Adult Negative Spectator Behavior at Youth Sporting Events.

Due to its competitive nature, youth sports may provide an environment that invites the display of negative parenting behavior and exposes children to adults outside of their own household. This study aimed to quantify the frequency of negative parent and spectator behavior at youth sporting events and compare incidences across different sports and age ranges. Investigators attended baseball, basketball, soccer, and football events in Central O'ahu, Hawai'i for children ages 6 to 10 years. Recorded spectator behaviors included alcohol use, smoking, swearing, and negative language (such as threats and violent language). Negative behaviors were reported at a majority (68%) of events. The 95% confidence intervals of the means (95% CIM) for all negative behaviors observed were overlapping, and we were not able to demonstrate statistically significant differences between the 4 sports. The lack of significance between sports may be due to the younger-player-age group, small sample size, and time of events.

Disinfection of Blood Pressure Cuffs and Electrocardiographic Telemetry Leads With 0.5% Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes.

BACKGROUND: Disinfection of frequently touched surfaces in the hospital is critical for providing safe care. Because of their complex intricate surfaces, blood pressure cuffs and electrocardiographic telemetry leads may be harder than other equipment to disinfect. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of 0.5% hydrogen peroxide wipes in cleaning and disinfecting inpatient hospital surfaces, including hook and loop (Velcro) fasteners of blood pressure cuffs and electrocardiographic telemetry leads. METHODS: A prospective study of an inpatient telemetry unit was designed to measure the persistence of a UV indicator and the presence of bacterial colonization on electrocardiographic telemetry leads and blood pressure cuffs. Call buttons and patient trays were used as control surfaces, because they are often touched but are easy to disinfect via standard practices. RESULTS: A total of 392 samples were collected between July 11 and August 3, 2016, and cultured for microorganisms. Among the cultures, 247 (63%) had at least 1 colony-forming unit. After adjustments in a multivariable analysis, odds of a contaminated surface (≥ 10 colony-forming units) after final cleaning with 0.5% hydrogen peroxide wipes were 3.70 times greater for patient trays than for blood pressure cuffs (P = .03) and 3.80 times greater for telemetry leads than for blood pressure cuffs (P = .04). The UV indicator persisted longer on blood pressure cuffs and telemetry leads than on patient trays or call buttons (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Wipes with 0.5% hydrogen peroxide adequately disinfect blood pressure cuffs but not telemetry leads.

Acute Atrazine Exposure has Lasting Effects on Chemosensory Responses to Food Odors in Crayfish (Orconectes virilis).

The herbicide atrazine is known to impact negatively olfactory-mediated behaviors in aquatic animals. We have shown that atrazine exposure has deleterious effects on olfactory-mediated behavioral responses to food odors in crayfish; however, recovery of chemosensory abilities post-atrazine exposure has not been investigated. We examined whether crayfish (Orconectes virilis) recovered chemosensory abilities after a 96-h exposure to sublethal, environmentally relevant concentrations of 80 ppb (µg/L) atrazine. Following treatment, we analyzed the ability of the crayfish to locate a food source using a Y-maze with one arm containing fish-flavored gelatin and the other containing unflavored gelatin. We compared the time spent in the food arm of the Y-maze, near the food source, as well as moving and walking speed of control and atrazine-treated crayfish. We also compared the number of crayfish that handled the food source and the amount of food consumed. Following 24-, 48-, and 72-h recovery periods in fresh water, behavioral trials were repeated to determine if there was any observable recovery of chemosensory-mediated behaviors. Atrazine-treated crayfish spent less time in the food arm, at the odor source, and were less successful at finding the food odor source than control crayfish for all times tested. Additionally, atrazine-treated crayfish consumed less fish-flavored than control crayfish; however, treatment did not affect locomotion. Overall, we found that crayfish are not able to recover chemosensory abilities 72 h post-atrazine exposure. Because crayfish rely heavily on their chemosensory abilities to acquire food, the negative impacts of atrazine exposure could affect population size in areas where atrazine is heavily applied.