Reactions to Ostracism and Their Predictors

This study was conducted to examine how individual differences in personality predict variance in reactions to ostracism, and to explore the effects of re-inclusion on ostracism reactions. Participants completed five personality measures before the ostracism was delivered in a chat-room paradigm. The chat-room consisted of phases during which participants were included, excluded, and re-included in the discussion, and enjoyment and participation were measured after each chat-room phase. Enjoyment and participation decreased during exclusion and increased during re-inclusion. Throughout all phases of the chat-room, enjoyment and participation were positively correlated with social competence and negatively correlated with loneliness and social isolation. Although moderate correlations between personality measures and reactions to ostracism emerged, these results were not significant. Given the preliminary nature of this study, more complete interpretation of results will occur after all participants have been assessed

Intestinal antimicrobial gene expression: impact of micronutrients in malnourished adults during a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Because both micronutrients and antimicrobial peptides protect against diarrhea, we looked for an effect on intestinal antimicrobial peptide gene expression during a randomized controlled trial of multiple micronutrient (MM) supplementation. METHODS: Consenting adults (n=287) in Lusaka, Zambia, were randomized to receive a daily MM supplement or placebo and were followed up for 3.3 years, with a crossover after 2 years. Intestinal biopsy samples were obtained at annual intervals, and messenger RNA of the intestinal antimicrobial peptides human alpha defensin (HD) 5, HD6, human beta-defensin (hBD) 1, hBD2, and LL-37 were quantified by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Samples were also obtained during diarrhea episodes and after convalescence. RESULTS: There was no effect overall of treatment allocation. However, in malnourished adults (body mass index < or =18.5), HD5 mRNA was increased by 0.8 log transcripts/microg total RNA in MM recipients, compared with HD5 mRNA in placebo recipients (P=.007). During diarrhea, HD5 expression was reduced by 0.8 log transcripts in placebo recipients (P=.02) but was not reduced in MM recipients, nor was it reduced after the crossover. Correlations between HD5 and nutritional status were found that were sex-specific but not explained by serum leptin or adiponectin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Micronutrient supplementation was associated with up-regulation of HD5 only in malnourished adults. Interactions between antimicrobial gene expression and nutritional status may help to explain the increased risk of infection in individuals with malnutrition

The vegetation history of an Amazonian domed peatland

The peatland pole forests of the Pastaza-Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB), Peru, are the most carbon-dense ecosystems known in Amazonia once below ground carbon stores are taken into account. Here we present the first multiproxy palaeoenvironmental record including pollen data from one of these peatlands, San Jorge in northern Peru, supported by an age model based on radiocarbon and 210Pb dating. The pollen data indicate that vegetation changes during the early phases of peat initiation resulted from autogenic succession in combination with fluvial influence. The overall pattern of vegetation change is not straightforward: the record does not reflect a process of unidirectional, progressive terrestrialization, but includes a reversal in the succession and vegetation transitions, which omit predicted successional phases. This complexity is similar to that seen in the only other existing pollen record from a PMFB peatland, at Quistococha, but contrasts with peat records from Panama and Southeast Asia where successional patterning appears more predictable. Our dating results provide the first evidence from a PMFB peatland that peat accumulation may have been discontinuous, with evidence for reduced rates of peat accumulation, or a possible hiatus, around 1300–400 cal yr BP. An ecological shift from open lake to palm swamp occurs at this time, possibly driven by climatic change. The pollen data indicate that the present pole forest vegetation at San Jorge began to assemble c. 200–150 cal yr BP. Given this young age, it is likely that the pole forest at this site remains in a state of transition

Task-Based Noise Exposures for Farmers Involved in Grain Production

Few studies have been done examining noise exposures associated with agricultural tasks. This study was conducted to address that research gap by calculating the noise exposures for tasks and equipment associated with grain production and assessing the variability in those exposures. An additional aim of this study was to identify tasks and equipment that could be targeted for intervention strategies as a means toward reducing the total noise exposures of farmers and farm workers. Through the use of personal noise dosimetry and direct observation, over 30,000 one-minute noise exposure measurements and corresponding task and equipment data were collected on 18 farms and compiled into a task-based noise exposure database. Mean noise exposures were calculated for 23 tasks and 18 pieces of equipment. The noise exposures for the tasks and equipment ranged from 78.6 to 99.9 dBA and from 80.8 to 96.2 dBA, respectively, with most of the noise exposures having a large standard deviation and maximum noise exposure level. Most of the variability in the task and equipment noise exposures was attributable to within-farm variations (e.g., work practices, distance from noise sources). Comparisons of the mean noise exposures for the agricultural tasks and equipment revealed that most were not statistically different. Grain production tasks and equipment with high mean noise exposures were identified. However the substantial variability in the noise exposures and the occurrence of intense noise measurements for nearly every task and piece of equipment indicate that targeting a few specific tasks or equipment for intervention strategies would reduce lifetime noise exposure but would not completely eliminate exposure to hazardous noise levels

Trends, variations, and prediction of staff sickness absence rates among NHS ambulance services in England: a time series study

Objectives: Our aim was to measure ambulance sickness absence rates over time, comparing ambulance services and investigate the predictability of rates for future forecasting. Setting: All English ambulance services, UK. Design: We used a time series design analysing published monthly National Health Service staff sickness rates by gender, age, job role and region, comparing the 10 regional ambulance services in England between 2009 and 2018. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Seasonal ARIMA (SARIMA) models were developed using Stata V.14.2 and trends displayed graphically. Participants: Individual participant data were not available. The total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) days lost due to sickness absence (including non-working days) and total number of days available for work for each staff group and level were available. In line with The Data Protection Act, if the organisation had less than 330 FTE days available during the study period it was censored for analysis. Results: A total of 1117 months of sickness absence rate data for all English ambulance services were included in the analysis. We found considerable variation in annual sickness absence rates between ambulance services and over the 10-year duration of the study in England. Across all the ambulance services the median days available were 1 336 888 with IQR of 548 796 and 73 346 median days lost due to sickness absence, with IQR of 30 551 days. Among clinical staff sickness absence varied seasonally with peaks in winter and falls over summer. The winter increases in sickness absence were largely predictable using seasonally adjusted (SARIMA) time series models. Conclusion: Sickness rates for clinical staff were found to vary considerably over time and by ambulance trust. Statistical models had sufficient predictive capability to help forecast sickness absence, enabling services to plan human resources more effectively at times of increased demand

The experiences and perceptions of wellbeing provision among English ambulance services staff: a multi-method qualitative study

Background: NHS ambulance service staff are at risk of poor physical and mental wellbeing because of the likelihood of encountering stressful and traumatic incidents. While reducing sickness absence and improving wellbeing support to ambulance staff is a key NHS priority, few studies have empirically documented a national picture to inform policy and service re-design. The study aimed to understand how ambulance service trusts in England deal with staff health and wellbeing, as well as how the staff perceive and use wellbeing services. Methods: To achieve our aim, we undertook semi-structured telephone interviews with health and wellbeing leads and patient-facing ambulance staff, as well as undertaking documentary analysis of ambulance trust policies on wellbeing. The study was conducted both before and during the UK first COVID-19 pandemic wave. The University of Lincoln ethics committee and the Health Research Authority (HRA) granted ethical approval. Overall, we analysed 57 staff wellbeing policy documents across all Trusts. Additionally, we interviewed a Health and Wellbeing Lead in eight Trusts as well as 25 ambulance and control room staff across three Trusts. Results: The study highlighted clear variations between organisational and individual actions to support wellbeing across Trust policies. Wellbeing leads acknowledged real ‘tensions’ between individual and organisational responsibility for wellbeing. Behaviour changes around diet and exercise were perceived to have a positive effect on the overall mental health of their workforce. Wellbeing leads generally agreed that mental health was given primacy over other wellbeing initiatives. Variable experiences of health and wellbeing support were partly contingent on the levels of management support, impacted by organisational culture and service delivery challenges for staff. Conclusion: Ambulance service work can impact upon physical and mental health, which necessitates effective support for staff mental health and wellbeing. Increasing the knowledge of line managers around the availability of services could improve engagement

Adjunct versus Full-time Faculty: Comparison of Student Outcomes in the Online Classroom

Abstract Interrelated to the growth of online learning programs is the increasing reliance on adjunct faculty to teach these courses. This surge in the number of courses taught by adjunct faculty members has sparked debate concerning the relative effectiveness of adjunct versus full-time faculty. The current study examines student performance as a function being taught by either adjunct or full-time online faculty. Findings reveal a performance and satisfaction advantage for students in the course sections taught by full-time online faculty. Implications include the need for universities to examine faculty development, support, incentives, and community for online adjunct faculty in order to ensure excellence across all modes of instruction