Spatial non-parametric Bayesian clustered coefficients

In the field of population health research, understanding the similarities between geographical areas and quantifying their shared effects on health outcomes is crucial. In this paper, we synthesise a number of existing methods to create a new approach that specifically addresses this goal. The approach is called a Bayesian spatial Dirichlet process clustered heterogeneous regression model. This non-parametric framework allows for inference on the number of clusters and the clustering configurations, while simultaneously estimating the parameters for each cluster. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm using simulated data and further apply it to analyse influential factors affecting children's health development domains in Queensland. The study provides valuable insights into the contributions of regional similarities in education and demographics to health outcomes, aiding targeted interventions and policy design.

Where are the vulnerable children? Identification and comparison of clusters of young children with health and developmental vulnerabilities across Queensland

This study aimed to better understand the vulnerability of children in their first year of school, aged between 5 years 5 months and 6 years 6 months, based on five health and development domains. Identification of subgroups of children within these domains can lead to more targeted policies to reduce these vulnerabilities. The focus of this study was to determine clusters of geographical regions with high and low proportions of vulnerable children in Queensland, Australia. This was achieved by carrying out a K-means analysis on data from the Australian Early Development Census and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The clusters were then compared with respect to their geographic locations and risk factor profiles. The results are made publicly available via an interactive dashboard application developed in R Shiny.

Factors affecting neurodevelopmental outcome following surgical necrotising enterocolitis: a systematic review

Surgically treated necrotising enterocolitis (sNEC) is associated with significantly worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than that seen in premature infants without NEC. We aim to review the association between factors involved in the surgical treatment of NEC and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes to identify potential areas for improvement. The PubMed and Embase databases were interrogated for articles reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes in babies treated surgically for NEC using key terms including: "Infant", "Necrotising enterocolitis", "Surgical", "Neurodevelopmental" and "Outcomes". The search strategy yielded 1170 articles and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria 22 studies remained and formed the review. A diverse range of neurodevelopmental outcomes were reported. Extreme prematurity and lower birth weight were associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The use of peritoneal drains and enterostomies were associated with worse outcomes. Modifications to surgical strategies in NEC may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes but the effect of confounding factors remains unclear. Further large scale studies are required to define the optimum strategies for treating NEC surgically and to develop a core outcome set for research into NEC.

The Blunt Liver and Spleen Trauma (BLAST) audit: national survey and prospective audit of children with blunt liver and spleen trauma in major trauma centres

PURPOSE

To compare the reported and observed management of UK children with blunt liver or spleen injury (BLSI) to the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) 2019 BLSI guidance.

METHODS

UK Paediatric Major Trauma Centres (pMTCs) undertook 1 year of prospective data collection on children admitted to or discussed with those centres with BLSI and an online questionnaire was distributed to all consultants who care for children with BLSI in those centres.

RESULTS

All 21/21 (100%) pMTCs participated; 131 patients were included and 100/152 (65%) consultants responded to the survey. ICU care was reported and observed to be primarily determined using haemodynamic status or concomitant injuries rather than injury grade, in accordance with APSA guidance. Bed rest was reported to be determined by grade of injury by 63% of survey respondents and observed in a similar proportion of patients. Contrary to APSA guidance, follow-up radiological assessment of the injured spleen or liver was undertaken in 44% of patients before discharge and 32% after discharge, the majority of whom were asymptomatic.

CONCLUSIONS

UK management of BLSI differs from many aspects of APSA guidance. A shift towards using clinical features to determine ICU admission and readiness for discharge is demonstrated, in line with a strong evidence base. However, routine bed rest and re-imaging after BLSI is common, contrary to APSA guidance. This disparity may exist due to concern that evidence around the incidence, presentation and natural history of complications after conservatively managed BLSI, particularly bleeding from pseudoaneurysms, is weak.

Short communication: Is there a difference in the sensitivity of Africanised and European honeybees to thiamethoxam or dimethoate?

The similarity of sensitivity of adult Africanised and European honeybees following acute oral exposure to thiamethoxam has been questioned. Data collated from adult acute contact and oral toxicity testing of a range of thiamethoxam containing products (solo and mixtures) shows that the toxicity of these products to Africanised honeybees can be directly predicted from the toxicity of the active substances to European honeybees. Similarly, the acute contact and oral toxicity of dimethoate to Africanised bees lies within the same range as European honeybees. There are no major differences in the sensitivity of Africanised and European honeybee individuals to thiamethoxam and dimethoate.

Assessing the spatial structure of the association between attendance at preschool and children's developmental vulnerabilities in Queensland, Australia

Demographic and educational factors are essential, influential factors of early childhood development. This study aimed to investigate spatial patterns in the association between attendance at preschool and children's developmental vulnerabilities in one or more domain(s) in their first year of full-time school at a small area level in Queensland, Australia. This was achieved by applying geographically weighted regression (GWR) followed by K-means clustering of the regression coefficients. Three distinct geographical clusters were found in Queensland using the GWR coefficients. The first cluster covered more than half of the state of Queensland, including the Greater Brisbane region, and displays a strong negative association between developmental vulnerabilities and attendance at preschool. That is, areas with high proportions of preschool attendance tended to have lower proportions of children with at least one developmental vulnerability in the first year of full-time school. Clusters two and three were characterized by stronger negative associations between developmental vulnerabilities, English as the mother language, and geographic remoteness, respectively. This research provides evidence of the need for collaboration between health and education sectors in specific regions of Queensland to update current service provision policies and to ensure holistic and appropriate care is available to support children with developmental vulnerabilities.

Applying a tiered environmental risk assessment framework to estimate the risk of pesticides to soil organisms in Latin America

This work investigates the application of a tiered risk assessment scheme for soil organisms based on the risk quotient (RQ) and the toxicity exposure ratio (TER). Forty-five pesticides registered in Latin America were chosen and the ecotoxicological endpoints for earthworms, Collembola, and microorganisms were collated. Tier I assessment was made on conservative assumptions in which no refinements were applied. There, 14 pesticides (31%) exceed the RQ regulatory trigger indicating unacceptable risk, whereas 27 (60%) indicate unacceptable risk on the TER approach. In a Tier II evaluation when refinement options such as foliar interception, field half-life, and the dissipation following the peak estimated environmental concentration are considered, eight (18%) pesticides indicate unacceptable risk based on the RQ, and 15 (33%) indicate unacceptable risk based on the TER. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling evaluation was performed to understand the relevant characteristics involved in how each pesticide poses a risk to soil organisms. Based on the outcome of this analysis, we observed that, for a given pesticide, the combination of high persistence, low or no crop interception, and high toxicity are likely to require higher tier risk assessment. Refinement options can consider either or both the exposure and/or the effect side of the framework. Exposure refinements are potentially simpler and can be conducted with data already available to risk assessors, whereas effect refinements involving further testing with the organisms potentially at risk are still under discussion for intermediate and higher tiers. A sensitive, simple, and logical environmental risk assessment framework can be used to adequately identify risks based on the relevant protection goals that, in turn, will help to protect the desired soil multifunctionality of the ecosystem. We encourage academia and industry to further investigate these topics to provide the most scientifically robust and evidence-based information to decision makers. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:446-460. © 2022 SETAC.

Utility of outdoor central site monitoring in assessing exposure of school children to ultrafine particles

Epidemiological studies investigating the association between daily particle exposure and health effects are frequently based on a single monitoring site located in an urban background. Using a central site in epidemiological time-series studies has been established based on the premises of low spatial variability of particles within the areas of interest and hence the adequacy of the central sites to monitor the exposure. This is true to a large extent in relation to larger particles (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) that are typically monitored and regulated. However, the distribution of ultrafine particles (UFP), which in cities predominantly originate from traffic, is heterogeneous. With increasing pressure to improve the epidemiology of UFP, an important question to ask is, whether central site monitoring is representative of community exposure to this size fraction of particulate matter; addressing this question is the aim of this paper. To achieve this aim, we measured personal exposure to UFP, expressed as particle number concentration (PNC), using Philips Aerasense Nanotracers (NT) carried by the participants of the study, and condensation particle counters (CPC) or scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) at central fixed-site monitoring stations. The measurements were conducted at three locations in Brisbane (Australia), Cassino (Italy) and Accra (Ghana). We then used paired t-tests to compare the average personal and average fixed-site PNC measured over the same 24-h, and hourly, periods. We found that, at all three locations, the 24-h average fixed-site PNC was no different to the personal PNC, when averaged over the study period and all the participants. However, the corresponding hourly averages were significantly different at certain times of the day. These were generally times spent commuting and during cooking and eating at home. Our analysis of the data obtained in Brisbane, showed that maximum personal exposure occurred in the home microenvironment during morning breakfast and evening dinner time. The main source of PNC for personal exposure was from the home-microenvironment. We conclude that the 24-h average PNC from the central-site can be used to estimate the 24-h average personal exposure for a community. However, the hourly average PNC from the central site cannot consistently be used to estimate hourly average personal exposure, mainly because they are affected by very different sources.

Measurement properties of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 for evaluating functional status after inpatient surgery

BACKGROUND

Expert recommendations propose the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 as a core outcome measure in surgical studies, yet data on its long-term measurement properties remain limited. These were evaluated in a secondary analysis of the Measurement of Exercise Tolerance before Surgery (METS) prospective cohort.

METHODS

Participants were adults (40 years of age or older) who underwent inpatient non-cardiac surgery. The 12-item WHODAS and EQ-5DTM-3L questionnaires were administered preoperatively (in person) and 1 year postoperatively (by telephone). Responsiveness was characterized using standardized response means (SRMs) and correlation coefficients between change scores. Construct validity was evaluated using correlation coefficients between 1-year scores and comparisons of WHODAS scores across clinically relevant subgroups.

RESULTS

The analysis included 546 patients. There was moderate correlation between changes in WHODAS and various EQ-5DTM subscales. The strongest correlation was between changes in WHODAS and changes in the functional domains of the EQ-5D-3L-for example, mobility (Spearman's rho 0.40, 95 per cent confidence interval [c.i.] 0.32 to 0.48) and usual activities (rho 0.45, 95 per cent c.i. 0.30 to 0.52). When compared across quartiles of EQ-5D index change, median WHODAS scores followed expected patterns of change. In subgroups with expected functional status changes, the WHODAS SRMs ranged from 'small' to 'large' in the expected directions of change. At 1 year, the WHODAS demonstrated convergence with the EQ-5D-3L functional domains, and good discrimination between patients with expected differences in functional status.

CONCLUSION

The WHODAS questionnaire has construct validity and responsiveness as a measure of functional status at 1 year after major surgery.

Expert clinical consensus in the delivery of hydrodilatation for the management of patients with a primary frozen shoulder

Aims

To achieve expert clinical consensus in the delivery of hydrodilatation for the treatment of primary frozen shoulder to inform clinical practice and the design of an intervention for evaluation.

Methods

We conducted a two-stage, electronic questionnaire-based, modified Delphi survey of shoulder experts in the UK NHS. Round one required positive, negative, or neutral ratings about hydrodilatation. In round two, each participant was reminded of their round one responses and the modal (or ‘group’) response from all participants. This allowed participants to modify their responses in round two. We proposed respectively mandating or encouraging elements of hydrodilatation with 100% and 90% positive consensus, and respectively disallowing or discouraging with 90% and 80% negative consensus. Other elements would be optional.

Results

Between 4 August 2020 and 4 August 2021, shoulder experts from 47 hospitals in the UK completed the study. There were 106 participants (consultant upper limb orthopaedic surgeons, n = 50; consultant radiologists, n = 52; consultant physiotherapist, n = 1; extended scope physiotherapists, n = 3) who completed round one, of whom 97 (92%) completed round two. No elements of hydrodilatation were “mandated” (100% positive rating). Elements that were “encouraged” (≥ 80% positive rating) were the use of image guidance, local anaesthetic, normal saline, and steroids to deliver the injection. Injecting according to patient tolerance, physiotherapy, and home exercises were also “encouraged”. No elements were “discouraged” (≥ 80% negative rating) although using hypertonic saline was rated as being “disallowed” (≥ 90% negative rating).

Conclusion

In the absence of rigorous evidence, our Delphi study allowed us to achieve expert consensus about positive, negative, and neutral ratings of hydrodilatation in the management of frozen shoulder in a hospital setting. This should inform clinical practice and the design of an intervention for evaluation.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(9):701–709.

Adaptive monitoring of coral health at Scott Reef where data exhibit nonlinear and disturbed trends over time

Time series data are often observed in ecological monitoring. Frequently, such data exhibit nonlinear trends over time potentially due to complex relationships between observed and auxiliary variables, and there may also be sudden declines over time due to major disturbances. This poses substantial challenges for modeling such data and also for adaptive monitoring. To address this, we propose methods for finding adaptive designs for monitoring in such settings. This work is motivated by a monitoring program that has been established at Scott Reef; a coral reef off the Western coast of Australia. Data collected for monitoring the health of Scott Reef are considered, and semiparametric and interrupted time series modeling approaches are adopted to describe how these data vary over time. New methods are then proposed that enable adaptive monitoring designs to be found based on such modeling approaches. These methods are then applied to find future monitoring designs at Scott Reef where it was found that future information gain is expected to be similar across a variety of different sites, suggesting that no particular location needs to be prioritized at Scott Reef for the next monitoring phase. In addition, it was found that omitting some sampling sites/reef locations was possible without substantial loss in expected information gain, depending upon the disturbances that were observed. The resulting adaptive designs are used to form recommendations for future monitoring in this region, and for reefs where changes in the current monitoring practices are being sought. As the methods used and developed throughout this study are generic in nature, this research has the potential to improve ecological monitoring more broadly where complex data are being collected over time.

"Should I Give it to My Kids?": Factors that Influence HPV Vaccine Hesitancy Among African American Parents

PURPOSE

The purpose of our study was to describe the influences that impact vaccine hesitancy in African American parents who have previously delayed or denied vaccinating their children against HPV.

METHODS

We conducted three focus groups, approx. 90 minutes each. Participants were recruited from various community clinics and organizations in Michigan. Using thematic analysis and the Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants framework, we described the experiences of parents who have delayed or denied vaccinating their children against HPV.

RESULTS

Twenty parents participated in the focus groups; the majority of the parents had Medicaid (75%), were employed full-time (55%), and had some college education but no degree (50%). Several contextual factors influenced decision-making: historical events, perceptions of both pharmaceutical and governmental figures, and perceived discrimination based on race and socioeconomic status. Whether it was the result of mistrust due to the ongoing Flint water crisis or concern over the profit-driven industry of pharmaceutical companies, these parents were deeply mistrustful of the motivations behind vaccination programs. Parental beliefs and attitudes focused on ensuring the health and safety of their children, which involved being hesitant to vaccinate. Some parents were swayed by vaccination experiences of personal acquaintances, while others maintained their hesitancy status. Knowledge and awareness in this group were mixed regarding the HPV vaccine. Most struggled to articulate the purpose of the vaccine thoroughly and often refused to vaccinate their children. Meanwhile, only a few vaccine-specific issues were relevant in group discussions, such as vaccination schedule and provider recommendation. Some parents viewed weak recommendations as a subtle signal to not vaccinate their children, while others viewed too strong of a recommendation as a cause for concern.

CONCLUSION

Findings highlight parents' willingness to stick with their strong beliefs, despite recommendations from healthcare providers and personal acquaintances. Effective communications strategies are essential for health education and establishing a trustworthy patient-provider relationship.

Emerging synthetic cannabinoids detected by a drug checking service in Toronto, Canada

BACKGROUND

Toronto's Drug Checking Service (DCS) provides people who use drugs with information on the chemical composition of their substances and conducts real-time monitoring of the unregulated drug supply. Presented are first known data of three newly detected synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) in Toronto, Ontario.

METHODS

The present data are from samples analyzed between April and November 2020. Samples were collected at partnering harm reduction agencies in Toronto and analyzed using gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. An intake survey queried about the sample characteristics on submission, including expected drug(s).

RESULTS

Samples were analyzed between 1 April and 20 November 2020 (N = 19), which marks the period immediately following imposed COVID-19 border and movement restrictions in Canada. The newly detected, unexpected SCs were ACHMINACA (n = 15), AB-FUBINACA (n = 3), and 4-fluoro-MDMB-BUTINACA (n = 1). Fentanyl was expected in 74% (n = 14). Most SCs were detected in samples containing fentanyl or related analogues (n = 18; 95%), or benzodiazepine-related drugs (i.e., etizolam and flualprazolam) (n = 15; 79%).

CONCLUSIONS

This information can inform overdose prevention efforts and drug market monitoring of SCs in Toronto and regions served by the same drug trafficking routes. The detection of SCs during a period marked by COVID-19-related restrictions can contribute to efforts to identify global drug market trends during this time.

Is there a risk to honeybees from use of thiamethoxam as a sugar beet seed treatment?

The ban imposed by the European Union on the use of neonicotinoids as sugar beet seed treatments was based on the exposure of bees to residues of neonicotinoids in pollen and nectar of succeeding crops. To address this concern, residues of thiamethoxam (TMX) and clothianidin (CTD) were analyzed in soil collected from fields planted in at least the previous year with thiamethoxam-treated sugar beet seed. This soil monitoring program was conducted at 94 sites across Germany in two separate years. In addition, a succeeding crop study assessed residues in soil, guttation fluid, pollen, and nectar sampled from untreated succeeding crops planted in the season after thiamethoxam seed-treated sugar beet at eight field sites across five countries. The overall mean residues observed in soil monitoring were 8.0 ± 0.5 µg TMX + CTD/kg in the season after the use of treated sugar beet seed. Residue values decreased with increasing time interval between the latest thiamethoxam or clothianidin application before sugar beet drilling and with lower application frequency. Residues were detected in guttation fluid (2.0-37.7 µg TMX/L); however, the risk to pollinators from this route of exposure is likely to be low, based on the reported levels of consumption. Residues of thiamethoxam and clothianidin in pollen and nectar sampled from the succeeding crops were detected at or below the limit of quantification (0.5-1 µg a.i./kg) in 86.7% of pollen and 98.6% of nectar samples and, unlike guttation fluid residues, were not correlated with measured soil residues. Residues in pollen and nectar are lower than reported sublethal adverse effect concentrations in studies with honeybee and bumble bee individuals and colonies fed only thiamethoxam-treated sucrose, and are lower than those reported to result in no effects in honeybees, bumble bees, and solitary bees foraging on seed-treated crops. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:709-721. © 2021 SYNGENTA. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

The state of science on severe air pollution episodes: Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Severe episodic air pollution blankets entire cities and regions and have a profound impact on humans and their activities. We compiled daily fine particle (PM_2.5) data from 100 cities in five continents, investigated the trends of number, frequency, and duration of pollution episodes, and compared these with the baseline trend in air pollution. We showed that the factors contributing to these events are complex; however, long-term measures to abate emissions from all anthropogenic sources at all times is also the most efficient way to reduce the occurrence of severe air pollution events. In the short term, accurate forecasting systems of such events based on the meteorological conditions favouring their occurrence, together with effective emergency mitigation of anthropogenic sources, may lessen their magnitude and/or duration. However, there is no clear way of preventing events caused by natural sources affected by climate change, such as wildfires and desert dust outbreaks.

Bayesian Hierarchical Multidimensional Item Response Modeling of Small Sample, Sparse Data for Personalized Developmental Surveillance

Developmental surveillance tools are used to closely monitor the early development of infants and young children. This study provides a novel implementation of a multidimensional item response model, using Bayesian hierarchical priors, to construct developmental profiles for a small sample of children (N = 115) with sparse data collected through an online developmental surveillance tool. The surveillance tool records 348 developmental milestones measured from birth to three years of age, within six functional domains: auditory, hands, movement, speech, tactile, and vision. The profiles were constructed in three steps: (1) the multidimensional item response model, embedded in the Bayesian hierarchical framework, was implemented in order to measure both the latent abilities of the children and attributes of the milestones, while retaining the correlation structure among the latent developmental domains; (2) subsequent hierarchical clustering of the multidimensional ability estimates enabled identification of subgroups of children; and (3) information from the posterior distributions of the item response model parameters and the results of the clustering were used to construct a personalized profile of development for each child. These individual profiles support early identification of, and personalized early interventions for, children with developmental delay.

Assessment of the Vulnerability to Pesticide Exposures Across Bee Species

In many countries, the western honey bee is used as surrogate in pesticide risk assessments for bees. However, uncertainty remains in the estimation of pesticide risk to non-Apis bees because their potential routes of exposure to pesticides, life histories, and ecologies differ from those of honey bees. We applied the vulnerability concept in pesticide risk assessment to 10 bee species including the honey bee, 2 bumble bee species, and 7 solitary bee species with different nesting strategies. Trait-based vulnerability considers the evaluation of a species at the level of both the organism (exposure and effect) and the population (recovery), which goes beyond the sensitivity of individuals to a toxicant assessed in standard laboratory toxicity studies by including effects on populations in the field. Based on expert judgment, each trait was classified by its relationship to the vulnerability to pesticide exposure, effects (intrinsic sensitivity), and population recovery. The results suggested that the non-Apis bees included in our approach are potentially more vulnerable to pesticides than the honey bee due to traits governing exposure and population recovery potential. Our analysis highlights many uncertainties related to the interaction between bee ecology and the potential exposures and population-level effects of pesticides, emphasizing the need for more research to identify suitable surrogate species for higher tier bee risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2640-2651. © 2021 SETAC.

Caregiving burden among informal caregivers of African American cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Relatively little is known about caregivers of African American cancer survivors. Our goal was to identify the extent of burden among this group of caregivers.

METHODS

Responses from 560 informal caregivers of African American participants of the Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) study in Detroit, MI, were analyzed including demographics, assistance provided including activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), time spent in caregiving, and caregiver burden (CGB). We assessed relationships between CGB and demographic variables, ADLs/IADLs, and level of care. Multivariable logistic regression determined which ADLs and IADLs were associated with high CGB.

RESULTS

Over 75% of caregivers were female and 97% identified as African American. Mean age was 52.6 years. Fifty-six percent were employed outside the home, and 90% were related to the survivor. Caregivers averaged 35.7 h/week providing care, assisting with on average 2.8 ADLs and 5.0 IADLs. Despite the many hours and activities reported, no caregivers rated CGB as severe; only 4% rated it moderate to severe. ADLs associated with the top quartile of CGB were feeding and toileting; IADLs were finances, telephoning, housework, and medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers for African American cancer survivors provide many hours of care, yet most describe their CGB as low. Although ADL assistance is often available through the healthcare system, assistance with IADLs presents an opportunity to lessen the burden for these caregivers and their care recipients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

African American cancer survivors receive much care from informal family caregivers, who assist with multiple ADLs and IADLs. Formal IADL assistance programs, similar to those available for ADLs, would benefit both survivors and caregivers.

Financial and Employment Impacts of Cancer and COVID-19 Among African American Cancer Survivors

Purpose: Financial hardship due to cancer is more common among African American than White survivors. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have also disproportionately affected African Americans. The purpose of this study is to describe the financial and employment impacts of COVID-19 in a population of African American cancer survivors and to compare those impacts with those experienced after a cancer diagnosis. Methods: Results include survey data from 593 participants in the population-based Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort who completed the ROCS enrollment survey and a supplemental questionnaire related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their financial wellbeing and employment. Most participants (96%) were not diagnosed with COVID-19 by the time they completed the supplement and reflect the societal impact of the pandemic rather than a personal COVID-19 diagnosis. Analyses compare reports of financial hardship (using assets, borrowing money, experiencing debt, decreases in income) and employment impacts (changes to work schedules, duties, hours, employment status) due to cancer and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A similar proportion of ROCS participants reported financial hardship (41% vs. 42%) and borrowing money (5% vs. 6%) related to the COVID pandemic and their cancer diagnosis, respectively. Fewer survivors reported borrowing money (9% vs. 17%; p<0.001) or experiencing a decrease in income due to COVID than cancer (20% vs. 28%; p = 0.001); however; more reported debt associated with COVID (30% vs. 17%; p<0.001). Changes to work schedules (44% vs. 36%) and hours worked (44% vs. 28%) related to the COVID pandemic and cancer were common, and not statistically different from one another. More survivors changed their work duties due to the COVID pandemic (20%) than cancer (12%; p = 0.048). Prevalence of changes to employment status were similar for cancer (6%) and COVID (11%). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with similar levels of overall financial hardship, and higher prevalence of debt and some work changes, than individual cancer experiences. These additional burdens on a financially vulnerable population could exacerbate existing cancer-related inequities.

Airport Security Screener Problem-Solving Knowledge and Implications

OBJECTIVE

This research investigates security screeners' knowledge and the effect that differences in knowledge have on the performance of problem-solving activities. We argue that the development of problem-solving knowledge enables security screeners to perform effective problem-solving activity, which assists search and decision-making processes.

BACKGROUND

Airport security screening research has investigated the many variables that affect security screeners' search and decision making during simulated threat-detection tasks. Although search and decision making are essential aspects of security screening, few studies have investigated the problem-solving knowledge and activities that support security screening task performance.

METHOD

Sixteen more-experienced and 24 less-experienced security screeners were observed as they performed x-ray screening in the field at an Australian international airport's departure security checkpoint. Participants wore eye-tracking glasses and delivered concurrent verbal protocol.

RESULTS

When interacting with other security screeners, more-experienced screeners demonstrated situational knowledge more than less-experienced screeners, whereas less-experienced screeners experienced more insufficient knowledge. Lag-sequential analysis using combined data from both screener groups showed that situational knowledge facilitated effective problem-solving activity to support search and decision making. Insufficient knowledge led screeners to seek assistance and defer decision making.

CONCLUSION

This study expands current understandings of airport security screening. It demonstrates that security screeners develop knowledge that is specific to problem solving. This knowledge assists effective problem-solving activity to support search and decision making, and to mitigate uncertainty during the x-ray screening task.

APPLICATION

Findings can inform future security screening processes, screener training, and technology support tools. Furthermore, findings are potentially transferable to other domains.

Two decades of trends in urban particulate matter concentrations across Australia

Australia is a highly developed country with low population density. Capital cities are situated mainly around the coastline and are subjected to different meteorological conditions. This complex set of drivers is expected to result in varying trends in particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations in urban ambient air across the country. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the long-term trends in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in capital cities, and to analyse the factors that influenced such trends. The spatial variability of PM concentrations within the capital cities was first established to identify representative stations. Then trends were determined using the Mann-Kendall trend test, Sen's slope, and the generalised additive model. The results show that, in general, the PM concentrations in Australian cities are relatively low (12.1-21.7 μg m^-3 mean daily PM₁₀ and 4.6-8.7 μg m^-3 mean daily PM_2.5) and within the WHO daily limit 95% of the time. Over the past two decades, very small declines of 8.0 × 10^-5-1.1 × 10^-3 μg m^-3.yr^-1 for PM₁₀ and 7.7 × 10^-5-2.6 × 10^-3 μg m^-3.yr^-1 for PM_2.5 were observed while some stations exhibited increase in concentration based on available data; more stations showed a significant monotonic decline for PM₁₀ than PM_2.5. This is attributed to the effectiveness of the implemented emission reduction policies particularly for vehicle exhaust and power generation, given the simultaneous increase in the demand for energy and the number of vehicles over the last two decades. Regarding climate, in the coastal cities of Sydney and Brisbane, high rainfall and strong winds aid in maintaining low PM concentrations despite the significant anthropogenic emissions, while higher PM levels in Darwin can be attributed to its tropical savannah climate, which makes it prone to bushfires and necessitates regular prescribed burnings. PM concentrations increase when exceptional events such as bushfires and dust storms are induced by the extreme climate variability. Further reduction of PM concentrations in Australian cities is unlikely, considering the expanding urbanisation and the changing climate.

Long-term trends in PM2.5 mass and particle number concentrations in urban air: The impacts of mitigation measures and extreme events due to changing climates

Urbanisation and industrialisation led to the increase of ambient particulate matter (PM) concentration. While subsequent regulations may have resulted in the decrease of some PM matrices, the simultaneous changes in climate affecting local meteorological conditions could also have played a role. To gain an insight into this complex matter, this study investigated the long-term trends of two important matrices, the particle mass (PM_2.5) and particle number concentrations (PNC), and the factors that influenced the trends. Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimator, the generalised additive model, seasonal decomposition of time series by LOESS (locally estimated scatterplot smoothing) and the Buishand range test were applied. Both PM_2.5 and PNC showed significant negative monotonic trends (0.03-0.6 μg m^-3. yr^-1 and 0.40-3.8 × 10³ particles. cm^-3. yr^-1, respectively) except Brisbane (+0.1 μg m^-3. yr^-1 and +53 particles. cm^-3. yr^-1, respectively). For the period covered in this study, temperature increased (0.03-0.07 °C.yr^-1) in all cities except London; precipitation decreased (0.02-1.4 mm. yr^-1) except in Helsinki; and wind speed was reduced in Brisbane and Rochester but increased in Helsinki, London and Augsburg. At the change-points, temperature increase in cold cities influenced PNC while shifts in precipitation and wind speed affected PM_2.5. Based on the LOESS trend, extreme events such as dust storms and wildfires resulting from changing climates caused a positive step-change in concentrations, particularly for PM_2.5. In contrast, among the mitigation measures, controlling sulphur in fuels caused a negative step-change, especially for PNC. Policies regarding traffic and fleet management (e.g. low emission zones) that were implemented only in certain areas or in a progressive uptake (e.g. Euro emission standards), resulted to gradual reductions in concentrations. Therefore, as this study has clearly shown that PM_2.5 and PNC were influenced differently by the impacts of the changing climate and by the mitigation measures, both metrics must be considered in urban air quality management.

1140 Sleep Disturbances, Lifestyle, And Self-Management In Adults With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) survivors often suffer sleep disturbances. Self-management strategies focusing on lifestyle changes and health-promoting behaviors may improve sleep in SAH survivors. Few studies have examined sleep in SAH survivors, and little is known about sleep management practices used to improve their sleep. The purposes of this study were to: 1) describe the prevalence of sleep disturbances using subjective and objective sleep measures, and 2) explore interest in and engagement with self-management practices to promote sleep health in SAH survivors.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 30 SAH survivors recruited from a university hospital. We assessed sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and objective sleep using wrist actigraphy. We conducted content analysis of semi-structured interviews, with two authors each coding sleep disturbances and self-management practices addressing sleep.

Results

Seventy-three percent of SAH survivors reported poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) and 27% had daytime sleepiness (ESS > 10). Actigraphy analysis indicated that 41% of SAH survivors slept less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours. Interview content analyses suggested 3 themes and 15 sub-categories: 1) Sleep disturbances (difficulties in falling asleep, wake after sleep onset, daytime sleepiness, too much or insufficient sleep, and poor sleep quality), 2) Sleep management practices (exercise, regular sleep schedule, relaxation, keeping busy and staying active, changing beverage intake, taking supplements, taking medication, recharging energy, and barriers to sleep management), and 3) Healthcare providers (discussing sleep problems with health care providers).

Conclusion

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent and an urgent need exists to focus on improving sleep in SAH survivors. Developing tailored interventions that incorporate self-management and lifestyle change would be a critical next step to improve sleep and promote health in this at-risk population.

Support

This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research (K23 NR017404), University of Washington Institute of Translational Health Science Translational Research Scholars Program (UL1 TR000423), and University of Washington School of Nursing Research and Intramural Funding Program.

Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic Modeling of the Effects of Pesticides on Growth of Rattus norvegicus

Ecological risk assessment is carried out for chemicals such as pesticides before they are released into the environment. Such risk assessment currently relies on summary statistics gathered in standardized laboratory studies. However, these statistics extract only limited information and depend on duration of exposure. Their extrapolation to realistic ecological scenarios is inherently limited. Mechanistic effect models simulate the processes underlying toxicity and so have the potential to overcome these issues. Toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) models operate at the individual level, predicting the internal concentration of a chemical over time and the stress it places on an organism. TK-TD models are particularly suited to addressing the difference in exposure patterns between laboratory (constant) and field (variable) scenarios. So far, few studies have sought to predict sublethal effects of pesticide exposure to wild mammals in the field, even though such effects are of particular interest with respect to longer term exposure. We developed a TK-TD model based on the dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory, which can be parametrized and tested solely using standard regulatory studies. We demonstrate that this approach can be used effectively to predict toxic effects on the body weight of rats over time. Model predictions separate the impacts of feeding avoidance and toxic action, highlighting which was the primary driver of effects on growth. Such information is relevant to the ecological risk posed by a compound because in the environment alternative food sources may or may not be available to focal species. While this study focused on a single end point, growth, this approach could be expanded to include reproductive output. The framework developed is simple to use and could be of great utility for ecological and toxicological research as well as to risk assessors in industry and regulatory agencies.

Ultrafine particles and PM2.5 in the air of cities around the world: Are they representative of each other?

Can mitigating only particle mass, as the existing air quality measures do, ultimately lead to reduction in ultrafine particles (UFP)? The aim of this study was to provide a broader urban perspective on the relationship between UFP, measured in terms of particle number concentration (PNC) and PM_2.5 (mass concentration of particles with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) and factors that influence their concentrations. Hourly average PNC and PM_2.5 were acquired from 10 cities located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia over a 12-month period. A pairwise comparison of the mean difference and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test with the application of bootstrapping were performed for each city. Diurnal and seasonal trends were obtained using a generalized additive model (GAM). The particle number to mass concentration ratios and the Pearson's correlation coefficient were calculated to elucidate the nature of the relationship between these two metrics. Results show that the annual mean concentrations ranged from 8.0 × 10³ to 19.5 × 10³ particles·cm^-3 and from 7.0 to 65.8 μg·m^-3 for PNC and PM_2.5, respectively, with the data distributions generally skewed to the right, and with a wider spread for PNC. PNC showed a more distinct diurnal trend compared with PM_2.5, attributed to the high contributions of UFP from vehicular emissions to PNC. The variation in both PNC and PM_2.5 due to seasonality is linked to the cities' geographical location and features. Clustering the cities based on annual median concentrations of both PNC and PM_2.5 demonstrated that a high PNC level does not lead to a high PM_2.5, and vice versa. The particle number-to-mass ratio (in units of 10⁹ particles·μg^-1) ranged from 0.14 to 2.2, >1 for roadside sites and <1 for urban background sites with lower values for more polluted cities. The Pearson's r ranged from 0.09 to 0.64 for the log-transformed data, indicating generally poor linear correlation between PNC and PM_2.5. Therefore, PNC and PM_2.5 measurements are not representative of each other; and regulating PM_2.5 does little to reduce PNC. This highlights the need to establish regulatory approaches and control measures to address the impacts of elevated UFP concentrations, especially in urban areas, considering their potential health risks.

Assessing the population relevance of endocrine-disrupting effects for nontarget vertebrates exposed to plant protection products

The European Commission intends to protect vertebrate wildlife populations by regulating plant protection product (PPP) active substances that have endocrine-disrupting properties with a hazard-based approach. In this paper we consider how the Commission's hazard-based regulation and accompanying guidance can be operationalized to ensure that a technically robust process is used to distinguish between substances with adverse population-level effects and those for which it can be demonstrated that adverse effects observed (typically in the laboratory) do not translate into adverse effects at the population level. Our approach is to use population models within the adverse outcome pathway framework to link the nonlinear relationship between adverse effects at the individual and population levels in the following way: (1) use specific protection goals for focal wildlife populations within an ecosystem services framework; (2) model the effects of changes in population-related inputs on focal species populations with individual-based population models to determine thresholds between negligible and nonnegligible (i.e., adverse) population-level effects; (3) compare these thresholds with the relevant endpoints from laboratory toxicity tests to determine whether they are likely to be exceeded at hazard-based limits or the maximum tolerated dose/concentration from the experimental studies. If the population threshold is not exceeded, then the substance should not be classified as an endocrine disruptor with population-relevant adversity unless there are other lines of evidence within a weight-of-evidence approach to challenge this. We believe this approach is scientifically robust and still addresses the political and legal requirement for a hazard-based assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:278-291. © 2018 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Thiamethoxam: Long-term effects following honey bee colony-level exposure and implications for risk assessment

Neonicotinoid insecticides have been used in a wide range of crops through seed treatment, soil and foliar applications and a large database exists on both their lethal and sub-lethal effects on honey bees under controlled laboratory conditions. However, colony-level studies on the effects of neonicotinoids in field studies are limited, primarily due to their complexity and the resources required. This paper reports the combined results of two large-scale colony-feeding studies, each with 6 weeks of continuous dosing of 12 colonies per treatment (24 control) to 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50 or 100 ng thiamethoxam/g sucrose solution. Exposure continued beyond dosing with residues present in stored nectar and bee-bread. The studies were conducted in an area with limited alternative forage and colonies were required to forage for pollen and additional nectar The studies provide colony-level endpoints: significant effects (reductions in bees, brood) were observed after exposure to the two highest dose rates, colony loss occurred at the highest dose rate, but colonies were able to recover (2-3 brood cycles after the end of dosing) after dosing with 50 ng thiamethoxam/g sucrose. No significant colony-level effects were observed at lower dose rates. The data reported here support the conclusions of previous colony-level crop-based field studies with thiamethoxam, in which residues in pollen and nectar were an order of magnitude below the colony-level NOEC of 37.5 ng thiamethoxam/g sucrose. The feeding study data are also compared to the outcomes of regulatory Tier 1 risk assessments conducted using guidance provided by the USA, Canada, Brazil and the EU regulatory authorities. We propose an adaptation of the European chronic adult bee risk assessment that takes into account the full dataset generated in laboratory studies while still providing an order of magnitude of safety compared with the colony feeding study NOEC.

Comparison of Pesticide Exposure in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Implications for Risk Assessments

To date, regulatory pesticide risk assessments have relied on the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) as a surrogate test species for estimating the risk of pesticide exposure to all bee species. However, honey bees and non-Apis bees may differ in their susceptibility and exposure to pesticides. In 2017, a workshop ('Pesticide Exposure Assessment Paradigm for Non-Apis Bees') was held to assess if honey bee risk assessment frameworks are reflective of non-Apis bee pesticide exposure. In this article, we summarize the workshop discussions on bumble bees (Bombus spp.). We review the life history and foraging behavior of bumble bees and honey bees and discuss how these traits may influence routes and levels of exposure for both taxa. Overall, the major pesticide exposure routes for bumble bees and honey bees are similar; however, bumble bees face additional exposure routes (direct exposure of foraging queens and exposure of larvae and adults to soil residues). Furthermore, bumble bees may receive comparatively higher pesticide doses via contact or oral exposure. We conclude that honey bee pesticide risk assessments may not always be protective of bumble bees, especially queens, in terms of exposure. Data needed to reliably quantify pesticide exposure for bumble bees (e.g., food consumption rates, soil residue levels) are lacking. Addressing these knowledge gaps will be crucial before bumble bee exposure can be incorporated into the pesticide risk assessment process. Because bumble bees exhibit appreciable interspecific variation in colony and behavioral characteristics, data relevant to pesticide exposure should be generated for multiple species.

Age, familiarity, and intuitive use: An empirical investigation

Research has shown that older adults interact with products less intuitively than younger adults, and that familiarity is an essential element of intuitive interaction. This paper reports on the findings of two empirical studies that examined familiarity in younger and older adults. Each study comprised 32 participants over four age groups. The first study required participants to use their own contemporary products in their homes in order to investigate older adults' familiarity with them, and how this familiarity differed from that of younger adults. Older people were less familiar with their own contemporary products that younger people. The second study aimed to investigate differences in familiarity between younger and older adults while using products that they did not own and were likely to be less familiar with. When using products not already familiar to them, both middle aged and older adults showed significantly lower familiarity than younger people. The significance of this research is in its empirical findings about familiarity differences between age groups. It has been recognised that the identification and understanding of differences in familiarity will enable designers to design more intuitive interfaces and systems for both younger and older cohorts. The implications of the findings from the two studies reported here are discussed in light of this recognition.

A freshwater mesocosm study into the effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam at multiple trophic levels

Thiamethoxam is a neonicotinoid insecticide used widely in agriculture to control a broad spectrum of insect pests. To assess potential risks from this compound to non-target aquatic organisms, an outdoor mesocosm study was performed. Mesocosms (1300 L) were treated once with a formulated product with the active substance (a.s.) thiamethoxam at nominal concentrations of 1 (n = 3), 3 (n = 3), 10 (n = 4), 30 (n = 4), and 100 (n = 2) μg a.s./L, plus untreated controls (n = 4). Primary producers (phytoplankton), zooplankton, and macroinvertebrates were monitored for up to 93 days following treatment. Thiamethoxam was observed to have a water column dissipation half-life (DT50) of ≤1.6-5.2 days in the mesocosms. Community-based principal response curve analysis detected no treatment effects for phytoplankton, zooplankton, emergent insects, and macroinvertebrates, indicating a lack of direct and indirect effects. A number of statistically significant differences from controls were detected for individual phytoplankton and zooplankton species abundances, but these were not considered to be treatment-related due to their transient nature and lack of concentration-response. After application of 30 μg a.s./L, slight temporary effects on Asellus aquaticus could not be excluded. At 100 μg a.s./L, there was an effect with no clear recovery of Asellus observed, likely due to their inability to recolonize these isolated test systems. A statistically significant but transient reduction in the emergence of chironomids by day 23 at the 100 μg a.s./L treatment was observed and possibly related to direct toxicity from thiamethoxam on larval stages. Therefore, a conservative study specific No Observed Ecological Adverse Effect Concentration (NOEAEC) is proposed to be 30 μg a.s./L. Overall, based on current concentrations of thiamethoxam detected in North American surface waters (typically <0.4 μg/L), there is low likelihood of direct or indirect effects from a pulsed exposure on primary producers, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrates, including insects, as monitored in this study.

Effects of exposure to winter oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam-treated seed on the red mason bee Osmia bicornis

There has been increasing interest in the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on wild bees. In solitary bee species the direct link between each individual female and reproductive success offers the opportunity to evaluate effects on individuals. The present study investigated effects of exposure to winter oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam-treated seed on reproductive behavior and output of solitary red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) released in 6 pairs of fields over a 2-yr period and confined to tunnels in a single year. After adjustment to the number of females released, there was significantly lower production of cells and cocoons/female in tunnels than in open field conditions. This difference may be because of the lack of alternative forage within the tunnels. Under open field conditions, palynology of the pollen provisions within the nests demonstrated a maximum average of 31% oilseed rape pollen at any site, with Quercus (oak) contributing up to 86% of the pollen. There were no significant effects from exposure to oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam-treated seed from nest establishment through cell production to emergence under tunnel or field conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1071-1083. © 2017 SETAC.

Smart Homes and Ambient Assisted Living Applications: From Data to KnowledgeEmpowering or Overwhelming Older Adults?

As health care systems face limited resources and workforce shortages to address the complex needs of older adult populations, innovative approaches utilizing information technology can support aging. Smart Home and Ambient Assisted Living (SHAAL) systems utilize advanced and ubiquitous technologies including sensors and other devices that are integrated in the residential infrastructure or wearable, to capture data describing activities of daily living and health related events. This paper highlights how data from SHAAL systems can lead to information and knowledge that ultimately improves clinical outcomes and quality of life for older adults as well as quality of health care services.

We conducted are view of personal health record applications specifically for older adults and approaches to using information to improve elder care. We present a framework that show cases how data captured from SHAAL systems can be processed to provide meaningful information that becomes part of a personal health record.

Synthesis and visualization of information resulting from SHAAL systems can lead to knowledge and support education, delivery of tailored interventions and if needed, transitions in care. Such actions can involve multiple stakeholders as part of shared decision making.

SHAAL systems have the potential to support aging and improve quality of life and decision making for older adults and their families. The framework presented in this paper demonstrates how emphasis needs to be placed into extracting meaningful information from new innovative systems that will support decision making. The challenge for informatics designers and researchers is to facilitate an evolution of SHAAL systems expanding beyond demonstration projects to actual interventions that will improve health care for older adults.

Thiamethoxam honey bee colony feeding study: Linking effects at the level of the individual to those at the colony level

Neonicotinoid insecticides have been used globally on a wide range of crops through seed treatment as well as soil and foliar applications and have been increasingly studied in relation to the potential risk to bees because of their detection in pollen and nectar of bee-attractive crops. The present article reports the results of laboratory studies (10-d adult and 22-d larval toxicity studies assessing the chronic toxicity of thiamethoxam to adult honey bees and larvae, respectively) and a colony feeding study, with 6 wk of exposure in an area with limited alternative forage, to provide a prewintering colony-level endpoint. The endpoints following exposure of individuals in the laboratory (10-d adult chronic no-observed-effect concentration [NOEC] for mortality 117 μg thiamethoxam/kg sucrose solution, 141 μg thiamethoxam/L sucrose solution; 22-d larval chronic NOEC 102 μg thiamethoxam/kg diet) are compared with those generated at the colony level, which incorporates sublethal effects (no-observed-adverse-effect concentration [NOAEC] 50 μg thiamethoxam/L sucrose solution, 43 μg thiamethoxam/kg sucrose solution). The data for sucrose-fed honey bee colonies support the lack of effects identified in previous colony-level field studies with thiamethoxam. However, unlike these field studies demonstrating no effects, colony feeding study data also provide a threshold level of exposure likely to result in adverse effects on the colony in the absence of alternative forage, and a basis by which to evaluate the potential risk of thiamethoxam residues detected in pollen, nectar, or water following treatment of bee-attractive crops. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:816-828. © 2017 SETAC.

An overview of geospatial methods used in unintentional injury epidemiology

Background

Injuries are a leading cause of death and disability around the world. Injury incidence is often associated with socio-economic and physical environmental factors. The application of geospatial methods has been recognised as important to gain greater understanding of the complex nature of injury and the associated diverse range of geographically-diverse risk factors. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide an overview of geospatial methods applied in unintentional injury epidemiological studies.

Methods

Nine electronic databases were searched for papers published in 2000–2015, inclusive. Included were papers reporting unintentional injuries using geospatial methods for one or more categories of spatial epidemiological methods (mapping; clustering/cluster detection; and ecological analysis). Results describe the included injury cause categories, types of data and details relating to the applied geospatial methods.

Results

From over 6,000 articles, 67 studies met all inclusion criteria. The major categories of injury data reported with geospatial methods were road traffic (n = 36), falls (n = 11), burns (n = 9), drowning (n = 4), and others (n = 7). Grouped by categories, mapping was the most frequently used method, with 62 (93%) studies applying this approach independently or in conjunction with other geospatial methods. Clustering/cluster detection methods were less common, applied in 27 (40%) studies. Three studies (4%) applied spatial regression methods (one study using a conditional autoregressive model and two studies using geographically weighted regression) to examine the relationship between injury incidence (drowning, road deaths) with aggregated data in relation to explanatory factors (socio-economic and environmental).

Conclusion

The number of studies using geospatial methods to investigate unintentional injuries has increased over recent years. While the majority of studies have focused on road traffic injuries, other injury cause categories, particularly falls and burns, have also demonstrated the application of these methods. Geospatial investigations of injury have largely been limited to mapping of data to visualise spatial structures. Use of more sophisticated approaches will help to understand a broader range of spatial risk factors, which remain under-explored when using traditional epidemiological approaches.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40621-016-0097-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Extrapolation of acute toxicity across bee species

In applying cross-species extrapolation safety factors from honeybees to other bee species, some basic principles of toxicity have not been included, for example, the importance of body mass in determining a toxic dose. The present study re-analyzed published toxicity data, taking into account the reported mass of the individuals in the identified species. The analysis demonstrated a shift to the left in the distribution of sensitivity of honeybees relative to 20 other bee species when body size is taken into account, with the 95(th) percentile for contact and oral toxicity reducing from 10.7 (based on μg/individual bee) to 5.0 (based on μg/g bodyweight). Such an approach results in the real drivers of species differences in sensitivity-such as variability in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in and target-receptor binding-being more realistically reflected in the revised safety factor. Body mass can also be used to underpin the other parameter of first-tier risk assessment, that is, exposure. However, the key exposure factors that cannot be predicted from bodyweight are the effects of ecology and behavior of the different species on exposure to a treated crop. Further data are required to understand the biology of species associated with agricultural crops and the potential consequences of effects on individuals at the levels of the colony or bee populations. This information will allow the development of appropriate higher-tier refinement of risk assessments and testing strategies rather than extensive additional toxicity testing at Tier 1. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:622-626. © 2015 SETAC.

Monitoring the effects of thiamethoxam applied as a seed treatment to winter oilseed rape on the development of bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) colonies

BACKGROUND

The development of bumblebee (Bombus terrestris audax) colonies that had foraged for 5 weeks on flowering winter oilseed rape grown from seed treated with thiamethoxam (as Cruiser OSR) was assessed (two control, one treated field). Colony development was evaluated by monitoring the colony mass, forager activity was assessed, both at the hive and within the crop, and the contribution of oilseed rape to the pollen stored within the colony was analysed.

RESULTS

Pollen collected from the treated crop contained residues of 1.0 µg thiamethoxam kg(-1) and 3.0 µg CGA322704 (metabolite likely equivalent to clothiandin) kg(-1) , and nectar contained residues of 1.8 µg thiamethoxam kg(-1) and no metabolite. No residues of thiamethoxam or CGA322704 were detected in samples from the control fields. Up to 93% of bumblebee collected pollen sampled from within the colonies originated from oilseed rape, and B. terrestris were observed actively foraging on all the fields. Colonies on all three fields showed similar rates of mass gain during the exposure phase and comparable production of gynes and drones.

CONCLUSIONS

B. terrestris colonies placed adjacent to a field of flowering oilseed rape grown from thiamethoxam-treated seed developed at a comparable rate with colonies placed adjacent to oilseed rape grown from untreated seed. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.