It is unclear if – after symptom onset of a primary case of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in a household – ensuing chains of transmissions among household members occur and if household epidemiology of COVID-19 is modified by the different circulating variants. We analysed data of 52 774 household clusters to investigate the day of symptom onset of ensuing cases in households relative to the symptom onset of the primary case within the household. Irrespective of cluster size or age of the primary case, 95% of all secondary household cases had symptom onset within 14 days after the symptom onset of the primary case. Stratification by variant showed that the mean interval from symptom onset of the primary case to the symptom onset of secondary cases decreased significantly from 4.8 days (wildtype) to 4.5 days (alpha) and 4.0 days (delta). Similarly, the cumulative proportion of 95% of secondary cases occurred within 14 days (wild type), 12 days (alpha) and 10 days (delta). Our findings suggest that during dominant delta circulation – apart from rare individual constellations – a 10-day household quarantine after symptom onset of the primary case is sufficient for household contacts who remain COVID-free.

Given the high prevalence and adverse outcomes associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), development and expansion of effective treatment modalities are important. The present study compared the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy targeting intolerance of uncertainty (CBT-IU) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for treating GAD. A total of 30 Iranian patients with GAD (Mage = 25.16 ± 6.73) were randomised to receive either CBT-IU (n = 15) or SSRI (n = 15). Measures included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Why Worry-II (WW-II), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), and Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ). Repeated measures analysis of variance tested differential treatment outcomes. The results of intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis indicated that although both CBT-IU and SSRI were effective treatments for GAD, CBT-IU produced significantly better results than SSRI at post-treatment. This clinical trial provides preliminary cross-cultural support for the treatment of GAD using CBT-IU, with findings suggesting that this non-medication intervention reduces GAD symptoms.

This research reports for the first time the anatomical characteristics of all species belonging to Baccharis subgenus Coridifoliae (Asteraceae). The anatomy and micro-morphology of aerial vegetative organs of ten species: B. albilanosa, B. artemisioides, B. bicolor, B. coridifolia, B. erigeroides, B. napaea, B. ochracea, B. pluricapitulata, B. scabrifolia, and B. suberectifolia are investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. The number of secretory ducts, crystal morphology, presence or absence of conical nonglandular trichomes, leaves cross-section shape, margin morphology, anticlinal epidermal cell walls shape, and cuticle structure were identified as characters with diagnostic value for species. Similarity cluster analysis allows the formation of three groups based on a percentage of similarity between 45 and 84%. Some species showed differential characteristics as the presence of up to four secretory ducts in the midrib in B. albilanosa; smooth cuticles onboth sides of the leaf epidermis in B. erigeroides; flat midrib shape on both sides of the leaves in B. napaea; and convex–flat midrib shape in B. suberectifolia. The remaining species can be differentiated by a set of anatomical features. Anatomical and histochemical characteristics of stems and leaves provided data to support species identification.

In 2009, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the 16 German federal state public health authorities (PHAs) established a weekly epidemiological teleconference (EpiLag) to discuss infectious disease (ID) events and foster horizontal and vertical information exchange. We present the procedure, discussed ID topics and evaluation results of EpiLag after 10 years. We analysed attendance, duration of EpiLag and the frequency of reported events. Participants (RKI and state PHA) were surveyed regarding their satisfaction with logistics, contents and usefulness of EpiLag (Likert scales). Between 2009 and 2018, RKI hosted 484 EpiLag conferences with a mean duration of 25 min (range: 4–60) and high participation (range: 9–16; mean: 15 PHAs). Overall, 2975 ID events (39% international, 9% national and 52% subnational) were presented (mean: 6.1 per EpiLag), most frequently on measles (18%), salmonellosis (8%) and influenza (5%). All responding participants (14/16 PHAs and 9/9 at RKI) were satisfied with the EpiLag's organization and minutes and deemed EpiLag useful for an overview and information distribution on ID events relevant to Germany. EpiLag is time efficient, easily applicable and useful for a low-threshold event communication. It supports PHAs in crises and strengthens the network of surveillance stakeholders. We recommend its implementation to other countries or sectors.

Expansion of cultivated lands and field management impacts greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture soils. Soils naturally cycle GHGs and can be sources or sinks depending on physical and chemical properties affected by cultivation and management status. We looked at how cultivation history influences GHG emissions from subtropical soils. We measured CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes, and soil properties from newly converted and continuously cultivated lands during the summer rainy season in calcareous soils from south Florida. Newly converted soils had more soil organic matter (OM), more moisture, higher porosity, and lower bulk density, leading to more GHG emissions compared to historically cultivated soils. Although more nutrients make newly converted lands more desirable for cultivation, conversion of new areas for agriculture was shown to release more GHGs than cultivated lands. Our data suggest that GHG emissions from agricultural soils may decrease over time with continued cultivation.

Psychiatric intensive care is supposed to offer treatment and to hold patients with psychiatric illness, if they pose a threat to themselves or to others. Besides treating the underlying psychiatric diagnoses, it is also necessary to take care of severe somatic comorbidity, which is often impeded by patients’ limited ability to cooperate. Treatment often requires the administration of sedative medication and occasionally the use of medical restraints. Involuntary commitment, involuntary treatment and the usage of physical restraints is regulated by national mental health laws. Medical professionals working in the field of psychiatric intensive care must have expert knowledge in the fields of psychopharmacology and intensive care medicine. Treatment concepts should be aimed to provide optimized care for psychiatric inpatients in a potentially life-threatening phase of their illness. This article outlines current clinical practice at the psychiatric intensive care unit of the Medical University of Vienna (Austria). Furthermore, we present diagnoses, diagnostic procedures and specific treatments of a sample of 100 consecutive inpatients treated in the years 2008 and 2009 at this ward.