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Abstract Climate warming disproportionately impacts countries in the Global South by increasing extreme heat exposure. However, geographic disparities in adaptation capacity are unclear. Here, we assess global inequality in green spaces, which urban residents critically rely on to mitigate outdoor heat stress. We use remote sensing data to quantify daytime cooling by urban greenery in the warm seasons across the ~500 largest cities globally. We show a striking contrast, with Global South cities having ~70% of the cooling capacity of cities in the Global North (2.5 ± 1.0 °C vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 °C). A similar gap occurs for the cooling adaptation benefits received by an average resident in these cities (2.2 ± 0.9 °C vs. 3.4 ± 1.7 °C). This cooling adaptation inequality is due to discrepancies in green space quantity and quality between cities in the Global North and South, shaped by socioeconomic and natural factors. Our analyses further suggest a vast potential for enhancing cooling adaptation while reducing global inequality.

Magnetic reconnection and dipolarization are crucial processes driving magnetospheric dynamics, including particle energization, mass circulation, and auroral processes, among others. Recent studies have revealed that these processes at Saturn and Jupiter are fundamentally different from the ones at Earth. The reconnection and dipolarization processes are far more important than previously expected in the dayside magnetodisc of Saturn and potentially Jupiter. Dayside magnetodisc reconnection was directly identified by using Cassini measurements (Guo RL et al., 2018b) and was found to be drizzle-like and rotating in the magnetosphere of Saturn (Delamere et al., 2015b; Yao ZH et al., 2017a; Guo RL et al., 2019). Moreover, magnetic dipolarization could also exist at Saturn’s dayside (Yao ZH et al., 2018), which is fundamentally different from the terrestrial situation. These new results significantly improve our understanding of giant planetary magnetospheric dynamics and provide key insights revealing the physics of planetary aurorae. Here, we briefly review these recent advances and their potential implications for future investigations.

BackgroundDelays in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment lead to worse survival and quality of life. Racial disparities in care timeliness have been reported, but few studies have examined access at multiple points along the care continuum (diagnosis, treatment initiation, treatment duration, and genomic testing).Methods and findingsThe Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS) Phase 3 is a population-based, case-only cohort (n = 2,998, 50% black) of patients with invasive breast cancer diagnoses (2008 to 2013). We used latent class analysis (LCA) to group participants based on patterns of factors within 3 separate domains: socioeconomic status ("SES"), "care barriers," and "care use." These classes were evaluated in association with delayed diagnosis (approximated with stages III-IV at diagnosis), delayed treatment initiation (more than 30 days between diagnosis and first treatment), prolonged treatment duration (time between first and last treatment-by treatment modality), and receipt of OncotypeDx genomic testing (evaluated among patients with early stage, ER+ (estrogen receptor-positive), HER2- (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative) disease). Associations were evaluated using adjusted linear-risk regression to estimate relative frequency differences (RFDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Delayed diagnosis models were adjusted for age; delayed and prolonged treatment models were adjusted for age and tumor size, stage, and grade at diagnosis; and OncotypeDx models were adjusted for age and tumor size and grade. Overall, 18% of CBCS participants had late stage/delayed diagnosis, 35% had delayed treatment initiation, 48% had prolonged treatment duration, and 62% were not OncotypeDx tested. Black women had higher prevalence for each outcome. We identified 3 latent classes for SES ("high SES," "moderate SES," and "low SES"), 2 classes for care barriers ("few barriers," "more barriers"), and 5 classes for care use ("short travel/high preventive care," "short travel/low preventive care," "medium travel," "variable travel," and "long travel") in which travel is defined by estimated road driving time. Low SES and more barriers to care were associated with greater frequency of delayed diagnosis (RFDadj = 5.5%, 95% CI [2.4, 8.5]; RFDadj = 6.7%, 95% CI [2.8,10.7], respectively) and prolonged treatment (RFDadj = 9.7%, 95% CI [4.8 to 14.6]; RFDadj = 7.3%, 95% CI [2.4 to 12.2], respectively). Variable travel (short travel to diagnosis but long travel to surgery) was associated with delayed treatment in the entire study population (RFDadj = 10.7%, 95% CI [2.7 to 18.8]) compared to the short travel, high use referent group. Long travel to both diagnosis and surgery was associated with delayed treatment only among black women. The main limitations of this work were inability to make inferences about causal effects of individual variables that formed the latent classes, reliance on self-reported socioeconomic and healthcare history information, and generalizability outside of North Carolina, United States of America.ConclusionsBlack patients face more frequent delays throughout the care continuum, likely stemming from different types of access barriers at key junctures. Improving breast cancer care access will require intervention on multiple aspects of SES and healthcare access.

Place-based interventions are a widely used approach to redressing the consequences of concentrated neighbourhood poverty and urban segregation, but relatively few studies have examined the impact of such policies on an important social resource: social cohesion. Social cohesion is pivotal in providing a sense of community, fostering positive relationships among neighbours, and promoting collective well-being. This study examined the impact of a place-based intervention at the neighbourhood-level on social cohesion in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada using a quasi-experimental study with 881 intervention participants across six targeted neighbourhoods and 173 control participants. The findings suggest social cohesion increased in some of the intervention neighbourhoods compared to a control group of Hamilton residents untouched by the intervention. If confirmed by future investigations, these results could inform a re-focusing of place-based initiatives and a shift in their evaluation beyond health and economic impacts to provide greater focus on building durable community social assets like social cohesion.

Abstract The magnetospheric cusp connects the planetary magnetic field to interplanetary space, offering opportunities for charged particles to precipitate to or escape from the planet. Terrestrial cusps are typically found near noon local time, but the characteristics of the Jovian cusp are unknown. Here we show direct evidence of Jovian cusps using datasets from multiple instruments onboard Juno spacecraft. We find that the cusps of Jupiter are in the dusk sector, which is contradicting Earth-based predictions of a near-noon location. Nevertheless, the characteristics of charged particles in the Jovian cusps resemble terrestrial and Saturnian cusps, implying similar cusp microphysics exist across different planets. These results demonstrate that while the basic physical processes may operate similarly to those at Earth, Jupiter’s rapid rotation and its location in the heliosphere can dramatically change the configuration of the cusp. This work provides useful insights into the fundamental consequences of star-planet interactions, highlighting how planetary environments and rotational dynamics influence magnetospheric structures.

Background. South Africa (SA) has the highest prevalence of people with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV coinfection globally. People living with HIV have an increased risk of TB infection, and are more likely to develop extrapulmonary TB. Approximately 10 - 20% of extrapulmonary TB accounts for skeletal TB, with spinal involvement in 50 - 60% of instances. Previous studies have shown highly heterogenic results regarding the effect of HIV status on clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with spinal TB (STB). Objective. To describe the clinical, laboratory, radiographical and histopathological characteristics of patients diagnosed with STB stratified by HIV status. Methods. Data from patients who were treated for STB at the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, SA, between 2013 and 2016 were analysed. We compared clinical, laboratory, radiographical and histopathological parameters of STB patients with HIV infection to those without HIV infection. To assess differences in means between the two groups, an independent samples t-test was used for normally distributed continuous data, and a χ2 test for categorical data. To assess correlations between continuous data groups, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used. Results. We assessed 52 patients with STB (mean (standard deviation (SD) age 38 (15.2) years, range 17 - 80 years), of whom 55.8% were female, and 59.6% HIV infected. Five (9.6%) patients were identified with multidrug-resistant TB of the spine, with four (19.0%) in the HIV-infected cohort and one in the HIV-uninfected cohort (p=0.058). Significantly more STB patients without HIV infection presented with neurogenic symptoms (29%, p=0.029). The mean (SD) overall erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 69.3 (35.9) mm/h, with no significant difference between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients (p=0.086). The rate of vertebral collapse was higher in the HIV-infected cohort (39% v. 67%, p=0.048). HIV-infected patients showed a higher count of involved vertebrae (mean 3.0 v. 3.85; p=0.034). There was no correlation between CD4 count and the number of involved vertebrae. The mean (SD) number of granulomata per low-power field was 10 (12.6), with no difference between the two cohorts. However, we found a positive correlation between granuloma count and CD4 cell count in HIV-infected STB patients (Pearson 0.503, p=0.02), with significantly higher formation of granulomata at a CD4 cell count >400 cells/μL (p=0.045). Conclusion. In our cohort, HIV-infected patients with STB were more likely to present with vertebral collapse, and more vertebrae on average were diseased compared with HIV-uninfected patients with STB. CD4 cell count may affect granuloma formation, and it seems that HIV infection has a negative effect on cellular immunoresponse in STB, which emphasises the need for early antiretroviral therapy initiation.

In 2020, it was estimated that there were 155 million survivors of TB alive, all at risk of possible post TB disability. The 2nd International Post-Tuberculosis Symposium (Stellenbosch, South Africa) was held to increase global awareness and empower TB-affected communities to play an active role in driving the agenda. We aimed to update knowledge on post-TB life and illness, identify research priorities, build research collaborations and highlight the need to embed lung health outcomes in clinical TB trials and programmatic TB care services. The symposium was a multidisciplinary meeting that included clinicians, researchers, TB survivors, funders and policy makers. Ten academic working groups set their own goals and covered the following thematic areas: 1) patient engagement and perspectives; 2) epidemiology and modelling; 3) pathogenesis of post-TB sequelae; 4) post-TB lung disease; 5) cardiovascular and pulmonary vascular complications; 6) neuromuscular & skeletal complications; 7) paediatric complications; 8) economic-social and psychological (ESP) consequences; 9) prevention, treatment and management; 10) advocacy, policy and stakeholder engagement. The working groups provided important updates for their respective fields, highlighted research priorities, and made progress towards the standardisation and alignment of post-TB outcomes and definitions.

Housing is a pervasive determinant of physical and mental health. Studies indicate the importance of social support to the mental and physical health of individuals who are unhoused; however, to date, little is known about this relationship in persons who are housed in unaffordable accommodations. As the demand for subsidized housing continues to increase far beyond sustainable levels in many countries, investigations of the implications of social support on the health and wellbeing of those waiting for access to subsidized accommodations becomes important to generate evidence-based policy responses. Using data from the NB Housing Study, this paper presents an analysis of the relationships between perceived social support, depression, and self-reported physical health in individuals who wait for access to subsidized housing in New Brunswick, Canada ( n = 271). Hierarchical linear regression of Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) scores on Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale 10 (CES-D-10) scores and of OSSS-3 scores on self-reported physical health scores finds increases in social support are associated with decreased depression ( F [1, 260] = 26.34, p

Objective The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and muscle atrophy in individuals with rotator cuff tears.Methods This study consists of patients with rotator cuff tears identified by MRI from two independent cohorts, the Rotator Cuff Outcomes Workgroup (ROW) and the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON). Presence of atrophy (yes/no) and severity of atrophy (as an ordinal variable) were assessed on MRI by expert physicians. We used multivariable regression models to evaluate the relationship between BMI and muscle atrophy while adjusting for age and sex in each study, conducted sensitivity analyses for full-thickness tear and combined results using inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis.Results A total of 539 patients (MOON=395, ROW=144) from the combined cohorts had MRI data available on muscle atrophy. Among these patients, 246 (46%) had atrophy of at least one of the muscles of the rotator cuff and 282 (52%) had full-thickness tears. In meta-analysis across both cohorts, each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with a 21% (aOR=1.21, 95% CI=1.02, 1.43) increased odds of having muscle atrophy among individuals with any tear size, and 36% (aOR=1.36, 95% CI=1.01–1.81) increased odds among individuals with full-thickness tear.Conclusions Higher BMI was associated with significantly higher odds of muscle atrophy in patiens with rotator cuff tears. More study is needed to unders1tand why and how this relationship exists, as well as whether interventions to reduce BMI may help improve outcomes for these patients.Level of Evidence III.

While we eagerly anticipate SMILE’s (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) unprecedented X-ray observations of the Earth’s magnetosheath and the initiation of a new era of magnetospheric research, it seems appropriate to look ahead to the abilities of the next generation of astrophysics missions. Of these, the Line Emission Mapper (LEM), a large aperture micro-calorimeter based mission, is currently planned to be able to observe the magnetosheath at high spectral resolution (~2 eV). With a field of view of ~30′, LEM will allow higher spatial resolution and higher cadence measurement of the motion of a very small portion of the magnetopause over relatively short periods of time (multiple hours), complementing SMILE’s global mapping. LEM’s strength is its spectral resolution. It will be able to measure the abundance of a broad range of elements and ionization states, many of which are inaccessible to current in situ instruments, and will be able to separate the emission from the magnetosheath from the emission from the cosmic X-ray background using the difference in their relative velocities.

The historical and ongoing impacts of the influence of colonization are experienced by Indigenous people in systemic racism, inequity in healthcare access, and intergenerational trauma; originating in the disruption of a way of life and seen in a grief response, with links to disparate hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence. Despite this, the focus often remains on the increased incidence without a strengths-based lens. Although HCV is a global concern that can result in cirrhosis, liver failure, or cancer, diagnosing and linking people to care and treatment early can prevent advanced liver disease. Efforts to engage certain priority populations are occurring; however, historical context and current practices are often forgotten or overlooked. This is especially true with respect to Indigenous people in Canada. This review considers the published literature to elucidate the context of historical and ongoing colonizing impacts seen in the current HCV treatment gaps experienced by Indigenous people in Canada. In addition, we highlight strengths-based and Indigenous-led initiatives and programming that inspire hopefulness and steps toward community-engaged solutions to meet the World Health Organization Goals of eliminating HCV as a public health threat.

Abstract Mosquitoes have profoundly affected human history and continue to threaten human health through the transmission of a diverse array of pathogens. The phylogeny of mosquitoes has remained poorly characterized due to difficulty in taxonomic sampling and limited availability of genomic data beyond the most important vector species. Here, we used phylogenomic analysis of 709 single copy ortholog groups from 256 mosquito species to produce a strongly supported phylogeny that resolves the position of the major disease vector species and the major mosquito lineages. Our analyses support an origin of mosquitoes in the early Triassic (217 MYA [highest posterior density region: 188–250 MYA]), considerably older than previous estimates. Moreover, we utilize an extensive database of host associations for mosquitoes to show that mosquitoes have shifted to feeding upon the blood of mammals numerous times, and that mosquito diversification and host-use patterns within major lineages appear to coincide in earth history both with major continental drift events and with the diversification of vertebrate classes.

Globally, human house types are diverse, varying in shape, size, roof type, building materials, arrangement, decoration and many other features. Here we offer the first rigorous, global evaluation of the factors that influence the construction of traditional (vernacular) houses. We apply macroecological approaches to analyse data describing house features from 1900 to 1950 across 1000 societies. Geographic, social and linguistic descriptors for each society were used to test the extent to which key architectural features may be explained by the biophysical environment, social traits, house features of neighbouring societies or cultural history. We find strong evidence that some aspects of the climate shape house architecture, including floor height, wall material and roof shape. Other features, particularly ground plan, appear to also be influenced by social attributes of societies, such as whether a society is nomadic, polygynous or politically complex. Additional variation in all house features was predicted both by the practices of neighouring societies and by a society's language family. Collectively, the findings from our analyses suggest those conditions under which traditional houses offer solutions to architects seeking to reimagine houses in light of warmer, wetter or more variable climates.

Abstract The Jovian magnetosphere is highly dynamic, influenced by both solar wind and internal processes associated with the rapid planetary rotation and Io's volcanic activities. Accompanying the mass and energy circulations driven by the magnetospheric dynamics, the magnetic configuration also changes dramatically. One of the crucial parameters to characterize the magnetic configuration is magnetic field line curvature (FLC), which generally describes how stretched the field line is. The curvature is pivotal to influence particle behaviors, for example, pitch angle scattering which may lead to auroral particle precipitation. In this work, a method is proposed to investigate the real‐time magnetic FLC in Jovian current sheet using the magnetic field data from the Juno spacecraft. The results indicate that the FLC scattering of ions and relativistic electrons are common in Jovian magnetosphere, providing a crucial insight to understand the particle behaviors.

Reflecting on my experiences as an Annishinaabe student researcher within this wisdom-seeking journey highlights the personal and professional impacts of personal engagement in a relational approach when engaging head as well as heart in a learning journey incorporating reflexivity and wholistic traditional Indigenous perspectives in a Two-Eyed Seeing approach. Leading to cocreating culturally connected health awareness film media resources for liver wellness related to hepatitis C.

Abstract Background Income and housing are pervasive social determinants of health. Subsidized housing is a prominent affordability mechanism in Canada; however, waitlists are lengthy. Subsidized rents should provide greater access to residual income, which may theoretically improve health outcomes. However, little is known about the health of tenants who wait for and receive subsidized housing. This is especially problematic for New Brunswick, a Canadian province with low population density, whose inhabitants experience income inequality, social exclusion, and challenges with healthcare access. Methods This study will use a longitudinal, prospective matched cohort design. All 4,750 households on New Brunswick’s subsidized housing wait list will be approached to participate. The survey measures various demographic, social and health indicators at six-month intervals for up to 18 months as they wait for subsidized housing. Those who receive housing will join an intervention group and receive surveys for an additional 18 months post-move date. With consent, participants will have their data linked to a provincial administrative database of medical records. Discussion Knowledge of housing and health is sparse in Canada. This study will provide stakeholders with a wealth of health information on a population that is historically under-researched and underserved.

There is an urgent need to improve the translational validity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Introducing genetic background diversity in AD mouse models has been proposed as a way to increase validity and enable the discovery of previously uncharacterized genetic contributions to AD susceptibility or resilience. However, the extent to which genetic background influences the mouse brain proteome and its perturbation in AD mouse models is unknown. In this study, we crossed the 5XFAD AD mouse model on a C57BL/6J (B6) inbred background with the DBA/2J (D2) inbred background and analyzed the effects of genetic background variation on the brain proteome in F1 progeny. Both genetic background and 5XFAD transgene insertion strongly affected protein variance in the hippocampus and cortex (n = 3,368 proteins). Protein co-expression network analysis identified 16 modules of highly co-expressed proteins common across the hippocampus and cortex in 5XFAD and non-transgenic mice. Among the modules strongly influenced by genetic background were those related to small molecule metabolism and ion transport. Modules strongly influenced by the 5XFAD transgene were related to lysosome/stress responses and neuronal synapse/signaling. The modules with the strongest relationship to human disease—neuronal synapse/signaling and lysosome/stress response—were not significantly influenced by genetic background. However, other modules in 5XFAD that were related to human disease, such as GABA synaptic signaling and mitochondrial membrane modules, were influenced by genetic background. Most disease-related modules were more strongly correlated with AD genotype in the hippocampus compared with the cortex. Our findings suggest that the genetic diversity introduced by crossing B6 and D2 inbred backgrounds influences proteomic changes related to disease in the 5XFAD model, and that proteomic analysis of other genetic backgrounds in transgenic and knock-in AD mouse models is warranted to capture the full range of molecular heterogeneity in genetically diverse models of AD.

The microbial fermentation behind sourdough bread is among our oldest technologies, yet there are many opportunities for sourdough science to learn from traditional bakers. We analyzed 16S rRNA sequences in R to assess the bacterial community structure and performance of 40 starters grown from 10 types of flour over 14 days, and identified six distinct stages of succession. At each stage, bacterial taxa correlate with determinants of bread quality including pH, rise, and aromatic profile. Day 1 starter cultures were dominated by microorganisms commonly associated with plants and flour, and by aromas similar to toasted grain/cereal. Bacterial diversity peaked from days 2–6 as taxa shifted from opportunistic/generalist bacteria associated with flour inputs, toward specialized climax bacterial communities (days 10–14) characterized by acid-tolerant taxa and fruity (p < 3.03e−03), sour (p < 1.60e−01), and fermented (p < 1.47e−05) aromas. This collection of traits changes predictably through time, regardless of flour type, highlighting patterns of bacterial constraints and dynamics that are conserved across systems and scales. Yet, while sourdough climax communities exhibit similar markers of maturity (i.e., pH ≤ 4 and enriched in Lactobacillus (mean abundance 48.1%), Pediococcus (mean abundance 22.7%), and/or Gluconobacter (mean abundance 19.1%)), we also detected specific taxa and aromas associated with each type of flour. Our results address important ecological questions about the relationship between community structure and starter performance, and may enable bakers to deliberately select for specific sourdough starter and bread characteristics.

A major challenge of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays is discriminating true signal from non-specific binding. Here the authors present a Single-Molecule Colocalization Assay (SiMCA) which eliminates such effects, enabling reproducible detection of picomolar protein concentrations.

Abstract Jupiter's auroral emission is a spectacular phenomenon that provides insight into energy release processes related to the coupling of its magnetosphere and ionosphere. This energy release is influenced by solar wind conditions. Using joint observations from Juno and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we statistically investigate the relationship between auroral power and current sheet variations under different solar wind conditions. In this study, we reveal that during global main auroral brightening events that are closely connected to solar wind compressions, the dawn side current sheet is substantially thinner than during times when a quiet auroral morphology is present. Furthermore, the total current intensity in the current sheet is found to increase under solar wind compression conditions compared to the quiet period. These findings provide important observational evidence for how magnetospheric dynamics driven by solar wind behavior affect auroral activity, deepening our understanding of the coupling between Jupiter's magnetosphere and ionosphere.

Five species of sea turtles are known to occur in New Zealand waters, with the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) being the most frequently reported. In New Zealand all sea turtles are protected, but there are currently no fisheries bycatch mitigation measures. We describe fishery captures of leatherbacks from Ministry observer and fisher self-reported data. A generalized additive model (GAM) was then used to evaluate which factors might explain the observed year trend in captures. Between fishing years 2007–08 and 2020–21 (years starting 1 October), there were 217 captures of leatherback turtles, an annual average of 15.5. Reported captures increased substantially to 50 in 2020–21. Nearly all (97.7%) captures were reported from surface longline fisheries. Because of sparse observer coverage most captures (85.3%) were self-reported by fishers. Within the main fishery, just 9.4% of the vessels reported 94.5% of the leatherback captures, and one vessel reported 40.4% of all captures. Some non-reporting of captures seems likely. The GAM estimated a higher probability of capture with increasing SST from a constant-over-time spatial pattern of monthly sea surface temperature, and predicted the increase in captures in 2020–21. Much of the increase in bycatch could therefore be explained by the fleet moving into warmer areas where the probability of leatherback capture was higher. Capture mitigation measures could include restricting fishing in turtle ‘hotspot’ times and areas. New Zealand waters should be recognized as an important seasonal foraging ground for leatherback turtles where capture mitigation measures are necessary.

Abstract It is generally believed that variations in the upstream solar wind (SW) and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions are the main cause of changes of Jupiter's magnetopause (JM) location. However, most previous pressure balance models for the JM are axisymmetric and do not consider internal drivers, for example, the dynamics of the magnetodisc. We use three‐dimensional global magnetosphere simulations to investigate the variation of the JM under constant SW/IMF conditions. These simulations show that even without variations in the upstream driving conditions, the JM can exhibit dynamic variations, suggesting a range as large as 50 Jupiter radii in the subsolar location. Our study shows that the interchange structures in the Jovian magnetodisc will introduce significant radial dynamic pressure, which can drive significant variation in the JM location. The results provide important new context for interpreting the JM location and dynamics, with key implications for other internally mass‐loaded and/or rapidly rotating systems.

Dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton underlies cell movement, but is challenging to characterize at the molecular level. Here, the authors present a method to extract actin filament velocities in living cells, and compare their results to current models of cytoskeletal dynamics.

Species traits often vary in a coordinated manner, making up an ecological strategy comprised of suites of interrelated traits. Environmental gradients, such as those along elevational gradients, provide an ideal venue in which to examine variation in ecological strategies with the environment. We examined variation in the morphological strategies of ants along elevational gradients on thirteen mountains across three mountain ranges in central and south-eastern Australia. We pitfall-trapped ants, counted and identified workers and measured morphological traits. Most species showed a hump-shaped relationship between occurrence and elevation, and several responded to microhabitat variables. Morphological traits varied along two key axes: “gracility”, where high values indicated longer-legged species with dorsally positioned eyes and smooth, bare cuticles; and “size and darkness”, where species with high values were larger and darker. Analysis of assemblage-weighted means revealed that gracility decreased with temperature and increased with precipitation, suggesting links with desiccation tolerance. Size and darkness increased with UV-B, declined with increasing canopy cover and peaked at mid-temperatures. We thus detected strong shifts in dominant morphological strategies along our elevational gradients. However, the multifunctionality and interrelatedness of traits and the covariance of climatic factors may make isolation of the function of individual traits difficult. Further, the predictive power of our models may be limited in the context of novel environments predicted under global change.

Ultralow-frequency (ULF) waves (∼tens of minutes period) are widely identified in the Jovian system and are believed to be associated with energy dissipation in the magnetosphere and ionosphere. Due to the magnetodisk oscillation related to planetary rotation, it is challenging to identify the periodicities inside the magnetosphere, although remote sensing observations of the polar emissions provide clear evidence of the tens of minutes pulsations. In this study, we take advantage of Juno’s in situ measurements in the magnetopause boundary layer for a long duration, i.e., >4 hr, to directly assess the tens of minutes periodicities of the boundary dynamics caused by the interactions between the internal plasma and external solar wind. Through periodogram analysis on the magnetic field and particle data, we find ULF waves with periodicities of ∼18 minutes, ∼40 minutes, and ∼70–80 minutes, which is generally consistent with pulsations in multiple remote sensing observations. A multiple-harmonic ULF phenomenon was also identified in the observations. The periodicities from in situ measurements provide crucial clues in understanding the origin of pulsating wave/auroral emissions in the Jovian system. The results could also further our understanding of energy transfer and release between the internal plasma of Jupiter and external solar wind.

Abstract Background Bacterial communities within built environments reflect differences in sources of bacteria, building design, and environmental contexts. These communities impact the health of their occupants in many ways. Children interact with the built environment differently than do adults as a result of their unique behaviors, size, and developmental status. Consequently, understanding the broader bacterial community to which children are exposed will help inform public health efforts and contribute to our growing understanding of the bacterial community associated with childcare centers. Methods We sampled childcare centers to survey the variation in bacterial community composition across five surfaces found inside and outside twelve classrooms and six centers using 16S rRNA marker gene amplicon sequencing. We then correlated these bacterial community analyses of surfaces with environmental and demographic measures of illumination and classroom occupant density. Results The childcare environment was dominated by human-associated bacteria with modest input from outdoor sources. Though the bacterial communities of individual childcare centers differed, there was a greater difference in the bacterial community within a classroom than among centers. Surface habitats—fomites—within the classroom, did not differ in community composition despite differing proximity to likely sources of bacteria, and possible environmental filters, such as light. Bacterial communities did correlate with occupant density and differed significantly between high and low usage surfaces. Conclusions Our results suggest built environments inhabited by young children are similar to functionally equivalent built environments inhabited by adults, despite the different way young children engage with their environment. Ultimately, these results will be useful when further interrogating microbial dispersal and human exposure to microorganisms in built environments that specifically cater to young children.

Gastrointestinal (GI) morphology plays an important role in nutrition, health, and epidemiology; yet limited data on GI variation have been collected since 1885. Here we demonstrate that students can collect reliable data sets on gut morphology; when they do, they reveal greater morphological variation for some structures in the GI tract than has been documented in the published literature. We discuss trait variability both within and among species, and the implications of that variability for evolution and epidemiology. Our results show that morphological variation in the GI tract is associated with each organ’s role in food processing. For example, the length of many structures was found to vary significantly with feeding strategy. Within species, the variability illustrated by the coefficients of variation suggests that selective constraints may vary with function. Within humans, we detected significant Pearson correlations between the volume of the liver and the length of the appendix (t-value = 2.5278, df = 28, p = 0.0174, corr = 0.4311) and colon (t-value = 2.0991, df = 19, p = 0.0494, corr = 0.4339), as well as between the lengths of the small intestine and colon (t-value = 2.1699, df = 17, p = 0.0445, corr = 0.4657), which are arguably the most vital organs in the gut for nutrient absorption. Notably, intraspecific variation in the small intestine can be associated with life history traits. In humans, females demonstrated consistently and significantly longer small intestines than males (t-value15 = 2.245, p = 0.0403). This finding supports the female canalization hypothesis, specifically, increased female investment in the digestion and absorption of lipids.

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Newport (S. Newport) is a clinically and epidemiologically significant serovar in the United States. It is the second most prevalent clinically isolated Salmonella serovar in the United States, and it can contaminate a wide variety of food products. In this study, we evaluated the population structure of S. Newport clinical isolates obtained by the Tennessee Department of Health during routine surveillance (n = 346), along with a diverse set of other global clinical isolates obtained from EnteroBase (n = 271). Most of these clinical isolates belonged to established lineages II and III. Additionally, we performed lineage-specific phylogenetic analyses and were able to identify 18 potential epidemiological clusters among the isolates from Tennessee, which represented a greater proportion of Tennessee isolates belonging to putative epidemiological clusters than the proportion of isolates of this serovar that are outbreak related. IMPORTANCE This study provides insight on the genomic diversity of one of the Salmonella serovars that most frequently cause human illness. Specifically, we explored the diversity of human clinical isolates from a localized region (Tennessee) and compared this level of diversity with the global context. Additionally, we showed that a greater proportion of isolates were associated with potential epidemiological clusters (based on genomic relatedness) than historical estimates. We also identified that one potential cluster was predicted to be multidrug resistant. Taken together, these findings provide insight on Salmonella enterica serovar Newport that can impact public health surveillance and responses and serve as a foundational context for the Salmonella research community.

Summary: The speed and scope of cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer's disease is highly associated with the advancement of tau neurofibrillary lesions across brain networks. We tested whether the rate of tau propagation is a heritable disease trait in a large, well-characterized cohort of genetically divergent mouse strains. Using an AAV-based model system, P301L-mutant human tau (hTau) was introduced into the entorhinal cortex of mice derived from 18 distinct lines. The extent of tau propagation was measured by distinguishing hTau-producing cells from neurons that were recipients of tau transfer. Heritability calculation revealed that 43% of the variability in tau spread was due to genetic variants segregating across background strains. Strain differences in glial markers were also observed, but did not correlate with tau propagation. Identifying unique genetic variants that influence the progression of pathological tau may uncover novel molecular targets to prevent or slow the pace of tau spread and cognitive decline.

In human Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and AD mouse models, both differential pre-disease brain features and differential disease-associated memory decline are observed, suggesting that certain neurological features may protect against AD-related cognitive decline. The combination of these features is known as brain reserve, and understanding the genetic underpinnings of brain reserve may advance AD treatment in genetically diverse human populations. One potential source of brain reserve is brain microstructure, which is genetically influenced and can be measured with diffusion MRI (dMRI). To investigate variation of dMRI metrics in pre-disease-onset, genetically diverse AD mouse models, we utilized a population of genetically distinct AD mice produced by crossing the 5XFAD transgenic mouse model of AD to 3 inbred strains (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, FVB/NJ) and two wild-derived strains (CAST/EiJ, WSB/EiJ). At 3 months of age, these mice underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to probe neural microanatomy in 83 regions of interest (ROIs). At 5 months of age, these mice underwent contextual fear conditioning (CFC). Strain had a significant effect on dMRI measures in most ROIs tested, while far fewer effects of sex, sex*strain interactions, or strain*sex*5XFAD genotype interactions were observed. A main effect of 5XFAD genotype was observed in only 1 ROI, suggesting that the 5XFAD transgene does not strongly disrupt neural development or microstructure of mice in early adulthood. Strain also explained the most variance in mouse baseline motor activity and long-term fear memory. Additionally, significant effects of sex and strain*sex interaction were observed on baseline motor activity, and significant strain*sex and sex*5XFAD genotype interactions were observed on long-term memory. We are the first to study the genetic influences of brain microanatomy in genetically diverse AD mice. Thus, we demonstrated that strain is the primary factor influencing brain microstructure in young adult AD mice and that neural development and early adult microstructure are not strongly altered by the 5XFAD transgene. We also demonstrated that strain, sex, and 5XFAD genotype interact to influence memory in genetically diverse adult mice. Our results support the usefulness of the 5XFAD mouse model and convey strong relationships between natural genetic variation, brain microstructure, and memory.

Marek’s disease (MD) is a highly infectious lymphoproliferative disease in chickens with a significant economic impact. Mardivirus gallidalpha 2, also known as Marek’s disease virus (MDV), is the causative pathogen and has been categorized based on its virulence rank into four pathotypes: mild (m), virulent (v), very virulent (vv), and very virulent plus (vv+). A prior comparative genomics study suggested that several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes in the MDV genome are associated with virulence, including nonsynonymous (ns) SNPs in eight open reading frames (ORF): UL22, UL36, UL37, UL41, UL43, R-LORF8, R-LORF7, and ICP4. To validate the contribution of these nsSNPs to virulence, the vv+MDV strain 686 genome was modified by replacing nucleotides with those observed in the vMDV strains. Pathogenicity studies indicated that these substitutions reduced the MD incidence and increased the survival of challenged birds. Furthermore, using the best-fit pathotyping method to rank the virulence, the modified vv+MDV 686 viruses resulted in a pathotype similar to the vvMDV Md5 strain. Thus, these results support our hypothesis that SNPs in one or more of these ORFs are associated with virulence but, as a group, are not sufficient to result in a vMDV pathotype, suggesting that there are additional variants in the MDV genome associated with virulence, which is not surprising given this complex phenotype and our previous finding of additional variants and SNPs associated with virulence.

Abstract Background It is broadly accepted that poverty is associated with poor health, and the health impact of poverty has been explored in numerous high-income country settings. There is a large and growing body of evidence of the role that primary care practitioners can play in identifying poverty as a health determinant, and in interventions to address it. Purpose of study This study maps the published peer-reviewed and grey literature on primary care setting interventions to address poverty in high-income countries in order to identify key concepts and gaps in the research. This scoping review seeks to map the tools in use to identify and address patients’ economic needs; describe the key types of primary care-based interventions; and examine barriers and facilitators to successful implementation. Methods Using a scoping review methodology, we searched five databases, the grey literature and the reference lists of relevant studies to identify studies on interventions to address the economic needs-related social determinants of health that occur in primary health care delivery settings, in high-income countries. Findings were synthesized narratively, and examined using thematic analysis, according to iteratively identified themes. Results Two hundred and fourteen papers were included in the review and fell into two broad categories of description and evaluation: screening tools, and economic needs-specific interventions. Primary care-based interventions that aim to address patients’ financial needs operate at all levels, from passive sociodemographic data collection upon patient registration, through referral to external services, to direct intervention in addressing patients’ income needs. Conclusion Tools and processes to identify and address patients’ economic social needs range from those tailored to individual health practices, or addressing one specific dimension of need, to wide-ranging protocols. Primary care-based interventions to address income needs operate at all levels, from passive sociodemographic data collection, through referral to external services, to direct intervention. Measuring success has proven challenging. The decision to undertake this work requires courage on the part of health care providers because it can be difficult, time-consuming and complex. However, it is often appreciated by patients, even when the scope of action available to health care providers is quite narrow.

Abstract Background Executive functions can be adversely affected by contextual risks in the home environment including chaos and parenting challenges. Furthermore, household chaos negatively influences parenting practices. Few studies, however, have examined the role of parenting in the association between household chaos and child executive functions. Methods Using a sample of 128 school-aged children (mean = 61.9 months, SD = 2.0, range 58–68 months) and their mothers, the present study examined direct and indirect effects (via parental responsiveness) of household chaos on child executive functioning. Multi-measures were used including performance-based assessments, behavioural observations, questionnaires, and video-home tours. Results Household chaos had both a direct effect on child executive functions (β = − .31, 95% CI [− .58, − .04]) and an indirect effect (β = − .05, 95% [− .13, − .01]) via parental responsiveness. Further, the indirect effect was only significant for household instability. Conclusion These findings indicate that parental responsiveness may be compromised by household chaos, with implications for the executive functions of school-aged children. Preventative strategies are needed to improve the stability in the home and strengthen parenting practices.

The formation of a hollow lumen surrounded by cells is a key developmental process that sets the shape of tissues and organs. Here, the authors show how the combined influence of geometric constraints imposed by cell packing and osmotic pressure can generate the diverse range in lumen shapes observed in different tissues.

Summary: Matching the treatment to an individual patient’s tumor state can increase therapeutic efficacy and reduce tumor recurrence. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) derived from solid tumors are promising subjects for theragnostic analysis. To analyze how CTCs represent tumor states, we established cell lines from CTCs, primary and metastatic tumors from a mouse model and provided phenotypic and multiomic analyses of these cells. CTCs and metastatic cells, but not primary tumor cells, shared stochastic mutations and similar hypomethylation levels at transcription start sites. CTCs and metastatic tumor cells shared a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal transcriptome state with reduced adhesive and enhanced mobilization characteristics. We tested anti-cancer drugs on tumor cells from a metastatic breast cancer patient. CTC responses mirrored the impact of drugs on metastatic rather than primary tumors. Our multiomic and clinical anti-cancer drug response results reveal that CTCs resemble metastatic tumors and establish CTCs as an ex vivo tool for personalized medicine.

Summary: Numerous proteins experience and respond to mechanical forces as an integral part of their cellular functions, but measuring these forces remains a practical challenge. Here, we present a compact, 11-kDa molecular tension sensor termed STReTCh (sensing tension by reactive tag characterization). Unlike existing genetically encoded tension sensors, STReTCh does not rely on experimentally demanding measurements based on Förster resonance energy transfer and is compatible with typical fix-and-stain protocols. Using a magnetic tweezers assay, we calibrate the STReTCh module and show that it responds to physiologically relevant, piconewton forces. As proof of concept, we use an extracellular STReTCh-based sensor to visualize cell-generated forces at integrin-based adhesion complexes. In addition, we incorporate STReTCh into vinculin, a cytoskeletal adaptor protein, and show that STReTCh reports on forces transmitted between the cytoskeleton and cellular adhesion complexes. These data illustrate the utility of STReTCh as a tool for visualizing molecular-scale forces in biological systems. Motivation: Visualizing the molecular-scale forces present in living cells can provide insights into numerous biological processes, but existing tools for force measurement can be challenging to use. To reduce barriers to measuring molecular forces in biological systems, we designed a molecular tension sensor, termed STReTCh, whose use follows common “fix-and-stain” workflows, making it broadly accessible to the cell biological community.

Abstract A major conceptual gap in taste biology is the lack of a general framework for understanding the evolution of different taste modalities among animal species. We turn to two complementary nutritional frameworks, biological stoichiometry theory and nutritional geometry, to develop hypotheses for the evolution of different taste modalities in animals. We describe how the attractive tastes of Na‐, Ca‐, P‐, N‐, and C‐containing compounds are consistent with principles of both frameworks based on their shared focus on nutritional imbalances and consumer homeostasis. Specifically, we suggest that the evolution of multiple nutritive taste modalities can be predicted by identifying individual elements that are typically more concentrated in the tissues of animals than plants. Additionally, we discuss how consumer homeostasis can inform our understanding of why some taste compounds (i.e., Na, Ca, and P salts) can be either attractive or aversive depending on concentration. We also discuss how these complementary frameworks can help to explain the evolutionary history of different taste modalities and improve our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to loss of taste capabilities in some animal lineages. The ideas presented here will stimulate research that bridges the fields of evolutionary biology, sensory biology, and ecology.

Abstract Understanding how different taxa respond to global warming is essential for predicting future changes and elaborating strategies to buffer them. Tardigrades are well known for their ability to survive environmental stressors, such as drying and freezing, by undergoing cryptobiosis and rapidly recovering their metabolic function after stressors cease. Determining the extent to which animals that undergo cryptobiosis are affected by environmental warming will help to understand the real magnitude climate change will have on these organisms. Here, we report on the responses of tardigrades within a five‐year‐long, field‐based artificial warming experiment, which consisted of 12 open‐top chambers heated to simulate the projected effects of global warming (ranging from 0 to 5.5°C above ambient temperature) in a temperate deciduous forest of North Carolina (USA). To elucidate the effects of warming on the tardigrade community inhabiting the soil litter, three community diversity indices (abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity) and the abundance of the three most abundant species (Diphascon pingue, Adropion scoticum, and Mesobiotus sp.) were determined. Their relationships with air temperature, soil moisture, and the interaction between air temperature and soil moisture were tested using Bayesian generalized linear mixed models. Despite observed negative effects of warming on other ground invertebrates in previous studies at this site, long‐term warming did not affect the abundance, richness, or diversity of tardigrades in this experiment. These results are in line with previous experimental studies, indicating that tardigrades may not be directly affected by ongoing global warming, possibly due to their thermotolerance and cryptobiotic abilities to avoid negative effects of stressful temperatures, and the buffering effect on temperature of the soil litter substrate.

Mechanotransduction at cell–cell adhesions is crucial for the structural integrity, organization, and morphogenesis of epithelia. At cell–cell junctions, ternary E-cadherin/β-catenin/αE-catenin complexes sense and transmit mechanical load by binding to F-actin. The interaction with F-actin, described as a two-state catch bond, is weak in solution but is strengthened by applied force due to force-dependent transitions between weak and strong actin-binding states. Here, we provide direct evidence from optical trapping experiments that the catch bond property principally resides in the αE-catenin actin-binding domain (ABD). Consistent with our previously proposed model, the deletion of the first helix of the five-helix ABD bundle enables stable interactions with F-actin under minimal load that are well described by a single-state slip bond, even when αE-catenin is complexed with β-catenin and E-cadherin. Our data argue for a conserved catch bond mechanism for adhesion proteins with structurally similar ABDs. We also demonstrate that a stably bound ABD strengthens load-dependent binding interactions between a neighboring complex and F-actin, but the presence of the other αE-catenin domains weakens this effect. These results provide mechanistic insight to the cooperative binding of the cadherin–catenin complex to F-actin, which regulate dynamic cytoskeletal linkages in epithelial tissues.

Abstract There is growing interest in the application of sustainable agricultural methods to minimize the environmental impact of farming and thus aiding quantification of the actual benefit that such approaches may confer. We applied DNA metabarcoding with the aim of exploring how the diversity of fungi and arthropods were affected by different agricultural management systems (integrated, organic, biodynamic) at the experimental vineyard of Geisenheim (Rheingau, Germany). Data were generated for the bloom and harvest periods in 2017, using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding analysis of both soil and vane trap samples. Our data revealed four principal results. (a) Overall richness of vane trap samples was unaffected by the management systems, likely due to the relatively small scale of the plots compared to the ranges of taxa such as the arthropods caught. In contrast, however, the richness of soil‐living taxa appeared to be negatively affected by conventional treatments, especially at harvest. (b) Analysis of similarity revealed that the species composition was significantly differentiated by management systems for both fungal and other taxa in both sample types. (c) Taxonomic analysis of fungi revealed that the management system drove differentiation in the abundance patterns for wine‐related fungi. Overall, our study reiterates the potential of eDNA techniques as a tool for assessing how biodiversity is affected by different agricultural management regimes, and we hope such approaches will be adopted in future research aimed at guiding vineyard management decisions.

Theoretical studies suggested that plasmapause surface waves related to the sharp inhomogeneity exist and act as a source of geomagnetic pulsations. Here, the authors show direct observations of a plasmapause surface wave and its impacts during a geomagnetic storm using multi-satellite and ground-based observations.

Summary: Background: Homelessness continues to grow globally. The Housing First (HF) model offers immediate access to housing and support services without preconditions and has a growing body of evidence documenting its effectiveness at ending homelessness. HF has a robust theory of change that hypothesizes how unique program components (i.e., immediate access to housing, separation of services from housing, client choice, etc.) drive positive social and health changes over time. We advance the understanding of how HF causes client improvement by empirically testing this program's theory of change. Methods: Using a unique longitudinal quantitative data from the large Canadian At Home/Chez Soi Housing First trial we used path analysis to test the theory of change for Quality of Life, Crisis related events or service utilization, and Recovery. Program pathways and health and social outcomes were measured at enrolment, 6-, 12- and 24-months post-enrolment. Findings: Most hypothesized pathways were confirmed with path analysis. Confirmed pathways for two outcomes– Quality of Life (QOL) and Recovery – were similar. Health and social consultations at enrolment, health status at 6- and 12-months post enrolment, and social connectedness at 12-months were important predictors of the 24-month outcomes of Quality of Life and Recovery, but not for Crisis related events or service utilization. Interpretation: This analysis directly responds to recent calls for more empirical evidence about intervention mechanisms. Ensuring linkages to health and social service consultations for clients, supporting clients’ engagement with family and community, and enabling clients to improve or maintain good health will drive better longer term client outcomes within Housing First. Funding: Funding Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Many of the choices humans make with regard to infrastructure, urban planning and other phenomena have impacts that will last thousands of years. This can readily be seen in modern cities in which contemporary streets run along street grids that were laid out thousands of years prior or even in which ancient viaducts still play a role. However, rarely do evolutionary biologists explicitly consider the future of life likely to be associated with the decisions we are making today. Here, we consider the evolutionary future of species in cities with a focus on the origin of lineages and species. We do so by adjusting evolutionary predictions from the theory of island biogeography so as to correspond to the unique features of cities as islands. Specifically, the species endemic to cities tend to be associated with the gray habitats in cities. Those habitats tend to be dominated by human bodies, pet bodies and stored food. It is among such species where the origin of new lineages is most likely, although most research on evolution in cities has focused on green habitats. We conclude by considering a range of scenarios for the far future and their implications for the origin of lineages and species.

Although elevated TGFβ2 levels appear to be a causative factor in glaucoma pathogenesis, little is known about how TGFβ2 expression is regulated in the trabecular meshwork (TM). Here, we investigated if activation of the cytokine regulator NFATc1 controlled transcription of TGFβ2 in human TM cells by using dexamethasone (DEX) to induce NFATc1 activity. The study used both proliferating and cell cycle arrested quiescent cells. Cell cycle arrest was achieved by either cell–cell contact inhibition or serum starvation. β-catenin staining and p21 and Ki-67 nuclear labeling were used to verify the formation of cell–cell contacts and activity of the cell cycle. NFATc1 inhibitors cyclosporine A (CsA) or 11R-VIVIT were used to determine the role of NFATc1. mRNA levels were determined by RT-qPCR. DEX increased TGFβ2 mRNA expression by 3.5-fold in proliferating cells but not in quiescent cells or serum-starved cells, and both CsA and 11R-VIVIT inhibited this increase. In contrast, the expression of other DEX/NFATc1-induced mRNAs (myocilin and β3 integrin) occurred regardless of the proliferative state of the cells. These studies show that NAFTc1 regulates TGFβ2 transcription in TM cells and reveals a previously unknown connection between the TM cell cycle and modulation of gene expression by NFATc1 and/or DEX in TM cells.

ABSTRACT The ubiquity and long-range transport of the microorganisms inhabiting dust can pose a serious risk to human, animal, and plant health. The well-recognized importance of dust-associated microorganisms contrasts starkly with our limited understanding of the factors determining the variation in the composition of these communities at the global scale. Here, we provide the first insight into the global determinants of dust-associated microorganisms by quantifying the environmental factors shaping bacterial and fungal community composition in 467 outdoor settled dust samples collected from 33 countries and 6 continents. Our results show that the global variation in dust-associated bacterial and fungal community composition was, to some degree, predictable from mean annual precipitation and temperature. Notably, our results show that the fungal genera Alternaria and Aspergillus, which contain many species that can serve as triggers of allergenic disease in humans and as plant pathogens, were more abundant in drier regions. Collectively, these results highlight the key influence of climate on the global distribution of dust-associated microorganisms and provide the baseline information needed to build a more comprehensive understanding of how microbial exposures vary across the globe and in response to climate change. IMPORTANCE A broad diversity of microorganisms can be found in dust, with some of these microorganisms capable of causing allergenic disease in human via inhalation or affecting plant health by acting as plant pathogens. However, the spatial variation in dust microbiomes and the environmental factors associated with this variation have not been comprehensively assessed at the global scale. Here, we investigated the bacteria and fungi found in outdoor settled dust samples spanning 33 countries and 6 continents. Our results show that dust-associated bacteria and fungi exhibit climate-driven variability in community composition at the global scale. Our results call for the development of strategies to predict the geographic distribution of dust-associated microorganisms and to identify the potential associations between microbial exposures and the health of humans, animals, and plants.

Social distancing is an important public health recommendation that has been implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Infections are rising among younger populations, but relatively little is known about youth social distancing behavior. Our qualitative study aims to examine youth engagement with social distancing and elucidate the reasons why guidelines are followed and broken. Members of the national MyVoice Text Message Cohort (aged 14–24) were surveyed from April 24 to April 30, 2020, through an open-ended text message poll. Responses were inductively coded and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Of the 944 youth who responded (response rate = 81.2%), 95% self-reported social distancing. However, 62% recalled instances of themselves or others breaking the guidelines and 19% expressed misconceptions about the rules. Notably, 14% of youth said they would encourage their friends to social distance by telling them it will accelerate a return to normal life. Feelings of social isolation were the most frequently cited (55%) negative impact of social distancing. Overall, responses from youth indicate significant variation in the interpretation of social distancing guidelines. Public health communications may need to address several critical misconceptions which impact the social distancing behaviors of youth. Further, safe methods for youth to interact with peers during periods of social distancing are necessary to prevent mental health impacts and to ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines.

Gut microbial communities are drivers of primate physiology and health, but the factors that influence the gut microbiome in wild primate populations remain largely undetermined. We report data from a continent-wide survey of wild chimpanzee gut microbiota and highlight the effects of genetics, vegetation, and potentially even tool use at different spatial scales on the chimpanzee gut microbiome, including bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic parasites.