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Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategies are intended to protect communities from pathogen transmission by arthropods. These strategies target multiple vectors and different ecological and socioeconomic settings, but the aggregate benefits of IVM are limited by the narrow focus of its approach; IVM strategies aim only to control arthropod vectors. We argue that IVM should encompass environmental modifications at early stages - for instance, infrastructural development and sanitation services - to regulate not only vectors but also nuisance biting arthropods. An additional focus on nuisance biting arthropods will improve public health and quality of life and minimize social-disparity issues fostered by pests. Optimally, IVM could incorporate environmental awareness and promotion of control methods proactively to reduce threats of serious pest situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense colloidal suspensions are processed in a wide variety of industries. Challenges for pumping suspensions and slurries at high concentrations include shear thickening and dilation, which can have deleterious consequences. These systems are shear sensitive close to the jamming point, meaning that a significant increase in high shear viscosity can be observed with just a few percent change in volume fractions. Therefore, accurate and rapid determination of the jamming point can greatly aid formulation. Typically, conventional rheometry identifies the jamming point by a time-consuming process, whereby multiple flow curves of suspensions of different volume fraction are measured and extrapolated to the volume fraction where the viscosity diverges. We present an alternative approach for rapid, one-step, experimental determination of the jamming point for aqueous suspensions. The procedure monitors the shear stress under constant shear stress or shear rate as the sample is dewatered using immobilization cell rheometry, until the viscosity diverges. The method is validated by comparing the results of this work with conventional rheometry for a model suspension. Then it is applied to examine the effect of grafting a short-chain polymer to particles, comprising an industrial suspension of silica-coated titania. Polymeric coating of the particles increases the jamming concentration and mitigates shear thickening, qualitatively consistent with predictions from simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary crystallite size of titania powder relates to its properties in a number of applications. Transmission electron microscopy was used in this interlaboratory comparison (ILC) to measure primary crystallite size and shape distributions for a commercial aggregated titania powder. Data of four size descriptors and two shape descriptors were evaluated across nine laboratories. Data repeatability and reproducibility was evaluated by analysis of variance. One-third of the laboratory pairs had similar size descriptor data, but 83% of the pairs had similar aspect ratio data. Scale descriptor distributions were generally unimodal and were well-described by lognormal reference models. Shape descriptor distributions were multi-modal but data visualization plots demonstrated that the Weibull distribution was preferred to the normal distribution. For the equivalent circular diameter size descriptor, measurement uncertainties of the lognormal distribution scale and width parameters were 9.5% and 22%, respectively. For the aspect ratio shape descriptor, the measurement uncertainties of the Weibull distribution scale and width parameters were 7.0% and 26%, respectively. Both measurement uncertainty estimates and data visualizations should be used to analyze size and shape distributions of particles on the nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filled with certain alumina additives has wear rates over four orders of magnitude lower than unfilled PTFE. The mechanisms for this wear reduction have remained a mystery. In this work, we use a combination of techniques to show that porous, nanostructured alumina microfillers (not nanofillers) are critical for this wear reduction. The microscale alumina particles break during sliding into nanoscale fragments. X-ray microtomography, transmission electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy reveal nanoscale alumina fragments accumulated in the tribofilms. Tribochemically generated carboxylate endgroups bond to metal species in the transfer film and to alumina fragments in the surface of the polymer composite. These mechanically reinforced tribofilms create robust sliding surfaces and lead to a dramatic reduction in wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared 5 psychological models of the relationship between social support (SS) and behavioral health. These theoretical models, which have garnered some level of prior empirical support, were as follows: (a) main effects, (b) buffering effects, (c) social exchange, (d) equity, and (e) protective health Outcomes of providing SS. A population-based sample of 273 community-dwelling Hispanic elders drawn from East Little Havana, Florida (ages 70-100 years old; 86% Cuban) completed self-report measures of SS, financial strain, and psychological distress (PD). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the competing SS models. Results indicated that satisfaction with received SS was, as specified in the main-effects model, associated with lower PD, whereas received SS was unexpectedly associated with heightened PD. Reciprocal exchanges of SS (equity model) or exchanges where Hispanic elders provided more SS than they received (protective health outcomes of providing SS model) were also associated with lower PD. The feasibility of a 6th model in which the effects of SS are contingent upon the elder's preexisting PD level is proposed. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Greenness-or vegetative presence-has been identified as a factor in chronic disease. The present study examines the longitudinal relationship between objective measures of greenness at the residential block level and incidence of 6 cardiovascular disease conditions., Methods and Results: Analyses examined the impact of consistently high versus consistently low "precision" greenness at the Census block level on the 5-year incidence of cardiovascular disease conditions, including acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and hypertension, among 229 034 US Medicare beneficiaries in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to model the odds of developing any new cardiovascular disease and number of new cardiovascular disease conditions based on greenness tertiles computed across 2011 and 2016 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values, adjusting for individual age, sex, race, ethnicity, baseline cardiovascular disease conditions, neighborhood income, and walkability in 2011 and 2016. When compared with individuals consistently in the low greenness tertile in 2011 and 2016, those consistently in the high greenness tertile in 2011 and 2016 had a 9% lower odds of having any new cardiovascular conditions (odds ratio [OR], 0.91 [95% CI, 0.84-0.99]; P =0.021)., Conclusions: Over a 5-year period, consistently high greenness, when compared with consistently low greenness, was associated with lower odds of any new cardiovascular disease conditions. Identifying the role of greenness exposure in such a small geographic area, the Census block on which the older adult resides, allows for more precise, strategic decisions on where additional trees can be added-by selecting at-risk blocks rather than entire neighborhoods for tree-planting interventions.

Objectives: We explore patient-reported behaviors and activities within 30-days post-stroke hospitalization and their role in reducing death or readmissions within 90-days post-stroke., Methods: We constructed the adequate transitions of care (ATOC) composite score, measuring patient-reported participation in eligible behaviors and activities (diet modification, weekly exercise, follow-up medical appointment attendance, medication adherence, therapy use, and toxic habit cessation) within 30 days post-stroke hospital discharge. We analyzed ATOC scores in ischemic and intracerebral hemorrhage stroke patients discharged from the hospital to home or rehabilitation facilities and enrolled in the NIH-funded Transitions of Care Stroke Disparities Study (TCSD-S). We utilized Cox regression analysis, with the progressive adjustment for sociodemographic variables, social determinants of health, and stroke risk factors, to determine the associations between ATOC score within 30-days and death or readmission within 90-days post-stroke., Results: In our sample of 1239 stroke patients (mean age 64 +/- 14, 58 % male, 22 % Hispanic, 22 % Black, 52 % White, 76 % discharged home), 13 % experienced a readmission or death within 90 days (3 deaths, 160 readmissions, 3 readmissions with subsequent death). Seventy percent of participants accomplished a ≥75 % ATOC score. A 25 % increase in ATOC was associated with a respective 20 % (95 % CI 3-33 %) reduced risk of death or readmission within 90-days., Conclusion: ATOC represents modifiable behaviors and activities within 30-days post-stroke that are associated with reduced risk of death or readmission within 90-days post-stroke. The ATOC score should be validated in other populations, but it can serve as a tool for improving transitions of stroke care initiatives and interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Karlon Johnson Jr reports financial support was provided by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation. Jose Romano, MD reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Carolina Gutierrez, PhD reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Gillian Gordon Perue, MD reports financial support was provided by Florida Department of Health. Jose Romano, MD reports financial support was provided by Florida Department of Health. Hannah Gardener, ScD reports financial support was provided by Florida Department of Health. Carolina Gutierrez, PhD reports financial support was provided by Florida Department of Health. Tatjana Rundek, MD, PhD reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Tatjana Rundek, MD, PhD reports financial support was provided by Florida Department of Health. Tatjana Rundek, MD, PhD reports financial support was provided by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS) is used to measure the dynamics of charged silica particles between the volume fractions 0.065 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.352 (weight percentages from 12.7 to 55.8 wt %). The short-time diffusivity averaged over the scattering vectors sampled by DWS D ¯ (ϕ) decreases with an increasing concentration. An effective hard-sphere model that accounts for hydrodynamic interactions and a double-layer repulsion fits the values up to an effective volume fraction ϕ e f f = ϕ b ^ 3 ≈ 0.6 , where b ^ is the excluded shell radius normalized by the particle radius b ^ = b / a = 1.3. While DWS measurements of diffusivity are sensitive to repulsive interactions, we show that they are relatively insensitive to attraction, such as those due to secondary minima in the interaction potential or weak depletion interaction.

Peyronie's Disease, which is known to have racial/ethnic disparities in the general population, has never been studied in the veteran population. We compared the diagnosis and treatment rates for Peyronie's Disease among United States veterans of various racial-ethnic backgrounds at Veterans Affairs medical centers, which are equal-access systems. We queried the Veterans Affair Informatics and Computing Infrastructure to identify 17,647 Peyronie's Disease patients in the United States by ICD-9 or ICD-10 code between 2015-2020. We assessed demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, Veterans Affairs facility information, and treatment patterns. Racial-ethnic demographics of veterans with Peyronie's Disease were 71.4% White, 15.4% Black, 5.8% Hispanic, 1.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 5.4% unknown. Treatment rate was 13.6% overall, 13.6% of Whites (ref), 14.3% of Blacks (p = 0.2985), 13.5% of Hispanics (p = 0.9205), 9.1% of Asians (p = 0.3319), 16.7% of Native Americans (p = 0.1406), and 9.6% of unknown (p = 0.0041). White patients were more likely to receive injectional therapy and less likely to undergo surgery than Black patients. Peyronie's Disease patients at Veterans Affairs facilities are treated at the same rate, indicating that equal-access healthcare systems may mitigate racial-ethnic disparities. Further research is necessary to account for differences in disease severity and Veterans Affairs surgeon availability., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objectives: Accreditation of echocardiographic testing facilities by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) is supported by the American College of Cardiology and American Society of Echocardiography. However, limited information exists on the accreditation status and geographic distribution of echocardiographic facilities in the United States. Our study aimed to identify (1) the proportion of outpatient echocardiography facilities used by Medicare beneficiaries that are IAC accredited, (2) their geographic distribution, and (3) variations in procedure type and volume by accreditation status., Methods: As part of the VALUE-ECHO (Value of Accreditation, Location, and Utilization Evaluation-Echocardiography) study, we examined the proportion of IAC-accredited echocardiographic facilities performing outpatient echocardiography in the 2013 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services outpatient limited data set (100% sample) and their geographic distribution using geocoding in ArcGIS (ESRI, Redlands, CA)., Results: Among 4573 outpatient facilities billing Medicare for echocardiographic testing in 2013, 99.6% (n = 4554) were IAC accredited (99.7% in the 50 US states and 86.2% in Puerto Rico). The proportion IAC-accredited echocardiographic facilities varied by region, with 98.7%, 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.5%, and 86.2% of facilities accredited in the Northeast, South, Midwest, West, and Puerto Rico, respectively (P < .01, Fisher exact test). Of all echocardiographic outpatient procedures conducted (n = 1,890,156), 99.8% (n = 1,885,382) were performed in IAC-accredited echocardiographic facilities. Most procedures (90.9%) were transthoracic echocardiograms, of which 99.7% were conducted in IAC-accredited echocardiographic facilities., Conclusions: Almost all outpatient echocardiographic facilities billed by Medicare are IAC accredited. This accreditation rate is substantially higher than previously reported for US outpatient vascular testing facilities (13% IAC accredited). The uniformity of imaging and interpretation protocols from a single accrediting body is important to facilitate optimal cardiovascular care., (© 2017 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.)

Physical inactivity is a major public health concern because it is a determinant of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases. Few longitudinal studies have examined the association between neighborhood socioeconomic (SES) environment and change in physical activity behaviors. Additionally, few studies have examined this association in immigrant groups or Hispanic subgroups such as Cubans. This research aimed to determine if neighborhood SES is associated with longitudinal change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Cuban immigrants who participate in the Cuban Health Study in Miami, Florida. Data on 280 participants [mean age: 37.4 (± 4.6), 48.9% women, mean body mass index: 25.0 (± 2.5)] collected at baseline, 12 months and 24 months were analyzed. Minutes of MVPA were objectively measured during each data collection period using accelerometers. A neighborhood SES score was calculated for each participant's residential census tract from American Community Survey data on median household income, median housing value, educational attainment and occupation. The neighborhood SES score was grouped into tertiles, reflecting low, moderate and high neighborhood SES environment. Multilevel linear models were used to examine the relationship between neighborhood SES and change in MVPA over 24 months. At baseline, 94 (33.6%), 108 (38.6%) and 78 (27.9%) participants resided in low, moderate, and high SES neighborhoods, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, no difference in average change in MVPA over time was observed between participants residing in low and moderate SES neighborhoods ( p =0.48) or low and high SES neighborhoods ( p =0.62). In Cuban immigrants, longitudinal change in MVPA may not vary by neighborhood socioeconomic environment.

Unlabelled: Optical imaging is a cornerstone of modern oncologic research. The aim of this study is to determine the value of a new tool to enhance bioluminescent and fluorescent sensitivity for facilitating very-low-level signal detection in vivo., Experimental: For bioluminescent imaging experiments, a luciferase expressing breast cancer cell line with metastatic phenotype was implanted orthotopically into the mammary fat pad of mice. For fluorescent imaging experiments, near-infrared (NIR) nanoparticles were injected intratumorally and subcutaneously into mice. Images were compared in mice with and without application of the 'Gator' Mouse Suit (GMS)., Results: The GMS was associated with early detection and quantification of metastatic bioluminescent very-low-level signal not possible with conventional imaging strategies. Similarly, NIR nanoparticles that were undetectable in locations beyond the primary injection site could be visualized and their very-low-level signal quantifiable with the aid of the GMS., Conclusion: The GMS is a device which has tremendous potential for facilitating the development of bioluminescent models and fluorescent nanomaterials for translational oncologic applications., (Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

A wide variety of bioimaging techniques (e.g., ultrasound, computed X-ray tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography) are commonly employed for clinical diagnostics and scientific research. While all of these methods use a characteristic "energy-matter" interaction to provide specific details about biological processes, each modality differs from another in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, anatomical and molecular details, imaging depth, as well as the desirable material properties of contrast agents needed for augmented imaging. On many occasions, it is advantageous to apply multiple complimentary imaging modalities for faster and more accurate prognosis. Since most imaging modalities employ exogenous contrast agents to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, the development and use of multimodal contrast agents is considered to be highly advantageous for obtaining improved imagery from sought-after imaging modalities. Multimodal contrast agents offer improvements in patient care, and at the same time can reduce costs and enhance safety by limiting the number of contrast agent administrations required for imaging purposes. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticulate-based multimodal contrast agent for noninvasive bioimaging using MRI, optical, and photoacoustic tomography (PAT)-imaging modalities. The synthesis of these agents is described using microemulsions, which enable facile integration of the desired diversity of contrast agents and material components into a single entity.

Nanotechnology is actively being used to develop promising diagnostics and therapeutics tools for the treatment of cancer and many other diseases. The unique properties of nanomaterials offer an exciting frontier of possibilities for biomedical researchers and scientists. Because existing knowledge of macroscopic materials does not always allow for adequate prediction of the characteristics and behaviors of nanoscale materials in controlled environments, much less in biological systems, careful nanoparticle characterization should accompany biomedical applications of these materials. Informed correlations between adequately characterized nanomaterial properties and reliable biological endpoints are essential for guiding present and future researchers toward clinical nanotechnology-based solutions for cancer. Biological environments are notoriously dynamic; hence, nanoparticulate interactions within these environments will likely be comparatively diverse. For this reason, we recommend that an interactive and systematic approach to material characterization be taken when attempting to elucidate or measure biological interactions with nanoscale materials. We intend for this chapter to be a practical guide that could be used by researchers to identify key nanomaterial characteristics that require measurement for their systems and the appropriate techniques to perform those measurements. Each section includes a basic overview of each measurement and notes on how to address some of the common difficulties associated with nanomaterial characterization.

This study examines the relationship between neighboring behavior and depressive symptoms across 3 years in a prospective study of 273 community-dwelling, Hispanic older adults in Miami, Florida. The analyses extend the literature by testing for a bidirectional or reciprocal relationship between neighboring behavior and depressive symptoms over time and examining the relationship between these variables in Hispanic older adults, a group at risk of developing depressive symptoms. Structural Equation Modeling with a cross-lagged panel design showed that depressive symptoms were unrelated to subsequent neighboring behavior. However, neighboring behavior was related to subsequent depressive symptoms at every time point, such that higher levels of neighboring behavior were related to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that neighboring behavior may be a protective factor against depressive symptoms in community-dwelling Hispanic older adults.

This study documents a 35% prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of mostly Cuban older adults residing in a low-income, urban Miami neighborhood. This rate is comparable to, or higher than, prevalence rates reported by most other population-based samples of U.S. older adults. Logistic regression analyses indicate that perceived financial strain was the only sociodemographic factor associated with greater odds of clinically relevant symptoms when other sociodemographic factors were statistically controlled. Gender, age, and marital status were not related to elevated depressive symptoms. A case study illustrates the impact of financial strain on older adults' mental health. Findings highlight the need for mental health screening and case management services among these older adults, particularly those who experience financial strain.

Researchers are gaining an interest in the concept of wisdom, a more holistic yet often ineffable educational outcome. Models of wisdom abound, but few have rigorously tested measures. This study looks at Brown's (2004a, 2004b) Model of Wisdom Development and its associated measure, the Wisdom Development Scale (WDS; Brown & Greene, 2006). The construct validity, measurement invariance, criterion validity, and reliability of scores from the WDS were assessed with over 3000 participants from two separate groups: one a sample of professionals and the other a sample of college students. Support for construct validity and reliability with these samples was found, along with measurement invariance. Latent means analyses showed predicted discrimination between the groups, and criterion validity evidence, with another measure of collegiate educational outcomes, was found.

Background: Research on neighborhood effects increasingly includes the influences of the built environment on health and social well-being., Objectives: In this population-based study in a low-socioeconomic-status (SES), Hispanic neighborhood, we examined whether architectural features of the built environment theorized to promote direct observations and interactions (e.g., porches, stoops) predicted Hispanic elders' social support and psychological and physical functioning., Methods: We coded built-environment features for all 3,857 lots in the 403-block area of an urban Miami, Florida, community. We then conducted three annual assessments of social support, psychological distress, and physical functioning in a population-based sample of 273 low-SES Hispanic elders (70-100 years of age). We used structural equation modeling analytic techniques to examine hypothesized relationships between the built environment and elders' social support, psychological distress, and physical functioning over a 3-year period., Results: After controlling for age, sex, and income, architectural features of the built environment theorized to facilitate visual and social contact had a significant direct relationship with elders' physical functioning as measured 3 years later, and an indirect relationship through social support and psychological distress. Further binomial regression analyses suggested that elders living on blocks marked by low levels of positive front entrance features were 2.7 times as likely to have subsequent poor levels of physical functioning, compared with elders living on blocks with a greater number of positive front entrance features [b = 0.99; chi(2) (1 df) = 3.71; p = 0.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-7.3]., Conclusions: Architectural features that facilitate visual and social contacts may be a protective factor for elders' physical functioning.