Unpacking conservation easements' assessed land use designations and their implications for realizing biodiversity protection.

Native ecosystem and biodiversity loss from land use conversion into human-modified landscapes are evident in the United States and globally. In addition to public land conservation, there is an increase in private land conservation through conservation easements (CEs) across exurban landscapes. Not every CE was established strictly for biodiversity protection and permitted land uses can increase human modification.

Effectiveness of cholangioscopy guided biopsy versus ERCP guided brushings in diagnosing malignant biliary strictures.

Background: Evaluation of lesions of the biliary tract are essential to diagnose given the dismal outcomes of cholangiocarcinoma. Historically, these diagnoses were made using brush biopsies obtained under Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). To increase the accuracy of biliary biopsies, SpyGlassTM Discover cholangioscopy guided biopsy has been developed, providing greater tissue yield and direct visualization of the biliary epithelium.

Amlodipine versus nifedipine ER for the management of postpartum hypertension: a noninferiority randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postpartum hypertension is an increasingly prevalent problem and optimizing its treatment is imperative in reducing maternal morbidity and improving long-term health outcomes. Despite this, data on treatment of postpartum hypertension is limited. While most available studies focus on labetalol and nifedipine ER, these medications are not frequently used for hypertension treatment in the non-obstetric setting.

A Comparative Study of Direct Immunofluorescence Patterns in Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis Versus Dermatitis Herpetiformis.

Background: Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is typically characterized by granular IgA deposition in the papillary dermis on direct immunofluorescence (DIF), and linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is characterized by linear deposition of IgA along the basement membrane. Other DIF findings in both conditions may include IgG, IgM, and C3 deposition in various patterns. In cases where immunofluorescence findings are unclear, such as continuous but somewhat granular IgA deposition along the dermal-epidermal junction, additional DIF patterns may be helpful in the diagnostic process.

Influence of polysubstance use on the health-related quality of life among people who inject drugs undergoing opioid agonist treatment following treatment for hepatitis c virus.

Background: Treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people who inject drugs (PWID) has been associated with increased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Polysubstance use (PSU) is common among PWID, but no studies have investigated PSU influence on PWID's HRQOL HCV treatment.

Methods: Participants included 150 PWID receiving HCV treatment at opioid agonist treatment clinics in Bronx, NY.

Species- and subspecies-level characterization of health-associated bacterial consortia that colonize the human gut during infancy.

Background: The human gut microbiome develops rapidly during infancy, a key window of development coinciding with the maturation of the adaptive immune system. However, little is known about the microbiome growth dynamics over the first few months of life and whether there are any generalizable patterns across human populations. We performed metagenomic sequencing on stool samples ( = 94) from a cohort of infants ( = 15) at monthly intervals in the first 6 months of life, augmenting our dataset with seven published studies for a total of 4,441 metagenomes from 1,162 infants.

Geographic Variations in Urban-Rural Particulate Matter (PM) Concentrations in the United States, 2010-2019.

Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM) is a widely studied pollutant with substantial health impacts, yet little is known about the urban-rural differences across the United States. Trends of PM in urban and rural census tracts between 2010 and 2019 were assessed alongside sociodemographic characteristics including race/ethnicity, poverty, and age.

Bayesian group testing regression models for spatial data.

Spatial patterns are common in infectious disease epidemiology. Disease mapping is essential to infectious disease surveillance. Under a group testing protocol, biomaterial from multiple individuals is physically combined into a pooled specimen, which is then tested for infection.

A Hypothesis Test for Detecting Spatial Patterns in Categorical Areal Data.

The vast growth of spatial datasets in recent decades has fueled the development of many statistical methods for detecting spatial patterns. Two of the most commonly studied spatial patterns are clustering, loosely defined as datapoints with similar attributes existing close together, and dispersion, loosely defined as the semi-regular placement of datapoints with similar attributes. In this work, we develop a hypothesis test to detect spatial clustering or dispersion at specific distances in categorical areal data.

Employing digital PCR for enhanced detection of perinatal Toxoplasma gondii infection: A cross-sectional surveillance and maternal-infant outcomes study in El Salvador.

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic infection that can be transmitted in utero, resulting in fetal chorioretinitis and other long-term neurological outcomes. If diagnosed early, pregnancy-safe chemotherapeutics can prevent vertical transmission. Unfortunately, diagnosis of acute, primary infection among pregnant women remains neglected, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries.

Antibody Seroprevalence to Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Miraflores, Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Humans and Dogs.

Tick-borne disease burdens are increasing globally, impacting mostly rural and vulnerable communities. Among the most important emerging tick-borne pathogens are the Rickettsia species within the spotted fever group (SFGR) because of their genetic diversity and high lethality rate. Colombia is highly affected by SFGR despite not being reportable diseases; thus, research and clinical management are neglected.

Perinatal dengue and Zika virus cross-sectional seroprevalence and maternal-fetal outcomes among El Salvadoran women presenting for labor-and-delivery.

Background: Despite maternal flavivirus infections' linkage to severe maternal and fetal outcomes, surveillance during pregnancy remains limited globally. Further complicating maternal screening for these potentially teratogenic pathogens is the overwhelming subclinical nature of acute infection. This study aimed to understand perinatal and neonatal risk for poor health outcomes associated with flaviviral infection during pregnancy in El Salvador.

Spotted Fever Group spp. Molecular and Serological Evidence among Colombian Vectors and Animal Hosts: A Historical Review.

Spotted fever group spp. (SFGR) are a large group of tick-borne bacteria causing important emerging and re-emerging diseases that affect animals and humans. While SFGR are found worldwide, a lack of surveillance and misdiagnosis particularly affect South American countries.

A Bayesian Spatial Scan Statistic for Multinomial Data.

Spatial scan statistics are commonly used to detect clustering. We present a Bayesian spatial scan statistic for multinomial data. After validating our method with a simulation study, we use it to detect clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection/immunity in South Carolina.

A nowcast model to predict outdoor flea activity in real time for the contiguous United States.

Background: The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), a parasite commonly found on both dogs and cats, is a competent vector for several zoonotic pathogens, including Dipylidium caninum (tapeworms), Bartonella henselae (responsible for cat scratch disease) and Rickettsia felis (responsible for flea-borne spotted fever). Veterinarians recommend that both cats and dogs be routinely treated with medications to prevent flea infestation. Nevertheless, surveys suggest that nearly one third of pet owners do not routinely administer appropriate preventatives.

Strain-level characterization of health-associated bacterial consortia that colonize the human gut during infancy.

Background: The human gut microbiome develops rapidly during infancy, a key window of development coinciding with maturation of the adaptive immune system. However, little is known of the microbiome growth dynamics over the first few months of life and whether there are any generalizable patterns across human populations. We performed metagenomic sequencing on stool samples (n=94) from a cohort of infants (n=15) at monthly intervals in the first six months of life, augmenting our dataset with seven published studies for a total of 4,441 metagenomes from 1,162 infants.

Patient and Care Team Perspectives on Social Determinants of Health Screening in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study.

Importance: Health systems in the US are increasingly screening for social determinants of health (SDOH). However, guidance incorporating stakeholder feedback is limited.

Objective: To examine patient and care team experiences in early implementation of SDOH screening in primary care.

The utility of a Bayesian predictive model to forecast neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease in the United States of America, 2022.

Arboviruses (arthropod-borne-viruses) are an emerging global health threat that are rapidly spreading as climate change, international business transport, and landscape fragmentation impact local ecologies. Since its initial detection in 1999, West Nile virus has shifted from being a novel to an established arbovirus in the United States of America. Subsequently, more than 25,000 cases of West Nile neuro-invasive disease have been diagnosed, cementing West Nile virus as an arbovirus of public health importance.

Emergency department use and geospatial variation in social determinants of health: a pilot study from South Carolina.

Background: Health systems are increasingly addressing patients' social determinants of health (SDoH)-related needs and investigating their effects on health resource use. SDoH needs vary geographically; however, little is known about how this geographic variation in SDoH needs impacts the relationship between SDoH needs and health resource use.

Methods: This study uses data from a SDoH survey administered to a pilot patient population in a single health system and the electronic medical records of the surveyed patients to determine if the impact of SDoH needs on emergency department use varies geospatially at the US Census block group level.

A Hypothesis Test for Detecting Distance-Specific Clustering and Dispersion in Areal Data.

Spatial clustering detection has a variety of applications in diverse fields, including identifying infectious disease outbreaks, pinpointing crime hotspots, and identifying clusters of neurons in brain imaging applications. Ripley's K-function is a popular method for detecting clustering (or dispersion) in point process data at specific distances. Ripley's K-function measures the expected number of points within a given distance of any observed point.