Time spent imagining does not influence younger and older adults' episodic simulation of helping behavior

Shared cognitive processes underlie our ability to remember the past (i.e., episodic memory) and imagine the future (i.e., episodic simulation) and age-related declines in episodic memory are also noted when simulating future scenarios. Given older adults' reduced cognitive control and protracted memory retrieval time, we examined whether imposing time limits on episodic simulation of future helping scenarios affects younger and older adults' willingness to help, phenomenological experience, and the type of details produced. Relative to a control task, episodic simulation increased younger and older participants' willingness to help, scene vividness, and perspective-taking regardless of the time spent imagining future helping scenarios. Notably, time spent imagining influenced the number, but not proportion of internal details produced, suggesting that participants' use of episodic-like information remained consistent regardless of the time they spent imagining. The present findings highlight the importance of collecting phenomenological experience when assessing episodic simulation abilities across the lifespan.

Episodic simulation of helping behavior in younger and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Imagining helping a person in need increases one's willingness to help beyond levels evoked by passively reading the same stories. We examined whether episodic simulation can increase younger and older adults' willingness to help in novel scenarios posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 3 studies we demonstrate that episodic simulation of helping behavior increases younger and older adults' willingness to help during both everyday and COVID-related scenarios. Moreover, we show that imagining helping increases emotional concern, scene imagery, and theory of mind, which in turn relate to increased willingness to help. Studies 2 and 3 also showed that people produce more internal, episodic-like details when imagining everyday compared to COVID-related scenarios, suggesting that people are less able to draw on prior experiences when simulating such novel events. These findings suggest that encouraging engagement with stories of people in need by imagining helping can increase willingness to help during the pandemic.

Effect of situation similarity on younger and older adults' episodic simulation of helping behaviours

Similar cognitive processes enable us to remember the past (i.e., episodic memory) and simulate future events (i.e., episodic simulation). In the current study, we demonstrate an important role for previous experience when younger and older adults simulate future behaviours. Participants read short descriptions of a person in need of help in scenarios that were more familiar to either younger or older adults (e.g., dealing with dating apps vs writing a cheque). Participants either imagined helping the person or thought about the style of the story (control task), and then rated their willingness to help, scene vividness, emotional concern, and subjective use of theory of mind. Hierarchical mixed effect modelling revealed that both episodic simulation and one's previous experience increased willingness to help, in that participants were more willing to help if they imagined helping and the situation was more familiar to them. Further, in simulated scenarios the relationship between previous experience and willingness to help was mediated by scene vividness and perspective-taking in younger adults, but only by perspective-taking in older adults. Taken together, these findings suggest that situation similarity and episodic simulation increase willingness to help, possibly via different mechanisms in younger and older adults.

Agricultural injuries among operation household members: RRIS-II 1999

The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and consequences of agricultural injuries, and to reveal potential risk factors among agricultural household members. The Regional Rural Injury Study (RRIS-II) collected injury and exposure data on agricultural households of 16,538 people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska for each six-month period of 1999. Adjusted injury rates, consequences, and potential risk factors were identified through analyses. Selection of variables for multivariate analyses was based on a causal model. Injuries reported here occurred while the individuals were involved in activities associated with their own farm or ranch, unless otherwise stated. Estimates of injury rates and the effects of various exposures were derived by Poisson and logistic regression. These models accounted for correlation within both subject and household, and were adjusted for non-response. The rate of agricultural injury to household members on their own operation was 74.5 injuries per 1,000 persons per year. Differences in rates due to age and gender diminished when rates were calculated according to hours worked. Although only 5% of injured persons required in-patient hospitalization, 28% required emergency department treatment, and 84% required some type of professional health care. Moreover, 47% of all injuries required time off from agricultural work, and 7% required time off from non-agricultural work. In multivariate analyses, decreased risks were associated with Minnesota, and increased risks were identified for those with prior injuries and for males.This study provides a basis for further research on agricultural injuries and their prevention.

Sports and recreational injuries: regional rural injury study-II: impact on agricultural households and operations

OBJECTIVES

To identify the incidence, severity, and potential risk factors for sports/recreational injuries incurred by children and adults in a five state, rural, Midwest, agricultural household population.

METHODS

Computer assisted telephone interviews that included questions about all injuries were completed for eligible, participating households for 1999; 16,538 people participated, including 8488 children less than 20 years of age. Rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and causal models guided multivariate models.

RESULTS

Of a total of 2586 injuries, 1301 (50%) were not related to agricultural activity. Among these, 733 (28%) were associated with sports/recreational activities including multiple person sports (64%), general play activities (19%), and single person sports (14%). The overall rate was 46.4 injury events per 1000 persons per year. Rates for children were 99.4 for boys and 64.3 for girls. For adults (aged 20 and above), rates were 11.9 for men and 4.8 for women. For children, 93% received health care, 44% were restricted for seven or more days, and 18% lost agricultural work time of seven or more days; the respective proportions for adults were 88%, 45%, and 17%. Multivariate analysis for children showed increased risks for Nebraska residents, males, and those 10-14 or 15-19 years. For adults, increased risks were identified for males and those 20-24 years; decreased risks were observed for Nebraska residents and those 45-54 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Sports/recreational activities are an important source of injury with relevant consequences for this population, including significant restricted daily activity and lost agricultural work time. Key findings provide a basis for further study to address these burdens.

Relation between policies and work related assault: Minnesota Nurses' Study

AIMS

To assess the relation between violence prevention policies and work related assault.

METHODS

From Phase 1 of the Minnesota Nurses' Study, a population based survey of 6300 Minnesota nurses (response 79%), 13.2% reported experiencing work related physical assault in the past year. In Phase 2, a case-control study, 1900 nurses (response 75%) were questioned about exposures relevant to violence, including eight work related violence prevention policy items. A comprehensive causal model served as a basis for survey design, analyses, and interpretation. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for potential exposure misclassification and the presence of an unmeasured confounder.

RESULTS

Results of multiple regression analyses, controlling for appropriate factors, indicated that the odds of physical assault decreased for having a zero tolerance policy (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.8) and having policies regarding types of prohibited violent behaviours (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.9). Analyses adjusted for non-response and non-selection resulted in wider confidence intervals, but no substantial change in effect estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that some work related violence policies may be protective for the population of Minnesota nurses.

An epidemiological study of the magnitude and consequences of work related violence: the Minnesota Nurses' Study

AIMS

To identify the magnitude of and potential risk factors for violence within a major occupational population.

METHODS

Comprehensive surveys were sent to 6300 Minnesota licensed registered (RNs) and practical (LPNs) nurses to collect data on physical and non-physical violence for the prior 12 months. Re-weighting enabled adjustment for potential biases associated with non-response, accounting for unknown eligibility.

RESULTS

From the 78% responding, combined with non-response rate information, respective adjusted rates per 100 persons per year (95% CI) for physical and non-physical violence were 13.2 (12.2 to 14.3) and 38.8 (37.4 to 40.4); assault rates were increased, respectively, for LPNs versus RNs (16.4 and 12.0) and males versus females (19.4 and 12.9). Perpetrators of physical and non-physical events were patients/clients (97% and 67%, respectively). Consequences appeared greater for non-physical than physical violence. Multivariate modelling identified increased rates for both physical and non-physical violence for working: in a nursing home/long term care facility; in intensive care, psychiatric/behavioural or emergency departments; and with geriatric patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that non-fatal physical assault and non-physical forms of violence, and relevant consequences, are frequent among both RNs and LPNs; such violence is mostly perpetrated by patients or clients; and certain environmental factors appear to affect the risk of violence. This serves as the basis for further analytical studies that can enable the development of appropriate prevention and control efforts.

Comparison of heart rate variability in supine, and left and right lateral positions

In order to determine whether differences exist in cardiac autonomic tone between different body positions that may be used in unconscious subjects, we examined beat-to-beat heart rate variability (HRV) in volunteers lying supine, and in left lateral and right lateral positions. We studied 24 subjects, aged 20-35 years in each of the three positions on one study day, and 6 subjects in each of the three positions on each of six different study days. In both groups of subjects we observed no difference in heart rate, respiratory frequency, total power (0.02-0.45 Hz) of HRV or the proportion of power in the high (0.15-0.45 Hz), low (0.08-0.15 Hz) or very low (0.02-0.08 Hz) frequency bands among the three positions. These results suggest that there are no cardiac autonomic tone advantages to be gained by placing a person in the recovery position on one side compared with the other.

Metabolites of a tobacco-specific lung carcinogen in the urine of elementary school-aged children

Limited data are available in the literature on carcinogen uptake by children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). In this study, we quantified metabolites of the tobacco-specific lung carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in the urine of elementary school-aged children participating in the School Health Initiative: Environment, Learning, Disease study, a school-based investigation of the environmental health of children. The metabolites of NNK are 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronide (NNAL-Gluc). We also measured cotinine and its glucuronide (total cotinine). Urine samples were collected from 204 children. Seventy (34.3%) of these had total cotinine > or =5 ng/ml. NNAL or NNAL-Gluc was detected in 52 of 54 samples with total cotinine > or =5 ng/ml and in 10 of 20 samples with total cotinine < 5 ng/ml. Levels of NNAL plus NNAL-Gluc and total cotinine were significantly higher when exposure to ETS was reported than when no exposure was reported. However, even when no exposure to ETS was reported, levels of NNAL, NNAL-Gluc, and NNAL plus NNAL-Gluc were higher than in children with documented low exposure to ETS, as determined by cotinine levels < 5 ng/ml. Levels of NNAL, NNAL-Gluc, and cotinine were not significantly different in samples collected twice from the same children at 3-month intervals. Levels of NNAL plus NNAL-Gluc in this study were comparable with those observed in our previous field studies of adults exposed to ETS. There was a 93-fold range of NNAL plus NNAL-Gluc values in the exposed children. The results of this study demonstrate widespread and considerable uptake of the tobacco-specific lung carcinogen NNK in this group of elementary school-aged children, raising important questions about potential health risks. Our data indicate that objective biomarkers of carcinogen uptake are important in studies of childhood exposure to ETS and cancer later in life.

The effect of oral nutritional supplements on habitual dietary quality and quantity in frail elders

BACKGROUND

Frail institutionalized elders have a high prevalence of nutritional risk factors, undernutrition, weight loss, and nutrition-related morbidity and excess mortality. Little information is available on effective means to intervene in this setting.

HYPOTHESES

We tested the hypothesis that addition of multinutrient oral supplements to the diet of frail elders would improve their overall nutritional status and functional level.

METHODS

Fifty nursing home residents aged 88+/-1 yr. were followed for 10 weeks in the course of a randomized controlled trial of supplementation with a multinutrient liquid supplement vs. a non-nutritive placebo drink. Three-day food weighing was used to analyze their habitual dietary intake before and during the final week of the intervention. Nutritional status was further assessed with nutritional biochemistries, anthropometric measurements, and body composition analysis as well as physical and functional performance tests.

RESULTS

The nutritional supplement was consumed with high compliance, but did not significantly augment total caloric intake. Supplementation was associated with significant reductions in total energy, protein, fat, water, fiber, and many vitamins and minerals in the habitual diet of these nursing home residents. Nutritional status improved in terms of folate levels in serum, but no other measured vitamin or mineral indices. Body composition analysis revealed a small gain in weight, increases in fat stores, but no improvement in lean tissue mass associated with supplemention. No physical performance or functional gains were associated with supplementation.

CONCLUSION

Short-term nutritional supplementation in elders at nutritional risk is offset by simultaneous reduction in voluntary food intake. It seems likely that changing other components of energy expenditure such as physical activity levels or basal metabolism may be required to produce overall improvements in nutritional intake in this setting.

Anastomosis of vessels of unequal diameter using an interpositional vein graft

In this study, 100 rabbits were used to assess the efficacy of five different methods of microvascular anastomosis where a vessel diameter discrepancy of 5:1 existed. The inferior vena cava of the rabbit was used as a graft in the femoral artery. In 50 percent of the rabbits the graft was reversed to assess the effects on flow. When explored between 7 and 10 days after anastomosis, an overall patency rate of 96 percent was recorded. Three grafts were not patent in the reversed group and one was not patent in the nonreversed group. There was no significant statistical difference in patency rates between any of the groups, as calculated by the Fisher's exact probability test. The tapered end-to-end and side-to-end anastomoses were found to be the most rapid and simplest methods to perform.

The use of long synthetic microvascular grafts in dogs with a view to clinical application

Five centimetres long segments of 3 mm internal diameter synthetic expanded polytetrafluorethylene (E-PTFE) vascular graft (Gore-Tex) were implanted into the femoral arteries, proximal to the origin of the saphenous artery, of 10 mongrel dogs. In five cases saphenous island flaps were raised and the femoral artery was ligated distal to the saphenous origin so that a low flow system was created through the graft. In 10 femoral vessels the Gore-Tex graft was inserted without raising a flap and the distal femoral artery not ligated so that the graft acted purely as a conduit for blood flow to the distal limb. This created a high flow rate model compared to the reduced flow in the former group. In the first group flap survival was evaluated daily by direct observation of the flaps and graft patency was assessed every 48 h by means of Doppler ultrasound. None of these flaps survived longer then 48 h. In the second group, graft patency was monitored every 48 h with Doppler ultrasound and exploration of Gore-Tex grafts at 3 weeks showed that all had thrombosed.

The free radial forearm flap with and without bone for closure of large palatal fistulae

Three cases of palatal fistulae closed by microvascular transfer of radial forearm flaps are presented. Vascularised bone was included in one flap and all operations were free of complications. Facial scarring is minimal and the secondary deformity in the arm has not been significant. It is suggested that this procedure presents fewer difficulties than other techniques for treating the large palatal fistula and may prevent the collapse of the alveolar arch which follows the scarring associated with closure by local tissue.