Getting out while staying in: Policy and environmental predictors of park visits during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic

The spread of COVID-19 altered use of public spaces, such as parks, with potential effects on human health and well-being. Little is known about park use during the pandemic, how local features (e.g, park availability) influence use, and whether park visits accelerate COVID-19 spread. Using weekly panel data for 620 U.S. counties, we show park visits decreased by 10% beginning March 15, and by 17-35% through May 9, 2020. Net of weekly sample trends, park visits decreased by 2.3% when stay-at-home orders were in effect, yet increased by 8.3% after school closures and 4.1% after business closures. Park visits decreased less during the pandemic in metropolitan counties or where park availability was high. Higher park visits were weakly associated with COVID-19 case growth rate but not incidence. Thus, parks may serve as alternatives for recreation when schools and businesses close, especially where parks are available, with no-to-little influence on COVID-19 spread.

Consolidation of Aedes albopictus Surveillance Program in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, Spain

Background: Due to the Spanish legal framework, the national program for vector-borne diseases results from the agreement between national and regional governments, and it is the basis for the development of the regional programs, which should include the regional entomological surveillance program. Aedes albopictus was recorded for the first time in the Region of Murcia, in 2011. It gave rise to a new epidemiological scenario due to the presence of a competent vector of several arboviruses, which resulted in autochthonous cases of dengue in 2018. Methods: 40 out of 45 municipalities participated in the regional entomological surveillance program, and 266 sampling points were established, with two ovitraps at each site as pseudo-replications. The study period was from April 16th to November 26th, with bi-weekly sample collections: 16 regional samplings were carried out. Results: Regional participation was high, and data loss was low (1.26%). Ae. albopictus was detected in 4.9% of samples and 89.4% of points, located in 39 of the 40 municipalities. The intensity of the presence of Ae. albopictus was estimated by a positivity index, that is, the percentage of positive samples over time. The vector phenology was obtained at a regional level, using the number of eggs as estimation of population density and the positivity values of points and municipalities. Every two weeks, real-time results were provided to the municipalities, which could use them as a vector management tool. Conclusion: The regional entomological surveillance program for Ae. albopictus in the Region of Murcia was consolidated in 2019, with standardized and comparable methods. Almost all the municipalities of the region have observed the presence of Ae. albopictus, although intensity and spatial and temporal cover vary among them.

Understanding Daily Travel Patterns of Subway Users – An Example From the Beijing Subway

The daily travel patterns (DTPs) present short-term and timely characteristics of the users’ travel behaviour, and they are helpful for subway planners to better understand the travel choices and regularity of subway users (SUs) in details. While several well-known subway travel patterns have been detected, such as commuting modes and shopping modes, specific features of many patterns are still confused or omitted. Now, based on the automatic fare collection (AFC) system, a data-mining procedure to recognize DTPs of all SUs has become possible and effective. In this study, DTPs are identified by the station sequences (SSs), which are modelled from smart card transaction data of the AFC system. The data-mining procedure is applied to a large weekly sample from the Beijing Subway to understand DTPs. The results show that more than 93% SUs of the Beijing Subway travel in 7 DTPs, which are remarkably stable in share and distribution. Different DTPs have their own unique characteristics in terms of time distribution, activity duration and repeatability, which provide a wealth of information to calibrate different types of users and characterize their travel patterns.

PSX-23 Effect of feeding ‘Serala’ sericea lespedeza hay on indicators of gastrointestinal parasitism in goats

Thirty-eight intact Spanish male goats 5–6 months old and 26.1 ± 0.16 kg BW were used in a 7-week trial to investigate effects of Serala sericea lespedeza (SER; Lespedeza cuneata) on gastrointestinal parasitism. Naturally-infected goats were individually housed in 1.5x1.5 m pens. Treatments consisted of SER hay (n = 13), and bermudagrass hay without (n = 13; CON) or with anthelminitic treatment (n = 12; CDW). A corn-soybean meal-based supplement ensured isonitrogenous (18%), isocaloric diets. Diets were fed to 10% orts. Treatments were assigned for similar initial FEC and BW. At the start of the study and weekly thereafter, fecal and blood samples were collected for determination of fecal egg counts (FEC) and coccidia oocyst counts (FOC) via the modified McMaster’s technique (eggs or oocysts per gram feces; epg or opg) and percentage packed red blood cell volume (PCV) via microhematocrit centrifugation. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedures of SAS for repeated measures. The FEC and PCV were impacted by a treatment by day interaction (P < 0.0001) in which, compared to day 0, FEC was lower and PCV was higher for each weekly sample for CDW (P < 0.003; ranges: FEC: 315 ±332 epg to 573±332 epg, PCV: 17.5±1.2% to 27.8±1.2%). For CON, FEC were only lower (P < 0.0008) on week 7 (day 0 2630±327 epg vs 1015±332 epg week 7) while PCV was higher on week 5 through 7 for CON (range PCV 18.4 ± 1.2% to 23.6 ± 1.2%). For SER, FEC were lower at week 4 (P < 0.02; 1413±320 epg) and 7 (P < 0.0001; 884±320 epg) compared to day 0 (2688±329 epg) while PCV was higher for each weekly sample for SER (P < 0.04; PCV: 18.0±1.2% to 25.7±1.2%). Overall, there were no effects of SER on FEC and FOC, but PCV was improved.

Identification of Inelastic Subway Trips Based on Weekly Station Sequence Data: An Example from the Beijing Subway

Urban rail transit has become an indispensable option for Beijing residents. Subway inelastic users (SIUs) are the main component among all users. Understanding the proportion of SIUs and their characteristics is important in developing service promotions and helpful for subway agencies in making marketing policies. This paper proposes a novel and simple identification process for identifying regular subway inelastic trips (SITs) in order to distinguish SITs and non-SITs and extract their characteristics. Weekly station sequence (WSS) is selected as the data-based format, principles of SIUs are discussed and chosen, and the framework of SIT identification is applied to a large weekly sample from the Beijing Subway. A revealed preference (RP) survey and results analysis are undertaken to estimate the performance of the proposed methods. The RP survey validation shows that accuracy reaches as high as 94%, and the distribution analysis of SITs and their origin-destinations (ODs) indicate that the SIT characteristics extracted are consistent with the situation in Beijing. The proportion of SIUs is stable on workdays and is more than 80% during rush hour. The efforts described in this paper can provide subway managers with a useful and convenient method to understand the characteristics of subway passengers and the performance of a subway system.

Exploring Phytoplankton Population Investigation Growth to Enhance Quantitative Literacy

Quantitative literacy is essential to biological literacy (and is one of the core concepts in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action;AAAS 2009). Building quantitative literacy is a challenging endeavor for biology instructors. Integrating mathematical skills into biological investigations can help build quantitative literacy. In our plankton population laboratory sequence, students test hypotheses about the influence of abiotic factors on phytoplankton populations by sampling experimental and control flasks over multiple weeks. Students track and predict changes in planktonic populations by incorporating weekly sample estimates into population growth equations. We have refined the laboratory protocols on the basis of student commentary and instructor observations. Students have reviewed the lab positively, and approximately one-quarter of them reported building their math skills by participating in the lab.

Sediment Dynamics in a Small, 2Nd Order Urban River Awba Catchment, Ibadan, Nigeria

The sediment dynamics in a small 2nd order catchment of River Awba in the territory of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria was investigated between January and December 2012. The river was gauged by daily measurements of water level as well as sampling of water for determination of suspended sediment load. In this regard, apart from weekly sample, twelve (12) storm flow events which occurred during the day were sampled for determination of suspended sediment concentration. The results showed that during the storms the suspended sediment concentration varied between 636 mg/l in May and 3641.5 mg/l in September, with a mean of 2136.8 mg/l. Also, the value of monthly suspended sediment yield ranged from 10.85 kg in January to 288.4 kg in October with a mean of 89.5 kg. The variability in monthly sediment load closely followed the trend of monthly rainfall in the study area. However, in order to minimize the storm runoff and sediment load generated from the rainstorms events, the paved surfaces within the study catchment should be grassed with the planting of some few tree species. This could further reduce the rate of floods occurrence.

Comparison of PCR versus Culture for Detection of Mycobacterium bovis after Experimental Inoculation of Various Matrices Held under Environmental Conditions for Extended Periods

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to compare the performance of a molecular detection technique (nested PCR) with that of mycobacterial culture in the detection ofMycobacterium bovisDNA in a set of 687 samples of experimentally inoculated environmental substrates (hay, soil, corn, water) exposed to natural weather conditions in Michigan. Four replicates of each substrate were used; half were autoclaved for sterilization, all were inoculated with 50,000 CFU ofM. bovisisolated from Michigan livestock, and all were placed in outdoor enclosures, with half under shade and the other half exposed to direct sunlight. Samples were tested for the presence ofM. bovisduring one 12-month period, with monthly sample testing and during three 12-week periods (winter, spring, summer) with weekly sample testing. Samples were subjected to mycobacterial culture for isolation ofM. bovisand a nested PCR with two primer sets targeting IS6110to detectM. bovisDNA. In 128 samples tested during the 12-month period,M. boviswas not detectable by culture after 2 months butM. bovisDNA was detectable by PCR for at least 7 months. Of the 559 samples tested during the 12-week periods, PCR detectedM. bovisDNA for up to 88 days in all of the sample types. There were no significant differences in the detection ofM. bovisbetween shade and sun samples or between sterile and unsterilized samples, regardless of the detection method (PCR or culture). For use in epidemiologic investigations, the PCR assay was more rapid than mycobacterial culture, was not hindered by contaminating organisms, and detectedM. bovisDNA in environment samples much longer after initial contamination than mycobacterial culture did.

CONDIÇÕES HIDROLÓGICAS DE UMA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA COM DIFERENTES USOS DO SOLO NA REGIÃO DE TAQUARITINGA, SP.

Condições hidrológicas de uma bacia hidrográfica com diferentes usos do solo na região de Taquaritinga, SP. Flavia Mazzer Rodrigues1; Teresa Cristina Tarlé Pissarra1; Sérgio Campos2 1Departamento de Engenharia Rural – Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas e Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, [email protected] de Engenharia Rural – Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP 1 Resumo Nas áreas onde atividades antrópicas são desenvolvidas, como a agricultura, o uso do solo contribui consideravelmente nas características físicas, químicas e biológicas da água. O presente trabalho apresenta resultados das condições hidrológicas da Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego da Fazenda Glória, localizada no Município de Taquaritinga, Estado de São Paulo, realizado entre fevereiro e julho de 2005, cujo objetivo é diagnosticar as variações físicas e químicas na rede de monitoramento da água nas 4 microbacias de 1ª ordem de magnitude, com diferentes uso/ocupação do solo em torno das nascente. Para a análise da água, foram selecionados cinco pontos, sendo quatro deles nas nascentes e um ponto de amostragem na foz do Córrego da Fazenda Glória. A metodologia constitui de coletas de amostras semanais dos parâmetros de turbidez, temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido, pH e condutividade elétrica. A rede de drenagem com nascentes protegidas, situadas a montante da microbacia hidrográfica do Córrego da Fazenda Glória, foram as que receberam menores influência do sistema agrícola.Unitermos: recurso hídrico, ambiente, monitoramento ambiental. RODRIGUES, F. M.; PISSARRA, T. C. T.;CAMPOS, S. HIDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN WATERSHEDS WITH DIFFERENT LAND USE AND OCCUPATION, IN THE REGION OFTAQUARITINGA,BRAZIL 2 Abstract In areas where human activities, as agriculture, are developed land use contributes to physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. This study aimed to identify physical and chemical variations of the water monitoring network in 4 first magnitude watersheds with different land use/occupation in the hydrographic basin of the Glori Farm Creek in the city ofTaquaritinga, State of Sao Paulo, from February to July, 2005. The methodology consisted of weekly sample water collections to naalyze turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and electric conductivity. The characterization of the hydrological conditions of the watersheds showed that agricultural activities, including the productive system of the sugarcane cultivation, have affected the quality of water resources. KEYWORDS: water resources, environment, environmental monitoring.

Clonal Diversity of Escherichia coli Colonizing Stools and Urinary Tracts of Young Girls

ABSTRACT Intestinal carriage of Escherichia coli in prepubertal girls without a history of urinary tract infection was examined by collecting weekly stools and periurethral and urine samples over 3 to 4 weeks of study. Dominant and minor clones were defined by grouping 28 E. coli isolates into clonal types. Multiple enteric clones of E. coli, which changed week to week, were found in the 13 girls during the study (median, 3 clones/girl; range, 1 to 16 clones/girl). Dominance of an enteric clone did not predict persistence in the stool. In only 10 (34%) of the 29 episodes in which a dominant clone present in one weekly sample could have been detected the following week did it persist as the dominant clone in the next weekly sample. In 5 (17%) of the 29 episodes, a dominant clone found in one weekly sample was classified as a minor clone the next week. Both dominant and minor clones were observed to colonize the urinary tract. However, when colonization of the periurethra or bladder urine occurred, it was brief and often did not reflect the dominant stool flora from the same week. In fact, in only 40% of episodes was a clone that was detected either on the periurethra or in the urine also recovered from the stool the same week. Our findings suggest that the intestinal flora of healthy girls is multiclonal with frequent fluctuations in composition.