Parenting practices as a mediator in the association between family socio-economic status and screen-time in primary schoolchildren : a Feel4Diabetes study

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effects of specific parenting practices on the association between family socio-economic status (SES) and screen-time of 6- to 9-year-old children from families with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study, focusing on families with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, used the Belgian baseline data of the Movie Models intervention, integrated within the European Feel4Diabetes intervention, and included 247 parents (57.6% lower SES family; 78.0% mothers) who completed a questionnaire. Mediating effects were tested using MacKinnon's product-of-coefficients test via multilevel linear regression analyses. Being consistent concerning rules about gaming (β = 0.127; standard error = 0.055; 95% CI = 0.020; 0.234) and avoiding negative role modeling concerning TV-time (β = -0.082; standard error = 0.040; 95% CI = -0.161; -0.003) significantly mediated the inverse association between family SES and children's screen-time. Parents from lower SES families were more consistent concerning rules about gaming and watched more TV nearby their child compared to parents from higher SES families, and these parenting practices were related to more screen-time. No other parenting practices were found to mediate this association. Thus, parents from lower SES families with a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes might limit their own TV-time nearby their child to reduce their child's screen-time. Future research should examine other possible mediating factors to develop effective interventions targeting this important at-risk group

Effect of integrating a video intervention on parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy regarding health behaviours within the Feel4Diabetes-study in Belgian primary schoolchildren from vulnerable families : a cluster randomized trial

Background This study aimed to investigate the effect of integrating a video intervention "Movie Models" within the Feel4Diabetes-study on specific parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy regarding children's physical activity, screen-time and eating behaviour in vulnerable families (i.e. families living in low socioeconomic municipalities and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes). Additionally, there was examination of how the intervention was perceived by the parents. Methods Within randomly selected low socioeconomic municipalities in Belgium, families were recruited through primary schools. Families at risk for developing type 2 diabetes were identified using the FINDRISC questionnaire (n = 457). Afterwards, the municipalities were randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. At risk families assigned to the intervention group were invited to participate in six Feel4Diabetes counselling sessions in which families were encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The "Movie Models" videos were integrated within two sessions by using a face-to-face group discussion approach. Parenting-related factors were assessed before and after the integration of the videos, using a questionnaire. After integrating the videos, some extra evaluation questions were assessed. In total, 126 families were included in a per protocol evaluation and Repeated Measures ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate the potential intervention effects. Results Some favourable intervention effects were found on parenting practices and related parental self-efficacy regarding children's eating behaviours, however almost no effects were found on parenting-related factors regarding children's physical activity and screen-time. In total, 60.0% of the participants indicated that they applied tips regarding parenting practices and 52.0% indicated that discussions with other participants regarding the videos were useful for them. Conclusion The integration of "Movie Models" within the Feel4Diabetes-study was effective in improving some parenting-related factors regarding children's health behaviours, however most parenting-related factors could not be improved. The implementation of "Movie Models" as a face-to-face group discussion approach was relatively well received and may be a promising way to improve parenting-related factors in vulnerable families

Microbial community management in aquaculture

Microbial community management in aquaculture creates benefits at the nutritional as well as at health level for cultured species. In addition, in case of biofloc application, it allows to link species at different trophic levels, making bioflocs the potential link in integrated multispecies aquaculture

Daily Patterns of Preschoolers’ Objectively Measured Step Counts in Six European Countries: Cross-Sectional Results from the ToyBox-Study

This study is part of the ToyBox-study, which is conducted in six European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain), aiming to develop a cost-effective kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to prevent overweight and obesity in four-to six-year-old preschool children. In the current study, we aimed to examine and compare preschoolers' step count patterns, across the six European countries. A sample of 3578 preschoolers (mean age: 4.8 +/- 0.4) was included. Multilevel analyses were performed to take clustering of measurements into account. Based on the average hourly steps, step count patterns for the six European countries were created for weekdays and weekend days. The step count patterns during weekdays were related to the daily kindergarten schedules. Step count patterns during weekdays showed several significant peaks and troughs (p < 0.01) and clearly reflected the kindergartens' daily schedules, except for Germany. For example, low numbers of steps were observed during afternoon naptimes and high numbers of steps during recess. In Germany, step count patterns did not show clear peaks and troughs, which can be explained by a less structured kindergarten schedule. On weekend days, differences in step count patterns were observed in the absolute number of steps in the afternoon trough and the period in which the evening peak occurred. Differences in step count patterns across the countries can be explained by differences in (school) policy, lifestyle habits, and culture. Therefore, it might be important to respond to these step count patterns and more specifically to tackle the inactive periods during interventions to promote physical activity in preschoolers

The association between children’s and parents’ co-TV viewing and their total screen time in six European countries : cross-sectional data from the Feel4diabetes-study

In many European children, high levels of screen time can be found, which is associated with several adverse health outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for identifying effective intervention strategies that reduce screen time in children. A factor that may contribute to excessive screen time in children may be "co-TV viewing" (i.e., the time that parents and children spend on watching TV together), as parents often recognize the importance of limiting children's (individual) screen time, but often encourage TV viewing as a family because of its perceived benefits (e.g., educational purposes). The primary aim of this study was to investigate the (sex-specific) association between co-TV viewing and both children's and parents' screen time, and these associations were investigated across and within six European countries. In total, 10,969 parents (Mean(age) = 40.7 +/- 5.3 years, Mean(BMI) = 24.4 +/- 4.6) of primary school children (Mean(age) = 8.2 +/- 1.0 years, 49.0% boys, Mean(BMI) = 17.3 +/- 2.8) completed a questionnaire assessing co-TV viewing and screen time. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted. Across countries, positive associations were found between co-TV viewing and both children's (beta = 11.85, SE = 3.69, p < 0.001) and parents' screen time (beta = 14.47, SE = 4.43, p = 0.001). Similar associations were found in most (but not all) countries. The results suggest that targeting co-TV viewing might be a promising intervention strategy because of its potential to limit screen time of both children and parents

A Comparison of Benthic Invertebrate Communities in Three Aquatic Habitats of the Hoh River Valley, Olympic National Park, Washington

Macroinvertebrate communities in three aquatic habitats of the Hoh River Valley, Jefferson County, Washington, were characterized and compared. Within-stream and between­ stream habitat differences and similarities were analyzed in a valley-wall tributary (Twin Creek), river off-channel (side channel of the Hoh River) and terrace tributary (Taft Creek). Between-stream differences were found to be significant using a one-way ANOV. Twin Creek and the side channel were similar in most physical characteristics, dominance of benthic functional groups, and general dominance by taxa. The major variable between these two sites was the influence of silt in the side channel. The effects of a high silt load and the process of siltation appear to be responsible for much lower X benthic densities and the absence of scrapers in the side channel. Taft Creek differed from the other sites in physical characteristics and benthic community composition. Twin Creek and the side channel had rock-rubble substrate, higher current velocities and heavy canopy cover, while Taft Creek had homogeneous substrate, reduced current velocities, dense macrophytic growth, and little canopy cover. Mean benthic densities in Taft Creek (103,914 m-2) were much higher than those found in Twin Creek (15,009 m-2) or the side channel (2,983 m-2). The e was a predominance of Diptera (40%) and non-insects (51%) in Taft Creek and Diptera and Ephemeroptera in Twin Creek (42% and 24% respectively) and the side channel (30% and 43% respectively). Collectors were the predominant functional group at all three sites. No significant differences between riffle, reach, and pool habitat types was found in either Twin Creek or the side channel using a one-way ANOV. When comparing taxonomic and functional group composition, however, reach, and riffle habitats were more similar to each other than to pool habitats in both Twin Creek and the side channel

Changes in the Status, Distribution, and Management of Double-Crested Cormorants in Wisconsin

We reviewed and summarized historical data and conducted population surveys from 1973 through 1997 to determine the breeding status and distribution of doublecrested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in Wisconsin. Breeding cormorants historically occupied large, isolated lakes and wetlands in northern Wisconsin, but there were no known nesting sites until 1919, when cormorants were reported nesting on Lake Wisconsin in south-central Wisconsin. From the 1920’s to the 1950’s, cormorants occupied 17 colony sites in 16 counties, though no more than 7 sites were occupied during any particular year. From the 1950’s to the early 1970’s, the number of cormorant nests and colony sites plummeted owing to bioaccumulation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, human persecution at some colony sites, and habitat loss. The installation of 1,269 artificial nesting platforms at 13 locations in north-central, northeastern, northwestern, east-central, and southwestern Wisconsin, coupled with a decline in dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDE) levels in breeding birds, as well as protection as a State-endangered species, led to a marked recovery. Between 1973 and 1997, the State’s breeding population grew at an annual rate of nearly 25 percent, from 66 nests at 3 colony sites to 10,546 nests at 23 colony sites. We estimated population trends for six geographic regions in the State determined by distinct distribution patterns of nesting birds. Cormorant populations for five of six regions increased during 1973 through 1997. Trends differed significantly among regions, with a greater estimated increase in Great Lakes’ sites (P \u3c 0.01). In 1997, 81 percent of the State’s breeding population occurred on four islands in Green Bay on Lake Michigan. Increasing Lake Michigan cormorant populations have raised concerns among sport and commercial fisheries about impacts on yellow perch (Perca flavescens), although recent studies indicate that alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) predominate in cormorant diets

Agonistic interactions and island biogeography as drivers of carnivore spatial and temporal activity at multiple scales

Carnivore communities can be diverse and complex, and lack of knowledge regarding intraguild interactions and alternative drivers of carnivore distributions can preclude effective conservation of co-occurring species. As such, our objectives were to evaluate the relative importance of intraguild interactions and island biogeography to carnivore community spatiotemporal activity at multiple spatial scales. We monitored the carnivore community of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin, United States) using a grid of camera traps from 2014-2018. We used generalized linear mixed-effects models and information-theoretic model selection to evaluate whether subordinate carnivore presence was related to dominant carnivore relative abundance (interactions) or to island biogeography at the island-level and camera site-level, and we calculated temporal overlap between each pair of species to determine whether subordinate carnivores were using temporal segregation. At the island-level, the relative importance of interactions and island biogeography was species dependent. At the site-level, relative abundance of dominant carnivores was not a significant predictor of subordinate carnivore presence, and all pairs exhibited high or neutral temporal overlap. At the island-level, island biogeography and interactions may both impact species distributions; however, at finer spatial scales, the carnivore community may be using alternative segregation strategies, or the island system may preclude segregation.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Longitudinal trends of the small mammal community of the Apostle Islands archipelago

Documenting longitudinal changes in small mammal communities provides insights into ecosystem dynamics. We examined changes in small mammal communities of the Apostle Islands archipelago (Wisconsin, USA) since the establishment of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in 1970. We trapped small mammals from 20 of the 22 islands of the archipelago (2017–2020) and compared those results to historical (1961–2004) records. Microtus pennsylvanicus (p = 0.0076) and Sorex cinereus (p = 0.0268) exhibited significant changes in distribution. Microtus pennsylvanicus was likely extirpated from 10 of the 11 islands where it was previously detected, while S. cinereus increased in distribution. Peromyscus spp. colonized at least three islands since the establishment of the National Lakeshore, potentially through human-facilitated dispersal (i.e., boating, kayaking). Myodes gapperi remained widespread and abundant. Recent trends (2003–2004 to 2017–2020) in abundance indicated that S. cinereus may be declining locally on the islands, whereas Tamiasciurus hudsonicus may be increasing. Community diversity was driven by island size, regardless of variation over time. Long-term changes in small mammal populations across the archipelago likely reflect reduction of human extractive activities following the establishment of the National Lakeshore and the corresponding succession of vegetative communities. Our work suggests that even though small mammal communities of the archipelago have changed over time, larger islands may be able to better retain species that have been lost on others; therefore, island size remains an important predictor of community diversity