Effects of Neighboring Nectar-Producing Plants on Populations of Pest Lepidoptera and Their Parasitoids in Broccoli Plantings

Eggs and larvae of the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae, were much more abundant in broccoli interplanted with nectar-producing plants than in broccoli monoculture. More diamondback moth larvae, Plutella xylostella, occurred in broccoli interplanted with or adjacent to nectar-producing plants than in broccoli monoculture. Density of cabbage looper larvae, Trichoplusia ni, was similar among the three types of broccoli plantings. For Cotesia rubecula, established in Michigan after introduction from Yugoslavia, pupae were more numerous in broccoli interplanted with nectar-producing plants than in other plots. High parasitism rates of diamondback moth, mainly by Diadegma insulare, were observed in every plot, but there were no differences in parasitism of diamondback moth between the treatments. Results indicate that the interactions between pests, parasitoids and nectar-producing plants are complex and may be different for each species

Variational determination of the second-order density matrix for the isoelectronic series of beryllium, neon and silicon

The isoelectronic series of Be, Ne and Si are investigated using a variational determination of the second-order density matrix. A semidefinite program was developed that exploits all rotational and spin symmetries in the atomic system. We find that the method is capable of describing the strong static electron correlations due to the incipient degeneracy in the hydrogenic spectrum for increasing central charge. Apart from the ground-state energy various other properties are extracted from the variationally determined second-order density matrix. The ionization energy is constructed using the extended Koopmans' theorem. The natural occupations are also studied, as well as the correlated Hartree-Fock-like single particle energies. The exploitation of symmetry allows to study the basis set dependence and results are presented for correlation-consistent polarized valence double, triple and quadruple zeta basis sets.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables v2: corrected typo in Eq. (52

Clinical outcomes post transition to adult services in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV infection: mortality, retention in care, and viral suppression

OBJECTIVE: Adolescence is the only age group globally where HIV associated mortality is rising, with poorer outcomes at all stages of the care cascade compared to adults. We examined post-transition outcomes for young adults living with perinatal HIV (YAPaHIV). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: A tertiary Youth Friendly Service (YFS) London, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 180 YAPaHIV registered between 01.01.06 and 31.12.17 contributed 921 person-years of follow up post-transition to adult services. INTERVENTION: YFS with multidisciplinary care and walk-in access. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: mortality, morbidity, retention in care, antiretroviral (ART) uptake and HIV-viral load (HIV-VL) suppression. Crude incidence rates (CIR) are reported per 1000 person-years. RESULTS: Of 180 youth registered; 4 (2.2%) died, 14 (7.8%) transferred care and 4 (2.2%) were lost to follow up. For the 158 retained in care the median age was 22.9 years (IQR 20.3-25.4), 56% were female, 85% Black African, with a median length of follow up in adult care of 5.5 years (IQR 2.9-7.3). 157 (99.4%) ever received an ART prescription, 127/157 (81%) with a latest HIV-VL < 200 copies RNA/ml, median CD4 count of 626 cells/ul (IQR 441-820). The all-cause mortality was 4.3/1000 person-years (95% CI 1.2 - 11.1), ten fold the aged-matched UK HIV-negative population (0.43/1000 person-years (95% CI 0.41 - 0.44). Post-transition, 17/180 (9.4%) developed a new AIDS diagnosis; CIR 18.5/1000 person-years (95% CI 10.8 - 29.6). CONCLUSION: Whilst this youth-friendly multi-disciplinary service achieved high engagement and coverage of suppressive ART, mortality remains markedly increased compared to the general UK population

Risk factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth in Turkey

OBJECTIVE: this study examined factors associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS) following childbirth in women with normal, low-risk pregnancies in Nigde, Turkey. DESIGN: a prospective longitudinal design where women completed questionnaire measures at 20+ weeks' gestation and 6-8 weeks after birth. SETTING: eligible pregnant women were recruited from nine family healthcare centres in Nigde between September 2013 and July 2014. PARTICIPANTS: a total of 242 women completed questionnaires at both time points. MEASURES: PTS symptoms were measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) 6-8 weeks after birth. Potential protective or risk factors of childbirth self-efficacy, fear of childbirth, adaptation to pregnancy/motherhood, and perceived social support were measured in pregnancy and after birth. Perceived support and control during birth was measured after birth. Demographic and obstetric information was collected in pregnancy using standard self-report questions. FINDINGS: PTS symptoms were associated with being multiparous, having a planned pregnancy, poor psychological adaptation to pregnancy, higher outcome expectancy but lower efficacy expectancy during pregnancy, urinary catheterization during labour, less support and perceived control in birth, less satisfaction with hospital care, poor psychological adaptation to motherhood and increased fear of birth post partum. Regression analyses showed the strongest correlates of PTS symptoms were high outcome and low efficacy expectancies in pregnancy, urinary catheterization in labour, poor psychological adaptation to motherhood and increased fear of birth post partum. This model accounted for 29% of the variance in PTS symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: this study suggests women in this province in Turkey report PTS symptoms after birth and this is associated with childbirth self-efficacy in pregnancy, birth factors, and poor adaptation to motherhood and increased fear of birth post partum. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: maternity care services in Turkey need to recognise the potential impact of birth experiences on women's mental health and adaptation after birth. The importance of self-efficacy in pregnancy suggests antenatal education or support may protect women against developing post partum PTS, but this needs to be examined further

Parents' experiences and satisfaction with care during the birth of their very preterm baby: a qualitative study

Objective: To assess parents' experiences and satisfaction with care during very preterm birth and to identify domains associated with positive and negative experiences of care. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting: Three neonatal units in tertiary care hospitals in South-East England. Population: Thirty-two mothers and seven fathers who had a baby born before 32 weeks of gestation and spoke English well. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Results were analysed using thematic analysis. Main outcome measures Participants' experiences and satisfaction with care during the birth of their preterm baby. Results: Overall, 80% of participants were extremely satisfied with the care during the birth of their preterm baby, seven were generally satisfied but felt some things could be improved and one was dissatisfied. Four key determinants of experiences of care were identified: staff professionalism, which included information and explanation, being calm in a crisis, appearing confident and in control, and conversely not listening to the woman; staff empathy, which included caring and emotional support, and encouragement and reassurance; involvement of the father; and birth environment. Conclusions: Although the determinants of experiences of care are generally consistent with previous research on term births, unique factors to preterm birth were identified. These were the importance of the staff appearing calm during the birth, and the staff portraying confidence and taking control during the birth. Women valued being listened to, and both they and their partners valued staff helping fathers to feel involved during the birth

Advice for Health Care Professionals and Users: An Evaluation of Websites for Perinatal Anxiety

Background: Many websites are available with information and resources for perinatal anxiety; however, there is limited research on the quality and content of these sites. Objective: This study aims to identify what sites are available on perinatal anxiety, identify any information and therapeutic advice given, and review its accuracy and website design. Methods: We conducted an evaluation of websites for perinatal anxiety. Eligible websites (N=50) were evaluated for accuracy of information, resources for mothers, website quality, and readability. Results: Information was often incomplete and focused on symptoms rather than risk factors or impact of untreated perinatal anxiety. Websites often had information on treatment (46/50, 92%), but much less on screening (19/50, 38%). Most sites provided at least some resources to support mothers (49/50, 98%), but active, guided support was infrequent (25/50, 50%). Website quality was extremely variable and mostly difficult to read (42/50, 84%). Conclusions: This study recommends the top 4 websites on perinatal anxiety for health care professionals and users. There is a need for websites to be developed that provide accurate, evidence-based information that women can relate to with quality support resources. Furthermore, these sites should be easy to use and readable

Factors associated with postpartum depressive symptomatology in Brazil: The Birth in Brazil National Research Study, 2011/2012

Background: Depression is one of the most common postpartum mental disorders. Many sociodemographic and individuals risk factors are associated with maternal depression but the impact of high levels of birth intervention is unclear. The Brazilian context is characterized by excessive intervention and frequent non-compliance with recommended obstetric protocols. This study therefore examined the impact of sociodemographic, individual, and obstetric risk factors in postpartum depression. Methods: The Birth in Brazil research study is a national study of 23,894 postpartum women. Information about depression was obtained by telephone interview at 6 to 18 months after birth and was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results: The prevalence of probable cases of depression was 26.3%. A multivariate model identified significant sociodemographic and individual risk factors as: brown skin color (OR = 1.15 CI 1.01-1.31), lower economic class (OR=1.70 CI 1.41-2.06), alcohol use (OR= 1.41 CI 1.09-1.84) and a history of mental disorders (OR= 3.13 CI 1.80-5.44). Significant obstetric factors were unplanned pregnancy (OR=1.22 CI 1.05-1.43 for wanted later and OR= 1.38 CI 1.20-1.60 for never wanted), multiparity (OR=1.97 CI 1.58-2.47 for 3 or more children), and poor care during birth (OR= 2.02 CI 1.28-3.20) or of the newborn (OR=2.16 CI 1.51-3.10). Obstetric interventions and complications were not associated with maternal depression. Limitations: Depression was measured only once so we are not able to examine the course over time. The associational and reverse causality cannot be ruled out for some variables. Conclusions: The prevalence of postpartum depression is high in Brazilian women six months after birth. Poor care of women and babies during birth is more important in postpartum depression than physical obstetric or neonatal intervention and complications

Randomized trial of polychromatic blue-enriched light for circadian phase shifting, melatonin suppression, and alerting responses.

Wavelength comparisons have indicated that circadian phase-shifting and enhancement of subjective and EEG-correlates of alertness have a higher sensitivity to short wavelength visible light. The aim of the current study was to test whether polychromatic light enriched in the blue portion of the spectrum (17,000 K) has increased efficacy for melatonin suppression, circadian phase-shifting, and alertness as compared to an equal photon density exposure to a standard white polychromatic light (4000 K). Twenty healthy participants were studied in a time-free environment for 7 days. The protocol included two baseline days followed by a 26-h constant routine (CR1) to assess initial circadian phase. Following CR1, participants were exposed to a full-field fluorescent light (1 × 10 14 photons/cm 2 /s, 4000 K or 17,000 K, n = 10/condition) for 6.5 h during the biological night. Following an 8 h recovery sleep, a second 30-h CR was performed. Melatonin suppression was assessed from the difference during the light exposure and the corresponding clock time 24 h earlier during CR1. Phase-shifts were calculated from the clock time difference in dim light melatonin onset time (DLMO) between CR1 and CR2. Blue-enriched light caused significantly greater suppression of melatonin than standard light ((mean ± SD) 70.9 ± 19.6% and 42.8 ± 29.1%, respectively, p \u3c 0.05). There was no significant difference in the magnitude of phase delay shifts. Blue-enriched light significantly improved subjective alertness (p \u3c 0.05) but no differences were found for objective alertness. These data contribute to the optimization of the short wavelength-enriched spectra and intensities needed for circadian, neuroendocrine and neurobehavioral regulation

Measuring parents’ experiences and satisfaction with care during very preterm birth: a questionnaire development study

Objective: To develop a questionnaire to assess parents’ experiences and satisfaction with care during very preterm birth. Design: Questionnaire development. Setting: Parents whose babies had been cared for at five tertiary neonatal units in England. Population: A total of 145 women who gave birth before 32 weeksof gestation, and 85 of their partners. Methods: A 30-item questionnaire was developed on the basis of qualitative interviews with parents of very preterm babies, a literature review and discussion with relevant experts. The questionnaire was posted to a second group of parents, and its reliability and validity were explored. Main outcome measures The Preterm Birth Experience and Satisfaction Scale (P-BESS) was correlated with two global questions measuring satisfaction with care during the birth. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s a. Results: Parents of 458 babies were invited to take part and 147 (32%) responded. Two women and 22 partners were excluded or ineligible, leaving 145 women and 85 partners. Factor analysis produced three clear dimensions: Staff professionalism and empathy, Information and explanations, and Confidence in staff. The total scale and three subscales showed high reliability. Strong positive correlations were found between the questionnaire scales and the two global questions, indicating convergent validity. For women whose partners were present at the birth, a fourth factor was identified ‘Partner Involvement’. Conclusions: The P-BESS appears to be a valid measure of satisfaction with care during very preterm birth