higher exercise intensities. CO
explained >25% of the variation in resting CBF (
> 0.25;
< 0.01) in most (73% individuals). Within the concussion group, resting symptom severity and the heart rate at which FETCO
reached a plateau explained ∼2/3s of variation in exercise-induced symptom exacerbation (
= 0.65; FETCO
β = -1.210 ± 0.517 SE,
< 0.05). There was a moderate, statistically significant relationship between cerebrovascular responses to CO
at rest (cerebral vasoactivity) and cerebrovascular responses to exercise-induced changes in FETCO
(
= 0.13,
= 0.01).
The arterial CO
response and symptom exacerbation relationship during postconcussion aerobic exercise may be mediated by increased sensitivity of cerebral vasculature to exercise-related increase in CO
.
Self-compassion, a healthy way of relating to oneself, may promote psychological resilience during adolescence. How adolescents engage with self-compassion, and whether they have distinct ...self-compassionate or uncompassionate psychological profiles, is unclear. This study investigated potential self-compassion profiles based on responses to the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF) and examined their relationship with a range of mental health symptoms and cognitive and emotional tendencies. A large cross-sectional sample of high school students (
N
= 950;
M
age
= 13.70 years,
SD
age
= 0.72,
range =
12 to 16 years; 434 female and 495 male) completed several online self-report measures including the SCS-SF. Latent profile analysis identified parsimonious self-compassion profiles by gender using the six SCS-SF subscales. Five female profiles included ‘Low Self-Relating’, ‘Uncompassionate’, ‘High Self-Relating’, ‘Moderately Compassionate’ and ‘Highly Compassionate’. Comparatively, two male profiles included ‘Low Self-Relating’ and ‘Moderately Self-Relating’. Low Self-Relating involved low levels of both compassionate and uncompassionate responding, and Moderately Self-Relating involved higher levels of both. Low Self-Relating and Highly Compassionate profiles for females consistently reported lower levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, repetitive thinking and avoidance-fusion thinking patterns compared to the other female profiles. Low Self-Relating males reported more adaptive outcomes compared to Moderate Self-Relating males. These findings illustrate important adolescent gender differences in compassionate and uncompassionate self-response profiles. Results suggest self-compassion is an important psychological construct with diverse mental health benefits for females, whereas for males a lack of attachment to either response styles are linked with better psychological outcomes.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in randomized placebo-controlled Phase III ...trials (1,2); however, the benefits of these vaccines for preventing asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection, particularly when administered in real-world conditions, is less well understood. Using prospective cohorts of health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers* in eight U.S. locations during December 14, 2020-March 13, 2021, CDC routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2 infections every week regardless of symptom status and at the onset of symptoms consistent with COVID-19-associated illness. Among 3,950 participants with no previous laboratory documentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 2,479 (62.8%) received both recommended mRNA doses and 477 (12.1%) received only one dose of mRNA vaccine.
Among unvaccinated participants, 1.38 SARS-CoV-2 infections were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) per 1,000 person-days.
In contrast, among fully immunized (≥14 days after second dose) persons, 0.04 infections per 1,000 person-days were reported, and among partially immunized (≥14 days after first dose and before second dose) persons, 0.19 infections per 1,000 person-days were reported. Estimated mRNA vaccine effectiveness for prevention of infection, adjusted for study site, was 90% for full immunization and 80% for partial immunization. These findings indicate that authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are effective for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of symptom status, among working-age adults in real-world conditions. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all eligible persons.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Introduction: We evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to influenza and influenza vaccination among pregnant women in three selected countries.
Methods: During 2017, pregnant ...women seeking antenatal care at hospitals at participating sites were enrolled. We described characteristics and responses to KAP questions. We also evaluated predictors associated with influenza vaccination during pregnancy at sites with substantial influenza vaccine uptake by multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Overall, 4,648 pregnant women completed the survey. There were substantial differences among the three survey populations; only 8% of the women in Nagpur had heard of influenza, compared to 90% in Lima and 96% in Bangkok (p-value<0.01). Despite significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics in the three populations, most participants across sites who were aware of influenza prior to study enrollment believe they and their infants are at risk of influenza and related complications and believe influenza vaccination is safe and effective. Half of women in Lima had verified receipt of influenza vaccine compared to <5% in Bangkok and Nagpur (p < .05). For further analysis conducted among women in Lima only, household income above the poverty line (aOR: 1.38; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.88), having 8+ antenatal visits, compared to 0-4 (aOR: 2.41; 95%CI: 1.39, 2.87, respectively), having 0 children, compared to 2+ (aOR: 1.96; 95%CIs: 1.23, 3.12), and vaccination recommended by a health-care provider (aOR: 8.25; 95%CI: 6.11, 11.14) were strongly associated with receipt of influenza vaccine during pregnancy.
Conclusions: Our findings identify opportunities for targeted interventions to improve influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women in these settings.
ABSTRACT Our current understanding of galaxy evolution still has many uncertainties associated with the details of the accretion, processing, and removal of gas across cosmic time. The next ...generation of radio telescopes will image the neutral hydrogen (H i) in galaxies over large volumes at high redshifts, which will provide key insights into these processes. We are conducting the COSMOS H i Large Extragalactic Survey (CHILES) with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, which is the first survey to simultaneously observe H i from z = 0 to z ∼ 0.5. Here, we report the highest redshift H i 21 cm detection in emission to date of the luminous infrared galaxy COSMOS J100054.83+023126.2 at z = 0.376 with the first 178 hr of CHILES data. The total H i mass is (2.9 1.0) × 1010M and the spatial distribution is asymmetric and extends beyond the galaxy. While optically the galaxy looks undisturbed, the H i distribution suggests an interaction with a candidate companion. In addition, we present follow-up Large Millimeter Telescope CO observations that show it is rich in molecular hydrogen, with a range of possible masses of (1.8-9.9) × 1010M . This is the first study of the H i and CO in emission for a single galaxy beyond z ∼ 0.2.
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