Smoking status and subjective well-being

Background/aims: A debate is currently underway about the FDA's methods for evaluating anti-tobacco regulation. In particular, the US government requires a cost-benefit analysis for significant new regulations, which has led the FDA to consider potential lost subjective well-being (SWB) of ex-smokers as a cost of any proposed anti-tobacco policy. This practice, which significantly limits regulatory capacity, is premised on the assumption that there is in fact a loss in SWB among ex-smokers. Methods: We analyze the relationship between SWB and smoking status using a longitudinal internet survey of over 5000 Dutch adults across five years. We control for socio-economic, demographic and health characteristics, and in a contribution to the literature we additionally control for two potential confounding personality characteristics, habitual use of external substances and sensitivity to stress. In another contribution, we estimate panel fixed effects models that additionally control for unobservable time-invariant characteristics. Results: We find strong suggestive evidence that ex-smokers do not suffer a net loss in SWB. We also find no evidence that the change in SWB of those who quit smoking under stricter tobacco control policies is different from those who quit under a more relaxed regulatory environment. Furthermore, our cross-sectional estimates suggest that the increase in SWB from quitting smoking is not only statistically significant but also of a meaningful magnitude

Spectroscopic Evidence for Clusters of Like-Charged Ions in Ionic Liquids Stabilized by Cooperative Hydrogen Bonding

Infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations provide strong evidence for the formation of clusters of like-charged ions in ionic liquids. With decreasing temperature, cooperative hydrogen bonding overcomes repulsive electrostatic interaction. The resulting cyclic tetramers nicely resemble well-known molecular clusters of alcohols

Teilflächenspezifisches Herbizidsplitting in Feldmöhren entsprechend sensorbasierter Erfassung der Verunkrautung

Die Bereitstellung von Speisemöhren für den deutschen Markt erfolgt zu einem nicht unerheblichen Anteil aus der Inlandsproduktion im Freiland. Um eine optimale Herbizidwirkung bei minimaler Schädigung der Möhrenpflanze zu erzielen, hat sich ein bis zu dreimaliges Splitting der empfohlenen Höchstmenge bewährt. Da in den spezialisierten Betrieben teilweise hohe Flächenkonzentrationen erreicht werden, besteht bei einer der Unkrautdichte angepassten Herbizidapplikation ein hohes Potenzial zur Reduzierung des Einsatzes von Pflanzenschutzmitteln.In Streifenversuchen sollte die Wirkung eines teilflächenspezifischen Herbizidsplittings auf die Spätverunkrautung sowie auf verschiedene Ertragsparameter getestet werden. Art und Anzahl der Unkräuter wurden im Frühjahr mittels manueller Bonituren entlang eines Stichprobengitters erfasst. Danach erfolgte im 3-Blattstadium der Möhren mit einem am Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik (ATB) entwickelten Kamerasensor die kleinräumige Detektion der auf dem Feld vorhandenen Verunkrautung. Die Sensorwerte waren die Grundlage für das Erstellen von Unkrautverteilungskarten. Anhand dieser Verteilungskarten wurden in dem der Unkrautverteilung angepassten Applikationsstreifen drei Zonen mit Aufwandmengen von 200 L ha-1, 300 L ha-1, und 400 L ha-1 gebildet. In den beidseitig benachbarten Streifen erfolgte ein flächeneinheitliches Splitting mit der betriebsüblichen Menge von 400 L ha-1. Die drei Applikationszonen wurden während des Splittings bei der zweiten bzw. dritten Herbizidanwendung beibehalten. An jedem der zwei bzw. drei Spritzzeitpunkte konnten durch das teilflächenspezifische Splitting 16 % (2005) und 20 % (2006) des Pflanzenschutzmittels gegenüber einem flächeneinheitlichen Splitting eingespart werden.Zur Beurteilung der Ertragswirksamkeit wurden in den 2 Applikationsvarianten an jeweils gegenüberliegenden Stichprobenpunkten die Möhren von Hand geerntet und die Ertragsparameter Gewicht sowie Anzahl „gesamt“ bzw. „vermarktungsfähig“ bestimmt. Mit Hilfe der Differenzenmethode (lokale Ertragsparameterwerte teilflächenspezifisch minus einheitlich) erfolgte der statistische Vergleich abhängiger Stichproben mit dem t- Test. Unterstellt man eine Irrtumswahrscheinlichkeit von α = 5 % wurden in 19 der insgesamt 24 Tests keine statistisch gesicherten Unterschiede der Ertragsparameter zwischen den zwei Behandlungsvarianten in den jeweiligen Applikationszonen gefunden. Die Nachverunkrautung war in beiden Varianten sehr gering und damit vernachlässigbar.Stichwörter: Applikationskarte, Kamera, Möhren, Präzise Unkrautkontrolle, SensorSite-specific herbicide splitting in field carrots based on camera detected weed infestationAbstractThe production of carrots for the German market comes mainly from domestic production. To ensure the efficiency of chemical weed control and to minimize the damage of the crop a splitting of the recommended dosage up to three times is often practiced. Because of large field areas of the carrot cropping and processing enterprises, the potential to save herbicides by practicing an herbicide application adapted to the weed occurrence is high.The efficiency of a site-specific herbicide splitting on the late weed occurrence as well as on yield parameters was tested in field strip trials. Weed species and abundance were determined manually by raster sampling using a counting frame in spring before spraying. Afterwards in the three leaf growth stages of the carrots the weed coverage level was detected online using a camera sensor developed by the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering (ATB). Based on weed coverage level maps three application zones (200 L ha-1, 300 L ha-1, 400 L ha-1) were defined. On both sides of the site specific splitting strip a uniform splitting strip (400 L ha-1) was applied. The position of the application zones were the same during site-specific splitting at the second and third herbicide spraying respectively. Compared to a conventional uniform splitting herbicide savings were 16% (2005) und 20% (2006) at each spraying time.To evaluate the efficacy of the site-specific splitting on the yield manually harvesting were performed at opposite points in both treatments. The yield parameters fresh weight and numbers of carrots “total” and “marketable” were determined. Assuming a significance level of α = 5% the difference method for controlled treatment comparison in large scale field trials (t-test) resulted in 19 of the 24 tests in total no differences between the treatments. The late weed occurrence in both treatments was low.Keywords: Application map, camera, carrots, precise weed control, senso

Developing Improved and Expanded Communication Networks and Information Dissemination Methods for Health Promotion Among Older Adults in Orange County, North Carolina

Background: North Carolina's over-65 population is projected to more than double between the years 2000 and 2030. Orange County (OC), in particular, expects its status as a desirable retirement destination to lead to dramatic increases in the already large population of older adults. This rapid increase will likely pose many challenges to individuals, families, and services in OC due to higher demand for health and human services, issues surrounding caregiving and long-term care, as well as the unique housing and transportation needs of urban and rural older adults. The Orange County Department on Aging (OCDOA) has responded to the growing numbers of older adults in the county by developing an ambitious 5-year Master Aging Plan (MAP), which encompasses far more than senior center programming. The MAP's goals include improving access to community support services (CSSs), enabling more older adults to age in place, preventing abuse and exploitation, empowering older adults to achieve optimal health, and facilitating their engagement in the community. All of these goals require OCDOA to reach as many older adults in the county as possible with information about both OCDOA's internal programming and also resources available in the community. In the process of developing the MAP, improved information dissemination emerged as a top priority. OCDOA recruited the 2012-13 Health Behavior Capstone team to develop a comprehensive dissemination plan to meet the needs of the MAP activities and goals. Methods: The Capstone team collected data to assess how older adults in the county prefer to access information about senior center programming and CSSs and also to explore residents' barriers and facilitators to exercise. In the fall, the team summarized relevant literature into an Evidence Table on Communication Channels and an Evidence Table on Barriers and Facilitators to Exercise and conducted a survey of county residents aged 50+ at ten polling sites, collecting 840 responses. Informed by the literature and survey data, the team then developed a key informant interview guide and a focus group guide to further explore these two research areas. The team completed 13 key informant interviews with service providers working specifically with older adults and three focus groups, attended largely by older county residents who were not familiar with OCDOA's activities. The team then compiled, analyzed, and interpreted the data in collaboration with OCDOA staff and produced a Communication Channels Report and an Exercise Report identifying key findings and opportunities for intervention. Finally, the team developed a Dissemination Plan to expand OCDOA's reach to residents throughout Orange County. Implications: Key informant interviews revealed that other local aging-related organizations have had the same challenges as OCDOA in reaching older OC residents, largely due to vast differences between the urban and rural populations. Interviewees were excited about this research and asked for a copy of the Capstone team's results, indicating that Capstone activities will expand access to services not only via OCDOA but also other organizations who serve the county's older adult population. Data clearly highlight the need for OCDOA to cultivate information dissemination networks, utilizing already-trusted information sources such as churches, physicians, and the Sherif's Department. Results also highlight OCDOA’s need to provide more interactive Internet resources, especially for the large population of highly educated "baby boomers" now approaching retirement. More broadly, this work confirms the notion that the older adult population in OC is diverse, open to using technology, and more focused on achieving independence and a high quality of life than "being served" by social services.Master of Public Healt

Intercomparison of 15 aerodynamic particle size spectrometers (APS 3321): uncertainties in particle sizing and number size distribution

Aerodynamic particle size spectrometers are a well-established method to measure number size distributions of coarse mode particles in the atmosphere. Quality assurance is essential for atmospheric observational aerosol networks to obtain comparable results with known uncertainties. In a laboratory study within the framework of ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure Network), 15 aerodynamic particle size spectrometers (APS model 3321, TSI Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA) were compared with a focus on flow rates, particle sizing, and the unit-to-unit variability of the particle number size distribution. Flow rate deviations were relatively small (within a few percent), while the sizing accuracy was found to be within 10 % compared to polystyrene latex (PSL) reference particles. The unit-to-unit variability in terms of the particle number size distribution during this study was within 10 % to 20 % for particles in the range of 0.9 up to 3 µm, which is acceptable for atmospheric measurements. For particles smaller than that, the variability increased up to 60 %, probably caused by differences in the counting efficiencies of individual units. Number size distribution data for particles smaller than 0.9 µm in aerodynamic diameter should only be used with caution. For particles larger than 3 µm, the unit-to-unit variability increased as well. A possible reason is an insufficient sizing accuracy in combination with a steeply sloping particle number size distribution and the increasing uncertainty due to decreasing counting. Particularly this uncertainty of the particle number size distribution must be considered if higher moments of the size distribution such as the particle volume or mass are calculated, which require the conversion of the aerodynamic diameter measured to a volume equivalent diameter. In order to perform a quantitative quality assurance, a traceable reference method for the particle number concentration in the size range 0.5–3 µm is needed.JRC.H.2-Air and Climat

Eicosapentaenoic Acid Is Associated with Decreased Incidence of Alzheimer’s Dementia in the Oldest Old

Background. Omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may have different effects on cognitive health due to their anti- or pro-inflammatory properties. Methods. We aimed to prospectively examine the relationships between n-3 and n-6 PUFA contents in serum phospholipids with incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD). We included 1264 non-demented participants aged 84 ± 3 years from the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe) multicenter-cohort study. We investigated whether fatty acid concentrations in serum phospholipids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA), were associated with risk of incident all-cause dementia and AD. Results. During the follow-up window of seven years, 233 participants developed dementia. Higher concentrations of EPA were associated with a lower incidence of AD (hazard ratio (HR) 0.76 (95% CI 0.63; 0.93)). We also observed that higher concentrations of EPA were associated with a decreased risk for all-cause dementia (HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.61; 0.94)) and AD (HR 0.66 (95% CI 0.51; 0.85)) among apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) non-carriers but not among APOE ε4 carriers. No other fatty acids were significantly associated with AD or dementia. Conclusions. Higher concentrations of EPA were associated with a lower risk of incident AD. This further supports a beneficial role of n-3 PUFAs for cognitive health in old age

Long-term trends of black carbon and particle number concentration in the lower free troposphere in Central Europe

Background: The implementation of emission mitigation policies in Europe over the last two decades has generally improved the air quality, which resulted in lower aerosol particle mass, particle number, and black carbon mass concentration. However, little is known whether the decreasing particle concentrations at a lower-altitude level can be observed in the free troposphere (FT), an important layer of the atmosphere, where aerosol particles have a longer lifetime and may affect climate dynamics. In this study, we used data from two high-Alpine observatories, Zugspitze-Schneefernerhaus (ZSF) and Jungfraujoch (JFJ), to assess the long-term trends on size-resolved particle number concentrations (PNCs) and equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentration separated for undisturbed lower FT conditions and under the influence of air from the planetary boundary layer (PBL) from 2009 to 2018. Results: The FT and PBL-influenced conditions were segregated for both sites. We found that the FT conditions in cold months were more prevalent than in warm months, while the measured aerosol parameters showed different seasonal patterns for the FT and PBL-influenced conditions. The pollutants in the PBL-influenced condition have a higher chance to be transported to high-altitudes due to the mountainous topography, leading to a higher concentration and more distinct seasonal variation, and vice versa. The long-term trends of the measured aerosol parameters were evaluated and the decreased aerosol concentrations were observed for both FT and PBL-influenced conditions. The observed decreasing trends in eBC concentration in the PBL-influenced condition are well consistent with the reported trends in total BC emission in Germany and Switzerland. The decreased concentrations in the FT condition suggest that the background aerosol concentration in the lower FT over Central Europe has correspondingly decreased. The change of back trajectories in the FT condition at ZSF and JFJ was further evaluated to investigate the other possible drivers for the decreasing trends. Conclusions: The background aerosol concentration in the lower FT over Central Europe has significantly decreased during 2009–2018. The implementation of emission mitigation policies is the most decisive factor and the decrease of the regional airmass occurrence over Central Europe also has contributed to the decreasing trends. © 2021, The Author(s)