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Spatial and Clinical Epidemiology of Spotted Fever Rickettsioses and Ehrlichiosis, North Carolina, 2010–2019
No full textApplication and Comparison of Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Temperature Gradients to Identify Seasonal and Interannual Variability off the California Coast: Preliminary Results and Future Perspectives
No full textThe application of satellite-derived sea surface temperature in coastal regions is critical for resolving the dynamics of frontal features and coastal upwelling. Here, we examine and compare sea surface temperature (SST) gradients derived from two satellite products, the Multi-Scale Ultra-High Resolution SST Product (MUR, 0.01° grid scale) and the Operational SST and Ice Analysis (OSTIA, 0.05° grid scale), available through the Group for High Resolution SST (GHRSST). Both products show similar seasonal variability, with maxima occurring in the summer time frame. Additionally, both products show an increasing trend of SST gradients near the coast. However, differences exist between the two products (maximum gradient intensities were around 0.11 and 0.06 °C/km for OSTIA and MUR, respectively). The potential contributions of both cloud cover and the collocation of the MUR SST onto the OSTIA SST grid product to these differences were examined. Spectra and coherences were examined at two specific latitudes along the coast where upwelling can occur. A major conclusion is that future work needs to focus on cloud cover and its impact on the derivation of SST in coastal regions. Future comparisons also need to apply collocation methodologies that maintain, as much as possible, the spatial variability of the high-resolution product
Expanded Genetic and Functional Diversity of Oceanic Fungi
No full textBackground
Fungi are known members of marine microbiomes that can act as saprotrophs, parasites, and pathogens. Although a few studies utilizing cultivation-based methods and metabarcoding have been conducted, the diversity, ecological roles, and functional activities of fungi in the open ocean remain vastly underexplored. This gap in knowledge is particularly notable in oxygen minimum zones (OMZ) of the ocean, which have expanded over the past 50 years, affecting marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. The eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean (ETNP) is the largest oxygen minimum zone where fungi have been implicated in the production of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Nevertheless, anaerobic metabolisms have rarely been investigated for fungi within the oxygen-depleted water columns of the ocean. Results
We report previously unrecognized diversity and activity of fungi in the ETNP OMZ. Phylogenetic analysis based on ribosomal proteins and carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) gene families revealed that oceanic fungi form distinct evolutionary clades that diverge from their terrestrial counterparts, challenging earlier models of multiple, intermingled marine–terrestrial transitions. Despite comprising a very low percentage of the total DNA and RNA pool, fungi accounted for a disproportionate share of extracellular CAZyme expression, with glycoside hydrolase family 7 (GH7) emerging as the dominant enzyme. The high expression of fungal GH7 genes suggests a specialized role fungi play in particle degradation, potentially acting on cellulose derived from dinoflagellates and pelagic tunicates, as well as chitosan derived from bacterial deacetylation of chitin. The strong correlation between the gene expression of fungal GH7 and bacterial chitin deacetylase suggests a potential synergy between bacteria and fungi in the degradation of chitin. Moreover, the correlation between dissimilatory nitrogen cycling processes and fungal hydrolytic activities provides new evidence for fungi as key players in linking carbon remineralization and nitrogen cycling in oxygen minimum zones. Conclusions
Our results point to fungi as pivotal contributors to particle remineralization in the ocean, potentially modulating the coupled cycles of carbon and nitrogen in OMZs. Integrating these fungal processes into marine ecosystem models may therefore be essential for improving our understanding of global biogeochemical dynamics and predicting responses to ocean deoxygenation
An Evidence-Based Intervention to Increase \u3ci\u3eTrypanosoma Cruzi\u3c/i\u3e, a Neglected Parasitic Infection, Diagnosis in Rural and Moderate-Size-City Us Clinics
No full textBackground
Chagas disease is a chronic, insidious parasitic infection (Trypanosoma cruzi) that slowly develops to irreversible organomegaly over several decades. The disease is traditionally acquired in endemic Latin American countries during childhood; \u3c 1% of foreign-born adult residents in the United States have been diagnosed or treated with this potentially fatal disease. Low physician knowledge is a primary factor leading to misdiagnosis.
Methods
Starting in April 2022, a 4-part T cruzi clinical education intervention began, which included (i) 2 grand rounds presentations to \u3e100 internal medicine providers; (ii) implementation of a “clinical Chagas champions program” incorporating 14 key clinical staff at varying departments and administrative levels educated on their specific role related to T cruzi screening, diagnosis confirmation, clinical management, and medical billing; (iii) connecting clinicians with external, experienced providers to provide guidance during the medically challenging treatment process; and (iv) T cruzi patient screening at Prisma Health hospitals, family medicine clinics, or affiliated free health clinics. The program\u27s long-term impact was evaluated using a panel Poisson time series statistical model of ordered tests pre- and post-intervention.
Results
For the healthcare system screening initiative, 71 participants were enrolled from across Prisma Health\u27s 21-county region, with a 2.9% Chagas disease seroprevalence detected. Time series analysis of T cruzi testing orders within the healthcare system demonstrated a statistically significant increase in ordered tests across the 30 months post-intervention compared to the 51 months prior.
Conclusions
This intervention substantiates the need to pair academic-health partnerships and clinical awareness campaigns to sustainably support long-term T cruzi screening in nontraditional areas
Resilience Mediates the Association Between Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Rural, Black Women in South Carolina: A Structural Equation Model
No full textIntroduction
The marginalization of intersecting racial, gender, and rural identities compounds the structural vulnerabilities (e.g., discrimination, stigma, health disparities) experienced by Black women in South Carolina’s rural areas. Discriminatory experiences can deteriorate mental health; however, resilience can potentially reduce the ill effects of discrimination by decreasing associated psychological distress. This study examines the mediating role of resilience in the association between discrimination and psychological distress among rural, Black women in South Carolina in the post-pandemic era. Methods
Black women (n = 300, mean age = 48.6) living in rural South Carolina were recruited from January to February 2024 using a cluster sampling method. Participants completed surveys assessing experiences of discrimination, resilience, and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, PTSD). A structural equation modeling analysis was performed using the Lavaan package in R. Results
Discrimination was negatively associated with resilience (β = − 0.107, p \u3c .05) and positively associated with psychological distress (β = 0.387, p \u3c .001). Discrimination had a reduced, positive indirect effect on psychological distress through the path of resilience (β = 0.042, z = 2.004, p \u3c .05), after controlling for participants’ demographics. The model fit was satisfactory (RMSEA = 0.038; CFI = 0.986; TLI = 0.979; SRMR = 0.042; chi-square/df = 22.867/16, p = .117). Age (β = − 0.182, p \u3c .001) was found to act as a moderator between discrimination and psychological distress. Conclusion
The findings reveal that resilience significantly reduces psychological distress among rural Black women, in the context of the adverse effects of discrimination on well-being. Aging appears to exert a protective influence on mental health outcomes, in the presence of discrimination, perhaps as related to generational differences in experiences, perceptions, and coping. In alignment with the advancement towards racial equity, reducing discrimination and fostering process-oriented resilience that is multilevel and multidimensional emerge as potential strategies to lessen the negative impacts on psychological well-being
The Relationship Between Hand Grip Strength and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Elderly People in China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Based on CHARLS Data
No full textThis study explores the relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and cognitive function in China’s middle-aged and elderly population. We employed a cross-sectional design using data from 4535 participants aged ≥ 45 years from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study national dataset. The relationships between HGS and various dimensions of cognitive function, as well as the association between HGS and cognitive impairment, were investigated using ordinary least squares regression models and logistic regression models. Dose–response relationships between HGS and cognitive impairment were modeled using restricted cubic spline curves. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. The results indicated a progressive increase in the total cognitive score as well as the 4 dimensions of the score: orientation, memory, calculation, and drawing, as HGS increased (P \u3c .001). Adjusted logistic regression models showed that the proportion of individuals with cognitive impairment was lower in the medium HGS group (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35–0.76) and even lower in the high HGS group (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18–0.54) compared to the low HGS group. A linear dose–response relationship was observed between HGS and the prevalence of cognitive impairment, after adjusting for confounders in Model 4 (nonlinear P = .155). The sensitivity analysis results aligned with those from the primary ordinary least squares and logistic regression models. Subgroup analysis revealed that men with higher HGS had a higher risk of cognitive impairment compared to women with higher HGS. The present study demonstrated a correlation between HGS and cognitive function in a Chinese middle-aged and older population and suggests that HGS may be an important risk factor for cognitive impairment
Designing Context-Specific Physical Activity Interventions for English Primary Schools: Key Learning From a Four-Month Rapid Ethnography
No full textBackground
Physical activity is essential for children’s health. Primary schools offer an opportunity to equitably promote physical activity. However, school-based interventions have been shown to have little to no effect, potentially due to a lack of consideration of school heterogeneity. This study reports on a rapid ethnography study that was used to capture insights into English primary schools physical activity. The data are intended to inform the design of a context-specific intervention to improve pupil physical activity. Methods
Three researchers conducted a four-month rapid ethnography study within three primary schools in Bristol, UK, between March and July 2024. Several methods were used: observations (n = 80), interviews (n = 26), photo elicitation with pupils (n = 4 activities, total 22 pupils), collection of documentary data (i.e. pupil demographics, school policies, etc.), informal conversations, and field notes. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results
Each school measured success in physical activity differently, such as increased opportunities, personal development, or broader curriculum attainment. Across all schools levels of pupil physical activity varied across physical activity opportunities in the school day, with breaktimes most active, PE lessons focused on fundamental skills, and active clubs providing quality but not fully inclusive opportunities. Furthermore, across all schools different school communities consistently had different goals and needs for physical activity: senior leaders were focused on how physical activity can support broader school-level strategies (e.g. academic achievement and student wellbeing); teachers were concerned with how physical activity can fit in and around curriculum pressures; and pupils wanted fun and engaging activities. Not all physical activities were feasible across settings, emphasising the need for tailored strategies. And differences in Parent Teacher Association (PTA) funding impacted resources and opportunities for pupil physical activity. These various areas of convergence and difference across the schools suggest strategies for intervention development. Conclusion
This study underscores the importance of context-specific approaches to promoting physical activity in primary schools. Context-specific intervention design should closely consider school context to ensure strategies are appropriate. Intervention designs should also include steps to understand different stakeholder goals, PTA funding disparities, and the appropriate areas of physical activity to target
Agnes Owens and the Parliament of Insignificant Lives
No full textThis article focuses on Agnes Owens whose work is examined in the light of Michel Foucault’s essay “Lives of Insignificant Men”, and Pierre Rosanvallon’s Parliament of the Invisible. It tackles the idea that Owens portrays what Foucault calls “insignificant lives”, with a particular emphasis on working or working-class women and on what Owens sees as poverty “in [the] minds”, to show that her fiction is political in a way that is not openly militant
Introduction: Dreaming the Daily Darg
No full textDescribes the scope of the Carnegie Trust -funded project on Working Lives in Scottish Writing since 1918, discusses the topics and theoretical perspectives explored in the research phase, noting both change and continuity from the treatment dominant in early and mid-20th century Scottish literary studies, and introduces the essays in this special issue and their contributions to the wider project theme
The Power, Possibility, and Promise of Arts-Based Research and Social Fiction
No full textDr. Patricia Leavy explains how she came to arts-based research (ABR), the limitations of traditional academic writing, the nature and strengths of ABR. She further reviews the practice of social fiction; a term she coined and practice she has helped legitimate around the world. This review will include brief discussion of the neuroscience of how we experience literature and the history of scholars adapting literary forms. She will discuss a few of her novels as examples. The presentation concludes with a review of the promise ABR and social fiction hold for the research community.
To access the file, please contact Peter Duffy