Historical redlining and clustering of present-day breast cancer factors.

Purpose: Historical redlining, a 1930s-era form of residential segregation and proxy of structural racism, has been associated with breast cancer risk, stage, and survival, but research is lacking on how known present-day breast cancer risk factors are related to historical redlining. We aimed to describe the clustering of present-day neighborhood-level breast cancer risk factors with historical redlining and evaluate geographic patterning across the US.

Methods: This ecologic study included US neighborhoods (census tracts) with Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) grades, defined as having a score in the Historic Redlining Score dataset; 2019 Population Level Analysis and Community EStimates (PLACES) data; and 2014-2016 Environmental Justice Index (EJI) data.

Assessing the impact of areal unit selection and the modifiable areal unit problem on associative statistics between cases of tick-borne disease and entomological indices.

The modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) is a cause of statistical and visual bias when aggregating data according to spatial units, particularly when spatial units may be changed arbitrarily. The MAUP is a concern in vector-borne disease research when entomological metrics gathered from point-level sampling data are related to epidemiological data aggregated to administrative units like counties or ZIP Codes. Here, we assess the statistical impact of the MAUP when calculating correlations between randomly aggregated cases of anaplasmosis in New York State during 2017 and a geostatistical layer of an entomological risk index for Anaplasma phagocytophilum in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) collected during the fall of 2017.

Habitat suitability mapping using logistic regression analysis of long-term bioacoustic bat survey dataset in the Cassadaga Creek watershed (USA).

Bat species show global ecological importance, yet their numbers are declining worldwide. Understanding bat-habitat interactions is crucial in terms of developing effective conservation plans. In an effort to model bat habitat suitability in the Cassadaga Creek watershed, long-term bioacoustic bat data (spanning 2009-2020) was compiled, georeferenced and statistically analyzed using logistic regression techniques.

Chiropteran chatter in Chautauqua, NY (USA): Using acoustic sampling and geographic information systems to create a baseline bat habitat dataset.

Understanding bat habitat use and how bat activity changes in response to differing habitats across time and space is critical in developing and implementing effective bat conservation actions. To investigate the utility of geographic information systems (GIS) in studying bat habitat interactions, habitat delineations and bioacoustic sampling were conducted along two transects in Chautauqua County, NY (USA) from mid-May until the end of August 2013. Surveys were vehicular, and driven between 29 and 32 kmph in order to match bats' flying speed.

Mapping access to endovascular stroke care in the USA and implications for transport models.

Background: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the percentage of the US population with 60 min ground or air access to accredited or state-designated endovascular-capable stroke centers (ECCs) and non-endovascular capable stroke centers (NECCs) and the percentage of NECCs with an ECC within a 30 min drive.

Methods: Stroke centers were identified and classified broadly as ECCs or NECCs. Geographic mapping of stroke centers was performed.

A Pilot Study of Chicago Waterways as Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR-Ent) in a High-Risk Region for Community-Acquired MDR-Ent Infection in Children.

Community-acquired multidrug resistant (MDR-Ent) infections continue to increase in the United States. In prior studies, we identified neighboring regions in Chicago, Illinois, where children have 5 to 6 times greater odds of MDR-Ent infections. To prevent community spread of MDR-Ent, we need to identify the MDR-Ent reservoirs.

Retrospective suspect screening reveals previously ignored antibiotics, antifungal compounds, and metabolites in Bangladesh surface waters.

Densely populated countries in Asia, such as Bangladesh, are considered to be major contributors to the increased occurrence of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several factors make low-and middle-income countries vulnerable to increased emergence and spread of AMR in the environment including limited regulations on antimicrobial drug use, high volume of antimicrobials used in human medicine and agricultural production, and poor wastewater management. Previous monitoring campaigns to investigate the presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment have employed targeted analysis in which selected antibiotics are measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).

A cyberGIS approach to spatiotemporally explicit uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis for agent-based modeling of vector-borne disease transmission.

While agent-based models (ABMs) provide an effective means for investigating complex interactions between heterogeneous agents and their environment, they may hinder an improved understanding of phenomena being modeled due to inherent challenges associated with uncertainty in model parameters. This study uses uncertainty analysis and global sensitivity analysis (UA-GSA) to examine the effects of such uncertainty on model outputs. The statistics used in UA-GSA, however, are likely to be affected by the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP).

Using Multiple Scale Space-Time Patterns in Variance-Based Global Sensitivity Analysis for Spatially Explicit Agent-Based Models.

Sensitivity analysis (SA) in spatially explicit agent-based models (ABMs) has emerged to address some of the challenges associated with model specification and parameterization. For spatially explicit ABMs, the comparison of spatial or spatio-temporal patterns has been advocated to evaluate models. Nevertheless, less attention has been paid to understanding the extent to which parameter values in ABMs are responsible for mismatch between model outcomes and observations.

Using Multiple Scale Spatio-Temporal Patterns for Validating Spatially Explicit Agent-Based Models.

Spatially explicit agent-based models (ABMs) have been widely utilized to simulate the dynamics of spatial processes that involve the interactions of individual agents. The assumptions embedded in the ABMs may be responsible for uncertainty in the model outcomes. To ensure the reliability of the outcomes in terms of their space-time patterns, model validation should be performed.

Examining time-dependent effects of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions using an agent-based model.

The effects of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions have been well acknowledged to reduce the risk from diarrheal disease-causing pathogens. In spite of the recognized importance of WASH interventions on the reduction of diarrheal disease, there are still gaps in the understanding of the time-varying effects of interventions. To bridge this research gap, we developed agent-based models (ABMs) of diarrheal disease transmission in a community context.

Do sedentary behavior and physical activity spatially cluster? Analysis of a population-based sample of Boston adolescents.

Sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity are key modifiable behavioral risk factors for chronic health problems, such as obesity and diabetes. Little is known about how sedentary behavior and physical activity among adolescents spatially cluster. The objective was to detect spatial clustering of sedentary behavior and physical activity among Boston adolescents.

The Influence of Spatial Configuration of Residential Area and Vector Populations on Dengue Incidence Patterns in an Individual-Level Transmission Model.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Many individual-level simulation models have been developed to test hypotheses about dengue virus transmission. Often these efforts assume that human host and mosquito vector populations are randomly or uniformly distributed in the environment.

Geospatial clustering in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Boston youth.

The objective was to detect geospatial clustering of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake in Boston adolescents (age = 16.3 ± 1.3 years [range: 13-19]; female = 56.

Local spatial clustering in youths' use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana in Boston.

Background: Understanding geographic variation in youth drug use is important for both identifying etiologic factors and planning prevention interventions. However, little research has examined spatial clustering of drug use among youths by using rigorous statistical methods.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine spatial clustering of youth use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.

Improving dengue virus capture rates in humans and vectors in Kamphaeng Phet Province, Thailand, using an enhanced spatiotemporal surveillance strategy.

Dengue is of public health importance in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Dengue virus (DENV) transmission dynamics was studied in Kamphaeng Phet Province, Thailand, using an enhanced spatiotemporal surveillance of 93 hospitalized subjects with confirmed dengue (initiates) and associated cluster individuals (associates) with entomologic sampling. A total of 438 associates were enrolled from 208 houses with household members with a history of fever, located within a 200-m radius of an initiate case.

Dengue virus neutralizing antibody levels associated with protection from infection in thai cluster studies.

Background: Long-term homologous and temporary heterologous protection from dengue virus (DENV) infection may be mediated by neutralizing antibodies. However, neutralizing antibody titers (NTs) have not been clearly associated with protection from infection.

Methodology/principal Findings: Data from two geographic cluster studies conducted in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand were used for this analysis.

A spatially explicit approach to the study of socio-demographic inequality in the spatial distribution of trees across Boston neighborhoods.

The racial/ethnic and income composition of neighborhoods often influences local amenities, including the potential spatial distribution of trees, which are important for population health and community wellbeing, particularly in urban areas. This ecological study used spatial analytical methods to assess the relationship between neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics (i.e.

Examination of how neighborhood definition influences measurements of youths' access to tobacco retailers: a methodological note on spatial misclassification.

Measurements of neighborhood exposures likely vary depending on the definition of "neighborhood" selected. This study examined the extent to which neighborhood definition influences findings regarding spatial accessibility to tobacco retailers among youth. We defined spatial accessibility to tobacco retailers (i.

Characteristics of mild dengue virus infection in Thai children.

A four-year longitudinal cohort and geographic cluster study in rural Thailand was conducted to characterize the clinical spectrum of dengue virus (DENV) infection. Symptomatic DENV infections in the cohort were detected by active school absence-based surveillance that triggered cluster investigations around ill cohort children. Data from 189 cohort children with symptomatic DENV infection and 126 contact children in the clusters with DENV infection were analyzed.

Frequent in-migration and highly focal transmission of dengue viruses among children in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand.

Revealing the patterns and determinants of the spread of dengue virus (DENV) at local scales is central to understanding the epidemiology and evolution of this major human pathogen. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the envelope (E) genes of DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4 isolates (involving 97, 23, 5, and 74 newly collected sequences, respectively) sampled from school-based cohort and village-based cluster studies in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand, between 2004 and 2007. With these data, we sought to describe the spatial and temporal patterns of DENV spread within a rural population where a future vaccine efficacy trial is planned.

Fine scale spatiotemporal clustering of dengue virus transmission in children and Aedes aegypti in rural Thai villages.

Background: Based on spatiotemporal clustering of human dengue virus (DENV) infections, transmission is thought to occur at fine spatiotemporal scales by horizontal transfer of virus between humans and mosquito vectors. To define the dimensions of local transmission and quantify the factors that support it, we examined relationships between infected humans and Aedes aegypti in Thai villages.

Methodology/principal Findings: Geographic cluster investigations of 100-meter radius were conducted around DENV-positive and DENV-negative febrile "index" cases (positive and negative clusters, respectively) from a longitudinal cohort study in rural Thailand.

Space-time analysis of hospitalised dengue patients in rural Thailand reveals important temporal intervals in the pattern of dengue virus transmission.

Objective: To determine the temporal intervals at which spatial clustering of dengue hospitalisations occurs.

Methods: Space-time analysis of 262 people hospitalised and serologically confirmed with dengue virus infections in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand was performed. The cases were observed between 1 January 2009 and 6 May 2011.