Incentives for plasma donation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This work provides an overview of the incentives used for plasma donation in Europe and beyond. The overview can provide new ideas to blood establishments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic online search of incentives used and asked national experts to validate the data across all European Union countries as well as other European and non-European countries. We categorized the data into level of incentive (using the Nuffield Council on Bioethics' rungs [2011]) and country. RESULTS: We analysed more than 490 organizations across 26 countries. Our findings reveal different incentives used in these countries. Snacks and pre-donation health checks are commonly provided. In addition, loyalty programmes, small gifts, vouchers, lotteries, travel compensations and time off from work extend the strategic incentive portfolio. Only seven countries offer financial compensation ranging from the equivalent of 10-35€ for European countries. In countries with a decentralized model, where more than one organization collects plasma, we observe that more diversified incentive strategies are generally used, including monetary and non-monetary incentives. In countries with a centralized model, where only one organization is allowed to collect plasma, financial compensation is usually not offered. Centralized plasma collection without financial compensation relies on a wider range of non-monetary incentives than with financial compensation. CONCLUSION: The country group analysis offers valuable insights into the relationship between incentive strategies and the prevailing centralized versus decentralized plasma collection model. This overview provides a broader understanding of incentives used by blood establishments and offers avenues for future practice.

The impact of temporary deferrals on future blood donation behavior across the donor life cycle.

BACKGROUND: Donor retention is essential for blood banks because acquiring new donors is more expensive than retaining existing ones. Previous studies show that the temporary deferral of donors negatively impacts future donation likelihood. In this study, we analyze the impact of temporary deferrals on future donation behavior while correcting for potential endogeneity, depending on the level of donor experience and number of previous deferrals. STUDY DESIGN AND METHOD: We use data from more than 123,000 whole blood donors of the Austrian Red Cross over a period of 5.5 years. We estimate logit models to analyze how a deferral affects future donation behavior while controlling for potential selection biases because donors are not deferred randomly. We control for gender, blood type, years since first donation, and number of previous donations and deferrals. We analyze the direct deferral effect, its interaction with donor experience, and the number of previous deferrals. RESULTS: Our results confirm that temporary deferrals hurt future donation behavior. This effect varies with donor experience and the number of previous deferrals. The effect is weaker with a higher number of previous donations and is stronger with a higher number of previous deferrals. The results suggest that donors learn to cope with deferrals the more they donate. However, the negative effect of deferrals amplifies over time, and each additional deferral decreases donation likelihood. CONCLUSION: Blood banks that seek to overcome the negative effect of deferrals should be aware that this effect varies with donor experience and with the number of previous deferrals. Our results suggest that blood banks should focus on early-stage donors who are deferred because the negative deferral effect is stronger for more experienced donors. At the same time, blood banks should be careful with donor groups who have experienced deferrals in the past because every additional deferral demotivates future donation behavior. Overall, researchers should be careful to correct for endogeneity because our results suggest that ignoring these effects could lead to substantial underestimation of the negative deferral effect.

Validation of a standardized donor health questionnaire across substances of human origin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A donor health questionnaire (DHQ) aims to ensure the safety of donors and recipients of transfusions or transplantations with blood components, plasma-derived medicinal products, tissues, haematopoietic stem cells and medically assisted reproduction (in short substances of human origin; SoHO). Currently, many different DHQs exist across countries and SoHO. TRANSPOSE (TRANSfusion and transplantation PrOtection and SElection of donors) developed and validated a standardized DHQ to use across countries and SoHO. We tested whether participants understand the questions and provide honest answers. METHODS: For the validation of the standardized DHQ, two demographically representative online surveys were conducted in Germany (N = 3329) and Austria (N = 3432). We surveyed whether participants understood each DHQ question and would answer the questions truthfully. We used experimental settings to test whether there is a difference between mode of administration (print vs. online), the order of the questions (subject vs. chronological order), and the positioning of the general state of health question (beginning vs. end) in the DHQ. Using regression models, we tested the DHQ's impact on participant mood after completion and on socially desirable response behaviour. RESULTS: Participants understood the DHQ questions well and would answer them honestly. Nevertheless, the data show different levels of understanding and honesty when responding. Administration mode was the only characteristic that had a significant influence on mood, with the online version resulting in a more favourable mood in comparison to the printed version. CONCLUSION: The DHQ was well understood and had a low dishonest tendency. Our findings can serve as an impulse for further research on DHQ criteria across other SoHO and countries.

Blood donors and their changing engagement in other prosocial behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Increasing competition by nonprofit organizations provides blood donors with many options to engage themselves prosocially (e.g., by donating money or time). While most previous studies focused only on one form of donation, only a few studies analyzed two or more forms. This research gap is remarkable, as prior research has shown that a substantial portion of donors engage in more than one form of donation. In addition, studies have shown that donors' main reason for lapsing is switching to another donation form. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study relies on longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel. In total, 5640 (non)blood donors are analyzed over a period of 5 years, alongside their engagement in four forms of prosocial behavior: money donations, taking care of persons in need, volunteer work, and citizens' initiatives. We control for sociodemographic, psychographic, and health-related factors and rely on propensity score matching to reduce selection effects often observed in the blood donation context. RESULTS: There are significant differences between blood donors and nondonors in their engagement in prosocial behaviors. Blood donors (vs. nondonors) are more likely to engage in other prosocial behavior forms, namely, donating money, volunteering, and participating in citizens' initiatives. If people start donating blood, they also are more likely to act in other prosocial ways, namely, donating money and volunteering. If people stop donating blood, they also are more likely to stop other forms of prosocial behavior, namely, volunteering and participating in citizens' initiatives. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into blood donors' prosocial behavior. While most previous studies neglected blood donors' engagement in other prosocial behaviors, this study highlights the fact that blood banks need to be aware of blood donor switching behavior between all prosocial behavior forms. As most blood banks also are providing other types of donations forms, they can use this knowledge and cross-recruit blood donors to engage in other forms of prosocial behavior.

The impact of COVID-19 on music consumption and music spending.

COVID-19 induced restrictions ordered by governments around the world have been an exogenous shock to the music industry, which we divide into two affected groups: 1) live music events and 2) recorded music. While the impact on live music events is rather obvious, it is unclear how the current pandemic is affecting the recorded music market. Hence, we study consumers' pre- and post-pandemic shifts in consumer spending (in euros) and music consumption (in hours) across live music events, as well as the digital and physical submarkets of recorded music, in the world's fourth largest music market, Germany. Relying on an online bi-annual panel capturing five waves between winter 2018/19 and winter 2020/21, we find that the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the continuous trend towards digitalization of the music landscape with premium streaming being the biggest beneficiary. However, total monthly consumer spending on music decreased by more than 45% compared to pre-pandemic, with live music events and physical sales being the most severely affected. Surprisingly, music consumption in hours also decreased during the lockdown even though consumers spent more time at home.

The impact of COVID-19 on blood donations.

During a crisis, society calls for individuals to take prosocial actions that promote crisis management. Indeed, individuals show higher willingness to help after a disaster. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presents significant differences as it is an ongoing crisis that affects all individuals and has the potential to pose a direct health threat to anyone. Therefore, we propose that the pandemic may also negatively affect willingness to help, specifically blood donation intentions. It requires a high level of willingness to donate blood beyond the crisis outbreak, as more blood will be needed when postponed surgeries resume. When comparing blood donation intentions from a pre-pandemic study to results from a six-wave (bi-weekly) panel study conducted in Germany during the first pandemic phase (April to June 2020), we find lower medium and long-term blood donation intentions. While active donors show increased awareness of ability and eligibility to donate at the beginning of the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic, they feel significantly less able to donate as the pandemic progresses. Furthermore, inactive donors' perceived ability to donate significantly decreases in the pandemic phase compared to the pre-pandemic phase. Crucially, both active and inactive donors feel less responsible and less morally obliged to donate, resulting in an overall negative pandemic effect on blood donation intentions. The COVID-19 pandemic compromises blood donations endangering the life-saving blood supply. These alarming results offer evidence-based grounds for practical implications for driving donations in the event of a pandemic.

The role of affect, satisfaction and internal drive on personal moral norms during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Societies require prosocial activities during crises. The COVID-19 pandemic presents individuals with unique challenges that may affect their emotional state leading to reformed personal moral norms. Crucially, personal moral norms are important predictors of moral behaviour. Given the longevity of the pandemic, studying its impact on affect, satisfaction and internal drive of (non-)donors during COVID-19 and if personal moral norms are affected is paramount. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study relies on longitudinal data, consisting of six waves carried out biweekly. Our panel is representative for the German population, capturing changes in affect, satisfaction, internal drive and personal moral norms. We compare the emotional state and personal moral norms of (non-)donors in the pandemic to pre-pandemic phase. Moreover, we analyse changes in emotional state and personal moral norms during the pandemic and investigate the role of emotional state on personal moral norms. RESULTS: Firstly, our results show that personal moral norms of (non-)donors drop compared to pre-pandemic. Within pandemic, personal moral norms of active donors are not further altered. Secondly, we find significant changes of emotional state in the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic phase, for example individuals feel more optimistic, but less satisfied and less energetic. Thirdly, we find that feeling more grateful increases personal moral norms of non-donors. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into how crises shape (non-)donors' emotional state and its impact on relevant donor motivations, that is, personal moral norms. Blood banks can use this knowledge to enhance recruiting and retention efforts during crises.

Occurrence and fate of antibiotics in the Seine River in various hydrological conditions.

Occurrence and fate of 17 antibiotics were investigated in the aqueous phase of river water under different hydrological conditions at 5 sampling locations in the Seine River inner estuary. The target analytes belonged to 4 groups: quinolones, sulfonamides, nitro-imidazoles and diaminopyrimidines. This six-month survey (from January to June 2006) showed that different compounds were occurring at individual concentrations reaching 544 ng L(-)(1) (sulfamethoxazole). All 17 compounds were detected at least once in the survey. Sulfamethoxazole was detected in every sample, and showed the highest concentrations. Norfloxacin and flumequine were found to be the most ubiquitous quinolones, with detection frequencies of 33 and 75% respectively at the most contaminated site (Poses). Investigations concerning the origins of this contamination were made by means of a longitudinal profile along the Seine River between Paris and Poses. It showed large inputs of norfloxacin, ofloxacin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole from wastewater treatment plants, with an increase in norfloxacin and sulfamethoxazole concentrations of 84% and 70% respectively, both reaching 155 ng L(-)(1) in the river, downstream from a wastewater outlet. The detected compounds showed different dissipation patterns and behaviours under different hydrological conditions. Higher inputs of norfloxacin were found in low flow conditions, which were rapidly attenuated along the stream. In contrast, sulfamethoxazole inputs were increasing in high flow conditions, and dissipation of this compound was found to be slow. Similar behaviour was observed for the synergist trimethoprim. Flumequine was also frequently detected and its input increased during flood events.

Field experiments for the evaluation of pesticide spray-drift on arable crops.

Two distinct approaches were used to characterise spray-drift during the application of atrazine and alachlor to a maize crop. The first consisted in determining the quantities which did not reach their target. A first experiment was carried in 2001 to improve the sampling method. A second experiment in 2002 showed that losses represented 46 and 38% for atrazine and alachlor, respectively. The second approach was to follow the spatiotemporal evolution of the cloud formed during application. The concentrations observed near the application zone during spraying reached 4.5 microg m(-3) for atrazine and 8.5 microg m(-3) for alachlor. With alachlor these concentrations decreased rapidly when increasing distance from the plot or time following treatment, whereas in the case of atrazine they stabilised rapidly (between 0.5 and 0.3 microg m(-3)) both in space and in time. Deposits around the plot were light and slightly higher for alachlor (from 20 to 130 microg m(-2)). Alachlor was more rapidly diluted in space than atrazine, reflecting a differentiated evolution of physical form during the process. Alachlor, being more volatile than atrazine, is quickly transferred to the gaseous phase which was more rapidly dispersed than aerosols.

Healthy donor effect and satisfaction with health: The role of selection effects related to blood donation behavior.

The objective of this paper is to quantify selection effects related to blood donation behavior and their impact on donors' perceived health status. We rely on data from the 2009 and 2010 survey waves of the German socio-economic panel (N = 12,000), including information on health-related, demographic and psychographic factors as well as monetary donation behavior and volunteer work. We propose a propensity score matching approach to control for the healthy donor effect related to the health requirements for active blood donations. We estimate two separate models and quantify selection biases between (1) active and inactive blood donors and (2) active donors and non-donors. Our results reveal that active donors are more satisfied with their health status; after controlling for selection effects, however, the differences become non-significant, revealing selection biases of up to 82% compared with non-donors. These differences also exist between active and inactive donors, but the differences are less distinct. Our methodological approach reveals and quantifies selection biases attributable to the healthy donor effect. These biases are substantial enough to lead to erroneous statistical artifacts, implying that researchers should rigorously control for selection biases when comparing the health outcomes of different blood donor groups.

Determinants of chlorination by-products in indoor swimming pools.

Water and air quality of fifteen swimming pools using chlorine disinfection was measured during eight sampling campaigns in Rennes, France. Concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and trichloramine (NCl(3)) in air as well as concentrations of parameters, including total organic carbon (TOC), chlorine (free, combined and total), pH, Kjeldhal nitrogen (KN), chloride ions and THMs in water and air temperature, were measured. Water and air samples were collected during 3h in the morning and afternoon, during high and low attendance days, in summer and winter. Data analysis was perfomed by multivariate ordinary least square (OLS) and quantile (QR) regressions, from both data quality and other parameters such as the ratio between the number of visitors and the volume of water available V/W, the proportion of air re-circulated and the number of swimmers during sampling. The geometric means (GM±95% CIs) of the sum of THMs (TTHM) and NCl(3) in air were 74.9±6.7 µg/m(3) and 190±10 µg/m(3), respectively. As expected, concentrations of TTHM in air were correlated to concentrations of TTHM in water. Concentrations of TTHM and NCl(3) in air measured in winter were significantly higher than in summer, depicting that low air exchange rate in winter lead to accumulation of pollutants. NCl(3) (especially at higher quantiles) and TTHM concentrations in air were associated to the number of swimmers. NCl(3) was also linked to air temperature and pH. Moreover TTHM and NCl(3) in air seemed to be affected by additional determinants including the volume of hall and the ratio V/W. In a process of reducing exposure, the OLS regression provides useful information on key parameters influencing concentrations of THMs and NCl(3) in indoor swimming pools. In addition, QR allows identifying factors associated to elevated levels of contamination.

State of the art on cyanotoxins in water and their behaviour towards chlorine.

The occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms is drastically increasing in temperate countries and drinking water resources are threatened. As a result, cyanotoxins should be considered in water treatment to protect human health. This study presents a state of the art on cyanotoxins in water and their behaviour towards chlorination, a common drinking water disinfection process. Chlorination efficiency on cyanotoxins alteration depends on pH, chlorine dose and oxidant nature. Microcystins and cylindrospermopsin are efficiently transformed by chlorine, with respectively 6 and 2 by-products identified. In addition, chlorination of microcystins and cylindrospermopsin is associated with a loss of acute toxicity. Even though they have been less investigated, saxitoxins and nodularins are also altered by chlorine. For these toxins, no by-products have been identified, but the chlorinated mixture does not show acute toxicity. On the contrary, the fact that anatoxin-a has a very slow reaction kinetics suggests that this toxin resists chlorination.

Can intensive use of alcohol-based hand rubs lead to passive alcoholization?

Hand disinfection with alcohols-based hand rubs (ABHRs) are known to be the most effective measure to prevent nosocomial infections in healthcare. ABHRs contain on average 70% by weight of one or more alcohols. During the hand rubbing procedure, users are exposed to these alcohols not only through dermal contact, but also via inhalation, due to the physical and chemical properties of alcohols volatilizing from alcoholic solutions or gels into the air. Ethanol ingestion is well known to increase risks of several diseases (affecting the pancreas, liver, cardiovascular system…), but there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of exposure to other alcohols (including n- or isopropanol) via inhalation and dermal contact, despite the worldwide use of ABHRs. This work aims at discussing possible health effects related to unintentional alcoholization (via inhalation and dermal contact) from professional ABHR usage to suggest the need for more research in this area (but not to question the value of ABHRs). Based upon an average of 30 hand rubbings per healthcare professional per day, it can be assumed that a healthcare worker may be exposed to a maximum 5,500 mg/m(3) per work shift, five times above the recommended occupational time weighted average limit. Thus, in order to answer the question posed in the title, studies on spatial and temporal variability of alcohol emission from ABHRs in real world situations and studies on certain high risk individuals are needed.

Characterization of cylindrospermopsin chlorination.

In temperate countries, the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms threatens drinking water resources. Consequently, cyanotoxins are increasingly considered in water treatment, and their reactions with chlorine used to disinfect drinking water are particularly investigated. This study presents new elements for further understanding of cylindrospermopsin chlorination, through reactants and by-products monitoring, UV spectrum examination, and cytotoxicity assessment on human intestinal Caco-2 cells. On the one hand, the evolution of mixture UV spectrum indicated that cylindrospermopsin was quickly transformed at least into one intermediate by-product. While mass spectrometry experiments confirmed that cylindrospermopsin was almost totally transformed within 5 min, chlorine was consumed up to 20 min after the beginning of the reaction with a rate of 5 mol per mol of toxin. Then, LC-MS analysis gave rise to the formation of a third cylindrospermopsin by-product in addition to 5-chloro-cylindrospermopsin and cylindrospermopsic acid previously identified. Thanks to the accurate mass measurement provided by the LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer, this new and stable chlorination by-product was assigned the chemical formula C(13)H(18)N(4)O(7)S. On the other hand, both of the mitochondrial and lysosomal activities measured on Caco-2 cells revealed that cylindrospermopsin chlorination significantly decreases mixture cytotoxicity.

Antegrade cerebral protection in thoracic aortic surgery: lessons from the past decade.

OBJECTIVE: Prolonged deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) adversely affects outcome and quality of life in thoracic aortic surgery. Several techniques of antegrade cerebral perfusion are routinely used: bilateral selective antegrade cerebral protection (SACP) by introducing catheters in the innominate and left carotid artery, unilateral perfusion through the right axillary antegrade cerebral perfusion (RAACP) or a combination of right axillary perfusion with an additional catheter in the left carotid artery (RAACCP), resulting also in bilateral perfusion. The aim of the present study was to analyse the impact of the different approaches on the quality of life (QoL). METHODS: The data of 292 patients who underwent surgery of the thoracic aorta using DHCA at our hospital between January 2004 and December 2007 have been analysed and a follow-up was performed focussing on QoL, assessed with the Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Results were analysed according to the type of cerebral perfusion and the duration of DHCA. RESULTS: Patients' characteristics were similar in all groups. Of the total, 3.4% patients underwent DHCA (average 8.3+/-6.4 min) without ACP, 45.9% underwent SACP (average DHCA of 15.6+/-7.1 min), 40.4% had RAACP (average DHCA of 28.1+/-11.6 min) and 9.4% bilateral perfusion (RAACCP) (average DHCA of 43.1+/-16.7 min). The average follow-up was 23.2+/-15.1 months. QoL was preserved in all groups. For DHCA above 40 min, bilateral ACP provides superior midterm QoL than unilateral RAACP (average SF-36 95.1+/-44.4 vs 87.6+/-31.3; p=0.072). CONCLUSIONS: When midterm QoL is assessed, bilateral SACP provides the best cerebral protection for prolonged DHCA (>40 min).

Ms identification of microcystin-LR chlorination by-products.

Drinking water disinfection by chlorine is known to reduce concentration of microcystin, but compounds formed are rarely considered. In this work the chlorination of microcystin-LR has been studied by monitoring reactants consumption and reaction products using the linear trap quad-Orbitrap (LTQ-Orbitrap) technology. Microcystin-LR was totally transformed within 2 min, meanwhile chlorine was consumed until 30 min with a rate of 12 mol per mol of toxin. Four new by-products of microcystin-LR were identified as well as their isomers: monochloro-microcystin, monochloro-dihydroxy-microcystin, dichloro-dihydroxy-microcystin and trichloro-hydroxy-microcystin. In addition, four new isomers were also observed, corresponding to the dihydroxy-microcystin already known. Besides, another compound previously observed was identified as monochloro-hydroxy-microcystin.

Fatty acid alterations in liver peroxisomes from n-3-deficient mice.

A diet deficient in n-3 fatty acids dramatically reduces docosahexaenoic acid (4.8-fold) and 20:5n-3 content in murine total peroxisomal phospholipids, and conversely increases 22:5n-6 (17.1-fold) and also, to a lesser extent, 20:4n-6. This was also found in purified phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. After changing the non-deficient diet (containing alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) to a deficient one (deficient in ALA), it took a very long time for docosahexaenoic acid concentration in peroxisomes to decline (>5 months). In contrast, after changing the deficient to a non-deficient diet, time to complete recovery was more rapid (3 weeks). Changes in 20:5n-3, 22:6n-3 and 20:4n-6 were generally stabilized within 2-4 weeks. Dietary n-3 fatty acids control the fatty acid composition of peroxisomal membranes, and thus possibly affect some of their functions.

Assessing the transfer of pesticides to the atmosphere during and after application. Development of a multiresidue method using adsorption on Tenax and thermal desorption-GC/MS.

An air sampling and analytical method based on adsorption on porous polymer (Tenax TA) followed by automatic thermal desorption (ATD) and GC/MS analysis was developed for ten pesticides commonly used on major crops in Britanny and some of their metabolites in air (from spray drift and volatilisation transfer processes): alachlor, atrazine (and two major degradation products: deethylatrazine and deisopropylatrazine), carbofuran, cyprodinil, epoxyconazole, iprodione (and 3,5-dichloroaniline), lindane (and -HCH, its isomer), metolachlor, terbuconazole and trifluralin. This method was established with special consideration for optimal thermal desorption conditions, linear ranges, limits of detection and quantification. Moreover, collection efficiencies of Tenax TA at room temperature were examined. This method was then applied to the determination of ambient pesticide levels during the spraying season at a rural area. The method was also applied to determine the vertical gradient of alachlor concentrations on a treated maize parcel to evaluate volatilisation fluxes.