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Vibrio cholerae, is the causative agent of cholera, that infects millions, annually. Chironomids are aquatic insects that host V. cholerae. Toxigenic strains produce cholera toxin (CT) which is the main virulence factor that causes cholera symptoms. In contrast to other bacterial pathogens, V. cholerae produces CT when at low cell densities while hemagglutinin/protease (HAP) is a high cell density‐controlled gene. When V. cholerae behavior was examined on chironomids, we showed that high cell densities of non‐toxigenic strains, increased HAP production in a toxigenic strain, conditions which could also potentially reduce CT production. Here we propose the value of studies that could support the potential of V. cholerae non‐toxigenic strains to repress virulence gene expression in cholera‐infected humans. High cell densities of a non‐toxigenic strain present in an infected individual, may down‐regulate CT expression, reducing cholera symptoms. To further test the hypothesis supported by a chironomid model, additional experiments in animal models are first needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that the U.S. military uses science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) exposure as a key recruitment tool, one should expect that military service is associated with STEM outcomes. While research demonstrates this pattern for women veterans, we know little about racialized and intersectional patterns. This article uses the American Community Survey data (2014–2018) to examine the association between military service, race/ethnicity, and gender to STEM degrees earned. We find that military service operates contingently: White men's plus white, Hispanic, and multiracial/other women's predicted probability of earning a STEM degree increases with military service. In contrast, for other minority groups, military service is not associated with a higher predicted probability of earning a STEM degree. Indeed, for groups typically overrepresented in STEM fields (i.e., Asian veterans), a negative association exists. These findings inform extant research on the long-term impact of military service on civilian reintegration, including educational and occupational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting field research with a vulnerable population is difficult under the most auspicious conditions, and these difficulties only increase during a pandemic. Here, we describe the practical challenges and ethical considerations surrounding a recent data collection effort with a high-risk population during the COVID-19 pandemic. We detail our strategies related to research design, site selection, and ethical review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, particularly males, experience disproportionately high rates of suicide compared to other young people in the United States. Therefore, enacting suicide prevention efforts for AI/AN youth is especially important. Since research shows that strengthening social, cultural, and emotional support can reduce suicide risk, many recent prevention efforts focus on these strategies. Yet, to reinforce and to extend the positive impact of these strategies for suicide risk reduction, we argue it is useful to identify baseline levels and other features of already-existing support. Toward this end, we describe the types (i.e., category), quantities (i.e., distribution and average number), sources (i.e., from whom), and frequencies (i.e., how often) of social support that AN young people report receiving, and we examine if these "support profiles" differ by age and sex. We use survey data from 165 ANs under age 30, collected as part of a participatory intervention study focused on Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide (PC CARES). We find that: 1) most ANs reported receiving nearly all supports, 2) compared with females, males reported receiving fewer supports on average, 3) family was the most selected support source, followed by close friends and service providers, and 4) family (e.g., parents, siblings, and grandparents) provided support regularly (i.e., monthly or more). Though our findings may suggest fruitful avenues for interventions targeted toward AN males, we discuss these findings in relation to the gendered nature of suicide prevention and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is an increasingly popular and feasible form of data collection, but it can be intensive and intrusive. Especially for at-risk, vulnerable populations like people who use drugs (PWUD), poor experiences with EMA may exacerbate existing chronic struggles while decreasing response rates. However, little research queries participants' experiences with EMA studies. Objectives: We explore participants' positive and negative experiences with EMA, identifying what they liked about the study, the problems they experienced, and suggested solutions to these problems. Methods: Results come from semi-structured interviews from 26 PWUD (6 women; 20 men) in Nebraska who participated in a two-week EMA pilot study on drug use with a study-provided smartphone. Participant responses were recorded by interviewers into open-text fields in Qualtrics. Data were analyzed with an iterative open coding procedure. Results: We found that many participants enjoyed the study and seamlessly incorporated the phone into their daily lives. There were a number of negative study aspects identified, however, as many participants experienced functional issues (e.g., running out of high-speed data, trouble keeping the phone charged, not able to answer questions within the two-hour timeframe) that detracted from their experience, especially if they were homeless. Conclusion: Our findings provide methodological considerations for studies with EMA components among at-risk, vulnerable populations, like PWUD. These suggestions are targeted toward the continued ethical collection of high-quality data in clinical and non-clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]