•Cross-sectional study of 108 veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST).•75% with post-MST suicidal ideation (SI); 40.7% with post-MST suicide attempt (SA).•Posttraumatic cognitions about ...self associated with post-MST SA/SI and past-week SI.•Pre-MST SI associated with post-MST and past-week SI; pre-MST SA with post-MST SA.•Childhood physical abuse and military sexual assault also related to post-MST SI.
As increasing research demonstrates that military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with suicidal ideation and attempts, discerning factors that place MST survivors at risk for these outcomes is critical. The present study aimed to: (1) characterize suicidal ideation and attempts among MST survivors; (2) identify factors associated with post-MST suicide attempts, post-MST suicidal ideation, and past-week suicidal ideation.
A convenience sample of 108 veterans (66 women, 42 men) who reported a history of MST participated in this cross-sectional study. Pre-MST suicidal ideation and attempt, childhood physical and sexual abuse, military sexual assault, institutional betrayal, and posttraumatic cognitions about self, world, and self-blame were examined, with age and gender as covariates.
Seventy-five percent of participants reported experiencing post-MST suicidal ideation, and 40.7% reported attempting suicide following MST. Pre-MST suicide attempt and posttraumatic cognitions about self were associated with post-MST suicide attempt. Pre-MST suicidal ideation, military sexual assault, childhood physical abuse, and posttraumatic cognitions about self were associated with post-MST suicidal ideation. Lastly, pre-MST suicidal ideation and posttraumatic cognitions about self were associated with past-week suicidal ideation; results were unchanged when accounting for recent PTSD or depressive symptoms.
The cross-sectional design, retrospective self-report, and small sample are limitations.
Addressing negative posttraumatic beliefs about self may be important for managing suicide risk among MST survivors. Assessing for pre-MST suicidal ideation and attempt is likely also warranted. Further understanding of the longitudinal impact of posttraumatic beliefs about self on subsequent risk for suicidal ideation and attempt is warranted.
Asymmetrically substituted poly(diitaconate) copolymers are synthesized from 1‐((N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl)‐2‐aminoethyl)‐4‐propyl diitaconate (PrIA) and different comonomers (N,N‐dimethyl‐acrylamide, ...DMAA; acrylic acid; or ((N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl)‐2‐aminoethyl)methacrylate) by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT). The RAFT copolymerization parameters of PrIA and DMAA are rDMAA = 0.49 and rPrIA = 0.17, compared to rDMAA = 0.52 and rPrIA = 0.54 obtained by free radical copolymerization (FRP). Thus, the RAFT process has a stronger trend to alternating polymerization than the FRP process. The polydispersity index of the RAFT copolymers is around 1.2–1.8, compared to 2.8–2.9 for the corresponding FRP copolymers. After removal of the tert‐butoxycarbonyl protective groups, antimicrobially active synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides are obtained. The thus activated poly(PrIA‐co‐DMAA) copolymers (repeat unit ratio 1:1) have an increasing activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with increasing molar mass. The RAFT copolymers are slightly more active and less toxic than comparable FRP polymers, leading to a higher selectivity for bacteria over mammalian cells. Higher molar fractions of PrIA in poly(PrIA‐co‐DMAA) copolymers (up to 80 mol%) do not increase their antimicrobial activity; reduction of the BuIA content in poly(BuIA‐DMAA) (down to 10 mol%) leads to a loss of activity against both E. coli and S. aureus.
Biologically active synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs) are derived from itaconic acid. The asymmetrically substituted diitaconate monomers are copolymerized with various comonomers to yield statistical to alternating copolymers. These have an increasing activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with increasing molar mass.
Urban populations are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of heat, with heat-related mortality showing intra-urban variations that are likely due to differences in urban characteristics and ...socioeconomic status.
We investigated the influence of urban green and urban blue, that is, urban vegetation and water bodies, on heat-related excess mortality in the elderly > 65 years old in Lisbon, Portugal, between 1998 and 2008.
We used remotely sensed data and geographic information to determine the amount of urban vegetation and the distance to bodies of water (the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus Estuary). Poisson generalized additive models were fitted, allowing for the interaction between equivalent temperature universal thermal climate index (UTCI) and quartiles of urban greenness classified using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and proximity to water (≤ 4 km vs. > 4 km), while adjusting for potential confounders.
The association between mortality and a 1°C increase in UTCI above the 99th percentile (24.8°C) was stronger for areas in the lowest NDVI quartile (14.7% higher; 95% CI: 1.9, 17.5%) than for areas in the highest quartile (3.0%; 95% CI: 2.0, 4.0%). In areas > 4 km from water, a 1°C increase in UTCI above the 99th percentile was associated with a 7.1% increase in mortality (95% CI: 6.2, 8.1%), whereas in areas ≤ 4 km from water, the estimated increase in mortality was only 2.1% (95% CI: 1.2, 3.0%).
Urban green and blue appeared to have a mitigating effect on heat-related mortality in the elderly population in Lisbon. Increasing the amount of vegetation may be a good strategy to counteract the adverse effects of heat in urban areas. Our findings also suggest potential benefits of urban blue that may be present several kilometers from a body of water.
Burkart K, Meier F, Schneider A, Breitner S, Canário P, Alcoforado MJ, Scherer D, Endlicher W. 2016. Modification of heat-related mortality in an elderly urban population by vegetation (urban green) and proximity to water (urban blue): evidence from Lisbon, Portugal. Environ Health Perspect 124:927-934; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409529.
A series of asymmetrically disubstituted diitaconate monomers is presented. Starting from itaconic anhydride, functional groups could be placed selectively at the two nonequivalent carbonyl groups. ...By using 2D NMR spectroscopy, it was shown that the first functionalization step occurred at the carbonyl group in the β position to the double bond. These monomers were copolymerized with N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) to yield polymer‐based synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs). They were obtained by free radical polymerization, a metal‐free process, and still maintained facial amphiphilicity at the repeat unit level. This eliminates the need for laborious metal removal and is advantageous from a regulatory and product safety perspective. The poly(diitaconate‐co‐DMAA) copolymers obtained were statistical to alternating, and the monomer feed ratio roughly matched that of the repeat unit content of the copolymers. Investigations of varied R group hydrophobicity, repeat unit ratio, and molecular mass on antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and on compatibility with human keratinocytes showed that the polymers with the longest R groups and lowest DMAA content were the most antimicrobial and hemolytic. This is in agreement with the biological activity of previously reported SMAMPs. Thus, the design concept of facial amphiphilicity has successfully been transferred, but the selectivity of these polymers for bacteria over mammalian cells still needs to be optimized.
Radical face forward: A series of asymmetrically disubstituted diitaconate monomers are presented. Poly(diitaconates) can copy natural blueprints for antimicrobial peptides, but can be obtained by simple free radical polymerization and still maintain the desired facial amphiphilicity of the parent peptides (see figure).
Firearm purchasing increased within the U.S. during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While rates of firearm ownership and suicide are elevated among women Veterans compared to women ...non-Veterans, no studies have examined if and how firearm beliefs and behaviors changed among women Veterans during the pandemic. We examined women Veterans' changes in firearm beliefs and engagement in firearm behaviors during the early pandemic era.
3,000 post-9/11 era women Veterans were invited to participate in a survey. 501 respondents (May-December 2020) comprised the sample for this concurrent nested mixed-method analysis. Thematic analysis and log-binomial regression were used.
13.88% (n = 69) of women Veterans in our sample reported changes in their firearm beliefs; 22.15% (n = 109) reported engaging in firearm behaviors. The most prevalent reported behaviors were making household firearms more accessible (16.13%) and purchasing ammunition (11.97%). Smaller percentages reported carrying a firearm more frequently (6.71%), loading previously unloaded firearms (5.69%), or purchasing a firearm (4.24%). Thematic analysis suggested firearm behaviors were likely driven by a perceived increased need to protect oneself, family, and property due to: (1) uncertainties brought on by the pandemic; (2) pandemic-related threats necessitating self-defense, preparedness, and self-sufficiency; (3) political, social, and racial unrest and protests. PTSD symptom severity and military sexual assault history were associated with higher prevalence of changes in firearm beliefs and engagement in firearm behaviors during the pandemic.
Consideration of women Veterans' prior experiences and pandemic-related factors may be necessary to contextualize firearm discussions and inform future research. Given associations of military sexual assault and PTSD symptoms with firearm beliefs and behaviors, it may be crucial to ensure that such discussion are trauma-informed.
•An evaluation of the use of LCZ maps in a local scale urban climate model.•Extensive analysis of temperature regime for each LCZ in our study areas.•Spatially explicit information on hot spots in ...terms of mitigation needs for urban planning.
High population densities in cities and rapid urban growth increase the vulnerability of the urban environment to extreme weather events. Urban planning should account for these extreme events as efficiently as possible. One way is to locate hot spots in an urban environment by mapping cities into local climate zones (LCZ) and evaluate heat stress related to these zones. LCZs are likely to become a standard in urban climate modelling as they capture important urban morphological characteristics. For instance, temperature regimes linked to spatially explicit LCZ maps should be assessed for all LCZ zones derived from these maps. This study assesses the thermal behavior of mapped LCZs using simulated temperature data from the UrbClim model. Prior to temperature analysis, the model was validated with observational data. To evaluate the robustness of the analysis, we ran the model in three cities in Belgium: Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent. The results show that temperature regimes are significantly different for all the built zones in the urban environment independent of the city. Second, the susceptibility to heat stress can differ greatly depending on the zone. The unique thermal behavior of the different LCZs provides indispensable information on the urban environment and its climatic conditions. This study shows that the LCZ scheme has a potential to help urban planners globally tackle adverse effects of extreme weather events.
Objective This time series study aimed to examine the association between daily air temperature and cause-specific cardiovascular mortality in Bavaria, Southern Germany. Methods We obtained data from ...the cities Munich, Nuremberg and Augsburg and two adjacent administrative districts (Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg), for the period 1990–2006. Data included daily cause-specific cardiovascular death counts, mean daily meteorological variables and air pollution concentrations. In the first stage, data were analysed for Munich, Nuremberg and the Augsburg region separately using Poisson regression models combined with distributed lag non-linear models adjusting for long-term trend, calendar effects and meteorological factors. In a second stage, we combined city-specific exposure-response relationships through a multivariate meta-analysis framework. Results An increase in the 2-day average temperature from the 90th (20.0°C) to the 99th centiles (24.8°C) resulted in an increase of cardiovascular mortality by 10% (95% CI 5% to 15%) in the pooled analysis, while for a decrease from the 10th (−1.0°C) to the 1st centiles (−7.5°C) in the 15-day average temperature cardiovascular mortality increased by 8% (95% CI 2% to 14%). Strongest consistent risk estimates were seen for high 2-day average temperatures and mortality due to other heart diseases (including arrhythmias and heart failure) and cerebrovascular diseases, especially in the elderly. Conclusions Results indicate that, in addition to low temperatures, high temperatures increase cause-specific cardiovascular mortality in temperature climates. These findings may guide planning public health interventions to control and prevent the health effects of exposure to air temperature, especially for individuals at risk for mortality due to heart failure, arrhythmias or cerebrovascular diseases.
A growing number of epidemiological studies show associations between environmental factors and impaired cardiometabolic health. However, evidence is scarce concerning these risk factors and their ...impact on metabolic syndrome (MetS). This analysis aims to investigate associations between long-term exposure to air pollution, road traffic noise, residential greenness, and MetS.
We used data of the first (F4, 2006-2008) and second (FF4, 2013-2014) follow-up of the population-based KORA S4 survey in the region of Augsburg, Germany, to investigate associations between exposures and MetS prevalence at F4 (N = 2883) and MetS incidence at FF4 (N = 1192; average follow-up: 6.5 years). Residential long-term exposures to air pollution - including particulate matter (PM) with a diameter < 10 µm (PM
), PM < 2.5 µm (PM
), PM between 2.5 and 10 µm (PM
), absorbance of PM
(PM2.5
), particle number concentration (PNC), nitrogen dioxide (NO
), ozone (O
) - and road traffic noise were modeled by land-use regression models and noise maps. For greenness, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was obtained. We estimated Odds Ratios (OR) for single and multi-exposure models using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations adjusted for confounders. Joint Odds Ratios were calculated based on the Cumulative Risk Index. Effect modifiers were examined with interaction terms.
We found positive associations between prevalent MetS and interquartile range (IQR) increases in PM
(OR: 1.15; 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.02, 1.29), PM
(OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.28), PM
(OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.27), and PM
abs (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.32). Results further showed negative, but non-significant associations between exposure to greenness and prevalent and incident MetS. No effects were seen for exposure to road traffic noise. Joint Odds Ratios from multi-exposure models were higher than ORs from models with only one exposure.
Abstract
Aims
The association between air temperature and mortality has been shown to vary over time, but evidence of temporal changes in the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is lacking. We aimed ...to estimate the temporal variations in the association between short-term exposures to air temperature and MI in the area of Augsburg, Germany.
Methods and results
Over a 28-years period from 1987 to 2014, a total of 27 310 cases of MI and coronary deaths were recorded. Daily meteorological parameters were measured in the study area. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to estimate the risk of MI associated with air temperature. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify subpopulations with changing susceptibility to air temperature. Results showed a non-significant decline in cold-related MI risks. Heat-related MI relative risk significantly increased from 0.93 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78–1.12 in 1987–2000 to 1.14 (95% CI: 1.00–1.29) in 2001–14. The same trend was also observed for recurrent and non-ST-segment elevation MI events. This increasing population susceptibility to heat was more evident in patients with diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia. Future studies using multicentre MI registries at different climatic, demographic, and socioeconomic settings are warranted to confirm our findings.
Conclusion
We found evidence of rising population susceptibility to heat-related MI risk from 1987 to 2014, suggesting that exposure to heat should be considered as an environmental trigger of MI, especially under a warming climate.
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