Let the sun shine : Exploring explicit and implicit preferences for bright, sunny and natural environments

No abstract

Vitalize me! Overcoming ego-depletion by viewing bright and sunny nature

No abstract

Effects of Host Resistance on Germination of Cercospora arachidicola on Peanut Leaf Surfaces

Conidial germination by a North Carolina field-isolate of Cercospora arachidicola Hori was studied on leaf surfaces of two highly resistant and two susceptible peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes under 5 day/night temperature regimes. Conidia germinated at all temperature regimes, but a greater percentage germinated at the coolest temperature regimes of 26 C day/20 C night and constant 24 C than in warmer temperature regimes. Percentage germination differed significantly with respect to time and genotype in each temperature regime. Fewer conidia germinated on resistant compared to susceptible genotypes, with lowest germination on the resistant genotype 91 PA 150 (a Virginia type derived from a cross of A. hypogaea and A. cardenasii Krapov. and W. C. Gregory). Conidia germinated more quickly and more conidia germinated overall on the susceptible NC 7 than on the other genotypes teste

Types and characteristics of urban and peri-urban green spaces having an impact on human mental health and wellbeing: a systematic review

Green spaces have been put forward as contributing to good mental health. In an urban context, space is a scarce resource while urbanisation and climate change are increasingly putting pressure on existing urban green space infrastructures and increasing morbidity caused by mental health disorders. Policy makers, designers, planners and other practitioners face the challenge of designing public open spaces as well as preserving and improving natural resources that are important for maintaining and optimizing human wellbeing. Knowing which types of blue and green spaces, with which characteristics, are most beneficial for mental health and wellbeing is critical. EKLIPSE received a request from the Ministry in charge of the Environment of France (MTES) to review: “Which types of urban and peri‐urban green and blue spaces, and which characteristics of such spaces, have a significant impact on human mental health and wellbeing?”. After a preliminary scoping, a decision was made to perform two systematic reviews (SR) assessing the specific types and characteristics of blue space (SR1) and green space (SR2) with respect to mental health and wellbeing. This report presents the systematic review for green space (SR2)

How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review

1. Green space matters for mental health but is under constant pressure in an increasingly urbanising world. Often there is little space available in cities for green areas, so it is vital to optimise the design and usage of these available green spaces. To achieve this, experts in planning, design and nature conservation need to know which types and characteristics of green spaces are most beneficial for residents' mental health. 2. A scoping review of studies that compare different green space types and characteristics on mental health was conducted. A total of 215 (experimental, observational and qualitative) papers were included in the scoping review. 3. This review highlights a high level of heterogeneity in study design, geographical locations, mental health outcomes and green space measures. Few of the included studies were specifically designed to enable direct comparisons between green space types and characteristics (e.g. between parks and forests). The included studies have predominantly experimental research designs looking at the effects of short-term exposure to green space on short-term mental health outcomes (e.g. affect and physiological stress). More studies enabled only indirect comparisons, either within the same study or between different studies. 4. Analysis of the direction of the mental health outcomes (positive, neutral, negative) from exposure to various types and characteristics of green space found positive (i.e. beneficial) effects across all green space types. However, green space characteristics did appear to render more diverse effects on mental health, which is especially the case for vegetation characteristics (e.g. higher vegetation density can be negative for mental health). 5. The scoping review reveals gaps in the present evidence base, with a specific need for more studies directly comparing green space types and characteristics within the same study. Proposed future research directions include the use of longitudinal research designs focusing on green space characteristics, considering actual exposure and systematically addressing heterogeneity in factors influencing the relation between green spaces and mental health (e.g. type of interaction, user experience)

The impact of open versus closed format ICU admission practices on the outcome of high risk surgical patients: a cohort analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the year 2000, the organizational structure of the ICU in the Zaandam Medical Centre (ZMC) changed from an open to a closed format ICU. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of this organizational change on outcome in high risk surgical patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The medical records of all consecutive high risk surgical patients admitted to the ICU from 1996 to 1998 (open format) and from 2003 to 2005 (closed format), were reviewed. High-risk patients were defined according to the Identification of Risk in Surgical patients (IRIS) score. Parameters studied were: mortality, morbidity, ICU length of stay (LOS) and hospital LOS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mortality of ICU patients was 25.7% in the open format group and 15.8% in the closed format group (p = 0.01). Morbidity decreased from 48.6% to 46.1% (p = 0.6). The average length of hospital stay was 17 days in the open format group, and 21 days in the closed format group (p = 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>High risk surgical patients in the ICU are patients that have undergone complex and often extensive surgery. These patients are in need of specialized treatment and careful monitoring for maximum safety and optimal care. Our results suggest that closed format is a more favourable setting than open format to minimize the effects of high risk surgery, and to warrant safe outcome in this patient group.</p