Single-measurement-point data collection to assess change has increased with studies assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and of its containment, despite evidence of its lack of validity. ...Retrospective change is not equivalent to change in repeated self-reported measures giving raise to questions about the validity of the former. This paper purports to investigate inconsistencies between change measures by confronting retrospective change to information from longitudinally self-reported measures from the C-SURF cohort study. The study sample consists of 2,279 young men who participated in C-SURF between 2020 and 2021, and completed between May and June 2021 a survey covering change in alcohol, cigarette, cannabis and other addictive behaviors related to the pandemic. The aforementioned behaviors were assessed longitudinally at two time points using self-reports, and retrospective change since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis was also assessed at the second measurement time. Information from both prospective and retrospective change measures were confronted to identify inconsistent information for each behavior. Additionally, multiple logistic regressions were performed to assess associations between socioeconomic status, impulsivity, depression, and different indicators of motivation to complete the study and inconsistency between both measures for each behavior of interest. Importantly, inconsistent information in at least one of the investigated behaviors was found in about 90% of the participants. Small associations were found between inconsistency and different factors with a consistent effect of impulsivity. In the absence of evidence of the validity of retrospective change measures, studies relying on retrospective change should be interpreted with caution.
•Slight sediment deposition was detected along the entire study reach.•The experimental flood caused little changes on the LW budget (-0.30 m3 ha−1)•330 LW were mobilized denoting a tendency to ...aggregation in WJ.•A D* = 2.77 mobility threshold was identified between mobile and immobile single LW.
The work documents morphological changes and large wood (LW) mobilization in a river-reach located downstream of a dam along the Spöl River (Switzerland), following an 8 h experimental release of 1.2-year flood. The aim of the flood was to mimic a natural event able to wash out either or both the sediment and LW. Two field campaigns (before and after the event) were made to generate DEMs and to collect data concerning the river morphology and LW characteristics. The formers were used to produce a Dem Of Difference (DoD) while the latter to identify the LW load fluctuations. Statistical analyses were implemented taking advantage of a 2D flowing model software (HEC-RAS 5.0.7) in order to compute the dimensionless diameter (D* = Flow depth (m)/ LW diameter (m)) and to detect, along with analysis of resident and mobile groups of wood, a mobility threshold (D* = 2.77) by means of a binary regression model (60 % accuracy). The threshold was used to estimate different mobility rates according to different water discharge scenarios. Overall, the event produced slight widespread morphological changes all over the channel, with a modest sediment deposition (2341 m3). Although evidence of LW fluctuations was detected, the LW input and output were almost equal (3.6 m3 ha−1 and 3.9 m3 ha−1, respectively) generating a net difference of – 0.79 m3. The median of the mobile LW was considerably lower compared to that of the resident LW. The results obtained demonstrated that the original aim of the experimental flood, to transport out wood and sediment, was not achieved because the duration and magnitude of such type of flood was limited, inducing equilibrium in the LW load and generating only slight morphological changes.
Switzerland is aiming to eliminate measles, in line with the objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO). Physicians, laboratories and public health authorities have made great efforts to reach ...this goal. A continually increasing measles vaccination coverage and other preventive measures have made an impact: no major measles outbreak has been recorded since 2011. In order to evaluate progress towards elimination, measles epidemiology of a previous epidemic period (2007-2011) was compared with the current post-epidemic period (2012-July 2018) by analysis of data from the mandatory notification system. A decrease of 94% in the average annual incidence rate occurred between the two periods (from 133 to 9 cases per million inhabitants). This was accompanied by significant changes in the epidemiology that are expected and characteristic of countries with limited circulation of the measles virus. After analysing the performance of the Swiss surveillance system and the data provided, the WHO concluded that endemic measles transmission was interrupted in Switzerland in 2016 and 2017.
The complex dynamics of snow accumulation and melt processes under forest canopies entail major observational and modeling challenges, as they vary strongly in space and time. In this study, we ...present novel data sets acquired with mobile multisensor platforms in subalpine and boreal forest stands. These data sets include spatially and temporally resolved measurements of shortwave and longwave irradiance, air and snow surface temperatures, wind speed, and snow depth, all coregistered to canopy structure information. We then apply the energy balance snow model FSM2 to obtain concurrent, distributed simulations of the forest snowpack at very high (“hyper”) resolution (2 m). Our data sets allow us to assess the performance of alternative canopy representation strategies within FSM2 at the level of individual snow energy balance components and in a spatially explicit manner. We demonstrate the benefit of accounting for detailed spatial patterns of shortwave and longwave radiation transfer through the canopy and show the importance of describing wind attenuation by the canopy using stand‐scale metrics. With the proposed canopy representation, snowmelt dynamics in discontinuous forest stands were successfully reproduced. Hyper‐resolution simulations resolving these effects provide an optimal basis for assessing the snow‐hydrological impacts of forest disturbances and for validating and improving the representation of forest snow processes in land surface models intended for coarser‐scale applications.
Key Points
We obtain distributed data sets of subcanopy meteorological conditions coregistered to snow distribution and canopy structure information
These data sets allow assessment of model performance at the level of individual energy balance components in a spatially explicit manner
Snowmelt dynamics in discontinuous forests can be better reproduced when accounting for detailed irradiance patterns
This paper describes the steps that have been undertaken to create an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) at the Deep Heat Mining Project in Basel, Switzerland. Preliminary results from drilling, ...logging, hydraulic testing and stimulating the Basel 1 well are summarized. The project was suspended following the occurrence of several 'felt' microseismic events. Because such events may be an inherent risk with current methods of reservoir stimulation, the paper analyses the possible mechanisms of hydraulically induced shearing processes and suggests methods by which the risk may be reduced. The observations are integrated into a model of the geothermal reservoir where aspects of both the reservoir development and the driving mechanism for the perceptible induced seismic events are considered.
In Switzerland, details of current anaesthesia practice are unknown. However, they are urgently needed to manage anaesthesia drug supply in times of drug shortages due to the pandemic.
We surveyed ...all Swiss anaesthesia institutions in April 2020 to determine their annual anaesthesia activity. Together with a detailed analysis on anaesthetic drug use of a large, representative Swiss anaesthesia index institution, calculations and projections for the annual need of anaesthetics in Switzerland were made. Only those drugs have been analysed that are either being used very frequently or that have been classified critical with regard to their supply by the pharmacy of the index institution or the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.
The response rate to our questionnaire was 98%. Out of the present 188 Swiss anaesthesia institutions, 185 responded. In Switzerland, the annual number of anaesthesias was 1'071'054 (12'445 per 100'000 inhabitants) with a mean anaesthesia time of 2.03 hours. Teaching hospitals (n = 54) performed more than half (n = 572'231) and non-teaching hospitals (n = 103) provided almost half of all anaesthesias (n = 412'531). Thereby, private hospitals conducted a total of 290'690 anaesthesias. Finally, office-based anaesthesia institutions with mainly outpatients (n = 31) administered 86'292 anaesthesias. Regarding type of anaesthesia provided, two thirds were general anaesthesias (42% total intravenous, 17% inhalation, 8% combined), 20% regional and 12% monitored anaesthesia care. Projecting for example the annual need for propofol in anaesthesia, Switzerland requires 48'573 L of propofol 1% which corresponds to 5'644 L propofol 1% per 100'000 inhabitants every year.
To actively manage anaesthesia drug supply in the context of the current pandemic, it is mandatory to have a detailed understanding of the number and types of anaesthesias provided. On this basis, the Swiss annual consumption of anaesthetics could be projected and the replenishment organized.
Evidence about the impact of the pandemic of COVID-19 on the incidence rates of blood cultures contaminations and bloodstream infections in intensive care units (ICUs) remains scant. The objective of ...this study was to investigate the nationwide epidemiology of positive blood cultures drawn in ICUs during the first two pandemic waves of COVID-19 in Switzerland.
We analyzed data on positive blood cultures among ICU patients, prospectively collected through a nationwide surveillance system (ANRESIS), from March 30, 2020, to May 31, 2021, a 14-month timeframe that included a first wave of COVID-19, which affected the French and Italian-speaking regions, an interim period (summer 2020) and a second wave that affected the entire country. We used the number of ICU patient-days provided by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health as denominator to calculate incidence rates of blood culture contaminations and bloodstream infections (ICU-BSI). Incidence rate ratios comparing the interim period with the second wave were determined by segmented Poisson regression models.
A total of 1099 blood culture contaminations and 1616 ICU-BSIs were identified in 52 ICUs during the study. Overall, more episodes of blood culture contaminations and ICU-BSI were observed during the pandemic waves, compared to the interim period. The proportions of blood culture contaminations and ICU-BSI were positively associated with the ICU occupancy rate, which was higher during the COVID-19 waves. During the more representative second wave (versus interim period), we observed an increased incidence of blood culture contaminations (IRR 1.57, 95% CI 1.16-2.12) and ICU-BSI (IRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03-1.39).
An increase in blood culture contaminations and ICU-BSIs was observed during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave, especially in months when the ICU burden of COVID-19 patients was high.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with a clinical outcome ranging from mild to severe, including death. To date, it is unclear ...why some patients develop severe symptoms. Many authors have suggested the involvement of vitamin D in reducing the risk of infections; thus, we retrospectively investigated the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in plasma obtained from a cohort of patients from Switzerland. In this cohort, significantly lower 25(OH)D levels (
= 0.004) were found in PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 (median value 11.1 ng/mL) patients compared with negative patients (24.6 ng/mL); this was also confirmed by stratifying patients according to age >70 years. On the basis of this preliminary observation, vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce the risk of infection. Randomized controlled trials and large population studies should be conducted to evaluate these recommendations and to confirm our preliminary observation.
There is well-established evidence that dams disconnect upstream to downstream sediment flux in rivers and that this may have negative impact on downstream ecosystems. For this reason, the ...development of environmental flows now includes sediment supply and transport whether through reconnecting upstream supplied sediment to a river downstream of a dam, eco-morphogenic flows to rework the stream bed, or artificial sediment supply. However, especially in Alpine systems, there may be unregulated tributaries that are able to deliver gravel and coarser sediment naturally to compensate for the effects of dam-related sediment disconnection. To represent these effects we propose a geomorphic form of the serial discontinuity concept and apply it to two hydropower dam-impacted Alpine streams in the Swiss Pennine Alps. Conceptually, the relative position of a dam influences the degree of coarse sediment disconnection as well as the rate of coarse sediment recovery, especially as many Alpine valleys have strong down-valley gradients in tributary sediment delivery. In both case-studies, there was rapid recovery in likely coarse sediment delivery downstream of the dams. By following geomorphic response of the rivers to eco-morphogenic flow trials, proposed as a solution to perceived dam-driven coarse-sediment disconnection, we confirmed that both rivers are likely to have more than sufficient natural coarse sediment supply and unregulated floods. Natural coarse sediment supply is rarely considered in the management of Alpine streams impacted by hydropower but it needs to be evaluated through a geomorphological assessment, considering both the geomorphic context of the river reaches downstream of the dam and the geomorphic attributes of the basin in which the dam is found.
Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis and Capillaria aerophila are the most common lungworms of domestic and wild canids. We investigated the short- and long-term lungworm prevalence changes in ...the Swiss fox population with a focus on A. vasorum. Between 2012 and 2017, lungs and hearts of 533 foxes from north-eastern Switzerland were necropsied and blood samples tested for circulating A. vasorum antigen. Angiostrongylus vasorum prevalence increased steadily from 21.5% in 2012 to 81.8% in 2017. In contrast, C. aerophila and C. vulpis prevalences fluctuated between 41.8 and 74.7%, and 3.6 and 14.9%, respectively. Based on 3955 blood samples collected between 1986 and 2017 from three geographic areas and during four time periods, antigen seropositivity increased from 2.4 to 62.0%. In north-eastern Switzerland, seropositivity was initially low (1.9 and 1.7% in the first two time periods) but increased in the following two decades to 22.2 and 62.0%, respectively. Our findings depict the spectacular expansion of A. vasorum in the past three decades. Regionally, the prevalence in foxes increased 4-fold within 6 years in some regions. This underpins the important role of foxes as reservoir hosts, likely explaining the increasing number of cases of canine angiostrongylosis in Switzerland. Our findings are representative of central Europe and may help anticipating future developments in areas where A. vasorum is present but (still) infrequent.
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