540 research outputs found

    Impact analysis for the purpose of the introduction of DROPLET version 1.3.2

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    The user-friendly software tool DROPLET (acronym for DRinkwater uit OPpervlaktewater- Landbouwkundig gebruik Evaluatie Tool) assists the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) in evaluating whether pesticides may exceed the 0.1 μg/L standard in one of the Dutch surface water abstraction points for drinking water production. Based upon Good Agricultural Practice DROPLET uses the peak concentration in the FOCUS D3 ditch (with spray drift deposition according to Dutch numbers) as starting point for the final, expected concentrations at the abstraction points situated in the larger waterbodies downstream. Results of this impact analysis showed, that for the plant protection products which have been authorized in the period 2014-2018, for which the current version of DROPLET (1.2) was used in the risk assessment, the use of the new DROPLET version (1.3.2.) has no effect on the conclusion for the drinking water criterion. The predicted concentration in surface water at drinking water abstraction points was below the threshold of 0.1 μg/L for all products for all abstraction points for both the old and the new model suite. Therefore, we recommend implementing the new DROPLET version in the national authorization procedure

    Significance of Gram's Stain in Rapid Intrapartum Screening for Maternal Carriership of Group B Streptococcus

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    Objective: Group B streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae) is an important cause of neonatal sepsis. Prevention is possible by intrapartum screening for maternal GBS carriership and antimicrobial treatment of colonized women with risk factors during labor. The conflicting results of diagnostic performance are reported both for the newly developed rapid GBS antigen tests and Gram's stain

    Characterization of Beak and Feather Disease Virus Genomes from Wild Musk Lorikeets (Glossopsitta concinna)

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    Three complete genomes of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) were recovered from wild musk lorikeets (Glossopsitta concinna). The genomes consisted of 2,008 to 2,010 nucleotides (nt) and encode two major proteins transcribing in opposing directions. This is the first report of BFDV complete genome sequences obtained from this host species

    Depletion sensitivity predicts unhealthy snack purchases

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    The aim of the present research is to examine the relation between depletion sensitivity - a novel construct referring to the speed or ease by which one's self-control resources are drained - and snack purchase behavior. In addition, interactions between depletion sensitivity and the goal to lose weight on snack purchase behavior were explored. Participants included in the study were instructed to report every snack they bought over the course of one week. The dependent variables were the number of healthy and unhealthy snacks purchased. The results of the present study demonstrate that depletion sensitivity predicts the amount of unhealthy (but not healthy) snacks bought. The more sensitive people are to depletion, the more unhealthy snacks they buy. Moreover, there was some tentative evidence that this relation is more pronounced for people with a weak as opposed to a strong goal to lose weight, suggesting that a strong goal to lose weight may function as a motivational buffer against self-control failures. All in all, these findings provide evidence for the external validity of depletion sensitivity and the relevance of this construct in the domain of eating behavior.</p

    The bidirectional longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and HbA 1c : a systematic review and meta‐analysis

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    Aim To investigate whether there is a bidirectional longitudinal association of depression with HbA1c. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE for observational, longitudinal studies published from January 2000 to September 2020, assessing the association between depression and HbA1c in adults. We assessed study quality with the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. Pooled effect estimates were reported as partial correlation coefficients (rp) or odds ratios (OR). Results We retrieved 1,642 studies; 26 studies were included in the systematic review and eleven in the meta-analysis. Most studies (16/26) focused on type 2 diabetes. Study quality was rated as good (n=19), fair (n=2) and poor (n=5). Of the meta-analysed studies, six investigated the longitudinal association between self-reported depressive symptoms and HbA1c and five the reverse longitudinal association, with a combined sample size of n=48,793 and a mean follow-up of 2 years. Higher levels of baseline depressive symptoms were associated with subsequent higher levels of HbA1c (partial r=0.07;[95%CI0.03,0.12]; I238%). Higher baseline HbA1c values were also associated with 18% increased risk of (probable) depression (OR=1.18;[95%CI1.12,1.25]; I20.0%). Conclusions Our findings support a bidirectional longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and HbA1c. However, the observed effect sizes were small and future research in large-scale longitudinal studies is needed to confirm this association. Future studies should investigate the role of type of diabetes and depression, diabetes distress and diabetes self-management behaviours. Our results may have clinical implications, as depressive symptoms and HbA1c levels could be targeted concurrently in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and depression

    “Четвертий поділ” Польщі і встановлення радянського тоталітарного режиму в Західній Україні

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    The present article was based on the unknown documents of the Branch state archive of Security service of Ukraine and showed the first phase so called “sovietizashion” (establishment of Soviet regim) of Western Ukraine after being joined to the USSR in the September 1939. The author investigeted the measures used to arrange the 800-meter borderland between the USSR and Third Reich

    Habit formation of preventive behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic:a longitudinal study of physical distancing and hand washing

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    Background: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing and hand washing have been used as effective means to reduce virus transmission in the Netherlands. However, these measures pose a societal challenge as they require people to change their customary behaviours in various contexts. The science of habit formation is potentially useful for informing policy-making in public health, but the current literature largely overlooked the role of habit in predicting and explaining these preventive behaviours. Our research aimed to describe habit formation processes of physical distancing and hand washing and to estimate the influences of habit strength and intention on behavioural adherence. Methods: A longitudinal survey was conducted between July and November 2020 on a representative Dutch sample (n = 800). Respondents reported their intentions, habit strengths, and adherence regarding six context-specific preventive behaviours on a weekly basis. Temporal developments of the measured variables were visualized, quantified, and mapped onto five distinct phases of the pandemic. Regression models were used to test the effects of intention, habit strength, and their interaction on behavioural adherence. Results: Dutch respondents generally had strong intentions to adhere to all preventive measures and their adherence rates were between 70% and 90%. They also self-reported to experience their behaviours as more automatic over time, and this increasing trend in habit strength was more evident for physical-distancing than for hand washing behaviours. For all six behaviours, both intention and habit strength predicted subsequent adherence (all ps &lt; 2e-16). In addition, the predictive power of intention decreased over time and was weaker for respondents with strong habits for physical distancing when visiting supermarkets (B = -0.63, p &lt;.0001) and having guests at home (B = -0.54, p &lt;.0001) in the later phases of the study, but not for hand washing. Conclusions: People’s adaptations to physical-distancing and hand washing measures involve both intentional and habitual processes. For public health management, our findings highlight the importance of using contextual cues to promote habit formation, especially for maintaining physical-distancing practices. For habit theories, our study provides a unique dataset that covers multiple health behaviours in a critical real-world setting.</p

    Longitudinal associations between depression and diabetes complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    Aims. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies assessing the bi- directional association between depression and diabetes macrovascular and microvascular complications. Methods. Embase, Medline, and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception through 27th November 2017. A total of 4,592 abstracts were screened for eligibility. Meta-analyses used multilevel random/mixed-effects models. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results. 22 studies were included in the systematic review. 16 studies examined the relationship between baseline depression and incident diabetes complications, of which nine studies involving over 1 million participants were suitable for meta-analysis. Depression was associated with an increased risk for incident macrovascular (Hazard Ratio HR=1.38; 95%CI: 1.30-1.47) and microvascular disease (HR=1.33; 95%CI: 1.25-1.41). Six studies examined the association between baseline diabetes complications and subsequent depression, of which two involving over 230 000 participants were suitable for meta-analysis. The results showed that diabetes complications increased the risk of incident depressive disorder (HR=1.14; 95%CI: 1.07-1.21). The quality analysis showed increased risk of bias notably in the representativeness of selected cohorts and ascertainment of exposure and outcome. Conclusions. Depression in people with diabetes is associated with an increased risk of incident macrovascular and microvascular complications. The relationship between depression and diabetes complications appears bi-directional. However, the risk of developing diabetes complications in depressed people is higher than the risk of developing depression in people with diabetes complications. The underlying mechanisms warrant further research
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