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The aim of this work is to provide insight into the California State University Young Men of Color Consortium (CSU YMOC), which was created to explore the unique challenges young men of color face during their postsecondary experiences, as well as advance effective approaches to better support them. Specifically, we focus on CSU Male Success Initiative programs and detail how campus partners worked collaboratively to support men of color during the previous academic year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the ways that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education across the P-16 spectrum, the MSIs were positioned uniquely to support some of the challenges that students endured. Recent reports reveal that the pandemic has exacerbated a number of difficulties, both old and new(er), that men of color experience in their college years, from accessing and transitioning to matriculating and persisting in higher education. We provide an overview of the CSU YMOC Consortium and present details about one program element (Critical Conversations) we incorporated this year as a measure to be responsive to challenges brought on by the pandemic. Finally, partners at three institutions share reflections on how their MSI shifted their efforts to meet students' needs and provide support.

Virtual worlds have become an invaluable space for online learning and the exploration of digital cultures. Communication departments can benefit from using these spaces to educate their students in the logistics of virtual worlds and as a way to better understand how the process of interpersonal and global communication functions in both online and face-to-face environments. These case studies offer details on how the communication departments of four universities implemented Second Life into their curriculum. The discussion includes how to introduce virtual worlds to students and create environments for collaborative work and artistic creation, along with addressing issues of identity and conducting interpersonal communication in a virtual space. (Contains 2 footnotes.)

Yule (1903) and Simpson (1951) described a statistical paradox that occurs when data is aggregated. In such situations, aggregated data may reveal a trend that directly contrasts those of sub-groups trends. In fact, the aggregate data trends may even be opposite in direction of sub-group trends. To reveal Yule-Simpson's paradox (YSP)-type occurrences, researchers must simultaneously consider the effect of an intervention at specific levels and on the overall model to ensure datasets are accurately analyzed and research findings are appropriately interpreted. The primary objectives of this manuscript are to: (1) examine the history of YSP; (2) describe necessary and sufficient causes for YSP occurrences; (3) provide examples of YSP in research and explain YSP's relationship to multi-level modeling including Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM); and (4) discuss YSP's implications for researchers. (Contains 2 figures and 2 tables.)

The need for efficient, accurate biodiversity monitoring is growing, especially for globally imperiled taxa, such as amphibians. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis holds enormous potential for enhancing monitoring programs, but as this tool is increasingly adopted, it is imperative for users to understand its potential benefits and shortcomings. We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the efficacy of two eDNA methodologies (quantitative (q)PCR and metabarcoding) and conventional field sampling approaches (seining, dipnetting, and visual encounter surveys) in a system of 20 ponds containing six different amphibian species. Using an occupancy modeling framework, we estimated differences in detection sensitivity across methods, with a focus on how eDNA survey design could be further optimized. Overall, both metabarcoding and qPCR were competitive with or improved upon conventional methods. Specifically, qPCR (species‐specific approach) was the most effective technique for detecting two rare species, the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and California red‐legged frog (Rana draytonii), with a detection probability of >0.80 per survey. Metabarcoding (community approach) estimated amphibian diversity with comparable rates to field techniques on average, and detected an additional 41 vertebrate taxa. However, for two abundant species (western toads, Anaxyrus boreas, and Pacific chorus frogs, Pseudacris regilla), field techniques outperformed metabarcoding, especially as individuals metamorphosed. Our results indicate that eDNA approaches would be most effective when paired with visual encounter surveys to detect terrestrial life stages, and that more optimization, specifically primer choice and validation, is needed. By comparing methods across a diverse set of ponds and species, we provide guidance for future studies integrating eDNA approaches into amphibian monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-subtype neutralizing single domain antibodies against influenza present new opportunities for immunoprophylaxis and pandemic preparedness. Their simple modular structure and single open reading frame format are highly amenable to gene therapy-mediated delivery. We have previously described R1a-B6, an alpaca-derived single domain antibody (nanobody), that is capable of potent cross-subtype neutralization in vitro of H1N1, H5N1, H2N2, and H9N2 influenza viruses, through binding to a highly conserved epitope in the influenza hemagglutinin stem region. To evaluate the potential of R1a-B6 for immunoprophylaxis, we have reformatted it as an Fc fusion for adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector delivery. Our findings demonstrate that a single intramuscular injection in mice of AAV encoding R1a-B6 fused to Fc fragments of different isotypes equipped either, with or without antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity, was able to drive sustained high-level expression (0.5–1.1 mg/mL) in sera with no evidence of reduction for up to 6 months. R1a-B6-Fc fusions of both isotypes gave complete protection against lethal challenge with both pandemic A/California/07/2009 (H1N1)pdm09 and avian influenza A/Vietnam/1194/2004 (H5N1). This data suggests that R1a-B6 is capable of cross-subtype protection and ADCC was not essential for R1a-B6 efficacy. Our findings demonstrate AAV delivery of cross-subtype neutralizing nanobodies may be an effective strategy to prevent influenza infection and provide long-term protection independent of a host induced immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plant host species is considered an important factor influencing ectomycorrhizal (EM) communities. To gain insights into the role of host species in structuring EM communities, EM communities on sympatric oak ( Quercus) species were compared in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. • Using molecular methods (polymerase chain reaction, cloning, restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing), EM fungi on roots of deciduous Quercus douglasii and evergreen Quercus wislizeni trees were identified from 64 soil cores. • The total EM species richness was 140, of which 40 taxa were detected on both oak hosts. Greater diversity and frequency of EM fungi with epigeous fruiting habit were found on Q. wislizeni, while taxa in the Ascomycota were more frequent and diverse on Q. douglasii. • Using ordination, it was determined that both soil extractable phosphorus and oak host species explained a significant proportion of the variation in EM species distribution. These results indicate that plant host species can be an important factor influencing EM fungal community composition, even within congeneric trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quercus woodlands are key components of California's wild landscapes, yet little is known about ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi in these ecosystems. • We examined the EM community associated with Quercus douglasii using sporocarp surveys and by pooling EM roots and subjecting them to DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) screening and DNA sequencing. • Ectomycorrhizal root symbionts were sampled four times in 2003–04. During this time, the below-ground community structure was relatively stable; we found no evidence of taxa adapted to winter or spring conditions and only one species varied widely in occurrence between years. • The EM community from sporocarps and roots was diverse (161 species), rich in Ascomycota (46 species), and dominated by fungi with cryptic sporocarps. This included a large number of resupinate and hypogeous taxa, many of which were detected both above- and below-ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Worksite health promotion interventions have the potential to reach half of Americans nationally, but low participation rates hinder optimal intervention effectiveness. This study examines factors associated with employee interest in worksite health-related discussions/events. Method: We We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from a representative sample of employed adults in California with one or more chronic conditions. An ordinal regression model was developed. Results: Employees who reported more interest in worksite health-related discussions/events had higher coworkers support, perceived greater value from learning health-related knowledge and getting practical tips from others, and reported higher interest in health discussions/events held in community settings. Conclusion: Efforts are needed to enhance the culture of worksite health and encourage communication and support among workers. Practitioners should consider connecting different settings to enhance reach and accessibility, and applying multiple delivery strategies to increase employee interest and engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]