Health Disparities and COVID-19 Pandemic: Increasing Clinical Research Participation among African Americans

Health disparities in African Americans is a persistent issue. Higher rates and severity of the novel coronavirus-19 [COVID-19] among African Americans only widens health disparities. Effective COVID-19 treatment options are imperative, requiring representation of African Americans in clinical research. However, low participation and under-representation of African Americans is complex in nature. This article describes health disparities, the impact of COVID-19, and participation in clinical research among African Americans. We offer strategies for researchers to enhance the inclusion of African Americans. We also offer strategies in conducting clinical research during COVID-19

An XMM and Chandra view of massive clusters of galaxies to z=1

The X-ray properties of a sample of high redshift (z>0.6), massive clusters observed with XMM-Newton and Chandra are described, including two exceptional systems. One, at z=0.89, has an X-ray temperature of T=11.5 (+1.1, -0.9) keV (the highest temperature of any cluster known at z>0.6), an estimated mass of (1.4+/-0.2)x10^15 solar masses and appears relaxed. The other, at z=0.83, has at least three sub-clumps, probably in the process of merging, and may also show signs of faint filamentary structure at large radii,observed in X-rays. In general there is a mix of X-ray morphologies, from those clusters which appear relaxed and containing little substructure to some highly non-virialized and probably merging systems. The X-ray gas metallicities and gas mass fractions of the relaxed systems are similar to those of low redshift clusters of the same temperature, suggesting that the gas was in place, and containing its metals, by z=0.8. The evolution of the mass-temperature relation may be consistent with no evolution or with the ``late formation'' assumption. The effect of point source contamination in the ROSAT survey from which these clusters were selected is estimated, and the implications for the ROSAT X-ray luminosity function discussed.Comment: 9 pages, in Carnegie Observatories Astrophysics Series, Vol. 3: Clusters of Galaxies: Probes of Cosmological Structure and Galaxy Evolution, ed. J. S. Mulchaey, A. Dressler, and A. Oemler. See http://www.ociw.edu/ociw/symposia/series/symposium3/proceedings.html for a full-resolution versio

Brief relationship support as a selective suicide prevention intervention: Piloting the Relationship Checkup in veteran couples with relationship and mental health concerns

Introduction: Close relationship problems play a key role in many contemporary theories of suicide. However, the potential of relationship support in suicide prevention is understudied. This study explores the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and promise of utilizing the 3-session Relationship Checkup (RC) in veterans with mental health and romantic relationship concerns. Methods: We conducted a single-arm pilot of telehealth RC in veterans with a positive mental health screen and their romantic partners. Couples completed baseline and post-treatment assessments of study outcomes. Results: Feasibility analyses showed we were able to recruit an elevated-risk sample (30% history of attempts or interrupted attempts), take them through the service (90% treatment completion), and had minimal harm events (no suicidal behavior, no physical harm in arguments). Multimethod acceptability analyses suggested high satisfaction with the program, though some desired more intensive services. Couples reported improvements in relationship functioning, emotional intimacy, thwarted belongingness, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Perceived burdensomeness only improved for identified patients and drinking did not change for either partner. Conclusion: The RC is a feasible, safe, and acceptable strategy for providing relationship support to couples at elevated risk. Although further randomized trials are needed, RC shows promise to reduce relationship-level and individual-level suicide risk factors

Potential of MODIS EVI and surface temperature for directly estimating per-pixel ecosystem C fluxes

We tested the potential of estimating per-pixel gross primary production (GPP) directly from the MODIS enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and respiration directly from MODIS surface temperature (MOD11). Carbon flux data were obtained from 10 eddy covariance tower sites representing a wide range of North American vegetations. The correlation between across-site tower GPP and EVI was comparable (r = 0.77) to that between tower GPP and MOD17-GPP (r = 0.73), suggesting that EVI could be used to provide reasonably accurate direct estimates of GPP on a truly per-pixel basis. There was also a strong relationship (r2 = 0.67) between respiration and surface temperature of dense vegetation, suggesting that estimation of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) may be possible with relatively simple pixel based models, at least for some vegetation types

Inhibition Effects of Jakarta Bay Sediments to the Growth of Marine Diatom (Chaetoceros Gracilis)

Jakarta Bay coastal ecosystem is known suffered from water pollution and habitat degradation. Solid and fluid waste from households and several industrial areas flow and ended up in the bay. Ecotoxicological studies are needed to assess the effects of pollutant on marine organism, including phytoplankton as the primary producer. Therefore chemical analysis and toxicity test were performed to investigate the impact of Jakarta Bay Sediments to marine diatoms Chaetoceros gracilis. Heavy metals concentration especially Cu, Pb, Cd, and Hg in the sediments were lower than in previous studies. It could be related to the stricter environmental regulations which started enforced at the end of 1990s. Meanwhile, PAH and pesticide were higher than in previous studies. Increasing activities and maritime traffic in surrounding area of Tanjung Priok Port area and most likely comes from other adjacent harbors (Muara Baru, Muara Angke, and Marina Ancol harbor) and the massive USAge of the pesticide compound in the households of the Jakarta City area were suspected to be the reasons. Estuaries area and locations <10 km were identified and predicted would produce harmful effects since the concentration of Zn and Hg in those area exceeded Probable Effects Level (PEL) of Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQG). The growth responses of Chaetoceros gracilis were varied greatly. Most of the sites (24 from 31 sites) showed inhibition effects on the growth of diatoms, ranged from 1.75-35.33 % (17.75±9.59 %) relative to control, with the highest inhibition value was at Cengkareng Drain estuary (M2). The relationship between the concentration of contaminants and the inhibition response could not be clearly explained, however, there is an assumption that low concentrations of some heavy metals were suspected to give adverse effects on diatom's growth.Keywords: sediment, toxicity, marine diatoms, Chaetoceros gracilis, Jakarta BayEkosistem Teluk Jakarta dikenal mengalami pencemaran air dan degradasi habitat. Limbah cair dan padat berasal dari Perumahan dan industri mengalir dan berakhir di teluk tersebut. Kajian ekotoksikologi diperlukan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pencemar terhadap organisme laut termasuk fitoplankton sebagai produsen primer. Analisis kimia dan uji toksisitas dilakukan untuk mengetahui dampak sedimen Teluk Jakarta terhadap diatom laut Chaetoceros gracilis. Konsentrasi logam berat terutama Cu, Pb, Cd, dan Hg dalam sedimen lebih rendah dari penelitian sebelumnya. Hal tersebut berkaitan dengan peraturan lingkungan ketat yang mulai diberlakukan pada akhir 1990-an. Namun demikian, konsentrasi PAH dan pestisida lebih tinggi dari penelitian sebelumnya. Hal tersebut diduga kuat akibat dari peningkatan aktivitas dan lalu lintas maritim di daerah sekitar Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, juga kemungkinan besar berasal dari pelabuhan lain yang berdekatan (Muara Baru, Muara Angke, dan pelabuhan Marina Ancol) serta akibat penggunaan besar-besaran senyawa pestisida kegiatan rumah tangga di wilayah Kota Jakarta. Daerah dan lokasi estuaria <10 km diidentifikasi dan diprediksi akan menghasilkan efek berbahaya karena konsentrasi Zn dan Hg di area tersebut melebihi Probable Effects Level (PEL) dari Pedoman Kualitas Sedimen (SQG). Respon pertumbuhan diatom laut Chaetoceros gracilis sangat bervariasi. Sebagian besar stasiun (24 dari 31 stasiun) menunjukkan efek penghambatan pada pertumbuhan diatom, berkisar antara 1,75-35,33% (17,75 ± 9,59%) relatif terhadap kontrol, dengan nilai penghambatan tertinggi di muara Sungai Cengkareng (M2). Hubungan antara konsentrasi kontaminan dan respon penghambatan tidak dapat dijelaskan dengan lebih pasti namun terdapat asumsi konsentrasi rendah dari beberapa logam berat diduga memberikan efek buruk pada pertumbuhan diatom

Potential of MODIS ocean bands for estimating CO2 flux from terrestrial vegetation: A novel approach

A physiologically-driven spectral index using two ocean-color bands of MODIS satellite sensor showed great potential to track seasonally changing photosynthetic light use efficiency (LUE) and stress-induced reduction in net primary productivity (NPP) of terrestrial vegetation. Based on these findings, we developed a simple ‘‘continuous field’’ model solely based on remotely sensed spectral data that could explain 88% of variability in flux-tower based daily NPP. For the first time, such a procedure is successfully tested at landscape level using satellite imagery. These findings highlight the unexplored potential of narrow-band satellite sensors to improve estimates of spatial and temporal distribution in terrestrial carbon flux

VV Pup in a low state: secondary-star irradiation or stellar activity?

Aims. Emission lines in polars show complex profiles with multiple components that are typically ascribed to the accretion stream, threading region, accretion spot, and the irradiated secondary-star. In low-state polars the fractional contribution by the accretion stream, and the accretion spot is greatly reduced offering an opportunity to study the effect of the secondary-star irradiation or stellar activity. We observed VV Pup during an exceptional low-state to study and constrain the properties of the line-forming regions and to search for evidence of chromospheric activity and/or irradiation. Methods. We obtained phase-resolved optical spectra at the ESO VLT+FORS1 with the aim of analyzing the emission line profile and radial velocity as a function of the orbital period. We also tailored irradiated secondary-star models to compare the predicted and the observed emission lines and to establish the nature of the line-forming regions. Results. Our observations and data analysis, when combined with models of the irradiated secondary-star, show that, while the weak low ionization metal lines (FeI and MgI) may be consistent with irradiation processes, the dominant Balmer H emission lines, as well as NaI and HeI, cannot be reproduced by the irradiated secondary-star models. We favor the secondary-star chromospheric activity as the main forming region and cause of the observed H, NaI, and He emission lines, though a threading region very close to the L1 point cannot be excluded.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, in press on A&