Parenting Amidst COVID-19: Pandemic-Related Stressors, Inequities, and Treatment Utilization and Perceptions

Many parents of children under age 18 are faced with additional COVID-19 parenting- related stressors and may be experiencing increases in psychological difficulties; however, we have yet to investigate parent’s levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and adjustment disorder. Further, COVID-19 has served as a sobering reminder of the significant public health disparities in our society and it is critical to identify risk factors for poorer clinical outcomes. The primary objectives of the present study were to: (a) determine whether parents are reporting higher levels of pandemic-related stress, PTSS, and adjustment disorder than controls, (b) identify specific individual-level factors (e.g., age, gender, race, number of children, age of children) that may be related to higher levels of stress and symptoms among parents, and (c) report parents’ utilization of, and perceived efficacy of, psychological interventions during COVID-19. A U.S. nationally representative sample (N = 2,019) from Qualtrics Data panels was recruited in July– August 2020. Parents endorsed higher levels of stress, PTSS, and adjustment disorder, particularly younger parents. Further, 38.3% of parents reported PTSS above clinical cutoff. Younger participants and persons of color reported higher levels of pandemic- related stress. One-third of parents (33.1%) reported using online mental health services. Taken together, parents may be at greater risk for pandemic stress, PTSS, and adjustment disorder symptoms. Individual-level risk factors, such as age and minority status, are important to consider when understanding COVID-19 stress. Clinical intervention efforts should prioritize trauma-focused treatments for parents, especially those who are younger and identify as a person of color

Racism, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and Racial Disparity in the U.S. COVID-19 Syndemic

The COVID-19 syndemic, with a disproportionately higher adverse impact on communities of color (i.e., COVID-19 infection and death), will likely exacerbate the existing health disparities in trauma-related symptoms between people of color (POC) and White Americans. However, no studies have examined the racial disparity in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) during COVID-19. Grounded in ecological theory and racial trauma framework, we investigated racial disparity in PTSS and three possible mechanisms, 1) COVID stress, 2) direct racism, and 3) indirect racism, for these discrepancies using a large U.S. national sample. Results indicated that POC reported higher levels of PTSS than White Americans. The PTSS racial disparity was accounted more by direct and indirect racism than by the COVID-19- specific stressors, after controlling for age, gender, education, income, parent status, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and intimate partner violence (IPV). Additional fine-grained analyses for Hispanic/Latinx Americans, Black/African Americans, and Asian American and Pacific Islanders by and large corroborated the above findings. Our findings highlighted the deleterious impact of the ongoing racism pandemic on the POC community as a public health crisis in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic

Methanofollis propanolicus sp. nov., a novel archaeal isolate from a Costa Rican oil well that uses propanol for methane production

A novel methanogenic strain, CaP3V-MF-L2AT, was isolated from an exploratory oil well from Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica. The cells were irregular cocci, 0.8–1.8 μm in diameter, stained Gram-negative and were motile. The strain utilized H2/CO2, formate and the primary and secondary alcohols 1-propanol and 2-propanol for methanogenesis, but not acetate, methanol, ethanol, 1-butanol or 2-butanol. Acetate was required as carbon source. The novel isolate grew at 25–40 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and 0–2.5% (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain is affiliated to the genus Methanofollis. It shows 98.8% sequence similarity to its closest relative Methanofollis ethanolicus. The G + C content is 60.1 mol%. Based on the data presented here type strain CaP3V-MF-L2AT (= DSM 113321T = JCM 39176T) represents a novel species, Methanofollis propanolicus sp. nov

A novel interdomain consortium from a Costa Rican oil well composed of Methanobacterium cahuitense sp. nov. and Desulfomicrobium aggregans sp. nov.

A novel interdomain consortium composed of a methanogenic Archaeon and a sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from a microbial biofilm in an oil well in Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica. Both organisms can be grown in pure culture or as stable co-culture. The methanogenic cells were non-motile rods producing CH4 exclusively from H2/CO2. Cells of the sulfate-reducing partner were motile rods forming cell aggregates. They utilized hydrogen, lactate, formate, and pyruvate as electron donors. Electron acceptors were sulfate, thiosulfate, and sulfite. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed 99% gene sequence similarity of strain CaP3V-M-L2AT to Methanobacterium subterraneum and 98.5% of strain CaP3V-S-L1AT to Desulfomicrobium baculatum. Both strains grew from 20 to 42 °C, pH 5.0–7.5, and 0–4% NaCl. Based on our data, type strains CaP3V-M-L2AT (= DSM 113354 T = JCM 39174 T) and CaP3V-S-L1AT (= DSM 113299 T = JCM 39179 T) represent novel species which we name Methanobacterium cahuitense sp. nov. and Desulfomicrobium aggregans sp. nov

Get a Grip:Evaluating Grip Gestures for VR Input Using a Lightweight Pen

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in applications such as data analysis, artistic creation, and clinical settings requires high precision input. However, the current design of handheld controllers, where wrist rotation is the primary input approach, does not exploit the human fingers' capability for dexterous movements for high precision pointing and selection. To address this issue, we investigated the characteristics and potential of using a pen as a VR input device. We conducted two studies. The first examined which pen grip allowed the largest range of motion---we found a tripod grip at the rear end of the shaft met this criterion. The second study investigated target selection via 'poking' and ray-casting, where we found the pen grip outperformed the traditional wrist-based input in both cases. Finally, we demonstrate potential applications enabled by VR pen input and grip postures

Equity at sea: Gender and inclusivity in UK sea-going science

Today, we can celebrate a strong representation of women in sea-going science in the United Kingdom, providing positive role models for early-career female marine scientists. However, women continue to face challenges to their progression in their marine science careers, especially those who are also members of other under-represented groups. In this article we consider gender equity and equality in participation and leadership in sea-going marine science in the UK, discussing successes and lessons learned for the future. After a brief history of UK women in ocean science, and a summary of some recent advances in gender equality, we look at further areas in need of improvement, and ask whether successes in improved gender equality can be transferred to tackling other forms of under-representation in sea-going science

A multicentre evaluation and expert recommendations of use of the newly developed BioFire Joint Infection polymerase chain reaction panel

Septic arthritis is a serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality, routinely diagnosed using culture. The FDA has recently approved the rapid molecular BioFire® Joint Infection Panel (BJIP) for synovial fluid. We aimed to evaluate the BJIP compared to culture and its potential use in patient management. A multicentre retrospective evaluation of BJIP was conducted in the UK and Ireland. Positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) were calculated between the BJIP and routine culture. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion addressing the optimal or potential case use of the assay practice was facilitated. Three hundred ninety-nine surplus synovial fluid samples (~ 70% from native joints) from eight centres were processed using BJIP in addition to routine culture. An increased yield of positive results was detected using BJIP compared to routine culture (98 vs 83), giving an overall PPA of 91.6% and overall NPA of 93% for the BJIP compared to culture results. The BJIP detected resistant markers and additional organisms that could influence antibiotic choices including Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Kingella kingae. The MDT agreed that the assay could be used, in addition to standard methods, in adult and children patients with specialist advice use based on local needs. Rapid results from BJIP were assessed as having potential clinical impact on patient management. Organisms not included in the panel may be clinically significant and may limit the value of this test for PJI

A multicentre evaluation and expert recommendations of use of the newly developed BioFire Joint Infection polymerase chain reaction panel

Septic arthritis is a serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality, routinely diagnosed using culture. The FDA has recently approved the rapid molecular BioFire® Joint Infection Panel (BJIP) for synovial fluid. We aimed to evaluate the BJIP compared to culture and its potential use in patient management. A multicentre retrospective evaluation of BJIP was conducted in the UK and Ireland. Positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) were calculated between the BJIP and routine culture. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion addressing the optimal or potential case use of the assay practice was facilitated. Three hundred ninety-nine surplus synovial fluid samples (~ 70% from native joints) from eight centres were processed using BJIP in addition to routine culture. An increased yield of positive results was detected using BJIP compared to routine culture (98 vs 83), giving an overall PPA of 91.6% and overall NPA of 93% for the BJIP compared to culture results. The BJIP detected resistant markers and additional organisms that could influence antibiotic choices including Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Kingella kingae. The MDT agreed that the assay could be used, in addition to standard methods, in adult and children patients with specialist advice use based on local needs. Rapid results from BJIP were assessed as having potential clinical impact on patient management. Organisms not included in the panel may be clinically significant and may limit the value of this test for PJI