bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Living With HIV Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts on Older Adults in New York City
Authors: Nguyen Annie , Karpiak Stephan
Published: December 2021

New York City was among the first to institute physical distancing and shutdowns to curb community spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has amplified issues related to isolation. We investigated the challenges created by the pandemic older adults living with HIV in NYC. 137 participants were recruited Sept-Nov 2020 from the oldest ASO in NYC, to complete surveys. Demographics: mean age=60.4; 58.3% men; 43.1% black/AA, 24.1% white; 48.9% gay, 30.7% straight; mean years living with HIV= 23.0, 92.6% reported undetectable viral loads. About one-third experienced hunger/food insecurity during the pandemic and 48.2% said they were not getting enough financial support from usual sources. Some (43.3%) reported skipping doses of HIV medications and 69.8% felt more isolated compared to before the pandemic. Those who lived alone (77.4% of total) were significantly more likely to report feeling depressed, follow media coverage on COVID-19, skip HIV medications, and experience changes in sleep patterns.
Creating a Public Data Resource: The HRS-O*NET Linkage
Authors: Carpenter Rebekah , Carr Dawn , Helppie-McFall Brooke , Beckel Julia
Published: December 2021

Few longitudinal studies provide detailed information about the characteristics of the jobs older workers engage in, limiting the ability to evaluate the potential consequences of extended working lives. In this session, we introduce a new project linking the 2019 O*NET taxonomy and corresponding data to the Health and Retirement Study for public use. We describe the procedures taken to develop an O*NET linkage to be released to HRS users in the form of a publicly available data file, allowing aging researchers to evaluate detailed aspects of occupations in the 50+ population. We explain the types of variables that will be made available in the O*NET-HRS occupation project, and provide examples for how the measures can be used in longitudinal HRS studies.
Community-Engaged Research With Indigenous Communities to Improve Elder Health and Well-Being
Authors: Lewis Jordan
Published: December 2021

Much of the past research conducted with tribal communities was coined "helicopter research," because researchers would enter the community, gather data, and leave the community, never to inform communities how the data was used or published, creating mistrust. Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a research approach conducted as an equal partnership between community members, organizational representatives, and researchers that serve as guidelines for researchers working collaboratively with communities. This symposium will offer a panel of presentations highlighting research studies with tribal communities that honor and respect tribal sovereignty in addressing health and wellbeing among their older adults. The panel presentations will consist of presentations on dementia caregiving, generativity and successful aging, social support and diabetes management, elder-centered research methods.
Alaska Native Elder-Centered Research Methodology
Authors: Rosich Rosellen , Crouch Maria , Lewis Jordan
Published: December 2021

Alaska Native (AN) Elders have historically been underrepresented in research. Innovative AN research posits that practice-based evidence is fundamental to culturally grounded, multifaceted methods. AN Elders is a cultural convention distinguishing Elders who continue to serve as an integral part of their family and community and recognized by their community as role models. Several studies will be discussed which employed Elders at every level of the research, ensuring cultural relevancy, outcomes, and dissemination activities. The findings lay the foundation for an Elder-centered research methodology that can be adapted and applied in other studies to encourage engagement of older adults. This methodology has potential to impact research for underrepresented groups and to rethink and reshape Western-centric practices. Findings from this research provides best practices for capacity building and sustainability, strategies for empowerment and prevention, and a framework for supporting the AN community in all phases of research.
Creative Arts-Based Approaches to Improve the Well-Being of Older Adults
Authors: Petrovsky Darina , Sefcik Justine
Published: December 2021

As older adults age they may face cognitive impairment, disruption in their sleep, and a decrease in mood and overall well-being. Given the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, they may experience a disruption in their access to health care services. Creative arts-based approaches have shown promise in improving the well-being of older adults and may be helpful in augmenting health care services. In this symposium, we will present research results of creative arts-based interventions aimed at improving the well-being of older adults, including those with dementia. We will also discuss ways to successfully engage with organizations that serve older adults using arts-based interventions. The first presentation will focus on the results from a feasibility randomized controlled trial examining the effects of a tailored music listening intervention on sleep outcomes in older adults living with dementia and their caregivers. The second presentation will report findings from the Mason Music & Memory Initiative aiming to improve mood and behavioral outcomes in persons living with dementia in nursing homes. The third presentation will focus on the preliminary results of a pilot study that integrated the delivery of music therapy telehealth with remote social work support and service linkage for rural older adults from low-income areas. The fourth presentation will report findings from the capacity-building program for teaching artists, health/aging organizations, and arts organizations committed to strengthening Creative Aging efforts through research. Implications for future research and creative arts-based intervention development for older adults will be discussed.
Challenges and Strategies to Maintain Fidelity to the MIRROR-TCM Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Naylor Mary , Hirschman Karen , Morgan Brianna , McHugh Molly , Shaid Elizabeth , McCauley Kathleen , Whitehouse Christina , Pauly Mark
Published: December 2021

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that the multicomponent Transitional Care Model (TCM), an advanced practice registered nurse-led, team-based, care management strategy improves outcomes for older adults transitioning from hospital to home. However, healthcare systems’ adoption of the model has been limited. A multi-system, replication RCT (MIRROR-TCM) enrolling older adults hospitalized with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pneumonia began in February 2020 just as the outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S. dramatically changed the healthcare and research landscape. The goal of this qualitative descriptive study is to explore the impact of COVID-19 on fidelity to the TCM intervention during this clinical trial. Using directed content analysis, recorded monthly meetings with health system leaders and staff were coded to identify challenges and strategies to maintaining fidelity to the intervention in the context of the pandemic. Analyses showed that COVID-19 impacted all 10 TCM components. The components with the most challenges were delivering services from hospital-to-home due to quarantining, restrictive facility policies, lack of personal protective equipment and limited telehealth availability; coordinating care due reduced availability of services, and screening at risk individuals because of fewer eligible patients. Strategies for addressing challenges included: exploring alternatives (e.g., increasing reliance on telehealth, expanding study eligibility), building and engaging networks (e.g., direct outreach to skilled nursing facility staff) and anticipating needs (e.g., preparing for shorter hospital stays). Findings highlight the importance of monitoring the contextual challenges to implementing an evidence-based intervention and actively engaging partners in identifying strategies to achieve fidelity.
Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Hospital Admissions 2 Years Later
Authors: Sands Laura , Du Pang , Do Quyen , Xu Yunnan , Pruchno Rachel
Published: December 2021

Disaster exposure is often followed by acute illness and injuries requiring hospital admission in the weeks after the disaster. It is not known whether disaster exposure is associated with hospitalization in the years after the disaster. We examined the extent to which disaster exposure is associated with hospitalization two years after Hurricane Sandy. The analyses fill a gap in our understanding of long-term physical health consequences of disaster exposure by identifying older adults at greatest risk for hospitalization two years after disaster exposure. Older adults (n=909) who participated in a longitudinal panel study provided data before and after Hurricane Sandy. These data were linked with Medicare inpatient files to assess the impact of Hurricane Sandy on hospital admissions after the post-hurricane interview. Those who reported experiencing a lot of fear and distress in the midst of Hurricane Sandy were at an increased risk of being hospitalized in the second or third years after the hurricane [Hazard Ratio=1.81 (1.15 – 2.85)]. Findings held after controlling for pre-hurricane demographics, social risks, chronic conditions, and decline in physical functioning after the hurricane. These findings are the first to show that disaster exposure increases risk for hospital admissions two years after a disaster, and that older adults’ appraisal of their emotional distress during the disaster has prognostic significance that is not explained by known risks for hospital admissions. The findings suggest that interventions during the storm and after the storm, may reduce long-term health consequences of disaster exposure among older adults.
Age-Friendly as Tranquilo Ambiente: How Socio-Cultural Perspectives Shape Older Latinos’ Lived Environment
Authors: Plasencia Melanie
Published: December 2021

Researchers have increasingly considered the importance of age-friendly communities to improve the health and well-being of older adults. Studies have primarily focused on the built environment, such as community infrastructure, older adult behavior, and environmental expectations. Less attention, however, has been given to the role of cultural characteristics in shaping perceptions of age-friendly environments for Latinos. Using an ethnographic methodological approach, including participant observation in a Latino community near New York City and 72 semi-structured interviews, this study provides empirical insights into how older Latinos characterize age-friendly communities. Latino older adults described their community as age-friendly using Tranquilo Ambiente (TA), which translates to a calm or peaceful environment. According to older adults, a TA possesses the following: 1) a sense of personal safety, including protection of their body, 2) ethnic, social connectedness, including networks with other Latinos and important social and cultural events; and 3) a comparative understanding of their communities treatment of seniors versus other geographical and spatial locations. While much has been written on the role of the built and social environment in developing and implementing age-friendly communities, more research on the cultural significance and understanding of place among marginalized older adults is necessary. TA and its characteristics demonstrate that cultivating an age-friendly setting requires adapting structures and services to promote Latino older adults' social and cultural support and engagement.
Aging out of Place: Factors Related to Quality of Life Among Older Refugees in the United States
Authors: Owino Jonix , Fuller Heather
Published: December 2021

Refugees flee their home countries, migrating to countries such as the US for safety. The psychological distress they experience may compromise their adaptation and well-being. However, little is known about quality of life among aging refugees who migrate to the US as adults, and in particular whether quality of life varies among refugees by sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, country of origin, and length of residence. Moreover, limited research exists examining the role of social connectedness for aging refugees’s quality of life. The current study explores sociodemographic and social connection factors associated with quality of life among aging refugees (N = 108; aged 50+). Refugees from Bhutan, Burundi, and Somalia were recruited from a Midwestern small city to complete an in-depth survey assessing social factors and well-being. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that females, older individuals, and African refugees reported lower quality of life, while length of residence was not associated with quality of life. When controlling for sociodemographic factors, greater social integration and lower loneliness were significantly associated with higher quality of life. There was also a significant interaction between loneliness and sex in predicting quality of life, indicating that greater loneliness was associated with reduced quality of life for women but not men. Study findings will be discussed in light of cultural variations within refugee groups and with the goal of highlighting ways to best support aging refugees’ well-being and develop social programs that can effectively cater to issues of aging among refugees.
Marital Histories and Late-Life Economic Security: Do Social Security Benefits Rules Perpetuate Disparities?
Authors: Carr Deborah
Published: December 2021

Disparities in late-life economic security persist along the lines of gender, marital status, race, and educational attainment. We propose that these disparities are partly due to the fact that Social Security benefits are structured such that never-married, divorced, and cohabiting persons, those who were widowed prematurely, or were in a dual-earner couple face benefit penalties. Drawing on data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), a study that has followed men and women from age 18 (in 1957) through age 72 (in 2011), we examine disparities in Social Security earnings and poverty risk on the basis of gender and marital histories. Our results reveal a large disadvantage for divorced and never-married persons (relative to their married counterparts), with women and those divorced two or more times experiencing the largest toll. We discuss the implications of our results for revamping Social Security to better meet the needs of 21st century families.
Impact of COVID-19 on Meaning Making of Dementia Caregivers in Hong Kong: From the Generational Perspectives
Authors: Vivian W Q Lou , Leung Reynold
Published: December 2021

This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on meaning making among adult children dementia caregivers and the association with caregiver mental well-being. Adult caregivers (n=601) from two generations, 1946-1964 (Baby Boomers) and 1965-1980 (Generation X), were recruited in Hong Kong between October 2019 and June 2020. Participants were assessed on depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and meaning making (Finding Meaning Through Caregiving Scale-FMTC). Generation X scored higher on sense of loss (p = 0.04) and lower on provisional meaning of FMTC (p=0.017). Moreover, an interaction effect (p=0.003) between generation and COVID-19 were found. During the pandemic, Generation X caregivers were more likely to suffer from higher losses, higher depressive symptoms (>23.2% moderate to severe) and lower provisional meaning (p=0.03) compared to their boomer counterparts. The level of meaning making is more important to Generation X caregivers, especially in COVID-19 situation. Government should consider generation-responsive services and education support in guiding service implementation.
Senolytics Reduce Coronavirus-Related Mortality in Old Mice
Authors: Camell Christina
Published: December 2021

The elderly and chronically ill are among groups at the highest risk for morbidity and mortality to several infections, including SARs-CoV-2. Cellular senescence contributes to inflammation, multiple chronic diseases, and age-related dysfunction, but effects on responses to viral infection are unclear. Old mice acutely infected with pathogens that included a SARS-CoV-2-related mouse β-coronavirus experienced increased senescence and inflammation with nearly 100% mortality. Targeting SCs using senolytic drugs before or after pathogen exposure significantly reduced mortality, cellular senescence, and inflammatory markers and increased anti-viral antibodies. Thus, reducing the SC burden in diseased or aged individuals should enhance resilience and reduce mortality following viral infection, including SARS-CoV-2.
Can Ecological Momentary Assessments Be Used as Daily Markers of Personality Traits?
Authors: Pasquini Giancarlo , Neubauer Andreas , Eaton Nicholas , Clouston Sean , Graham Eileen , Mroczek Daniel , Scott Stacey
Published: December 2021

This study hypothesized that select ecological momentary assessment (EMA) survey items are sensitive to day-to-day fluctuations in personality traits Extraversion (E) and Neuroticism (N). As part of the Einstein Aging Study, 312 older adults (Mage=76.96 years, SD=4.85 years, range=70-90 years) completed up to 5 EMA surveys per day for 16 days and a Big Five trait personality measure. Parallel two-factor multilevel confirmatory factor analyses were conducted for E (Daily-E; Trait-E) and N (Daily-N; Trait-N). The E model showed good fit (CFI=.95; TLI=.94; RMSEA=.02) and a significant correlation of .20 between Daily-E and Trait-E factors. The N model showed poor fit (CFI=.68; TLI=.61; RMSEA=.06). Results suggest EMA items can be used as daily markers of Extraversion, yet results are unclear for Neuroticism due to poor model fit. Daily markers of Extraversion can be used to detect fluctuations in personality traits across days that may predict long-term personality change.
Affect Reactivity to Daily Stressors Mediates the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Physical Health
Authors: Leger Kate , Turiano Nicholas , Bowling William , Burris Jessica , Almeida David
Published: December 2021

Researchers hypothesize that how people react to daily stressful events partly explains the personality-health relationship, yet no study has examined longitudinal associations between these factors. The current study examined the role of negative affect reactivity to daily stressors as a mediating pathway between personality and physical health outcomes using three waves of data spanning 20-years from a nationwide probability sample of 1,176 adults. Results indicate that Wave 1 neuroticism was associated with greater negative affect reactivity at Wave 2, which then predicted the development of chronic conditions and functional limitations at Wave 3. Higher conscientiousness was associated with less negative affect reactivity, which in turn predicted better physical health at Wave 3. Negative affect reactivity partially mediated both personality traits and physical. These findings highlight the usefulness of using a daily stress framework for understanding how personality impacts health over time, which has important implications for disease prevention.
Are All Domains of Life Satisfaction Equal? Differential Associations With Health and Well-Being in Older Adults
Authors: Nakamura Julia , Delaney Scott , Diener Ed , VanderWeele Tyler , Kim Eric
Published: December 2021

Growing evidence documents strong associations between overall life satisfaction and favorable health and well-being outcomes. However, because most previous studies have assessed satisfaction with one’s life as a whole, we know little about whether specific domains of life satisfaction (e.g., satisfaction with income) might be driving better health and well-being outcomes. Data were from 13,752 participants in the Health and Retirement Study—a nationally representative cohort of US adults aged >or=50. We evaluated if positive changes in seven domains of life satisfaction (between t0;2008/2010 and t1;2012/2014) were associated with 35 indicators of physical, behavioral, and psychosocial health and well-being (at t2;2016/2018). Satisfaction with family life and non-work activities showed the largest associations with subsequent psychological factors, followed by satisfaction with financial situation and income. Effect estimates were double in magnitude for certain domains of life satisfaction (e.g., the association between satisfaction with family life and purpose in life (β=0.22, 95% CI:0.16,0.27) was more than twice as large as the association between satisfaction with housing and purpose in life (β=0.09, 95% CI:0.02,0.16). Further, some domains showed associations with physical health outcomes (e.g., participants with the highest satisfaction with health had a 21% decreased mortality risk (95% CI: 0.66,0.95)), health behaviors (e.g., higher satisfaction with income decreased risk of sleep problems by 11% (95% CI:0.80,0.99)), and social factors (e.g., loneliness (β: -0.16 to -0.42)). Individual domains of life satisfaction might be novel targets for interventions and policies seeking to enhance specific facets of health and well-being in our rapidly aging population.
Purpose in Life: A Reconceptualization for Very Late Life
Authors: Anderson Keith , Fields Noelle , Cassidy Jessica , Peters-Beumer Lisa
Published: December 2021

Across disciplines, we have long sought to understand the factors that contribute to purpose in life. Theorists have posited that having life goals, feeling productive, and remaining active are essential contributing elements to purpose in life (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1969; Rowe & Kahn, 1997; Ryff, 1989). While these factors can undoubtedly contribute to purpose in life, they may not fully explain purpose in life for older adults in very late life (85 years old and older) who have long past and short future time horizons. In this presentation, we explore the concept of purpose in life for older adults in very late life and how current measures may not fully or accurately apply to this group. We examine the two most commonly used measures of purpose in life, the Purpose in Life Test (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964, 1969) and the Ryff Purpose Subscale (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995), and identify specific items that should be reconsidered for use with older adults in very late life. We then reconceptualize purpose in life for the oldest old based on several foundational theories, including Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, the Theory of Gerotranscendence, and Terror Management Theory. Stemming from this analysis, we posit that purpose in life in very life consists of three domains – the very long past, the very near future, and the transcendental post-mortem. Based upon this reconceptualization, we recommend the development of new measures of purpose of life in very late life that capture these three domains.
Feasibility Study of a Tablet-Based Intervention to Enhance the Meaning in Life Among Older Adults
Authors: Nam Seok In , Han Sangyoon
Published: December 2021

Recommendations to improve older adults' health and well-being focus on enhancing meaning in life through social interaction. Research studies have suggested that a tablet-based intervention can create opportunities to enhance meaning in life, thus reducing social isolation and loneliness. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a tablet-based intervention to enhance meaning in life among older adults. Senior Meaning in Life Enhancement (SMiLE) is a tablet-based application developed and implemented based on person-centered counseling, logotherapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). Thirty-one participants (adults aged over 65 years) were randomized for intervention (n = 15) or waitlist control (n = 16). The intervention group received a tablet with our embedded app. Participants were invited to participate in the app-based 2-month program for 30-minutes each day with the tablet. We evaluated pre-and post-semi-structured interviews, meaning in life scales, and usability tests. Data were analyzed using thematic analyses, descriptive statistics, and Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. Findings confirmed that at two months after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in the gap between pre-and post-meaning in life scores between the two groups (Z = -2.08, p < .05). Furthermore, qualitative findings included positive changes in behavior, relationships, and usability. This pilot study suggests the feasibility of a tablet-based intervention in older adults and demonstrates its potential benefit for meaning in life. These findings are valuable to researchers, practitioners, and designers interested in technological interventions for older adults.
Personal Network Bridging Potential Among Rural and Older Populations
Authors: Roth Adam , Peng Siyun , Perry Brea
Published: December 2021

Personal social networks play a fundamental role in the daily lives of older adults. Although many studies examine how life course factors and personal preferences shape network formation, fewer consider how the places in which older adults live present opportunities and obstacles to cultivate social relationships. In the present study, we explore how geographic context is associated with the ability to interact with non-overlapping social groups within one’s personal network (i.e., network bridging). This unique network formation offers older adults access to diverse social stimuli, non-redundant information, and social autonomy. By analyzing data from the Person-to-Person Health Interview Survey (N=709), we found that a minority of respondents reported the ability to bridge social groups within their networks. Respondents residing in rural and semi-rural counties engaged in fewer non-overlapping social groups compared to those residing in urban counties. These findings suggest that the communities in which older adults live condition opportunities for accessing unique social resources. Identifying the link between geographic residence and personal network structure has important implications for how individuals navigate the uncertainty and elevated support needs of later life. Additional research adopting a social network perspective is needed to provide insight into geographic health disparities occurring among the older population.
Digital Developments in Society That Persons 75 Years and Older Have Been Part of: A Scoping Review
Authors: Raja Moonika , Bjerkan Jorunn , Kymre Ingjerd , Galvin Kathleen , Uhrenfeldt Lisbeth
Published: December 2021

The population in Europe is ageing and people are becoming more than ever dependent on digital technologies. The present study aims to map relevant evidence about digital developments in society involving people aged 75 and over in European countries. It focuses on their experiences and the main barriers to, and facilitators of, societal digital demands. Scoping reviews can be used when the purpose is to identify types of available evidence and clarify concepts, this process was guided by a framework proposed by Arksey and O`Malley. The studies included in the review covered digital technology, digital devices and telehealth, and the context covered participants` own home or surroundings. A comprehensive search was made on CINAHL, Embase, Pubmed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Open Grey. Out of 727 identified citations, 13 sources which met the inclusion criteria (9 original study articles, 2 theses, 1 letter about a product and 1 project report). The studies included varied in their focus, design and location. Older European citizens have experienced technology making life easier and the opposite. The outstanding facilitator found was that technology should be easy to use. Interestingly, both social support and lack of social support were found as facilitators of using new technology and difficulty in remembering the instructions was seen as an important barrier. As technology develops rapidly, there is a need for new and additional research among older European citizens. Future research should cover participants` access to the devices, social support and the technical solutions most relevant to older people today.
Early Life Racial Discrimination, Racial Centrality, and Allostatic Load Among African American Older Adults
Authors: Thomas Tobin Courtney S , Gutiérrez Ángela , Bell Caryn N , Thorpe Roland J
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives

Prior research documents accelerated physiological aging among African Americans due to their greater lifetime exposure to social and economic adversity. Yet, less is known about the mechanisms through which early life stressors, such as early life racial discrimination (ELRD), and later life psychosocial resources, such as racial centrality (i.e., importance of Black identity to one’s sense of self), interact to shape allostatic load (AL) in adulthood. We evaluate the life course processes linking ELRD, adult racial centrality, and adult AL among older African Americans.

Research Design and Methods

Data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study included African Americans aged 50 and older (N = 260). Poisson regression models assessed the links between ELRD, adult centrality, and adult AL. Interactions determined whether ELRD conditions the centrality–AL association in adulthood.

Results

Adolescent ELRD conferred significantly higher levels of adult centrality and 32% increased risk of high adult AL. Greater adult centrality was linked to high adult AL, but the ELRD–adult AL association was not explained by centrality. However, ELRD and centrality interact to shape adult AL, such that racial centrality was protective against high adult AL for those who experienced racial discrimination as children or adolescents.

Discussion and Implications

Findings highlight the multiple pathways through which racism-related stressors and psychosocial resources interact to shape physiological dysregulation in later life and underscore the health significance of racial identity for older African Americans. Clinicians and public health professionals should assess early life stressors and foster psychosocial resilience to promote healthy aging.
A Topography of Data Commons: From Regulation to Private Dynamism
Authors: Ottolia Andrea , Sappa Cristiana
Published: December 2021

Knowledge is subject to enclosure through digital technology and legal rules. Data collected, stored and pooled by the Internet of Things (IoT) or Artificial Intelligence (AI) are no exception to this. Operators acting in the markets related to the algorithmic society may have a quite diversified range of intellectual property rights (IPRs) to protect the information they produce and manage. This is exploited through algorithmic processing techniques, aggregating collected data for the generation of new ones, thus creating additional information and knowledge. This paper studies whether and when data, information and knowledge, presented within the Big Data, IoT and AI structures, may be considered and exploited as commons. The analysis is not aimed at stating that commons should be the general solution for the algorithmic society. Nor does it endorse legal interpretations unilaterally favoring openness and limiting IPR protection and privacy rules (though this could be the case under certain circumstances). The question is to establish whether a certain level of commons should be provided by regulation or left to spontaneous private initiatives. In this regard, two different meanings of data commons are used in this work. The first one refers to the open access systems provided by regulation, equivalent to a public domain protection, and opposed to exclusivity mechanisms. The second refers to data commons which are privately ‘constructed’ on top of background regulation and manage resources for a limited set of claimants.
A conceptual framework for analysing partnership and synergy in a global health alliance: case of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team
Authors: Raftery Philomena , Hossain Mazeda , Palmer Jennifer
Published: December 2021

Partnerships have become increasingly important in addressing complex global health challenges, a reality exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and previous infectious disease epidemics. Partnerships offer opportunities to create synergistic outcomes by capitalizing on complimentary skills, knowledge and resources. Despite the importance of understanding partnership functioning, research on collaboration is sparse and fragmented, with few conceptual frameworks applied to evaluate real-life partnerships in global health. In this study, we aimed to adapt and apply the Bergan Model of Collaborative Functioning (BMCF) to analyse partnership functioning in the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST), a government–academic partnership, dedicated to outbreak response and research in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a literature review identifying important elements to adapt the framework, followed by a qualitative case study to characterize how each element, and the dynamics between them, influenced functioning in the UK-PHRST, exploring emerging themes to further refine the framework. Elements of the BMCF that our study reinforced as important included the partnership’s mission, partner resources (skills, expertise and networks), leadership, the external environment, management systems and communication. Additional elements identified in the literature and critical to partnership functioning of the UK-PHRST included governance and financial structures adopted, trust and power balance, organizational culture, strategy and evaluation and knowledge management. Because of the way the UK-PHRST was structured, fostering team cohesion was an important indicator of synergy, alongside collaborative advantage. Dividing the funding and governance equally between organizations was considered crucial for maintaining institutional balance; however, diverse organizational cultures, weak communication practices and perceived power imbalances compromised team cohesion. Our analysis allowed us to make recommendations to improve partnership functioning at a critical time in the evolution of the UK-PHRST. The analysis approach and framework presented here can be used to evaluate and strengthen the management of global health partnerships to realize synergy.
Five-year retention of volunteer community health workers in rural Uganda: a population-based retrospective cohort
Authors: Hobbs Amy J , Manalili Kimberly , Turyakira Eleanor , Kabakyenga Jerome , Kyomuhangi Teddy , Nettel-Aguirre Alberto , Kyokushaba Clare , Rwandekeye Polar , Brenner Jennifer L
Published: December 2021

Community health workers (CHWs) effectively improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) outcomes in low-to-middle-income countries. However, CHW retention remains a challenge. This retrospective registry analysis evaluated medium-term retention of volunteer CHWs in two rural Ugandan districts, trained during a district-wide MNCH initiative. From 2012 to 2014, the Healthy Child Uganda partnership facilitated district-led CHW programme scale-up. CHW retention was tracked prospectively from the start of the intervention up to 2 years. Additional follow-up occurred at 5 years to confirm retention status. Database analysis assessed CHW demographic characteristics, retention rates and exit reasons 5 years post-intervention. A multivariable logistic regression model examined 5-year retention-associated characteristics. Of the original cohort of 2317 CHWs, 70% were female. The mean age was 38.8 years (standard deviation, SD: 10.0). Sixty months (5 years) after the start of the intervention, 84% of CHWs remained active. Of those exiting (n = 377), 63% reported a ‘logistical’ reason, such as relocation (n = 96), new job (n = 51) or death (n = 30). Sex [male, female; odds ratio (OR) = 1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1 · 20–1 · 96] and age group (<25 years, 30–59; OR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.25–0.62) were significantly associated with 5-year retention in multivariable modelling. Education completion (secondary school, primary) was not significantly associated with retention in adjusted analyses. CHWs in this relatively large cohort, trained and supervised within a national CHW programme and district-wide MNCH initiative, were retained over the medium term. Importantly, high 5-year retention in this intervention counters findings from other studies suggesting low retention in government-led and volunteer CHW programmes. Encouragingly, findings from our study suggest that retention was high, not significantly associated with timing of external partner support and largely not attributed to the CHW role i.e. workload and programme factors. Our study showcases the potential for sustainable volunteer CHW programming at scale and can inform planners and policymakers considering programme design, including selection and replacement planning for CHW networks.
Regulatory relationships of demographic, clinical characteristics and quality of care for heart failure patients in southern China
Authors: Fu Rong , Feng Shaodan , Chen Qidong , Lin Yulan , Lin Zheng , Hu Zhijian
Published: December 2021

Objective

Quality of care for Chinese patients with heart failure was substandard. This study aimed to ascertain the characteristics related to quality of care to narrow the gap.

Methods

Data from 2064 heart failure patients between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015 at a hospital in Fujian Province were analyzed. The Bayesian network was used to assess the regulatory relationships between demographic and clinical characteristics and compliance with quality indicators.

Results

The compliance with quality indicators ranged from 42.5% to 90.2%. The compliance with recommended doses for medications all reached or was close to 100% except indapamide. Residence place, hypertension, troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide, heart rate, lung disease, number of emergency treatments (ETs) and ejection fraction directly regulated the compliance, and gender, age, medical payment methods, myocardiopathy, coronary heart disease and arrhythmia indirectly regulated the compliance in the Bayesian network. The lower compliance was found in patients under ET, patients with abnormal testing indicators, patients without specific comorbidities and patients under the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme or self-paying. Patients with lung disease and those who lived in urban areas had a longer length of stay.

Conclusions

The compliance with medication indicators for heart failure was suboptimal, but recommended doses were prescribed to patients who received medications. A series of strategies should be developed to improve the quality of care, such as expanding the scope and depth of knowledge of guidelines and clinical pathways, integrating the reminder and quality assessment model into the hospital medical record information system, paying more attention to the vulnerable population and improving the medical security system.
Effects of a blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and a toxin-adsorbing mineral on diarrhea and gut microbiome of weanling pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: He Yijie , Jinno Cynthia , Li Chong , Johnston Sara L , Xue Hongyu , Liu Yanhong , Ji Peng
Published: December 2021

A proprietary antimicrobial feed additive comprised of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and a toxin-adsorbing mineral showed promising bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in vitro. This study investigated the impacts of supplementing this blend on growth, gut microbiome, and enteric disease resilience in weaned pigs experimentally challenged with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Thirty-six weanling pigs (6.88 ± 0.30 kg body weight) blocked by weight and gender were assigned to one of three dietary treatments: control or dietary supplementation with 0.25% or 0.50% of the antimicrobial blend. This study lasted 28 d with 7 d before and 21 d after the first ETEC inoculation (day 0). All pigs were orally inoculated with 1010 CFU F18 + ETEC/3-mL dose for 3 consecutive days. Growth performance data and diarrhea scores were recorded throughout the experiment. Fecal samples collected on days −7, 0, 7, and 21 post first inoculation (PI), and ileal digesta and mucosal tissue collected on day 21 PI were further analyzed for gut microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing. All data, except for frequency of diarrhea and gut microbiome, were analyzed by ANOVA using the PROC MIXED of SAS. The chi-square test was used for analyzing frequency of diarrhea. Gut microbiome data were analyzed using QIIME2 and visualized using the R program. Dietary supplementation of 0.25% or 0.5% of the antimicrobial blend increased (P < 0.05) feed efficiency on days 14 to 21 PI of ETEC and reduced (P < 0.05) frequency of diarrhea during the study. Compared with the control group, adding 0.5% dietary antimicrobial blend increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Firmicutes but reduced (P < 0.05) Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in feces on day 7 PI. Pigs that received the antimicrobial blend also had higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae, but lower (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in feces on day 7 PI than pigs in control. In conclusion, supplementation of this antimicrobial blend at 0.5% reduced incidence of severe diarrhea in weaned pigs challenged with F18 ETEC and enhanced feed efficiency of weaned pigs at the last week of the experiment. Supplementation of this antimicrobial blend also modified the microbiota diversity in feces and ileal mucosa of weaned pigs.
Unresolved taxonomy confounds invasive species identification: theLysmata vittataStimpson, 1860 (Decapoda: Caridea: Lysmatidae) species complex and recent introduction ofLysmata vittatasensu stricto in the western Atlantic
Authors: Aguilar Robert , Prakash Sanjeevi , Ogburn Matthew B , Lohan Katrina M Pagenkopp , MacDonald Kenneth S , Driskell Amy C , Ahyong Shane T , Leray Matthieu , McIlroy Shelby E , Tuckey Troy D , Baeza J Antonio
Published: December 2021

Peppermint shrimp resembling Lysmata vittataStimpson, 1860, a species native to the Indo-West Pacific, were found in the lower Chesapeake Bay and adjacent coastal embayments in 2013, representing the first recorded introduction of this species in the northwestern Atlantic. Conflicting morphological descriptions, inconsistent morphological terminology, and limited molecular data (i.e., unresolved taxonomy), as well as the destruction of the type material of L. vittata, created uncertainty regarding proper identification. We provide the first phylogeny incorporating individuals from across the presumed native and introduced range of L. vittata. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses clearly indicate L. vittata represents a species complex of two widely divergent groups: 1) “Bruce Type” with a uniramous dorsal antennule that agrees with A.J. Bruce’s 1990 redescription of L. vittata, and 2) “Rauli Type” with a one-article accessory branch on the dorsal antennule that agrees most closely with the junior synonym L. rauliLaubenheimer & Rhyne, 2010. Given the taxonomic ambiguity surrounding L. vittata, we designate the individual used by A.J. Bruce to redescribe L. vittata and incorporated in our analyses as a neotype to fix the identity of this species. We therefore identify introduced North American and New Zealand populations as L. vittata sensu stricto and postulate that the native range spans temperate/subtropical East Asia. These data suggest that L. rauli is a valid species, which includes a possible undescribed sister species. We confirm the presence of L. californicaStimpson, 1866 in New Zealand, the first non-native record for this species. We also provide data suggesting L. disparHayashi, 2007 may be more widespread in the Indo-West Pacific than currently known and consider L. lipkeiOkuno & Fiedler, 2010 to be a likely junior synonym.
Attraction of the Mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) to a 3-Part Phytochemical Blend in a Mesocosm
Authors: Hutcheson Robert P , Ebrahimi Babak , Njiru Basilio N , Foster Woodbridge A , Jany William
Published: December 2021

Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) mosquitoes of both sexes were attracted to a 3-part volatile synthetic phytochemical blend but differed according to their component ratios, 7:3:2 or 1:1:1, and their initial concentrations. These arbovirus vectors were presented with the blends as baits in paired baited and blank CFG traps in a large greenhouse mesocosm. Ae. aegypti attraction was highest at a 7:3:2 blend ratio, but at a concentration half that found most effective for an anopheline mosquito species in outdoor screenhouses. Both lower and higher concentrations yielded substantially lower attraction scores for Ae. aegypti. By contrast, the few tests conducted on Ae. albopictus showed that it was not as sensitive to concentration, but again it was more responsive to the 7:3:2 ratio of components than to the 1:1:1 ratio. The two sexes of both species were represented equally in the trap catches, indicating the potential value of this and similar attractive blends for population surveillance and control of Aedes mosquitoes.
Multisite Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections Detected by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in a Child with Aplastic Anemia: A Case Report
Authors: Lai Shu-yu , Liu Fang , Chang Li , Che Guang-lu , Yang Qiu-xia , Jiang Yong-mei , Teng Jie
Published: December 2021

Microbial cultivation is the current gold standard for the clinical diagnosis of bacterial infections. However, this method sometimes produces false negative results. We present a case study of multisite Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing in a child with aplastic anemia, highlighting the rapid and accurate advantages of this technique.
Exoplanet detection using machine learning
Authors: Malik Abhishek , Moster Benjamin P , Obermeier Christian
Published: December 2021

We introduce a new machine learning based technique to detect exoplanets using the transit method. Machine learning and deep learning techniques have proven to be broadly applicable in various scientific research areas. We aim to exploit some of these methods to improve the conventional algorithm based approaches presently used in astrophysics to detect exoplanets. Using the time-series analysis library TSFresh to analyse light curves, we extracted 789 features from each curve, which capture the information about the characteristics of a light curve. We then used these features to train a gradient boosting classifier using the machine learning tool lightgbm. This approach was tested on K2 campaign 7 data with injected artificial transit signals, which showed that it is competitive compared to the conventional box least squares fitting (BLS) method. We further found that our method produced comparable results to existing state-of-the-art deep learning models, while being much more computationally efficient and without needing folded and secondary views of the light curves. For Kepler data, the method is able to predict a planet with an AUC of 0.948, so that 94.8 per cent of the true planet signals are ranked higher than non-planet signals. The resulting recall is 0.96, so that 96 per cent of real planets are classified as planets. For the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data, we found our method can classify light curves with an accuracy of 0.98, and is able to identify planets with a recall of 0.82 at a precision of 0.63.