Informing the design of urban green and blue spaces through an understanding of Europeans' usage and preferences

In light of global climate change and the biodiversity crisis, making cities more resilient through an adjusted design of urban green and blue spaces is crucial. Nature-based solutions help address these challenges while providing opportunities for nature experiences, and providing cultural ecosystem services that support public health. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated stressors highlighted the interrelated socio-ecological services provided by nature-based solutions like urban green and blue spaces. This pan-European study therefore aimed to enhance the socio-ecological understanding of green and blue spaces to support their design and management. Using an online survey, green and blue space preferences, usage, and pandemic-related changes in greenspace visit and outdoor recreation frequencies were examined. Greenspace visit and outdoor recreation frequencies were associated with respondents' (N = 584 from 15 countries) geographical location, dominant type of neighbourhood greenspace and greenspace availability during the pandemic, but not greenspace perceptions or sociodemographic background. Greenspace visit and outdoor recreation frequencies were generally high;however, Southern Europeans reported lower greenspace visit and outdoor recreation frequencies both before and during the pandemic than Northern Europeans. Many Southern Europeans also reported having few neighbourhood greenspaces and low greenspace availability during the pandemic. The most common outdoor recreational activity among respondents before the pandemic was walking or running with the most frequently stated purpose of time spent outdoors being restorative in nature (i.e. relaxing or calming down). Most Europeans had positive perceptions of green and blue spaces with preferences for structurally diverse and natural or unmanaged green elements. This highlights the importance of accessible green and blue spaces both in everyday life and during times of crisis. Stakeholders, their preferences, and regional and cultural differences should be included in the co-design of urban green and blue spaces to maximize their potential for both people and nature. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Die Auswirkungen der COVID-19 Pandemie führten zu signifikanten Veränderungen der Operations- und Liegezeiten bei Patienten nach Cholezystektomie The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on duration of surgery and hospitalization time for patients after cholecystectomy

Hintergrund Die COVID-19 Pandemie (Pandemie) hat erhebliche Veränderungen der medizinischen Versorgung notwendig gemacht. Ziele dieser Studie waren herauszufinden, welchen Einfluss die Pandemie auf den perioperativen Verlauf bei Patienten mit Cholezystektomie (CHE) hatte und mögliche bleibende Schlussfolgerungen aufzuzeigen. Methodik Vom 01.07.2018 bis 31.12.2021 wurden 735 Patienten mit CHE analysiert. Dabei wurden die Patienten bis zum 21.03.2020 als reguläre Patientengruppe (Reg, n = 430), die Patienten danach (1. Lockdown 22.03.2020) als Cov19-Patientengruppe (Cov19, n = 305) bezeichnet und miteinander verglichen. Ergebnisse Das Durchschnittsalter aller Patienten betrug 59 Jahre, 63 % der Patienten waren Frauen. Die durchschnittliche Krankenhausverweildauer (KrVD, Zeitraum zwischen Operation und Entlassung) betrug 4,4 Tage. Die Patientengruppen Reg und Cov19 unterschieden sich nicht bez. Alter, Geschlecht oder KrVD. Die Gesamtzahl der durchgeführten CHE hat sich durch Cov19 um 21,4 % reduziert. Dies betraf gleichermaßen elektive sowie auch notfallmäßige CHE. Die Operationsdauer stieg in der Gruppe Cov19 signifikant von 64 min (SD 34 min) auf 71 min (SD 38 min) an (p < 0,05). Die Anzahl der Kurz- und Langlieger (KrVD 2 bzw. > 4 Tage) stieg in der Cov19-Gruppe signifikant von 4 % auf 20 % (Kurzlieger, p < 0,01) bzw. von 23 % auf 27 % (Langlieger, p < 0,01) an. Dies war vor allem bei über 70-jährigen Patienten mit einem Anstieg der Langlieger von 43 % auf 56 % in der Cov19-Gruppe zu beobachten. Diskussion Die COVID-19-Pandemie führte zu einer deutlichen Abnahme der CHE sowohl bei Elektiv- als auch bei Notfalleingriffen. Des Weiteren konnte eine signifikante Verlängerung der Operations- und Liegedauer bei älteren Patienten beobachtet werden. Bleibende Konsequenzen der Pandemie könnten Liegezeitverkürzungen nach unkomplizierten CHE und mehr interventionelle Therapieverfahren in komplexen Fällen sein.

[The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impact on duration of surgery and hospitalization time for patients after cholecystectomy]. / Die Auswirkungen der COVID-19 Pandemie führten zu signifikanten Veränderungen der Operations- und Liegezeiten bei Patienten nach Cholezystektomie.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic made substantial changes in medical care necessary. The aims of this study were to find out what influence the pandemic had on the perioperative course in patients with cholecystectomy (CHE) and to highlight possible residual consequences. METHOD: From 1 July 2018 to 31 December 2021 a total of 735 patients with CHE were analyzed. Up to 21 March 2020 patients were assigned to the regular patient group (Reg, n = 430), patients after this date (first lockdown 22 March 2020) to the Cov19 patient group (Cov19, n = 305) and the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: The average age of all patients was 59 years and 63% were women. The average length of hospitalization (KrVD, time period between surgery and discharge) was 4.4 days. The patient groups Reg and Cov19 did not differ with respect to age, gender or KrVD. The total number of CHEs carried out was reduced by 21.4% in the Cov19 group. This affected elective and emergency CHE to the same extent. The length of surgery significantly increased in the Cov19 group from 64 min (SD 34 min) to 71 min (SD 38 min). The number of short and long hospital stays (KrVD 2 or >4 days) significantly increased in the Cov19 group from 4 % to 20 % (short stay, p < 0.01) and from 23 % to 27 % (long stay, p < 0.01). This was particularly observed for patients >70 years old with an increase in long stays from 43 % to 56 % in the Cov19 group. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a clear reduction in CHE both for elective and emergency interventions. Furthermore, a significant lengthening of the surgery and hospitalization times could be observed for older patients. The residual consequences of the pandemic could be shortened hospitalization times after uncomplicated CHE and more interventional treatment procedures in complex cases.

Loss Offset and Interest Deduction Limitation Rules in the EU as a Response to the Coronavirus Crisis

In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis, the authors identify two areas of tax regulations which could, potentially, exacerbate this crisis. These areas are: limitations on the deductibility of losses and interest expenses. The authors discuss the unintended consequences of these two areas of regulation in the light of already implemented legislative changes and suggest possible solutions. COVID-19 and the various national reactions to the consequent health crisis have resulted in a substantial impairment of the global economy. Fiscal measures have served as an efficient tool to mitigate the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and to support struggling companies. While legislators have focussed largely on immediate crisis relief measures and investment incentives, regulations that could stand in the way of a fast recovery have not been considered in public discussion so far. © 2022 Thomson Reuters and Contributors.

Stem cell-derived trophoblast organoids model human placental development, X chromosome inactivation, and susceptibility to emerging pathogens

Problem: Trophoblast organoids derived from human placental villi provide a powerful 3D model system of placental development, but access to first-trimester tissues is limited due to ethical and legal restrictions. Here we sought to establish a methodology for establishing 3D trophoblast organoids from naïve human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which have an expanded potential for extraembryonic differentiation. Method of Study: We previously demonstrated that naïve hPSCs readily give rise to self-renewing human trophoblast cells (hTSCs) that resemble post-implantation cytotrophoblast (CTB) progenitors and can further differentiate into specialized trophoblast lineages. Here we examined whether hTSCs derived from three distinct sources (naïve hPSCs, human blastocysts, and first-trimester placental tissues) have the potential to self-organize into 3D trophoblast organoids by transfer to Matrigel droplets in the presence of trophoblast organoid medium. The expression of protein markers in the resulting stem cellderived trophoblast organoids (SC-TOs) was examined by immunofluorescence and light-sheet microscopy, while their single cell transcriptome was analyzed using the 10X Genomics platform. We also investigated the X chromosome inactivation (XCI) status of organoids derived from female naïve hPSCs and their ability to differentiate into invasive extravillous trophoblast (EVT) organoids. Finally, we evaluated whether SC-TOs are susceptible to infection by various emerging pathogens (SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus), as a basis for establishing a stem cell-based model system of placental infections during the first trimester. Results: Trophoblast organoids generated from naïve and primary hTSCs displayed comparable tissue architecture, placental hormone secretion, microRNA expression, and capacity for long-term selfrenewal. In-depth single cell transcriptome profiling revealed that SCTOs encompass a variety of trophoblast identities that closely correspond to CTB progenitor, syncytiotrophoblast (STB) and EVT cell types found in human post-implantation embryos. Interestingly, the cellular composition in trophoblast organoids derived from naïve and primary hTSCs was highly similar, which suggests that trophoblast organoid culture represents a powerful attractor state in which the influence of subtle epigenetic differences between naïve and primary hTSCs is mitigated. These organoid cultures displayed clonal XCI patterns previously described in the human placenta.Upon differentiation into specialized EVT organoids, extensive trophoblast invasion was observed in co-culture assays with human endometrial cells. We further demonstrated that SC-TOs display selective vulnerability to infection by SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus, which correlated with the expression levels of their respective entry factors. Conclusions: The generation of trophoblast organoids from naïve hPSCs provides an accessible and patient-specific 3D model system of the developing placenta and its susceptibility to emerging pathogens. The ability to genetically manipulate naïve hPSCs prior to differentiation into SC-TOs enables functional interrogation of regulatory factors implicated in placental organogenesis.

Home Food Gardening: Benefits and Barriers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Santiago, Chile

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people live in an unprecedented way. This includes severe impacts on people's health and wellbeing such as stress, reduced physical activity and loneliness due to confinement. In parallel, people had to find ways to secure their food, with fresh food especially scarce in some regions due to lockdowns and restricted flow of goods. As in previous massive crises, the practice of home food gardening seemed to have increased during this pandemic. Yet we largely do not know which parts of society took to home food gardening, in which urban setting home food gardening was practiced, and to which extent this practice contributed to people's daily livelihoods during the pandemic. In this case study we explore (a) who practices home food gardening, (b) the garden characteristics, and (c) the main perceived benefits and barriers bound to home food gardening during the pandemic. We set up an online questionnaire targeted at the population of Santiago de Chile, for which we received 305 responses. Our results clearly show that the possibility of being in contact with nature and feeling less stress through practicing home food gardening were the most significant perceived benefits, while lack of or inadequate space to garden and limited knowledge on home food gardening were the main barriers. These findings highlight for the specific context of a metropolitan region in South America that access to gardens and green space could contribute to a just urban society. Likewise, the practice of home food gardening can be a relevant tool to cope with the adverse consequences of the pandemic by informing public initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles during this and future crises contexts and also in the awaited "ordinary" times.

Streetscapes as Surrogate Greenspaces During COVID-19?

In 2020, the spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) globally led to severe crisis, disruption and hardship in both private and public life. In such times of distress, access to urban greenspaces is essential for physical and mental wellbeing. However, globally implemented lockdowns deprived many people of freely visiting greenspaces. Inequality in access to urban greenspaces was apparent at global scales. Consequently, many people took to streets for outdoor activities due to its easy accessibility. We, therefore, aimed to study the usage and relevance of streetscapes for outdoor activities during a crisis. We hypothesised that streetscapes supported diverse outdoor activities, functioning as surrogate urban greenspaces. We distributed an online questionnaire to over 400 international respondents. Our results clearly showed that people used streetscapes during this period for a variety of activities, many of which were also reported as their main physical activity. Walking was the most frequent activity in streetscapes globally, and independent from sociocultural characteristics. Other activities reported such as jogging and cycling also aligned generally with main physical activities of people, but differed between countries and people's sociocultural background. In summary, more than one third of respondents from lower-income countries reported not having had access to a greenspace, whereas 8% reported the same in high-income countries. Our results highlight the important role of streetscapes in facilitating people's regular physical activities during the pandemic. Recognising streetscapes as important public outdoor spaces within residential neighbourhoods could help counteract the inequality in greenspace access, an issue that seems more relevant than ever before.

La difficile transparence des statistiques épidémiologiques de la COVID-19 ou comment les minorités peinent à exister dans la bataille des chiffres en Amazonie

In Amazonas, one of the regions of Brazil most affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, epidemiological statistics published by authorities paint a picture of the health crisis that must be called into question, as it does not or only partially considers the situation of ethnic and cultural minorities living in the region. During the first wave of the pandemic (from February to July 2020), a team of 11 researchers documented and analyzed the protests of Indigenous populations and quilombolas and their appropriation of statistical tools, to appear in the official statistics. As a response to these protests, epidemiological updates published by the states and Amazonian municipalities evolved greatly from one month to the next, reflecting the different interpretations of the health crisis anchored in the imaginations and power interests of Amazonian regions. The analysis underscores the subtle but essential fight of the country’s ethnic minorities to ensure that the consequences of the epidemic on their population are recorded both in the official numbers and in policies. © 2021 University of Toronto. All rights reserved.

Digital simulation exercises to improve response management to infectious disease outbreaks in the maritime environment

Introduction: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the occurrence of mass incidents of infectious diseases has become more likely. Preparedness for and management of such outbreaks in the maritime setting onboard ships and in ship-shore interactions require profound knowledge of technical and organizational issues and communicational skills. Simulation and field exercises play a crucial role to internalize these capabilities among relevant stakeholders. Material and Methods: Exercises were developed to train communication and collaboration among stakeholders within an outbreak. Coordinators and active players were connected on a digital platform that offered video conferences, an internal email-client, and a chat forum. Evaluators and observers followed the exercises simultaneously via non-listed youtube-channels. In hot- and cold digital debriefing sessions participants provided feedback including information on occupational stress level and coping during exercises. Results: Three simulation exercises and one field drill were developed, performed and evaluated between June and October 2021 which targeted to train response management to mass incidents of different infectious diseases on large passenger ships. This format allowed coordinators of the exercises to initiate a steady enhancement of exercise settings (e.g. scenario and platform development) and the active participants to reflect and improve their performance and occupational processes during exercises. Conclusions: Digital simulation exercises are an adequate format to exercise the response management of stakeholders to mass incidents in the maritime setting.

Effects of Covid-19 on the purchasing behavior of Generation Z, a study in Ecuador, Mexico and Colombia

The purpose of this research is to know the effects that these sanitary emergency measures by the SARS-Cov-2 virus caused in the consumption behavior of Generation Z (born between 1994-2010), through the measurement of variables related to personal, social, psychological and cultural factors. A quantitative investigation was carried a consumers or Ecuador México y Colombia, building a Structural Equation Model (SEM) made up of five constructs and twenty-three indicators that explain these effects. The results show that the relationships between consumer behavior and personal, social and cultural factors are significantly associated, providing some guidelines for establishing marketing strategies and meeting the needs of this population in times of crisis better. © 2021 AISTI.

Health status of free-ranging ring-necked pheasant chicks (Phasianus colchicus) in North-Western Germany.

Being a typical ground-breeding bird of the agricultural landscape in Germany, the pheasant has experienced a strong and persistent population decline with a hitherto unexplained cause. Contributing factors to the ongoing negative trend, such as the effects of pesticides, diseases, predation, increase in traffic and reduced fallow periods, are currently being controversially discussed. In the present study, 62 free-ranging pheasant chicks were caught within a two-year period in three federal states of Germany; Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. The pheasant chicks were divided into three age groups to detect differences in their development and physical constitution. In addition, pathomorphological, parasitological, virological, bacteriological and toxicological investigations were performed. The younger chicks were emaciated, while the older chicks were of moderate to good nutritional status. However, the latter age group was limited to a maximum of three chicks per hen, while the youngest age class comprised up to ten chicks. The majority of chicks suffered from dermatitis of the periocular and caudal region of the head (57-94%) of unknown origin. In addition, intestinal enteritis (100%), pneumonia (26%), hepatitis (24%), perineuritis (6%), tracheitis (24%), muscle degeneration (1%) and myositis (1%) were found. In 78% of the cases, various Mycoplasma spp. were isolated. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) was not detected using an MG-specific PCR. Parasitic infections included Philopteridae (55%), Coccidia (48%), Heterakis/Ascaridia spp. (8%) and Syngamus trachea (13%). A total of 8% of the chicks were Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) positive using RT-PCR, 16% positive for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) using RT-PCR, and 2% positive for haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) using PCR. All samples tested for avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) or infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) were negative. The pool samples of the ten chicks were negative for all acid, alkaline-free and derivative substances, while two out of three samples tested were positive for the herbicide glyphosate. Pheasant chick deaths may often have been triggered by poor nutritional status, probably in association with inflammatory changes in various tissues and organs as well as bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Theses impacts may have played a major role in the decline in pheasant populations.