Search

Background The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS) is one of the largest canine cohort studies undertaken in the United States to date. This study design allows for evaluation of multiple exposures and outcomes throughout the lifetime of each dog, but relies on participants to comply with study requirements over a long period of time. Failure to do so can lead to biased reporting of results. Objectives To examine factors associated with dog owner compliance for GRLS. Animals Golden Retrievers (n = 3044) whose owners elected to participate in GRLS. Methods Prospective, cohort study. A logistic regression model was constructed to examine associations between data collected at the time of initial enrollment in GRLS and the outcome of failure to fulfill all study obligations at the end of the first year after enrollment in GRLS. Results There were 192 (6.3%) owners who did not comply with study requirements 1 year after enrollment. Owners of dogs without a record of vaccination had nearly 4 times higher odds (adjusted OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 9.2) of being noncompliant than owners of vaccinated dogs and owners of dogs that slept in the garage had nearly 6 times higher odds (adjusted OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 1.9, 17.0) of being noncompliant than owners of dogs that slept in their bedroom. Conclusions and clinical importance Survey questions about a dog's sleeping location at night and vaccination status are important indicators of an owner's odds of compliance in a prospective study. Use of similar questions during enrollment in cohort studies might help to predict owner compliance that can aid in subject selection.

It is widely believed that children will choose furniture that has the same color as their preferred color. Furthermore, for different categories of furniture, the color they preferred for furniture is consistent. A study of 508 adolescent Chinese children between the ages of 12 and 16 has been carried out to explore whether color preference influences their choice of furniture when they are provided with various color options (16 chromatic and five achromatic colors). This work tested six items of furniture in two functional spaces (study and bedroom space). Findings indicate that adolescent children's color preferences did indeed affect their furniture choice, but the extent varies with the categories of furniture. Furthermore, this study reveals that children's preference for furniture in different functional spaces is slightly different. Some effects of gender and age were also explored. This work discusses the implications of adolescent color preference and color choice for children's furniture color design.

Objective A prospective, observational study to describe levels of physical activity in patients with stroke in a comprehensive stroke unit in Sweden and Latvia, comparing data between countries. Methods The study was performed at stroke units in one hospital in Sweden (data were acquired over a 2‐month period in 2017) and two hospitals in Latvia (data were acquired over a 3‐month period between 2016 and 2017). Patients with stroke were observed for 1 min every 10 min. The level of physical activity, location, and the people present were noted at each time‐point. Results A total of 27 patients were observed in Latvia and 25 patients in Sweden. Patients from both countries were in bed half of the time and spent the majority of the day in their bedroom and alone. Patients in Sweden had higher physical activity levels, spent more time outside their bedroom and spent more time with rehabilitation specialists and visitors. Conclusion Patients are inactive and alone for a majority of the time during hospitalization at a comprehensive stroke unit in both countries. There are differences in environment in the stroke unit between countries., This behavioral mapping study describe levels of physical activity in patients with stroke in a comprehensive stroke unit in Sweden and Latvia. Patients are inactive and alone for a majority of the time during hospitalization in both countries. There are differences in environment in the stroke units between countries.

Colour meaning is a challenging decision in interior architecture during the design process; however, specific meanings within different interior types have not yet been investigated. This study explored colour meaning in the context of residential interior types (eg, bedroom) under controlled conditions using 42 Munsell colours varying in hues, value, and chroma levels, with 14 adjectives (eg, comfortable, pleasant). The results demonstrate that some colours convey the same meanings (eg, vulgar) regardless of type of room; however, others (eg, beautiful) tend to require more complicated and sophisticated colour applications in different residential interiors. The study findings proved that colour meaning in RITs can be affected by all colour attributes. All colours that are named orange and red are selected for both negative and positive meanings. Colours that are named purple are selected less and only for negative connotations. The findings present an overall colour meaning guide for these residential interior types, which will be beneficial for decision makers (interior architects, designers, users) and colour researchers.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this work were to evaluate (i) the prevalence and frequency of caregiver-reported soil ingestion by children, (ii) whether household flooring material in the bedroom (earth vs. concrete) affected caregiver-reported soil ingestion, (iii) whether caregiver-reported soil ingestion was associated with caregiver-reported diarrhoea and (iv) caregivers' perceptions of their children ingesting soil. METHODS We conducted 309 household surveys in northern Ghana, including 529 children under five (249 children aged 6-36 months), and measured faecal contamination in soil from 31 households. RESULTS Among all children, 15% were reported to have directly ingested soil in the past week, including 28% of children aged 6-36 months. Among children reported to have ingested soil, the median frequency was 14 times in the past week, and the median amount of soil ingested each time was half a handful. There was no association between household floor material and whether the caregiver observed a child directly ingesting soil. After adjusting for household floor material and other potential confounding variables, caregiver-reported soil ingestion was associated with caregiver-reported diarrhoea for children under five [adjusted odds ratio (adj. OR) = 3.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.76-3.55] and children aged 6-36 months (adj. OR = 2.61, 95% CI 2.01-3.39). Approximately 83% of caregivers whose children ingested soil reported they thought it was unsafe and were more likely to report stopping their child from ingesting soil, but these responses did not affect the quantity of soil ingested. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest direct soil ingestion is associated with diarrhoea independent of household floor material, and separate interventions may be necessary to prevent exploratory soil ingestion.

Aim The aim of this study was to identify the potential risks and benefits of sleeping infants in a Pēpi-Pod distributed to families with high risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy compared to a bassinet. Methods Forty-five mostly indigenous Māori mothers who were referred by local health providers to receive a Pēpi-Pod were surveyed at recruitment, 1 and 3 months. A sleep study at 1 month included infrared video, oximetry and temperature measures. Results When compared with 89 historical bassinet controls, an intention-to-treat analysis of questionnaires showed no increase in direct bed sharing but demonstrated significantly less sharing of the maternal bedroom at both interviews, with the majority of those not sleeping in the maternal bedroom, actually sleeping in the living room. The 1 month 'as-used' analysis showed poorer maternal sleep quality. The 'as-used' analysis of video data (24 Pēpi-Pod and 113 bassinet infants) also showed no increase in direct bed sharing, head covering or prone/side sleep position. Differences in oxygen saturation were not significant, but heart rate was higher in the Pēpi-Pod infants by 8.37 bpm (95% confidence interval 4.40, 12.14). Time in the thermal comfort zone was not different between groups despite Pēpi-Pod infants being situated in significantly warmer rooms. Conclusions Overall, we found that most differences in infant risk behaviours in a Pēpi-Pod compared to a bassinet were small, with confidence intervals excluding meaningful differences. We noted poorer maternal sleep quality at 1 month. Higher infant heart rates in the Pēpi-Pod group may be related to higher room temperatures. The Pēpi-Pod appears physiologically safe but is associated with lower reported maternal sleep quality.

Summary All residential homes in Japan have been required to install residential fire alarms since 2006. According to a survey by Tokyo Fire Department in 2011, the installation rate of residential fire alarms per household within the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Fire Department is 80.6%. The authors carried out an analysis of reports of cases, where residential fire alarms successfully worked. The information in these real fire incident reports is very useful for us to understand the actual circumstances as well as the behavior of the people involved in and nearby a fire incident. In many cases of successful activation of fire alarms for fires originating in a living room and bedroom, the occupants were likely to be in sleeping in the room of fire origin and did not become aware of the fire alarm, even if it sounded. By contrast, other family members and/or neighbors outside the room of fire origin were more likely to hear the sound and initiated the response activity to the fire incident. This indicates the potential for persons in the room of fire origin at the time of fire to be saved by others nearby because of the activation of residential fire alarms, even if they are sleeping and do not respond by themselves to the alarm sound. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mobile phones are an essential part of an adolescent's life, leading them to text, phone, or message into the night. Longitudinal latent growth models were used to examine relations between changes in adolescent night-time mobile phone use, changes in sleep behavior, and changes in well-being (depressed mood, externalizing behavior, self-esteem, and coping) for 1,101 students (43% male) between 13 and 16 years old. Both night-time mobile phone use and poor sleep behavior underwent positive linear growth over time. Increased night-time mobile phone use was directly associated with increased externalizing behavior and decreased self-esteem and coping. Changes in sleep behavior mediated the relation between early changes in night-time mobile phone use and later increases in depressed mood and externalizing behavior and later declines in self-esteem and coping.

Aim To collect objective and subjective sleep data on 6- to 8-year-old children across the week and to identify factors within the family environment associated with sleep differences. Methods Data were collected (n = 52) using actigraphy and diaries for 7 consecutive days and nights and a questionnaire incorporating the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was completed by parents. Results Children's actigraphic sleep periods averaged 10 h on school nights and 9.5 h on non-school nights and parents over-estimated children's sleep compared with actigraphy. One third (37%) of children had potential sleep problems. Children who shared a bedroom (31%) had shorter sleep onset latencies and those who consumed caffeinated drinks (33%) went to sleep and awoke later. Increased screen time was associated with later bedtimes on school nights and children with screens in bedrooms (12%) went to bed later and slept less on school nights, and had higher Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire scores. Children living with a shift-working adult (27%) slept longer on non-school nights and had shorter sleep onset latencies on school nights. Conclusions It is important to consider children's sleep within the wider family context and to be aware that parents may over-estimate their children's sleep. Simple strategies to promote sleep health in clinical settings or education programmes include regular weekend bedtimes that align with those on school nights, removing technology from bedrooms and minimising caffeine consumption. An awareness of potential sleep differences associated with shift-working adults may ensure children are supported to have consistent sleep routines that promote adequate sleep.

Objective Household factors (electronic media equipment, play equipment, physical activity in the home, and social support) have been associated with childhood moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), but little is known about how these factors differ across diverse countries. The objective was to explore household correlates of objective MVPA in children from 12 countries. Methods Overall, 5,859 nine- to eleven-year-old children from 12 countries representing a range of human and socioeconomic development indicators wore an accelerometer for 7 days and parents reported on household factors. Multilevel general linear models explored associations among household factors and MVPA variables controlling for age, sex, and parental education. Results Across sites, children with at least one piece of bedroom electronic media had lower MVPA (∼4 min/day; P < 0.001) than those who did not. More frequent physical activity in the home and yard, ownership of more frequently used play equipment, and higher social support for physical activity were associated with more MVPA (all P < 0.001). The association between play equipment ownership and MVPA was inconsistent across countries (interaction P < 0.01). Conclusions With the exception of play equipment ownership, modifiable household factors showed largely consistent and important associations with MVPA across high-, mid-, and low-income countries.

What can a study of social media offer socio-legal studies? Although there are now sophisticated techniques for the analysis of social media, socio-legal studies has yet to draw on them fully. In this paper, we demonstrate how Twitter can produce insights about protest, law and legality. We do so through a case study method, using the so-called bedroom tax. We look at two different ways in which protest against the bedroom tax has been mobilised. The first method involved challenging a policy in the courts using a test case or cases. We discuss the litigation strategies and mess that they created. We counterpose those strategies against those of four prolific ‘tweeps’ who, using a traditional interview method, participated in our study. We argue that, despite the small number of participants, each of these people has in their own way been enormously influential and made things happen. Our position is not an evaluative one – of the different strategies (which, in any event, overlap) – but that legality is mobilised in different ways, different purposes, and our tweeps may well have been, in this case study, rather more successful in their challenges than the lawyers.

Summary Background According to recent findings, short sleep duration is associated with overweight in children. However, primary prevention efforts aimed at achieving adequate sleep among children are scarce. Therefore, the ‘Identification and prevention of Dietary-induced and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS’ (IDEFICS) study implemented a multilevel intervention that included sleep duration as a key behavioural target. The aim of this study is to evaluate sleep duration among children participating in the IDEFICS study. Methods The IDEFICS nocturnal sleep intervention was included as part of stress reduction educational messages aimed at parents and children. Sleep was assessed by a parental 24-h recall (only weekdays; n = 8,543) and by a diary (weekdays and weekends separately; n = 4,150). Mixed linear models tested the intervention effect on sleep duration change between baseline when children were 2–9.9 years of age (2007/2008) and follow-up (2009/2010). Logistic mix models were used to study the intervention effect on the presence of TV in the children's bedroom (one of the intervention messages; n = 8,668). Additionally, parents provided qualitative data regarding exposure to the intervention. Results About 51.1% of the parents in the intervention regions reported awareness of the sleep intervention. A small intervention effect was seen on weeknight sleep duration in that the decrease in sleep duration over 2 years was smaller in the intervention (15 min) as compared with control regions (19 min) (p = 0.044). There was no overall intervention effect on weekend sleep duration or on the presence of a TV in the bedroom. A small significant time effect between baseline and follow-up was found on bedroom TV presence depending on self-reported intervention exposure (3% increase in TV presence in exposed versus 6.6% increase in non-exposed). Children without a TV in the bedroom had longer nocturnal sleep duration. Discussion The sleep component of the intervention did not lead to clinically relevant changes in sleep duration. Future interventions aimed at young children's sleep duration could benefit from more specific and intense messaging than that found in the IDEFICS intervention. Future research should use objective measures of sleep duration as well as intermediate outcomes (sleep knowledge, sleep environment and sleep practices).

Aim To investigate whether evening media exposure, bedroom media use and night-time sleep duration at age 6 months are associated with night-time sleep duration in 12-month-old Thai infants. Methods We enrolled 208 infants in this study at 6 months of age. They were followed-up at 12 months of age. A sleep diary was used to document the infant's sleep onset and wake time at each visit. Night-time sleep duration was then calculated at both ages. Screen media exposure in the household was assessed in depth at both visits. Results Infants who were exposed to screen media in the evening at 12 months of age had a 28-min decrease in 12-month night-time sleep duration on weekdays. Moreover, infants who were exposed to screen media in the evening at age 6 months and 12 months had shorter 12-month night-time sleep duration compared with those who were not exposed to screen media after 7 pm at both ages. Night-time sleep duration at 12 months of age was also directly related to 6-month night-time sleep duration. Conclusion Infants exposed to screen media in the evening at 12 months of age had decreased 12-month night-time sleep duration. To promote good sleep hygiene and optimal sleep for infants at this age, screen media exposure after 7 pm should be avoided.

Propane dispersion after the continuous leaking in the residential building is numerically simulated with FLUENT by computational fluid dynamic method. The variation characteristics of the concentration contribution and explosive range of propane are analyzed. The propane diffusion scope and explosive area increase with time. The highest concentration appears in the kitchen while the lowest concentration appears in the bedroom. Propane explosive area appears only in the kitchen and in the sunroom. Obvious stratification of the propane over the vertical height is due to gravity. The concentration, diffusion scope, and explosive area decrease with the number of windows open. The explosive range appears in the kitchen and the sunroom, but does not appear in the bedroom, the living room, or the bathroom. The research results can provide scientific support and references for risk evaluation, accident prevention and emergency rescue of propane hazards in the building. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 973–981, 2015

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity and life-space mobility in community-dwelling older people. Life-space refers to the spatial area a person purposefully moves through in daily life (bedroom, home, yard, neighborhood, town, and beyond) and life-space mobility to the frequency of travel and the help needed when moving through different life-space areas. The study population comprised community-living 75- to 90-year-old people {n = 174; median age 79.7 [interquartile range (IQR) 7.1]}, participating in the accelerometer substudy of Life-Space Mobility in Old Age (LISPE) project. Step counts and activity time were measured by an accelerometer (Hookie “AM20 Activity Meter”) for 7 days. Life-space mobility was assessed with Life-Space Assessment (LSA) questionnaire. Altogether, 16% had a life-space area restricted to the neighborhood when moving independently. Participants with a restricted life space were less physically active and about 70% of them had exceptionally low values in daily step counts (≤ 615 steps) and moderate activity time (≤ 6.8 min). Higher step counts and activity time correlated positively with life-space mobility. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the temporal order of low physical activity level and restriction in life-space mobility.

In this research, we identify and investigate some of the factors influencing residential color preference. We have taken social environment as a primary focus and the influence of a person's residential, regional, educational, and personal background have been examined. A questionnaire, two drawings (one of a bedroom and another of the exterior of a few houses) and 24 color pencils were prepared. In total, 319 data were gathered from Japanese students living in Japan, Foreign students living in Japan, and Iranian students living in Iran, with 301 applicable data. One of the questions was the respondent's favorite color. The results showed that more than 96.7% have used their favorite colors in the drawings. Blue hues were used most by people living in coastal areas (P

SummaryBackground Sensitization to food allergens and food allergic reactions are mostly caused by ingesting the allergen, but can also occur from exposure via the respiratory tract or the skin. Little is known about exposure to food allergens in the home environment. Objective The objective of this study was firstly to describe the frequency of detection of allergens from fish, egg, milk, and peanut in mattress dust collected from homes of 13-year-old adolescents and secondly to identify home characteristics associated with the presence of food allergen contamination in dust. Methods Food allergens were measured by dot blot analysis in mattress dust from 143 homes in Oslo, Norway. We analysed associations between home characteristics (collected by parental questionnaires and study technicians) and food allergens by multivariate regression models. Results Fish allergen was detected in 46%, peanut in 41%, milk in 39%, and egg allergen in 22% of the mattress dust samples; only three samples contained none of these allergens. All four food allergens were more frequently detected in mattresses in small dwellings (

A fire experiment conducted in a British 1950s-style house is described. Measurements of temperature, smoke, CO, CO2 , and O2 were taken in the Lounge, stairwell, and front and back bedrooms. The front bedroom door was wedged open, while the door to the back bedroom was wedged closed. Contrary to expectations and despite the relatively small fire load, analysis and hazard calculations show permeation of toxic fire gases throughout the property with lethal concentrations of effluent being measured at each sampling point. A generally poor state of repair and missing carpets in the upper story contributed to a high degree of gas and smoke permeation. The available egress time was calculated as the time before the main escape route became impassable. Given known human responses to fire, such an incident could have caused fatalities to sleeping or otherwise immobile occupants. Language: en

Background Migrant farmworkers are exposed to pesticides at work. Housing provided to migrant farmworkers may also expose them to pesticides, increasing their health risks. This analysis (1) describes the presence of organophosphorous (OP) and pyrethroid pesticides in North Carolina migrant farmworker houses, and (2) delineates associations of farmworker camp characteristics with pesticide detection and concentration. Methods In 2010, 186 migrant farmworkers camps in NC were recruited (participation rate of 82.3%); pesticide wipe samples for 176 houses were analyzed. Tobacco is the predominant hand-harvested crop in this region. Two farmworkers per camp completed interviews; a third assisted with a housing inspection. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to detect OP and pyrethroid pesticides. Covariates of pesticide detection and concentration were determined with ANOVA and Tobit regression. Results OPs were found in 166 of 176 houses (average of 2.4/house); pyrethroids were found in 171 houses (average of 4.3/house). The number of different OPs detected in each camp and concentrations of these OPs were not associated with camp and housing characteristics. The number of different pyrethroids detected in each camp and concentrations of these pyrethroids were associated with camps having residents with H2-A visas, a posted North Carolina Department of Labor Certificate of Inspection, no barracks, fewer residents, no bedroom weather protection or floor violations, and no roaches. Conclusions Farmworkers are exposed to pesticides where they live. Policy on removing pesticides from farmworker houses is needed. Reducing pesticides in farmworker houses will reduce one health risk confronted by this vulnerable population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:312–322, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased over recent decades1 and is a public health challenge because of its associations with several cardiovascular disease risk factors in childhood2,3 and the increased likelihood of adult obesity.4,5 One potential contributor to childhood obesity is time spent with screen media, such as viewing television (TV), videos, or video games. Three potential mechanisms linking TV viewing to weight status have been suggested: (1) TV viewing displaces physical activity; (2) increased dietary energy intake from eating while viewing or from the effects of food advertising; and (3) decreased resting metabolic rate during viewing.6 There are inconsistent results for the first suggested mechanism.6 For the second mechanism, experimental studies have demonstrated direct effects, where TV viewing is positively associated with reported intakes of high-fat foods7 and children who watched TV during 2 or more meals per day reported consuming fewer fruits and vegetables, more salty snacks, and sodas.8 There is little support for the third suggested mechanism.6,9 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that youth over 2 years of age spend no more than 2 hours each day with screens, and that parents do not place a TV in a child’s bedroom.10 Despite these recommendations, 8 to 18-year-olds spend approximately 7.5 hours per day with media, including TV, computers, video games, and movies; moreover, the majority of this time, 4.5 hours, is spent viewing TV.11 Time spent watching TV is positively associated with obesity prevalence in youth;12 this association is well documented by multiple longitudinal studies13–15 and 2 meta-analyses.16,17 One factor that contributes to children and adolescents’ TV-viewing time is having a TV in their bedroom. Between 1999 and 2009, the prevalence of TVs in children’s bedrooms increased from 65% to 71%.11 In 2009, it was reported that 54% of 8 to 10-year-olds and 76% of 11 to 18-year-olds had a bedroom TV. Furthermore, they found that 8 to 18-year-olds with a bedroom TV watched live TV (ie, regularly scheduled programming) about an hour more per day than those without a TV in their bedroom.11 Other cross-sectional studies have found positive associations between having a bedroom TV and TV-viewing time for youth.18,19 In addition to reporting more TV-viewing time, adolescents with a bedroom TV reported poorer dietary habits and fewer family meals, compared with those who did not have a TV in the bedroom;18,19 however, longitudinal data show varying associations. Saelens et al20 reported that having a TV in a child’s bedroom was associated with increased time spent watching TV when children were younger (ie, 6 years old), but not when the children were older (ie, 12 years old). Another longitudinal study that followed 12-year-olds over a 3-year period found a positive association among boys.21 Neither meta-analysis cited above examined the association of excessive screen time, having a TV in the bedroom, and obesity. In this study, we used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional study and examined sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with children aged 6 to 17 years who exceeded AAP screen time recommendations on a typical weekday. The presence of a TV in the bedroom was among the behavioral characteristics. After controlling for sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, we then calculated the odds of obesity among 12 to 17-year-olds for those exceeding AAP screen time recommendations. Our analyses are novel because they examine the effect of exceeding AAP screen time recommendations, having a TV in the bedroom, and risk of obesity, while controlling for other characteristics.

Accessible summary Service users who have suffered from anxiety issues were offered relaxation sessions. Three main techniques were used in a creative way. Relaxation methods can help adults with learning difficulties reduce anxiety. Summary Over an 18-month period, a group of adult service users with mild to moderate learning disabilities referred to the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and who were identified as suffering from anxiety-related disorders, attended a 12-week course of relaxation therapy and the results recorded. To remain true to person-centred values, a creative approach was taken in delivery of the core relaxation techniques. Three core techniques were used: controlled breathing; guided imagery; and progressive muscle relaxation. These were creatively adapted to each individual. Results were recorded using the Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale (CUXOS) measurement tool and pulse readings taken using a pulse oximeter. The results indicated an overall decrease in physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety. It was concluded that relaxation therapy can be beneficial to this client group, especially when used in a creative and person-centred way.

We evaluated the effects of assessment-based interventions on the treatment of sleep problems in 3 young children, 2 of whom had been diagnosed with autism. We used sleep diaries and infrared nighttime video in the child's bedroom to obtain measures of sleep onset, sleep-interfering behaviors, night waking, total sleep, parental presence, and medication administration each night. We then identified environmental factors that contributed to sleep problems using an open-ended interview called the Sleep Assessment and Treatment Tool. Individualized treatment packages were designed with the children's parents based on the idiosyncratic results of the assessment. Treatment packages included adjustment of the sleep schedule based on developmental norms and current sleep phases, design of a sleep-conducive environment, elimination of inappropriate sleep dependencies, and function-based interventions to decrease sleep-interfering behaviors by disrupting the contingency between the interfering behavior and its likely reinforcement. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across subjects revealed that treatment was effective for all 3 children. In addition, social acceptability measures showed that the parents were satisfied with the assessment process, the treatment, and the amount of behavior change.

Summary Aims: A television in the bedroom is associated with measures of adiposity. We aimed to test if this association is mediated by any of (i) time spent watching television, (ii) sleep duration, (iii) physical activity level or (iv) consumption of soft drinks. Method: Data were from 7234 boys and girls aged 10–12 years in European countries involved in the EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth project (Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Spain). Waist circumference, height and weight were measured. The presence of a bedroom television, television viewing time, sleep duration, physical activity time and soft drink consumption were assessed by standardized questionnaires. Results: Almost 40% of schoolchildren had a bedroom television, with the highest percentage among Hungarian children (65%) and lowest for Belgian, Slovenian and Spanish children (all a28%). A television in the bedroom was positively associated with time spent watching television, soft drink consumption and overweight and obesity (all P < 0.001). The relationship between a television in the bedroom and measures of body size was partly mediated by total television viewing time (proportion mediated for waist circumference 8.9%; for body mass index 8.3%) but not sleep duration, physical activity time or soft drink consumption. Conclusion: The strong association between a television in the bedroom and adiposity was at least partially mediated by television viewing time. The large proportion of European schoolchildren with a

Aim To analyse the effect of lifestyle factors on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6–15-year-old Norwegian children. Methods Questionnaire data on lifestyle factors (sedentary behaviour, activity and eating habits) and prevalence numbers of overweight and obesity based on measured height and weight were analysed using multinomial logistic regression in a sample of 2281 children included in the Bergen Growth Study. Results More screen time increased the risk of overweight (odds ratio (OR): 1.25; p = 0.02) and obesity (OR: 1.12; p = 0.02) as did the presence of a TV in the child's bedroom (OR: 1.26 (overweight), OR: 1.81 (obese); p = 0.04). The obese children reported less sugar intake than the not overweight children (OR: 0.58; p = 0.01). Higher parental education was associated with less screen time (p = 0.02), lower frequency of TV in the child's bedroom (p = 0.001), more sports (p = 0.005), as well as eating more fruit and vegetables, less sweets, soft drinks and fast food, and more regular meals (for all, p

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject Short sleep duration is a risk factor for obesity. Television (TV) in the bedroom has been shown to be associated with excess body weight in children. Children increasingly use other electronic entertainment and communication devices (EECDs) such as video games, computers, and smart phones. What this study adds Access to and night-time use of EECDs are associated with shortened sleep duration, excess body weight, poorer diet quality, and lower physical activity levels. Our findings reinforce existing recommendations pertaining to TV and Internet access by the American Academy of Pediatrics and suggest to have these expanded to restricted availability of video games and smart phones in children's bedrooms. Background While the prevalence of childhood obesity and access to and use of electronic entertainment and communication devices (EECDs) have increased in the past decades, no earlier study has examined their interrelationship. Objective To examine whether night-time access to and use of EECDs are associated with sleep duration, body weights, diet quality, and physical activity of Canadian children. Methods A representative sample of 3398 grade 5 children in Alberta, Canada, was surveyed. The survey included questions on children's lifestyles and health behaviours, the Harvard Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency questionnaire, a validated questionnaire on physical activity, and measurements of heights and weights. Random effect models were used to assess the associations of night-time access to and use of EECDs with sleep, diet quality, physical activity, and body weights. Results Sixty-four percent of parents reported that their child had access to one or more EECDs in their bedroom. Access to and night-time use of EECDs were associated with shortened sleep duration, excess body weight, poorer diet quality, and lower physical activity levels in a statistically significant manner. Conclusions Limiting the availability of EECDs in children's bedrooms and discouraging their night-time use may be considered as a strategy to promote sleep and reduce childhood obesity.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and environmental factors of temperature, noise, and lighting in nursing home residents with severe dementia. Design: Cross-sectional, observational, analytical. Setting: Eight public, long-term care nursing homes in the province of Girona, Spain. Participants: Random sample of 160 nursing home residents with severe dementia. Measurements: Functional and cognitive impairment, pain, neuropsychiatric disturbances, and QOL were determined using standardized instruments. Temperature, noise, and lighting in bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms were measured in the morning and afternoon using a multifunction environment meter in a standardized manner. Results: Adjusted multivariate linear regression models demonstrated that environmental measures were independently associated with QOL and related factors. High temperature in the bedroom was associated with lower QOL (standardized ? = 0.184), high noise levels in the living room were associated with low behavioral signs of social interactions (? = 0.196), and low lighting levels in the bedroom were associated with number of signs of negative affective mood (? = -0.135). Conclusion: The QOL of nursing home residents with severe dementia was related to environmental factors such as temperature, noise, and lighting. The monitoring of these environmental factors may improve these individuals' QOL.

Touching Queerness Everything I know about being queer I learned from Tina Turner. More specifically, you might say that Ike and Tina’s cover of “Proud Mary”— the soundtrack of my childhood—taught me, through camp performance, how to be a “Mary.” During the holiday parties at my great-grandmother Lucille “Big Momma” Jones’ house, for as long as I can remember, we kids ended up in the “Children’s Room” so the grown folks could curse, drink whiskey, smoke, laugh, and be as loose as they felt. The “Children’s Room” was not that special. It was usually a bedroom with a computer or television and a few board games, located next to the food which was always laid out buffet style. My favorite moments were when we would lip sync for our lives by doing drag karaoke, where my cousins and I would lock ourselves away and perform great popular music hits for an invisible audience. We pulled songs from Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears’ latest album to older joints that circulated long before our time, songs like “Stop! (In the Name of Love)” by Diana Ross and The Supremes and Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade.” But one song we kept in our catalog and that we seemed to have the most fun with was the Ike and Tina Turner cover of “Proud Mary.” Whenever we did “Mary” I insisted in being Tina. But what was it that drew me—a black gay boy rooted, like Tina, in Saint Louis, which is either the South or the Midwest depending on who you ask—into her style of performance? And why “Proud Mary” in particular? Was it Tina’s way with sequins and fringe that turned me on? Or did it have to do with the way she instinctively knew how to work a stage? Gay men idolize many kinds of divas, as the cultural critic Wayne Koestenbaum has revealed.1 But perhaps the one commonality they share among them is the virtuosic styling of the body: the use of sequins, fringe, sunglasses, big shoulder pads, and bedazzled hats—accessories that help transform the diva from a mere mortal into a fantastical image, or what Guy Debord might describe as “capital accumulated to the point where it becomes image” even if the pearls are fake (24).

Summary Objective This study aimed to examine the association of television (TV) time, the frequency of meals while watching TV and the presence of TV set in the bedroom with total and abdominal obesity and to assess whether physical activity (PA) attenuates the obesity risk of TV viewing. Methods Cross-sectional data were obtained from 2200 adolescents (46% boys) from 10 European cities, The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study, between 2006 and 2007. TV viewing, PA (by accelerometry) and body composition were measured. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Even adjusting by vigorous PA, TV in the bedroom (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.74) and >4 h d−1TV during week days (OR: 1.30, 95% CI, 1.02–1.67) (in boys) and eating every day with TV (OR: 1.18, 95% CI, 1.07–1.30) and >2 h d−1TV during weekend days (OR: 1.68, 95% CI, 1.25–2.26) (in girls) were significantly associated with total obesity. Likewise, in both sexes, having a TV set at bedroom was significantly associated with abdominal obesity. Conclusions Adolescents spending excessive TV time are prone to obesity independently of their PA levels. Families should put TV sets out of adolescents’ bedroom and keep TV sets off during meal times.

Aim: To identify risk factors for children developing and being hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia. Methods: Children

The potential for the injury or death of a child resulting from the tip-over of a piece of household furniture or a domestic appliance has not been previously well recognized. We reviewed nine accidental deaths of young children that resulted from avoidable residential hazards and/or lapses in supervision of the children by their caregivers. The offending household items included televisions, bedroom dressers, a kitchen stove, and a lounge chair. The causes of death were mechanical asphyxia, blunt trauma, and combined blunt head trauma and asphyxia. All of the deaths could have been prevented by appropriate anchoring of the piece of furniture and/or closer supervision of the child. A thorough multidisciplinary investigation is essential in establishing the cause and manner of death in such cases and in identifying risk factors that may aid in the prevention of future childhood deaths. Language: en

This postal questionnaire study investigated the use of media in the bedroom and its relationships with sleep habits and symptoms of insomnia. The sample comprised 2500 individuals aged 16-40 years drawn randomly from the Norwegian national register. A total of 816 (34.0%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Respondents were asked how often they used computers, television sets, DVD players, game consoles and mobile telephones and listened to music/radio in their bedrooms. They also reported sleep habits on weekdays and at weekends/days off and symptoms of insomnia. After controlling for gender, age, anxiety and depression, the respondents who used a computer in the bedroom 'often' compared to 'rarely' rose later on weekdays and at weekends/days off, turned off the lights to go to sleep later at weekends/days off, slept more hours at weekends/days off and had a greater discrepancy between turning off the lights to go to sleep on weekdays and at weekends/days off. Respondents who used a mobile telephone in their bedrooms at night 'often' compared to 'rarely' turned off the lights to go to sleep later on weekdays and at weekends/days off, and rose later at weekends/days off. No such differences were found with the use of the other media. There were also no significant differences in symptoms of insomnia. This study indicates that the use of computers and mobile telephones in the bedroom are related to poor sleep habits, but that media use in the bedroom seems to be unrelated to symptoms of insomnia.

Epidemiological data suggest that traffic exposures can influence asthma and allergic symptoms among preschool children; however, there is no information on risk reduction via home air-conditioning (AC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations of self-reported traffic densities with asthma and allergic symptoms among preschool children and determine whether AC is an effect modifier. A cross-sectional study adopting an expanded and modified ISAAC--International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood conducted on randomly selected 2994 children living in homes without any indoor risk factors. Specific information on demographics, indoor home risk factors, and traffic variables were obtained. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined by Cox proportional hazard regression model with assumption of a constant risk period controlled for covariates. We found dose-response significant relationships between validated self-reported traffic densities and asthma and rhinitis symptoms. Among children sleeping in non-air-conditioned homes, there were stronger associations between asthma and rhinitis symptoms studied. PRs for heavy traffic density were 2.06 for wheeze (95% CI 0.97-4.38), 2.89 for asthma (1.14-7.32), 1.73 for rhinitis (1.00-2.99), and 3.39 for rhinoconjunctivitis (1.24-9.27). There were no associations found for children sleeping in air-conditioned homes. Our results suggest that AC in the bedroom modifies the health effects of traffic among preschool children. This finding suggests that attention should also be paid to ventilation characteristics of the homes to remediate health-related traffic pollution problems.

Ever since Dr Charles Butterworth's seminal article in 19741 on the widespread prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalised patients and its detrimental effect on recovery, attempts have been made to improve the detection of malnutrition through screening initiatives. However, despite compelling evidence that those who are either malnourished at admission or become malnourished during their hospital stay experience increased surgical complications, greater morbidity and increased length of hospital stay2,3 as well as higher rates of mortality at 12 months,4,5 malnutrition often remains undetected and untreated because it is not considered to be a clinical priority. Even overt signs of malnutrition are often missed in medical wards. A French study identified that 12% of patients admitted to an acute geriatric ward over a 1-year period had clinical symptoms of scurvy.6 Of particular concern was that half of those with scurvy had been referred from another acute medical department in which the diagnosis had gone unnoticed. The failure to recognise patients who are at risk of malnutrition and subsequent implementation of timely nutritional intervention often results in a downward spiral whereby patents are discharged back to the community or to a higher level of care, later to be readmitted in a more compromised nutritional state.

Postpartum sleep disruption is common among new parents. In this randomized controlled trial we evaluated a modified sleep hygiene intervention for new parents (infant proximity, noise masking, and dim lighting) in anticipation of night-time infant care. Two samples of new mothers (n = 118 and 122) were randomized to the experimental intervention or attention control, and sleep was assessed in late pregnancy and first 3 months postpartum using actigraphy and the General Sleep Disturbance Scale. The sleep hygiene strategies evaluated did not benefit the more socioeconomically advantaged women or their partners in Sample 1, but did improve postpartum sleep among the less advantaged women of Sample 2. Simple changes to the bedroom environment can improve sleep for new mothers with few resources.

Thirty single-family homes with either high (> or = 2000 ng/g) or low (< or = 1000 ng/g) house-dust mite (HDM) allergen levels in mattress dust were examined for ventilation, thermal climate, and air quality (formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC). Elevated concentrations of HDM allergen in mattress and floor dust were associated with the difference in absolute humidity between indoor and outdoor air, as well as with low air-change rates of the home, particularly the bedroom. No correlation was found between concentration of TVOC or formaldehyde in bedroom air and HDM allergen concentration. In regions with a cold winter climate, the air-change rate of the home and the infiltration of outdoor air into the bedroom appear to be important for the infestation of HDM.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess weekday and weekend sleep patterns and their relationships with electronic media (television and computer) exposure and with daytime sleep-related behaviours, including sleep problem behaviours, sleepiness and fatigue in Israeli adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional survey, which includes 470 8th and 9th grade middle school students (mean age 14 ± 0.8) in the normative school system, was performed. Students completed the modified School Sleep Habits Survey (SSHS), and the modified Electronic Media and Fatigue Questionnaire (EMFQ). Results: Adolescents went to bed at 23:00 and 01:45 hours, and slept

Endotoxin may affect the development of allergic disease in childhood but little is known about endotoxin variation within homes. We sought to determine endotoxin concentration agreement within homes when five locations were each sampled twice 5 months apart. Endotoxin was measured using the recombinant Limulus factor C assay in dust samples from 585 homes of children enrolled in a prospective study and again in 335 homes 5 months later. The five locations sampled in each home were the child's bedroom floor, child's bed, mother's bedroom floor, mother's bed and living room floor. Concentrations of 4 allergens (Can f 1, Fel d 1, Der f 1 and Bla g 2) were also measured from the child's bedroom floor. In pair-wise comparisons, endotoxin concentrations in all locations within each home were significantly different from all other locations (p < 0.001) except for the child's and mother's bedroom floors (p = 0.272). Spearman correlations between endotoxin concentrations from the different locations were all statistically significant (p < 0.05) but of modest magnitude (r = 0.24-0.54). Similarly, correlations at each site over the 5 month observation interval were statistically significant but modest (r = 0.17-0.44). Pets and season of the year did not affect correlations, although correlations were lower if the floor was not carpeted. Endotoxin concentrations at all locations were minimally correlated with allergen concentrations in both negative and positive directions (r = -0.12 to 0.12). We conclude that a single measurement of endotoxin from a home dust sample provides an imprecise estimate of dust endotoxin concentrations in other locations within the home and over a relatively short observation interval.

Designed to examine the relationship between family sleep arrangements and children's sleep problems in families with preschool-age children adopted from China, this study documented types of sleep arrangements and explored the nature and sources of advice received by parents on co-sleeping. Mothers of 480 children provided survey data on their children's night-time sleep locations, sleep and wake schedules, and changes in sleep arrangements. Children's sleep problems were measured with the Sleep Problem Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist. Descriptive and qualitative analyses showed that most children (71.3%) had a single exclusive sleep location (e.g. solitary sleeping, sharing bedroom with a sibling, sleeping in parents' bedroom, or co-sleeping with parents) and the rest used a combination of two or three different locations. Children with more sleep problems were more likely to have more sleep locations and to co-sleep or share a bedroom with parents. Parents of children with more sleep problems were more likely to seek advice on co-sleeping. When they did, paediatricians were more likely than extended family members and fellow adoptive parents to recommend against co-sleeping. Careful integration of the descriptive and qualitative data permitted us to draw the conclusion that sleep arrangements reflected parental responsiveness to children's sleep behaviours. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Summary Obesity has become pandemic. In America, as obesity has increased, the amount of sleep Americans get per night has decreased, and studies are now showing an association. Epidemiological studies on short sleep duration (SSD) and obesity have been conducted in children and adults, and show an overall positive association. Leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that control appetite, have been studied as a mechanism for SSD causing obesity. Low leptin and high ghrelin levels have been seen in sleep deprivation, the effect of which is an increase in appetite that could be linked to obesity. Decreasing media use, namely television and computers, could be one way to increase nightly sleep and potentially help people lose weight. Paediatric studies have shown an association with bedroom media use and shorter sleep duration. Adult studies are lacking in this area. Limitations in the literature include self-report in a majority of sleep studies and only a suggested causal link between SSD and obesity among all of the epidemiological studies. In conclusion, obesity is a global problem with great complexity. Encouraging people to get more sleep could be one part of the solution to help them lose weight and gain health.

Summary Background About 90% of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus worsens AD by secreting superantigens and structural molecules within the cell wall that induce skin inflammation. Therefore, S. aureus in the home may contribute to persistent skin inflammation and disease severity. Objective To quantify S. aureus burden in homes of participants with AD of varying severities. Methods Participants with mild (n=18), moderate (n=14), severe (n=15), and no AD (n=15), collected dust from their bed and bedroom floor, and from their home vacuum cleaner bag. DNA was extracted from dust samples, and the S. aureus-specific femB gene was quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. Data was log-transformed, and then statistically analysed with anova, student's t-test, and Spearman's r. Results Participants with severe AD (geometric mean: 14.67 pg/mg dust) had significantly more S. aureus DNA in their bed dust than those with moderate (0.41 pg/mg dust, P

Transformer stations in apartment buildings may offer a possibility to conduct epidemiological studies that involve high exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (MF), avoid selection bias and minimize confounding factors. To validate exposure assessment based on transformer stations, measurements were performed in thirty buildings in three Finnish cities. In each building, spot measurements in all rooms and a 24-h recording in a bedroom were performed in one apartment above a transformer station (AAT), in one first floor (FF) reference apartment, and one reference apartment on upper floors (UF). The apartment mean of spot measurements was 0.62 microT in the AATs, 0.21 microT in the FF and 0.11 microT in the UF reference apartments The 24-h apartment mean (estimated from the spot measurements and the bedroom 24-h recording) was 0.2 microT or higher in 29 (97%) AATs, in 7 (25%) FF and in 3 (10 %) UF reference apartments. The corresponding numbers for the 0.4 microT cut-off point were 19 (63%), 4 (14%), and 1 (3.3%). The higher MF level in the FF reference apartments indicates that they should not be considered "unexposed" in epidemiological studies. If such apartments are excluded, a transformer station under the floor predicts 24-h apartment mean MF with a sensitivity of 0.41 (or 0.58) and a specificity of 0.997 (or 0.97), depending on the MF cut-off point (0.2 or 0.4 microT). The results indicate that apartments can be reliably classified as high and low MF field categories based on the known location of transformer stations.

Objective: The objective was to determine if having a television (TV) in the bedroom is associated with physical activity (PA), TV/video viewing, and adiposity throughout adolescence. Research Methods and Procedures: Longitudinal data (September 2002 through June 2005) were analyzed of 379 initially 12-year-old French adolescents participating as controls in the Intervention Centered on Adolescents’ Physical activity and Sedentary behavior (ICAPS). Presence of a TV set in the bedroom (TVbedroom) and leisure activities were obtained by questionnaire. There was annual assessment of BMI, waist circumference, and body fat by bioimpedance. Results: In boys but not girls, baseline TVbedroom was associated with higher TV/video viewing over time [odds ratio (OR) of high TV/video = 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.8] and less no-sport club participation (OR = 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 1.0). Both boys and girls with baseline TVbedroom had lower reading time (p < 0.0001 in boys; p = 0.04 in girls), while PA did not differ according to TVbedroom for boys or for girls. For boys only, baseline TVbedroom was associated with higher BMI (mean BMI over time 20.5 ± 0.5 vs. 19.0 ± 0.5 kg/m2; p = 0.001), waist circumference (70.9 ± 0.9 vs. 67.2 ± 0.8 cm; p < 0.001), and body fat (15.9 ± 0.9% vs. 13.5 ± 0.9%; p < 0.001), without interaction with time. These relationships remained significant after adjustment for socioeconomic status. TV/video viewing explained 26%, 42%, and 36% of the relationships of TVbedroom with BMI, waist circumference, and body fat, respectively, while addition of other leisure activities in the models only marginally reduced the effects. Discussion: These results suggest the importance of keeping TV out of an adolescent's bedroom from an obesity prevention perspective but show gender differences.

Existing literature has shown that home dampness increases indoor mold burden and is associated with increased allergic symptoms among young children in temperate environments. There is no report of any studies of similar nature in the tropics where conditions are characterized typically by high temperatures and humidity with rainfall throughout the year. To evaluate if there are associations between the prevalence of current asthma and allergic symptoms in young children (age 1.5-6 yr) with dampness and indoor mold in children's bedrooms in a tropical environment. A cross-sectional study adopting an expanded and modified ISAAC- International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Children - questionnaire for the evaluation of asthma and allergies was conducted on 6794 children (4759 responded - 70%) attending 120 randomly selected daycare centers. Specific information on demographics, home dampness, and the visible presence of indoor molds were obtained. The prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined by Cox proportional hazard regression model with assumption of a constant risk period as recommended for cross-sectional studies. The calculated PRs were controlled for age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, type of housing, maternal and paternal atopy, respiratory infections, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, and food allergy. After adjusting for potential confounding effects, home dampness was observed to be significantly associated with current symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis (adjusted PR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.00-2.33). The visible presence of mold was significantly associated with current symptoms of rhinitis (PR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.16-2.07) and rhinoconjunctivitis (PR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.51-3.75). Indoor dampness and mold in children's bedroom are important risk factors associated with allergic symptoms in young children in Singapore.

Aim: To describe the time children spend watching television (TV) and to assess associations between TV viewing time, the family environment and weight status. Methods: Parents reported the amount of time children watched TV/video both for ‘the previous school day’ and ‘usually’ and described aspects of the family environment influencing TV access as part of a large cross-sectional study in the Barwon South-western region of Victoria, Australia. Child weight status was based on measured height and weight. All data were collected in 2003/2004. Results: A total of 1926 children aged 4–12 years participated. Parent-reported mean ± SE TV time for the previous school day was 83 ± 1.5 min. Children who lived in a family with tight rules governing TV viewing time (22%), or who never watched TV during dinner (33%), or had only one TV in the household (23%) or had no TV in their bedroom (81%) had significantly less TV time than their counterparts. Overweight or obese children had more TV time than healthy weight children 88 ± 2.9 versus 82 ± 1.7 min per day (P = 0.04). They were also more likely to live in a household where children had a TV in their bedroom than healthy weight children (25% vs. 17%, P Conclusion: Strategies to reduce TV time should be included as part of broader strategies to prevent childhood obesity. They should include messages to parents about not having a TV in children’s bedrooms, encouraging family rules restricting TV viewing, and not having the TV on during dinner.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mite fauna in mattresses dust samples from cribs or beds in the south Brazilian city of Londrina, State of Parana. A total of 133 dust samples from upper and lower mattress surfaces, and bed frames were aspirated once from 38 dwellings (18 cribs and 21 beds), and one day nursery (six cribs). A total of 758 mite bodies were counted in slides: 233 (30.7%) from cribs and 525 (69.3%) from beds (p < 0.001). House dust mites - mainly Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, represented 72% and 84% of total mite count in crib and bed dust samples, respectively. The mean HDM body concentration in crib or bed slides were, respectively, 289.9 ± 136.7 and 875.0 ± 183.6 mites/g. Statistical analysis showed a significantly higher mite bodies count on lower mattress surface compared with upper surface in bed samples only (p = 0.025). Data herein show that cribs like mattress have sufficient mite bodies to cause sensitization to humans. The use of mattress covers for cribs and beds should be encouraged in order to avoid allergens exposure.

Behavioral and hormonal data were compared for four giant pandas in two management conditions: (1) panda confined to exhibit area and (2) panda given choice to move freely between exhibit and off-exhibit bedroom areas. Pandas displayed fewer signs of behavioral agitation and lower urinary cortisol in the free choice condition. Time active did not differ between the two conditions. These results suggest that simply offering pandas free access to alternative locations can improve behavioral and hormonal variables that may be related to well-being. Zoo Biol 0:1–7, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.