Health Service Needs from a Household Perspective: An Empirical Study in Rural Empty Nest Families in Sinan and Dangyang, China

This study aimed to explore the health service needs of empty nest families from a household perspective. A multistage random sampling strategy was conducted to select 1606 individuals in 803 empty nest households in this study. A questionnaire was used to ask each individual about their health service needs in each household. The consistency rate was calculated based on their consistent answers to the questionnaire. We used a collective household model to analyze individuals’ public health service needs on the family level. According to the results, individuals’ consistency rates of health service needs in empty nest households, such as diagnosis and treatment service (H1), chronic disease management service (H2), telemedicine care (H3), physical examination service (H4), health education service (H5), mental healthcare (H6), and traditional Chinese medicine service (H7) were 40.30%, 89.13%, 98.85%, 58.93%, 57.95%, 72.84%, and 63.40%, respectively. Therefore, family-level health service needs could be studied from a family level. Health service needs of H1, H3, H4, H5, and H7 for individuals in empty nest households have significant correlations with each other (r = 0.404, 0.177, 0.286, 0.265, 0.220, p < 0.001). This will be helpful for health management in primary care in rural China; the concordance will alleviate the pressure of primary care and increase the effectiveness of doctor–patient communication. Health service needs in empty nest households who took individuals’ public needs as household needs (n = 746) included the H4 (43.3%) and H5 (24.9%) and were always with a male householder (94.0%) or at least one had chronic diseases (82.4%). Health service needs in empty nest households that considered one member’s needs as household needs (n = 46) included the H1 (56.5%), H4 (65.2%), H5 (63.0%), and H7 (45.7%), and the member would be the householder of the family (90.5%) or had a disease within two weeks (100.0%). In conclusion, family members’ roles and health status play an important role in health service needs in empty nest households. Additionally, physical examination and health education services are the two health services that are most needed by empty nest households, and are suitable for delivering within a household unit.

Exposure to family stressful life events in autistic children: Longitudinal associations with mental health and the moderating role of cognitive flexibility

Mental health problems are prevalent in autistic youth, but the underpinning mechanisms are not well explored. In neurotypical youth, stressful life events are an established risk factor for mental health problems. This study tested longitudinal bidirectional associations between family-level stressful life events and mental health problems and whether these were moderated by cognitive flexibility, in a cohort of autistic children ( N = 247). Family-stressful life events, assessed using the parent-reported Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes, and mental health problems, assessed using the teacher-reported Child Behavior Checklist Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms subscales, were measured at multiple points between 7 and 11 years. Analyses showed no significant pathways from internalizing or externalizing symptoms to family-stressful life events or from family-stressful life events to internalizing or externalizing symptoms. There was some evidence of moderation by cognitive flexibility; the family-stressful life events to internalizing symptoms pathway was non-significant in the group with typical shifting ability but significant in the group with clinically significant shifting problems. Information about family-level stressful life event exposure and cognitive flexibility may be helpful in identifying autistic youth who may be at higher risk of developing mental health problems. Established risk factors for mental health problems in neurotypical populations are relevant for understanding mental health in autistic youth. Lay abstract Experiencing stressful life events, such as a parent having had serious illness, parental divorce, bullying and victimization, is known to increase risk for mental health difficulties in neurotypical children. However, few studies have looked at whether stressful life events have a similar impact in autistic youth and if any individual characteristics may moderate the impact of said life events. In this study, we tested whether in autistic children aged 7–11 years, exposure to family-level stressful life events predicted later mental health symptoms (and vice versa). We also tested whether associations between stressful life events and mental health symptoms differed depending on the child’s level of cognitive flexibility. We found stressful life events only predicted internalizing symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) in children with clinically significant difficulties in cognitive flexibility (as rated by their parents). Mental health symptoms did not predict future exposure to stressful life events. Results suggest that information about exposure to stressful life events and cognitive inflexibility may be helpful in identifying autistic children who may be at risk of developing anxiety and depression symptoms.

Detection of enteroparasites in foliar vegetables commercialized in street- and supermarkets in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Foliar vegetables contaminated with fecal residues are an important route of transmission of intestinal parasites to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of parasitic forms of protozoa and helminths on lettuces (Lactuca sativa) and collard greens (Brassica oleracea) sold in street- and supermarkets in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. A total of 30 samples of each vegetable (15 samples from each supermarkets and street markets) was analyzed. All samples were processed by spontaneous sedimentation method and centrifugal flotation. In 45% of the samples, immature forms of intestinal parasites were identified with 66.7% helminths eggs and 33.3% protozoan cysts or oocysts. Significantly more lettuce samples were contaminated with eggs, cysts or oocyst of at least one parasite than collard green samples (U=216; Z=-3.45; P <0.001). The parasitic forms were identified morphologically up to the family level with eggs of Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae and Taeniidae, or oocysts of Eimeriidae, to the genus with Cystoisospora sp. and Toxocara sp., and to the species level with Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum and Hymenolepis nana. The presence of these infective agents in lettuce and collard green from both street- and supermarkets highlights the high risk of spreading parasites by eating raw vegetables sold in Aparecida de Goiânia.

Difficulties Imposed on the Parent–Child Relationship Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study tested whether emotionally burdened parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic might appraise their relationship with their children more negatively. The current cross-sectional study was circulated through social media. A total of 265 respondents took part in the study. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between predictor variables and the parent–child relationship. This study’s results report that older fathers with higher levels of COVID-19 related fear are more likely to appraise negatively their relationship with their children. Therefore, this study suggests the need for family-level strategies to address better the psychological aspects related to the pandemic outbreak.

Caractérisation De La Diversité, De La Structure Des Tailles Et Du Stress Écologique Au Niveau Du Peuplement Des Poissons Sur Le Fleuve Bandama (Côte d’Ivoire, Afrique De l’Ouest)

La connaissance de la faune ichtyologique des eaux ivoiriennes préoccupe à la fois les scientifiques et les responsables de développement du secteur de la pêche. En effet, l’intensification croissante de l’exploitation des ressources halieutiques en milieu continental fait planer de réels risques de régression et de disparition des espèces.Cette étude vise à caractériser la variation spatio-temporelle de la fauneichtyologique et d’identifier les indices biologiques qui déterminent la distribution des espèces de poissons et l’état d’exploitation de ces poissons dans le fleuve Bandama.Les poissons ont été échantillonnés de juillet 2019 à juin 2020 à partir des captures des pêcheurs locaux. Chaque spécimen identifié, est pesé et mesuré.L’analyse spatio-temporelle a indiqué une variation non significative (p > 0,05) de la faune ichtyologique et des indices de diversité H’ et E. Néanmoins, L’analyse de la structure du peuplement (H’ de 2,09 à 2,34; E de 0,83 à 0,85) a révélé un milieu fluvial assez diversifié. Il est dominé par les Cichlidae et Cyprinidae au niveau des familles et Labeo coubie, Coptodon zillii et Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus au niveau des espèces quel que soit le site de pêche. Ce peuplement est composé majoritairement de spécimens juvéniles. Les résultats de ce travail constituent une étude de base pour les gouvernants dans la mise en place de plan de gestion durable des ressources halieutiques en milieu continental.L’essentiel de la production du fleuve Bandama est fourni par les Cichlidae et dans la localité de Tiassalé. Néanmoins, les indices de diversité calculés montrent une ichtyofaune diversifiée. Cette ichtyofaune est dominée par des juvéniles. Knowledge of the ichthyological fauna of Ivorian waters is of concern to both scientists and those responsible for the development of the fishing sector. In fact, the increasing intensification of the exploitation of fishery resources in the continental environment poses real risks of regression and disappearance of species.This study aims to characterize the spatio-temporal variation of the ichthyological fauna and to identify the biological indices which determine the distribution of fish species and the state of exploitation of these fish in the Bandama River.The fish were sampled from July 2019 to June 2020 from the catches of local fishermen. Each identified specimen is weighed and measured.The spatio-temporal analysis indicated a non-significant variation (p> 0.05) in the ichthyological fauna and the indices of diversity H 'and E. Nevertheless, the analysis of the structure of the stand (H' of 2.09 at 2.34; E from 0.83 to 0.85) revealed a fairly diverse fluvial environment. It is dominated by Cichlidae and Cyprinidae at family level and Labeo coubie, Coptodon zillii and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus at species level regardless of the fishing site. This stand is mainly composed of juvenile specimens. The results of this work constitute a basic study for those in charge in the establishment of a plan for the sustainable management of fishery resources in the continental environment.Most of the production of the Bandama River is supplied by the Cichlidae and in the locality of Tiassalé. Nevertheless, the calculated diversity indices show a diversified ichthyofauna. This ichthyofauna is dominated by juveniles.

School Choice in Chile

In “School Choice in Chile,” Correa et al. describe the design and implementation of the new school admissions system in Chile. The design, based on the celebrated work of Gale, Shapley, and Roth, involves several challenges to comply with the Chilean legislation. For instance, the system includes different priorities and quotas for different groups of students. Moreover, the system operates nationwide and in all grade levels. As a result of the latter, one of the primary goals was to favor the joint assignment of siblings to the same schools. To accomplish this, the authors propose a heuristic approach that dynamically updates preferences, and breaks ties at the family level to increase the probability that siblings are assigned to the same school. The system, introduced in 2016 and still in use today, serves more than half a million students each year.

New family-level characters for Platygastroidea

Platygastridae (Hymenoptera) is a diverse family of parasitoid wasps for which few studies of internal morphology have been conducted. The monophyly of the group is undisputed based on recently published molecular data, but based on morphology, the family is diagnosable from other platygastroids only by a combination of character reductions. In the present study we explored the mesosoma of Platygastroidea and found two new synapomorphies for Platygastridae: an externally visible anterior mesofurcal pit, which corresponds to an invagination that connects to the anterior portion of the mesofurca, and internally, a posteriorly shifted origin of the first wing flexors. The absence of a mesofurcal bridge and the exclusively mesopectal origin of the fore wing flexors are treated as synapomorphies for Platygastridae+Janzenellidae. Phylogenetic implications and evolutionary hypotheses regarding these traits are discussed.

Assessing the impact of fire on spider abundance through a global comparative analysis

Fire is an important ecological disturbance; however, in many regions fire regimes are changing due to anthropogenic factors. Understanding the responses of species and ecosystem to fire can help to develop predictive models and inform fire management decisions. Despite their massive diversity and abundance, relatively little is known about the impacts of fire on invertebrates. Spiders are a diverse and ubiquitous group, with variation in ecological, behavioural and life history traits, and can offer important insights into the impacts of fire on invertebrates and whether these depend on environmental factors, phylogenetic history, or species traits. We conducted phylogenetic comparative analyses of published data from studies investigating the impacts of fire on spiders. We investigated whether fire affects family level abundance and whether this effect depends on ecologically relevant traits or site-specific factors (vegetation, latitude, fire type, time since fire). We found that time since fire had a significant effect on the abundance of some spider families (Lycosidae, Linyphiidae, Agelenidae), and within forest vegetation types. There was no relationship between family level traits and response to fire, suggesting that a trait-based approach does not increase predictive power in this group at this taxonomic level. Overall, it is difficult to make broad generalisations about the impacts of fire on spider abundance due to variation in site- and fire-specific factors. We did, however, find evidence that short fire intervals may be a threat to some spider families, and in forest ecosystems, where abundance initially decreased after fire, which may have important implications for fire management strategies. Finally, we show that analyses of published data can be used to detect broad scale ecological patterns and provide an alternative to traditional meta-analytical approaches.