Suicide-related thoughts and behavior and suicide death trends during the COVID-19 in the general population of Catalonia, Spain.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to increase suicidal behavior. However, data available to date are inconsistent. This study examines suicidal thoughts and behaviors and suicide trends in 2020 relative to 2019 as an approximation to the impact of the pandemic on suicidal behavior and death in the general population of Catalonia, Spain. Data on suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and suicidal mortality were obtained from the Catalonia Suicide Risk Code (CSRC) register and the regional police, respectively. We compared the monthly crude incidence of STBs and suicide mortality rates of 2020 with those of 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess changes in trends over time during the studied period. In 2020, 4,263 consultations for STBs and 555 suicide deaths were registered in Catalonia (approx. 7.5 million inhabitants). Compared to 2019, in 2020 STBs rates decreased an average of 6.3% (incidence rate ratio, IRR=0.94, 95% CI 0,90-0,98) and overall suicide death rates increased 1.2% (IRR=1.01, 95% CI 0.90-1.13). Joinpoint regression results showed a substantial decrease in STBs rates with a monthly percent change (MPC) of -22.1 (95% CI: -41.1, 2.9) from January-April 2020, followed by a similar increase from April-July 2020 (MPC=24.7, 95% CI: -5.9, 65.2). The most restrictive measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic reduced consultations for STBs, suggesting that the "stay at home" message may have discouraged people from contacting mental health services. STBs and mortality should continue to be monitored in 2021 and beyond to understand better the mid-to-long term impact of COVID-19 on suicide trends.

Control of active turbulence through addressable soft interfaces.

We present an experimental study of a kinesin/tubulin active nematic formed at different oil interfaces. By tuning the interfacial rheology of the contacting oil, we have been able to condition and control the seemingly chaotic motion that characterizes the self-sustained active flows in our preparations. The active nematic is inherently unstable and spontaneously develops defects from an initial homogeneous state. We show that the steady state and, in particular, the density and dynamics of the defects strongly depends on the rheology of the contacting oil. Using a smectic-A thermotropic liquid crystal as the oil phase, we pattern the interface thanks to the anisotropy of the shear viscosity in this material. The geometry of the active nematic adapts to the boundary conditions at the interface by changing from the so-called active turbulent regime to laminar flows along the easy flow directions. The latter can be either a lattice of self-assembled circular paths or reconfigurable homogeneous orientations that can be addressed by means of an external magnetic field. We show that, under all confinement conditions, the spatiotemporal modes exhibited by the active liquid are consistent with a single intrinsic length scale, which can be tuned by the material parameters, and obey basic topological requirements imposed on the defects that drive the active flows. Future control strategies, including a tunable depleting agent, are discussed.