Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Denmark: nationwide, population-based seroepidemiological study

Seroprevalence studies have proven an important tool to monitor the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We present results of consecutive population-based seroprevalence surveys performed in Denmark in 2020. In spring, late summer and autumn/winter of 2020, invitation letters including a questionnaire covering symptoms were sent to representative samples of the population above 12 years and to parents of children below 18 years in the sample. Blood samples were analysed for total Ig and seroprevalence estimates per population segment were calculated and compared to other surveillance parameters. Based on 34 081 participants (participation rate 33%), seroprevalence estimates increased from 1.2% (95%CI: 0.3–1.9%) in May to 4.1% (95%CI: 3.1–4.9%) in December 2020. Seroprevalence estimates were roughly three times higher in those aged 12–29 years compared to 65 + and higher in metropolitan municipalities. By December 2020, 1.5% of the population had tested positive by RT-PCR. Infected individuals in older age groups were hospitalised several fold more often than in younger. Amongst seropositives, loss of taste/smell were the more specific symptoms, 32–56% did not report any symptoms. In more than half of seroconverted families, we did not see evidence of transmission between generations. Seroprevalence increased during 2020; adolescents were primarily infected in the autumn/winter. Denmark has a high per capita test rate; roughly one undiagnosed infection of SARS-CoV-2 were estimated to occur for each diagnosed case. Approximately half were asymptomatically infected. The epidemic appears to have progressed relatively modestly during 2020 in Denmark.

The Online Professor Today: From Isolation and Depression to Connected and Thriving

The online professor today is part of a high-risk group of workers experiencing adverse physical and mental symptoms that were unknown a decade ago. Depression, isolation, divorce, diabetes, antisocial behavior, PTSD, chronic pain, and even suicide is among crises happening now within this population segment once highly revered, yet few studies exist that determine how quickly the declination is occurring and if remedies from mainstream healthcare professionals are being offered; and if so, the degree of healing. Amelioration is often approached from an opposite perspective--meaning, change the behavior and the mindset change follows suit, as modeled by Alcoholics Anonymous, Weight Watchers, and Kaplan. New research, innovation, and application shows there is a surprising disconnect for achieving long-term and fulfilling change, in contrast to practiced methods in conventional healthcare. Subsequently, this research posits that change begins first with the mind, and after we better understand how identities and beliefs produce automated habits, behaviors once hazardous can be transformed into health and happiness.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Denmark: Nationwide, population-based seroepidemiological surveys

Background. Seroprevalence studies have proven an important tool to monitor the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) epidemic. We present results of consecutive population-based seroprevalence surveys performed in Denmark in 2020. Methods. Invitation letters including a questionnaire covering symptoms were sent to representatively drawn samples of the population in spring, late summer and autumn/winter of 2020. Blood samples from participants taken at public test-centers were analyzed for total Ig and seroprevalence estimates per population segment calculated and compared to other surveillance parameters. Results. From 34,081 participating individuals (response rate 33%), we obtained seroprevalence estimates increasing from 1.1% (95%CI: 0.7%–1.7) in May to 4.0 % (95%CI: 3.4%–4.7%) in December 2020. By December 2020, 1.5% of the population 12 years and older had tested positive by PCR. Seroprevalence estimates were roughly 3 times higher in those aged 12–29 compared to 65+ and higher in metropolitan municipalities. Among seropositives, loss of taste/smell were the more specific symptoms, 32%–56% did not report any symptoms. In half of seroconverted families, we did not see evidence of transmission between generations. Infected individuals in older age groups were hospitalized several fold more often than in younger. Conclusions. Seroprevalence increased during 2020; younger age groups were primarily infected in the autumn/winter surge. Approximately half were asymptomatically infected. Denmark has a high per capita test rate; roughly two undiagnosed infections of COVID–19 were estimated to occur for each diagnosed case. The epidemic appears to have progressed relatively modestly during 2020 in Denmark.

Interchange and movements of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) between western North Pacific winter breeding grounds in northern Luzon, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan

Humpback whales wintering in the northern Philippines and Okinawa, Japan, belong to the western North Pacific subpopulation, now recognised as a distinct population segment. The numbers for this subpopulation are low hence it is being proposed to be listed as endangered. Although previous research revealed movements between breeding grounds, the relationship between these areas remain little understood. Recent survey efforts in the Philippines resulted in a total of 234 photo-identified individuals from 1999-2016 while Okinawa had 1,445 from 1991-2014. Within the seasons a total of 100 matches were found between the two breeding grounds including 38 males and 24 females while the rest were unknown. Within these matches, eight individuals were recorded moving within seasons, including two individuals moving across seasons multiple times. The two whales were both males, where one was recorded in both breeding grounds in three different seasons (2005, 2008 and 2012). The shortest duration of recorded sightings between grounds was one whale seen in the Philippines in late March 2012 and in Okinawa 13 days later. More females with calves were sighted in the Philippines than in Okinawa and this may indicate the Philippines as a preferred nursing ground.

Entre lo que se dice y lo que se calla: visitando el concepto de empatía en la atención integral a la salud del adulto mayor

La atención integral a la salud del adulto mayor es considerada una de las tareas más dinámicas y complejas para los sistemas públicos de salud y de asistencia social. Esta revisión narrativa constituye un ensayo crítico-analítico, de reflexión gerontológica sobre la práctica empática en la producción de actos de salud direccionados a resolver los problemas socio-sanitarios del segmento poblacional envejecido. Con tal visión, se propone una comprensión conceptual y práctica de la empatía, a través de la identificación de sus potencialidades y limitaciones en el contexto de la clínica geriátrica-gerontológica. Comprehensive health care for older adults is considered one of the most dynamic and complex tasks for public health and social care systems. This narrative review constitutes a critical-analytical essay of gerontological reflection on the empathic practice in the production of health acts aimed at solving the socio-health problems of the aging population segment. With such view, a conceptual and practical understanding of empathy is proposed, through the identification of its potentialities and limitations in the context of the geriatric-gerontological clinic. A atenção integral à saúde do idoso é uma das tarefas mais dinâmicas e complexas dos sistemas de saúde pública e de assistência social. Esta revisão narrativa constitui um ensaio crítico-analítico, de reflexão gerontológica sobre a prática empática na produção de atos de saúde dirigidos a resolver os problemas sócio-sanitários do segmento populacional envelhecido. Com tal visão, propõe-se uma compreensão conceitual e prática da empatia, através da identificação das suas potencialidades e limitações no contexto da clínica geriátrico-gerontológica.

Filling knowledge gaps for a threatened species: age and growth of Green Sturgeon of the southern Distinct Population Segment

The Green Sturgeon Acipenser medirostris is an anadromous, long-lived species that is distributed along the Pacific coast of North America. Green Sturgeon is vulnerable to global change due to its sensitive life history and few spawning locations. The persistence of Green Sturgeon is threatened by habitat modification, altered flows, and rising river temperatures. The southern Distinct Population Segment was listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2001 due to persistent stressors. Despite increased research efforts after the species was listed, substantial gaps in basic population information for Green Sturgeon remain. We present the only known information on age structure and growth of a threatened population of Green Sturgeon. By analyzing archived fin rays that were collected from 1984–2016, we revealed highly variable growth among individuals. We detected several age classes from 0–26 years and found similar growth rates of Sacramento River Green Sturgeon compared to northern populations. Though limited, this analysis is an important first step to understanding Green Sturgeon population dynamics and highlights critical research needs.

Research on Individuals Aged One Hundred and Over: Protocol from the Sevilla and Castilla y León Centenarian Studies

Spain’s population of people aged 100 years and over has increased tenfold since the last quarter of the 20th century, exceeding 16,000 individuals by 2019. Despite this cohort’s growth, which has made centenarians a significant segment of Spain’s population in their own right, centenarians have remained little studied from the perspective of social sciences. A key challenge for research concerning centenarians is understanding their personal experiences of reaching this landmark age; such information could help to identify the sociodemographic and psychosocial factors that enable people to live such extraordinarily long lives. Given this context, the present article describes the research protocol followed in the projects SeviCent – Sevilla Centenarian Study and C&LCent – Castilla y León Centenarian Study, which are mainstream qualitative studies of people aged 100 years and over who reside in the regions with the lowest and highest life expectancy in Spain, respectively. The general aim of these studies was to analyze, through semi-structured interviews conducted between 2018 and 2019 that were based on a biographical and life-cycle approach, the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of a cohort of centenarians who had no cognitive impairments. Specifically, based on the experiences of applying this protocol, the present study describes the methodological considerations—research design, sampling, interview script, indicators, fieldwork, and analysis plan—that should be included in future qualitative, social sciences–focused studies concerning very old people for whom the population segment is scarce, scattered, and fragile.

The role of financial viability in sustainability and the increase of green roofs as elements of green infrastructure

Purpose: As sustainability is quickly becoming a predominant concept at the heart of the 21stcentury living and thinking, as well as planning for the near future, it has become obvious that financial viability is one of its core determinants. The aim of this paper has been to study the prospects of greater implementation of green infrastructure (GI) and especially green roofs (GR) in Croatia. Methodology: Theoretical framework is based on the relevant literature review, which has been conducted using qualitative methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, induction and deduction . The empirical part of the study has been conducted as a survey amongst the civil engineering students, using questionnaire as the survey instrument. Results: The theoretical part of the research identified the relevance of costs in GI implementation and its social and economic effects, circularity principles and EU funding options. Empirical findings indicate that the majority of Millennials from the sample find the implementation of GI to be financially demanding. Moreover, they are largely unaware of the availability of EU funding for such purpose and find the frugality aspect of green roof implementation very important. Conclusion: It is acknowledged that financial viability is inevitable when considering the implementation of GI. The level of environmental awareness among Croatian Millennials is satisfactory. However, considering they were not sufficiently aware of the EU funding available for this purpose, there is a need to raise awareness among this population segment, as they are future decision-makers .