scholarly journals The Impact of a Gameful Breathing Training Visualization on Intrinsic Experiential Value, Perceived Effectiveness, and Engagement Intentions: Between-subject Online Experiment (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanick Xavier Lukic ◽  
Shari Klein ◽  
Victoria Brügger ◽  
Olivia Clare Keller ◽  
Elgar Fleisch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Perceived Effectiveness ◽  
Online Experiment ◽  
Breathing Training ◽  
Instrumental Values ◽  
Experiential Value ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Slow-paced breathing has been shown to be positively associated with psychological and physiological health. In practice, however, there is little long-term engagement with breathing training, as shown by the usage statistics of breathing training apps. New research suggests that a gameful smartphone-delivered breathing training may address this challenge. OBJECTIVE This study assesses the impact of breathing training, that is guided by a gameful visualization, on perceived experiential and instrumental values, and the intention to engage in such a training. METHODS A between-subject online experiment with 170 participants was conducted and one-way MANOVA and t test analyses were used to test for any difference in intrinsic experiential value, perceived effectiveness, and the intention to engage in either a breathing training with a gameful or a nongameful guidance visualization. Moreover, prior experience in gaming and meditation practices were assessed as moderator variables for a preliminary analysis. RESULTS The intrinsic experiential value for the gameful visualization was found to be significantly higher compared to the nongameful visualization (P=.002), while there was no difference in either perceived effectiveness (P=.75) or the intention to engage (P=.55). The preliminary analysis of the influence of meditation and gaming experience on the outcomes indicates that people with more meditation experience yielded higher intrinsic experiential values from using the gameful visualization than when using the nongameful visualization (P=.01). This analysis did not find any additional evidence of gaming time or meditation impacting the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The gameful visualization was found to increase the intrinsic experiential value of the breathing training without decreasing the perceived effectiveness. However, there were no differences in intentions to engage in both breathing trainings. Gaming and meditation experiences seem to have no or only a small positive moderating effect on the relationship between the gameful visualization and the intrinsic experiential value. Future longitudinal field studies are required to assess the impact of gameful breathing training on actual behavior, that is, long-term engagement, and outcomes.

scholarly journals Towards an odour-baited trap to control Musca sorbens, the putative vector of trachoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ailie Robinson ◽  
Jack Bickford-Smith ◽  
Oumer Abdurahman Shafi ◽  
Muluadam Abraham Aga ◽  
Gemeda Shuka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Mass Trapping ◽  
Eye Infections ◽  
Mucous Membranes ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Local Transmission

AbstractMusca sorbens is a synanthropic filth fly that aggressively attacks people to feed from mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth, from open sores, or from sweat. It has long been suspected that this fly contributes to the transmission of eye infections, particularly trachoma, and recent work has added to the evidence base that M. sorbens is a trachoma vector in Ethiopia. There are few options to control M. sorbens, largely due to a lack of evidence. Space spraying with insecticides is effective, but an environmentally sound and long-term sustainable solution would be better, for example, mass trapping. We tested commercially available and homemade trap types in a pilot (laboratory) study and three field studies. A homemade design, built from a bucket and two empty water bottles, baited with a commercially available lure, The Buzz, was found to be most effective. This trap caught 3848 M. sorbens over 26 trap ‘events’ (3- or 4-day periods); mean/median per 24 h 43.6 (standard deviation 137.10)/2.25 (IQR 0.25–12.67). The Buzz lure is cheap and effective for 4 weeks, and trap components cheap and locally available. Further studies are needed to understand the impact of this trap on local fly populations and the local transmission of trachoma.

scholarly journals Global impact of nitrate photolysis in sea-salt aerosol on NO<sub><i>x</i></sub>, OH, and O<sub>3</sub> in the marine boundary layer

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 11185-11203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasad Kasibhatla ◽  
Tomás Sherwen ◽  
Mathew J. Evans ◽  
Lucy J. Carpenter ◽  
Chris Reed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Global Impact ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Sea Salt Aerosol ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Recent field studies have suggested that sea-salt particulate nitrate (NITs) photolysis may act as a significant local source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) over oceans. We present a study of the global impact of this process on oxidant concentrations in the marine boundary layer (MBL) using the GEOS-Chem model, after first updating the model to better simulate observed gas–particle phase partitioning of nitrate in the marine boundary layer. Model comparisons with long-term measurements of NOx from the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO) in the eastern tropical North Atlantic provide support for an in situ source of NOx from NITs photolysis, with NITs photolysis coefficients about 25–50 times larger than corresponding HNO3 photolysis coefficients. Short-term measurements of nitrous acid (HONO) at this location show a clear daytime peak, with average peak mixing ratios ranging from 3 to 6 pptv. The model reproduces the general shape of the diurnal HONO profile only when NITs photolysis is included, but the magnitude of the daytime peak mixing ratio is under-predicted. This under-prediction is somewhat reduced if HONO yields from NITs photolysis are assumed to be close to unity. The combined NOx and HONO analysis suggests that the upper limit of the ratio of NITs : HNO3 photolysis coefficients is about 100. The largest simulated relative impact of NITs photolysis is in the tropical and subtropical marine boundary layer, with peak local enhancements ranging from factors of 5 to 20 for NOx, 1.2 to 1.6 for OH, and 1.1 to 1.3 for ozone. Since the spatial extent of the sea-salt aerosol (SSA) impact is limited, global impacts on NOx, ozone, and OH mass burdens are small ( ∼ 1–3 %). We also present preliminary analysis showing that particulate nitrate photolysis in accumulation-mode aerosols (predominantly over continental regions) could lead to ppbv-level increases in ozone in the continental boundary layer. Our results highlight the need for more comprehensive long-term measurements of NOx, and related species like HONO and sea-salt particulate nitrate, to better constrain the impact of particulate nitrate photolysis on marine boundary layer oxidant chemistry. Further field and laboratory studies on particulate nitrate photolysis in other aerosol types are also needed to better understand the impact of this process on continental boundary layer oxidant chemistry.

scholarly journals Malaria control dynamics may explain inconsistent outcomes from bednet trials: a modeling study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Orsborne ◽  
Thomas Walker ◽  
Laith Yakob
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Control ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Malaria Burden ◽  
Avoidance Behaviors ◽  
Relevant Field ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBACKGROUNDLong-lasting insecticidal bednets have unparalleled efficacy in reducing malaria burden. However, insecticidal resistance and bednet avoidance behaviors among the mosquito vectors are now widespread.METHODSReviewing the relevant field and semi-field studies highlights the ubiquity of zoophagic and spatiotemporal (biting outdoors or at different times of day) plasticity among vectors in response to bednet deployment. Transmission models coupled with the population genetics of vectors are developed to assess the impact on malaria control caused by insecticide resistance and the avoidance behaviors of mosquitoes.RESULTSInteractions between physiological resistance and behavioral resilience among mosquito vectors can significantly impact malaria control efforts both in the short- and long-term. The possibility of misleading observations from injudiciously timed assessments of malaria control programs is demonstrated through simulation.CONCLUSIONSCurrently, there are no guidelines to inform when during a bednet trial its effectiveness should be measured. The importance of this oversight is described in the context of recent randomized controlled bednet trials.

scholarly journals Global impact of nitrate photolysis in sea-salt aerosol on NO<sub>x</sub>, OH, and O<sub>3</sub> in the marine boundary layer

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasad Kasibhatla ◽  
Tomás Sherwen ◽  
Mathew J. Evans ◽  
Lucy J. Carpenter ◽  
Chris Reed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Marine Boundary Layer ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Sea Salt ◽  
Local Source ◽  
Global Impact ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Sea Salt Aerosol ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Recent field studies have suggested that sea-salt particulate nitrate (NITs) photolysis may act as a significant local source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) over oceans. We present a study of the global impact of this process on oxidant concentrations in the marine boundary layer using the GEOS-Chem model, after first updating the model to better simulate observed gas/particle phase partitioning of nitrate in the marine boundary layer. Model comparisons with long-term measurements of NOx from the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO) in the eastern tropical North Atlantic provide support for an in situ source of NOx from NITs photolysis, with NITs photolysis coefficients about 25–50 times larger than corresponding HNO3 photolysis coefficients. Short-term measurement of nitrous acid (HONO) at this location show a clear daytime peak, with average peak mixing ratios ranging from 3 to 6 pptv. The model reproduces the general shape of the diurnal HONO profile only when NITs photolysis is included, but the magnitude of the daytime peak mixing ratio is under-predicted. This under-prediction is somewhat reduced if HONO yields from NITs photolysis are assumed to be close to unity. The combined NOx and HONO analysis suggests that the upper limit of the ratio of NITs : HNO3 photolysis coefficients is about 100. The largest simulated relative impact of NITs photolysis is in the tropical and subtropical marine boundary layer, with peak local enhancements ranging from factors of 5–20 for NOx, 1.2–1.6 for OH, and 1.1–1.3 for ozone. Since the spatial extent of the sea-salt aerosol impact is limited, global impacts on NOx, ozone and OH mass burdens are small (~ 1–3 %). We also present preliminary analysis showing that particulate nitrate photolysis in accumulation-mode aerosols (predominantly over continental regions) could lead to ppbv-level increases in ozone in the continental boundary layer. Our results highlight the need for more comprehensive long-term measurements of NOx, and related species like HONO and sea-salt particulate nitrate, to better constrain the impact of particulate nitrate photolysis on marine boundary layer oxidant chemistry. Further field and laboratory studies on particulate nitrate photolysis in other aerosol types are also needed to better understand the impact of this process on continental boundary layer oxidant chemistry.

scholarly journals The impact of beaver ponds on tree stand in a river valley

2009 ◽  
Vol 13a (1) ◽  
pp. 313-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Boczoń ◽  
Michał Wróbel ◽  
Valentyn Syniaiev
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Tree Stand ◽  
Beaver Ponds ◽  
River Valleys ◽  
The Impact

The impact of beaver ponds on tree stand in a river valley The number of beavers in Poland rapidly increases which may result in conflicts between man and beavers. Despite the fact that beaver ponds play important role in increasing of biodiversity, water retention and soil moisture, they may also cause the die out of tree stands in river valleys and lead consequently to disappearance of typical riparian forest communities. Field studies demonstrated that long term flooding inhibited tree growth. Many trees died after 2 years of flooding. Long flooding caused the death of 80% of trees.

Suppressed, but Not Forgotten

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beat Meier ◽  
Anja König ◽  
Samuel Parak ◽  
Katharina Henke
Keyword(s):  
Memory Trace ◽  
Thought Suppression ◽  
Test Phase ◽  
Indirect Test ◽  
Final Test ◽  
Test Experiment ◽  
And Control ◽  
Cue Words ◽  
The Impact

This study investigates the impact of thought suppression over a 1-week interval. In two experiments with 80 university students each, we used the think/no-think paradigm in which participants initially learn a list of word pairs (cue-target associations). Then they were presented with some of the cue words again and should either respond with the target word or avoid thinking about it. In the final test phase, their memory for the initially learned cue-target pairs was tested. In Experiment 1, type of memory test was manipulated (i.e., direct vs. indirect). In Experiment 2, type of no-think instructions was manipulated (i.e., suppress vs. substitute). Overall, our results showed poorer memory for no-think and control items compared to think items across all experiments and conditions. Critically, however, more no-think than control items were remembered after the 1-week interval in the direct, but not in the indirect test (Experiment 1) and with thought suppression, but not thought substitution instructions (Experiment 2). We suggest that during thought suppression a brief reactivation of the learned association may lead to reconsolidation of the memory trace and hence to better retrieval of suppressed than control items in the long term.

Examining the Impact of the Disabled Youth Peer Development Initiative: What are the Long-Term Outcomes?

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Garate-Serafini ◽  
Jose Mendez ◽  
Patty Arriaga ◽  
Larry Labiak ◽  
Carol Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
The Impact
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