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Climate change poses a threat to children, who are increasingly vulnerable, depending on adults to protect them from the impacts of these changes including extreme weather events, poor air and water quality and risk to mental health. Children living in poverty carry additional burdens and risks, living in environments that consistently experience poor air and water quality from polluting industries, compounded by the effects of climate change. COVID-19 has placed additional challenges to children's health and increases the complexity of addressing climate change and environmental justice. The intersection between climate change and COVID-19 exacerbates these existing disparities by impacting children's physical and mental health that are a direct product of poverty and structural racism. This article examines the nexus of climate change, COVID-19, and environmental justice that impacts the mental and physical health of children including anxiety, stress, adverse childhood experiences, and depression; increases in violence and aggression; and the effects of air pollution. Public health professionals and health care providers must be aware of national strategies that protect children from environmental health risks and emerging infectious diseases, such as climate change and COVID-19, respectively. Key Take Away Points: (1) Anthropogenic climate change poses a threat to the health of children, especially of those in marginalized communities; (2) COVID-19 has exacerbated these detrimental health impacts for children experiencing the effects of climate change; and (3) There are opportunities to protect children's health through equitable polices and programs.

Background: Transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) people experience inequities in health care access, quality, and outcomes. Health care professionals' lack of knowledge and biased attitudes toward gender minorities contribute to inequitable care. Purpose: This study examined the effect of TGNB health education on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes about caring for TGNB clients. Methods: A quasi-experimental study using a one-group pretest/posttest design was conducted with 46 nursing students at 2 private baccalaureate nursing programs. Results: A paired-samples t test found a significant increase in knowledge about caring for TGNB clients at posttest (P = .02). Attitudes toward caring for TGNB clients showed a significant improvement in the Sex and Gender Beliefs subscale at posttest (P = .014). Conclusions: The findings suggest that TGNB health education is effective for inclusion in nursing curricula to better prepare nurses to care for gender-diverse clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine state Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Pennsylvania for services they provide to older adults regarding extreme events and how readiness can be captured through social networks and policies at the local, state, and federal levels. Method: Using an online survey, 79% of AAA directors answered questions describing perceptions and actions related to social capital and its influence on policy. Results: AAAs acknowledged weather/temperature changes impact the need to prepare for common scenarios of extreme weather, temperature, and flooding. AAAs reported major social connections with county government and one state agency, with limited connections with federal agencies. Conclusion: Multiple opportunities exist for AAAs to consider climate change in expansion efforts, specifically regarding health care. Geriatric nurses can play a key role in expansion, advocacy, and policy development for AAAs that serve older adults in the context of climate change. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(6), 11–15.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With climate change and re‐oligotrophication of lakes due to restoration efforts, the relative importance of benthic cyanobacteria is increasing, but they are much less studied than their planktonic counterparts. Following a major water level rise event that inundated massive reed stands in Lake Kinneret, Israel, we discovered the appearance of a vast abundance of Gloeotrichia pisum (cyanobacteria). This provided an opportunity to investigate the biology and ecology of a benthic epiphytic colonial cyanobacterium, proliferating under altered environmental conditions, with possible toxin production potential and as a model for an invasive epiphyte. The species was identified by its typical morphology, and by sequencing its 16S rRNA gene and the intragenic space. We report on the abundance and spatial distribution of the detected colonies, their morphological characteristics, and pigment composition. High phycoerythrin content provides a brownish color and supports growth at low light levels. Genomic community composition analysis revealed that G. pisum colonies host a diverse microbial community of microalgae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, and archaea with a conserved and characteristic taxonomic composition. The Synechococcales order showed high relative abundance in the colony, as well as other prokaryotes producing secondary metabolites, such as the rhodopsin producer Pseudorhodobacter. The microbial consortium in the colonies performed nitrogen fixation. The diazotroph's phylogenetic relations were demonstrated. Tests for the presence of cyanotoxins (microcystin and cylindrospermopsin) proved negative. This study is the first documentation of this genus in Israel, providing insights into the invasive nature of G. pisum and the ecological implications of its appearance in a lake ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renibacterium salmoninarum is the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease and a significant threat to healthy and sustainable production of salmonid fish worldwide. This pathogen is difficult to culture in vitro, genetic manipulation is challenging, and current therapies and preventative strategies are only marginally effective in preventing disease. The complete genome of R. salmoninarum ATCC 33209 was sequenced and shown to be a 3,155,250-bp circular chromosome that is predicted to contain 3,507 open-reading frames (ORFs). A total of 80 copies of three different insertion sequence elements are interspersed throughout the genome. Approximately 21% of the predicted ORFs have been inactivated via frameshifts, point mutations, insertion sequences, and putative deletions. The R. salmoninarum genome has extended regions of synteny to the Arthrobacter sp. strain FB24 and Arthrobacter aurescens TCI genomes, but it is approximately 1.9 Mb smaller than both Arthrobacter genomes and has a lower G+C content, suggesting that significant genome reduction has occurred since divergence from the last common ancestor. A limited set of putative virulence factors appear to have been acquired via horizontal transmission after divergence of the species; these factors include capsular polysaccharides, heme sequestration molecules, and the major secreted cell surface antigen p57 (also known as major soluble antigen). Examination of the genome revealed a number of ORFs homologous to antibiotic resistance genes, including genes encoding [beta]-lactamases, efflux proteins, macrolide glycosyltransferases, and rRNA methyltransferases. The genome sequence provides new insights into R. salmoninarum evolution and may facilitate identification of chemotherapeutic targets and vaccine candidates that can be used for prevention and treatment of infections in cultured salmonids.

Author(s): Donna M. Muzny [1]; Steven E. Scherer (corresponding author) [1]; Rajinder Kaul [2]; Jing Wang [3]; Jun Yu [3]; Ralf Sudbrak [4, 5]; Christian J. Buhay [1]; Rui Chen [...]

Author(s): LaDeana W. Hillier [1]; Robert S. Fulton [1]; Lucinda A. Fulton [1]; Tina A. Graves [1]; Kymberlie H. Pepin [1]; Caryn Wagner-McPherson [1]; Dan Layman [1]; Jason Maas [1]; [...]

Aims and objectives: To describe how nurses and nurse managers consider sustainable development principles in their daily work, how well they recognise these principles and how these principles are considered in decision‐making in perioperative work. Background: Sustainable development involves interpersonal social and cultural relations and long‐term economic and ecological thinking in societal decision‐making. These dimensions are well‐suited for a foundation of decision‐making in acute health care. No previous research has been performed on perioperative work from the sustainable development perspective. Design: Qualitative descriptive design was used. Data were collected from perioperative nurses (n = 20) and nurse managers (n = 6) working in five surgical departments in a Finnish university hospital. Data were analysed by content analysis. The reporting follows qualitative research checklist (COREQ). Results: The principles of sustainable development were poorly known among the participants. Nurse managers considered their opportunities to influence decision‐making were reduced by their limited economic knowledge. Resource use, individuality, and ecological viewpoints were emphasised in the decision‐making process in perioperative work. Conclusions: Findings reveal that perioperative nurses and nurse managers are aware of economic and ecological sustainability, but they do not actively consider it as part of their work. Social and cultural sustainability must be developed further in decision‐making in perioperative work. Relevance to clinical practice: Perioperative nurses and nurse managers consider that it is important to develop the principles of sustainable development in perioperative work. This research indicates that economic understanding is not guiding decision‐making, and there is a lack of knowledge about the benefits of ecological procedures. Social and cultural sustainability are not connected in perioperative work, although there is collaboration between the surgical team and the patient is essential. This study helps to organise operating room management effectively and diversely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]