Habu vipers (Protobothrops flavoviridis) are an overlooked but important reservoir of the zoonotic tick Amblyomma testudinarium (Acari: Ixodidae) in subtropical Asia.

Subtropical Asia has a rich diversity of reptiles and ticks, though the role of reptiles in the sylvatic cycles of medically important ticks in the region is poorly known. Habu vipers (Protobothrops flavoviridis) are widespread and common in the Japanese subtropics but their role as hosts for ticks has not been carefully explored. For 15 months in 2023/24, habu vipers were screened for ticks and were found to be important hosts for immature stages of the tick Amblyomma testudinarium, with a 22 % infestation rate.

Addressing spiritual needs of Veterans post-incarceration: a needs assessment.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) offers spiritual supports to Veterans nationally through its Chaplaincy Service and its Whole Health initiative. There are no systematic efforts to extend spiritual supports to Veterans re-entering community post-incarceration, however. Thus, the full potential of spiritual supports in bolstering well-being and minimizing recidivism during re-entry may not be fully realized.

Exploring Contactless Vital Signs Collection in Video Telehealth Visits Among Veterans Affairs Providers and Patients: Pilot Usability Study.

Background: To expand veterans' access to health care, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Connected Care explored a novel software feature called "Vitals" on its VA Video Connect telehealth platform. Vitals uses contactless, video-based, remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) through the infrared camera on veterans' smartphones (and other devices) to automatically scan their faces to provide real-time vital statistics on screen to both the provider and patient.

Objective: This study aimed to assess VA clinical provider and veteran patient attitudes regarding the usability of Vitals.

Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Health and Health Services Research Workforce: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Health and health services research institutions seek to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to overcome structural bias. The objective of this review is to identify, characterize, and evaluate programs aimed to strengthen DEI in the health and health services research workforces. We conducted a systematic scoping review of literature of 2012-2022 North American peer-reviewed empirical studies in PubMed and Embase using the Arksey and O'Malley approach.