Search

The measurement of spatial patterns across urban areas is paramount in answering questions related to the dynamics of social phenomenon. Scholars have measured the layout of cities, land use, infrastructure, and other features of the built environment that may correlate with a number of social processes. Recently, several studies have posited the idea of a contested boundary as a way to measure where and to what extent intergroup conflict may occur. Contested boundaries are conceptualized as interstitial zones that separate communities of contrasting ethno-racial composition – areas where there is no clear majority group that makes up the population. Previous studies have successfully demonstrated the utility of this approach yet have largely based their work on the analysis of areas, potentially masking the local heterogeneity of incident locations in relation to surrounding neighborhoods. Using the City of Cincinnati as a case study, we reconceptualize contested areas as contested edges and determine whether the edges separating racially distinct neighborhoods are associated with a higher rate of interracial crime. Our results lend support for the use of an edge-based approach to evaluate urban social patterns and highlight the importance of accounting for local spatial heterogeneity when assessing ethno-racial group interaction. • Contested edges reflect the change in ethno-racial composition across neighboring areas. • We modify area-based contested edge measures to work with line segments. • We find a significant relationship between interracial crime rate and contested edge score. • Our method offers a new approach for exploring group dynamics in urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deepwater Horizon disaster and other oil spill events have motivated the continued development of spill impact estimation methods and models. Spills are simulated, impacts are estimated and prescriptions are made for improving response and associated mitigation efforts. However, there is significant uncertainty in oil spill models due to the stochastic nature of the ocean and the representation of a plume as points in space. Furthermore, large scale analyses, while useful, may fail to recognize and characterize the micro- or meso-scale impacts of a spill. This paper presents an innovative application of a repeated sampling procedure to mitigate elements of uncertainty in oil spill models by capturing and characterizing where the oiling is likely to beach and providing probability estimates of the associated predictions. Specifically, we use a kriging interpolation method to model the oiled coastline as a continuous surface to better match actual oil landfall observed in reality and then use it to provide a more robust estimation of the smaller scale impacts. Through two measures of validation this work finds that the repeated sampling procedure does provide a more robust estimate of oil impact when compared to estimations from a single simulation of a spill [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual cardiovascular (CV) risk remains in some patients despite optimized statin therapy and may necessitate add-on therapy to reduce this risk. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, lowers plasma triglyceride levels without raising low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and has potential beneficial effects on atherosclerotic plaques. Animal studies have shown that EPA reduces levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In clinical trials utilizing a wide spectrum of plaque imaging modalities, EPA has shown beneficial effects on plaque characteristics. Studies of patients with coronary artery disease receiving statin therapy suggest that EPA may decrease plaque vulnerability and prevent plaque progression. EPA also decreased pentraxin-3 and macrophage accumulation. A large, randomized, Japanese study reported that EPA plus a statin resulted in a 19% relative reduction in major coronary events at 5 years versus a statin alone in patients with hypercholesterolemia ( P = 0.011). Icosapent ethyl, a high-purity prescription form of EPA ethyl ester, has been shown to reduce triglyceride levels and markers of atherosclerotic inflammation. Results of an ongoing CV outcomes study will further define the potential clinical benefits of icosapent ethyl in reducing CV risk in high-risk patients receiving statin therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Daily SARS-CoV-2 loading for two sewersheds in Austin, TX were calculated. • ZIP code level daily COVID-19 cases were apportioned to admin units within each sewershed. • LOWESS cross-correlations identify correspondence between SARS-CoV-2 loading and cases. • Variations in lag period and the strength of correlation exist across admin units. • Disaggregating and apportioning cases provides a more nuanced view of community spread. S evere acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to effect communities across the world. One way to combat these effects is to enhance our collective ability to remotely monitor community spread. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is one approach that enables researchers to estimate the total number of infected people in a region; however, estimates are often made at the sewershed level which may mask the geographic nuance required for targeted interdiction efforts. In this work, we utilize an apportioning method to compare the spatial and temporal trends of daily case count with the temporal pattern of viral load in the wastewater at smaller units of analysis within Austin, TX. We find different lag-times between wastewater loading and case reports. Daily case reports for some locations follow the temporal trend of viral load more closely than others. These findings are then compared to socio-demographic characteristics across the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing interest in offshore hydrocarbon exploration has pushed the operational fronts associated with exploration efforts further offshore into deeper waters and more uncertain subsurface settings. This has become particularly common in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. In this study we develop a spatial vulnerability approach and example assessment to support future spill prevention and improve future response readiness. This effort, which is part of a larger integrated assessment modeling spill prevention effort, incorporated economic and environmental data, and utilized a novel new oil spill simulation model from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, the Blowout and Spill Occurrence Model (BLOSOM). Specifically, this study demonstrated a novel approach to evaluate potential impacts of hypothetical spill simulations at varying depths and locations in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The simulations are analyzed to assess spatial and temporal trends associated with the oil spill. The approach itself demonstrates how these data, tools and techniques can be used to evaluate potential spatial vulnerability of Gulf communities for various spill scenarios. Results of the hypothetical scenarios evaluated in this study suggest that under conditions like those simulated, a strong westward push by ocean currents and tides may increase the impacts of deep water spills along the Texas coastline, amplifying the vulnerability of communities on the local barrier islands. Ultimately, this approach can be used further to assess a range of conditions and scenarios to better understand potential risks and improve informed decision making for operators, responders, and a of stakeholders to support spill prevention as well as response readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry are susceptible to stress as a response to a multitude of environmental stressors such as handling, vaccination, feed outages, rearing on used litter, and elevated ambient temperature. Birds subjected to environmental stressors can experience loss of appetite, lethargy, reduced body weight gain, loss of feed efficiency, and increased mortality. These stressors can trigger the stress response, impair immunity, and introduce foreign pathogens. When a bird becomes stressed, a cascade of hormonal events can occur, ultimately resulting in the production and release of corticosterone. As the primary stress hormone, corticosterone regulates the immune response and shifts metabolic processes to increase readily available energy, thereby impacting normal growth and production. Reducing environmental stressors is an important goal in broiler production. It is essential to mitigate stress to minimize morbidity and improve both growth performance and animal welfare. Feed additives such as yeast fermentation products may be effective in reducing stress associated factors and may improve bird performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different species of hemoplasmas have been described in rodents, Mycoplasma coccoides , ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haemomuris' and ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haemosphiggurus'. Additionally, potentially novel hemoplasma species have been detected in wild rodents from Brazil, including capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Capybaras are the largest rodent in the world and are well adapted to live within close proximity to humans, which increases the risk to spread of zoonotic pathogens. Herein, we investigate the occurrence and genetic diversity of hemoplasmas infecting free-ranging capybaras from southern Brazil. Blood samples and ticks from 17 capybaras were collected. Packed cell volume and total plasma protein were measured, DNA was extracted, and further screened by species-specific and pan-hemoplasma PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene of hemoplasmas. Sixteen out of 17 (94.12%; 95% CI: 73.02–98.95%) were anemic. Only one young female was hypoproteinemic. All capybaras were infested by adults and nymphs of Amblyomma dubitatum ticks. Using the PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene of M. coccoides, 13/17 (76.47%; 95% CI: 52.74–90.44%) capybaras were positive for hemoplasmas. When DNA samples were tested by the pan-hemoplasma PCR, 16/17 (94.12%; 95% CI: 73.02–98.95%) animals were positive. One out of 11 (9.09%) adult ticks salivary glands tested positive for hemoplasma by the pan-hemoplasma PCR assay. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S and 23S rRNA gene fragments confirmed that animals were infected by a novel hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. previously reported in capybaras from Brazil. Additionally, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 23S rRNA gene from three hemoplasma-positive capybaras samples from a previous study performed in midwestern Brazil also confirm our findings. Based on phylogenetic and Neighbor-Net network analysis of the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes, the name ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haematohydrochoerus' is proposed for this novel organism. • A novel hemoplasma species is highly prevalent in anemic capybaras infested by A. dubitatum ticks. • One adult Amblyomma dubitatum tick salivary glands tested positive for hemoplasma by PCR. • The name ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haematohydrochoerus' is proposed for this novel organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We explore the equity of tree distribution across Phoenix, AZ. • LiDAR identified 2.7 million individual tree locations across the study area. • Geographically Weighted Regression determined local variation in tree distribution. • The results revealed significant inequity related to socio-economic variables. Trees are critical assets in the urban environment. From reducing pollution and the effects of urban heat islands, decreasing energy consumption, and improving the overall quality of life for individuals and communities, trees are vital environmental amenities that promote and enhance public health, facilitating a more sustainable urban footprint. While many cities are making concerted efforts to plant more trees, empirical work suggests that the distribution of trees within these communities is unequal, fueled by a constellation of factors that include cost, maintenance, culture, and value systems. In order to identify and mitigate the inequities associated with the geographic distribution of trees within a community, it is important to deepen our understanding of the social, environmental, operational, and geographic nuances of tree distribution(s). In this study, we employ geocomputational and spatial statistical methods to analyze a database of 2.7 million trees in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. The results of this analysis highlight local variations in the relationship between tree density and social and environmental correlates, and offer a more geographically nuanced snapshot of the tree distribution for one of the hottest U.S. cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stress and immune responses improved for ducks reared under 20L:4D photoperiod. • Ducks converted feed more efficiently when subjected to 20L:4D photoperiod. • Duck fear response measures were inconclusive and require future studies. • Implementing a 20L:4D photoperiod may promote duck welfare and growth. As duck production becomes more prevalent on a global scale, modern duck housing systems must utilize artificial lighting photoperiods to maximize production and welfare; however, limited research has examined the manipulation of photoperiods on Pekin ducks. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the effects of two photoperiods – 20 h of light (L): 4 h of darkness (D) and 16 L:8D - on the growth, stress, and fear responses of 384 Pekin ducks during the grow-out period. The 20L:4D ducks had a more efficient feed conversion ratio (P < 0.02). The 20L:4D ducks were less stressed, as indicated by reduced plasma corticosterone concentration, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and composite asymmetry score (P < 0.02), and elevated humoral immune response to a Newcastle Disease Virus vaccine (P = 0.035) compared to 16L:8D ducks. These results indicated ducks reared under the 20L:4D photoperiod had more efficient nutrient metabolism and stronger humoral immune response to a Newcastle Disease Virus vaccine due to improved FCR and decreased stress and the effects of stress compared to the 16L:8D photoperiod group. Fear response data from this study was considered inconclusive, and future investigation is still required to elucidate how various photoperiod schedules influence the fear response of Pekin ducks. The results of this study emphasize the need for appropriate, species-specific artificial photoperiods in modern grow-out facilities to maximize the production of Pekin ducks while also reducing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Mycoplasma ovis (formerly Eperythrozoon ovis ) has been described in small ruminants worldwide, data on M. ovis in goats remain scarce. Accordingly, the aims of the present study were to i) determine the prevalence of hemoplasmas in goats, ii) identify the tick species parasitizing the animals, and iii) determine factors associated with infection in five dairy and three beef goat farms from the Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were obtained from 402 goats. Samples were screened for hemoplasmas using a pan-hemoplasma PCR. The positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. An epidemiological questionnaire was given to each farm owner addressing age, gender, and presence of ticks. A total of 158/402 (39.3%) goats were positive for M. ovis by PCR. Sequencing of PCR positive samples has shown ≥99% identity with multiple M. ovis 16S rDNA sequences deposited in GenBank, including M. ovis isolates from humans. Dairy (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.40–3.32%; P = 0.0004) and anemic goats (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.51–3.71%; P = 0.0001) were more likely to be infected than beef and non-anemic animals, respectively. Amblyomma parvum (49/52, 94.23%) and Rhipicephalus microplus (3/52, 5.77%) were the tick species found parasitizing the animals, with no significant association between the presence of ticks and infection by M. ovis ( P = 0.1164). This is the first reportedly molecular detection of M. ovis infection in goats from South America. In conclusion, M. ovis is highly prevalent in goats from northeastern Brazil, mainly in dairy animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native American populations present the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection in the Americas, which may be associated to severe disease outcomes. Ten HBV genotypes (A–J) have been described, displaying a remarkable geographic structure, which most likely reflects historic patterns of human migrations. In this study, we characterize the HBV strains circulating in a historical sample of Native South Americans to characterize the historical viral dynamics in this population. The sample consisted of 1070 individuals belonging to 38 populations collected between 1965 and 1997. Presence of HBV DNA was checked by quantitative real-time PCR, and determination of HBV genotypes and subgenotypes was performed through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of a fragment including part of HBsAg and Pol coding regions (S/Pol). A Bayesian Skyline Plot analysis was performed to compare the viral population dynamics of HBV/A1 strains found in Native Americans and in the general Brazilian population. A total of 109 individuals were positive for HBV DNA (~ 10%), and 70 samples were successfully sequenced and genotyped. Subgenotype A1 (HBV/A1), related to African populations and the African slave trade, was the most prevalent (66–94%). The Skyline Plot analysis showed a marked population expansion of HBV/A1 in Native Americans occurring more recently (1945–1965) than in the general Brazilian population. Our results suggest that historic processes that contributed to formation of HBV/A1 circulating in Native American are related with more recent migratory waves towards the Amazon basin, which generated a different viral dynamics in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective. – To evaluate the use of neonatal central venous catheters (CVC) in 38 french neonatal units and occurrence of pericardial effusion (PCE) over the past 5 years. Materials and methods. – We surveyed 38 units with a questionnaire and studied the cases of PCE in five units. Results. – Response rate was 89% (34/38). Accepted CVC tip positions were: junction of right atrium (RA) and vena cava (VC) 76%, VC 58%, RA 11%. Fifty percent of the centers had been exposed to PCE. 16 cases of PCE were studied. Median gestational age was 31 weeks (range: 26.1 to 40 weeks). Median time from insertion: 3.2 days (range: 0.4–13.5). In all cases CVC tip was intracardiac at insertion with inadequate withdrawing in 13 cases. Sudden cardiac collapse was reported in eight cases, and unexplained cardiorespiratory instability in six cases. Echography showed PCE in 14 cases. One diagnosis was post-mortem. CVC was withdrawn in 12 patients and 13 underwent pericardiocentesis. Four patients died and two had neurological sequelae. Conclusion. – PCE was associated with intracardiac CVC tip. The CVC tip should be controlled with radiography or echography outside the cardiac silhouette. PCE diagnosis must be considered in face of unexplained cardiovascular decompensation of neonate with CVC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]