A decision-support framework to optimize border control for global outbreak mitigation

The introduction and spread of emerging infectious diseases is increasing in both prevalence and scale. Whether naturally, accidentally or maliciously introduced, the substantial uncertainty surrounding the emergence of novel viruses, specifically where they may come from and how they will spread, demands robust and quantifiably validated outbreak control policies that can be implemented in real time. This work presents a novel mathematical modeling framework that integrates both outbreak dynamics and outbreak control into a decision support tool for mitigating infectious disease pandemics that spread through passenger air travel. An ensemble of border control strategies that exploit properties of the air traffic network structure and expected outbreak behavior are proposed. A stochastic metapopulation epidemic model is developed to evaluate and rank the control strategies based on their effectiveness in reducing the spread of outbreaks. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to illustrate the robustness of the proposed control strategies across a range of outbreak scenarios, and a case study is presented for the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. This study highlights the importance of strategically allocating outbreak control resources, and the results can be used to identify the most robust border control policy that can be implemented in the early stages of an outbreak. Document type: Preprin

Exploring the Moderating Effects of Drinking Context on the Relationship between Harmful Drinking and Risky Sexual Behaviors among College Females

Females are engaging in harmful amounts of drinking at higher rates than ever before. Because these rates are increasing, studying harmful drinking in the college female population is imperative. Previous studies have noted that an increase in harmful drinking correlates positively with an increase in risky sexual behavior. Although these correlations are evident, no previous study has looked at drinking context as a moderator between these two variables. The current study examined the degree to which drinking context moderates the relationship between harmful drinking and risky sexual behavior in college females. This study consisted of 387 female college students ages 18-24 who had drank alcohol in the past 30 days. In this sample, harmful drinking and each drinking context predicted risky sexual. However, drinking context did not moderate the relationship between harmful drinking and risky sex. The implications, limitations, and potential for future research will be discussed as well

The Initial Response of Biodiversity Conventions to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the operations of global biodiversity conventions, requiring virtual meetings in place of in-person events. Yet the pandemic also highlighted the importance of biodiversity conservation as a mechanism to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, as the October 2020 report issued by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (“IPBES”) emphasized. Now that in-person, international meetings have resumed, this Article examines the extent to which four biodiversity conventions—the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and the Convention on Biological Diversity—considered the nexus between biodiversity conservation and human health in the context of zoonotic disease. While the biodiversity conventions have taken several steps, individually, to emphasize the importance of biodiversity conservation to human health, this cross-cutting issue could be used for greater coordination among the conventions

What You Need to Know About Sex

Writings and artwork examining messages about sex and contraception in the media, intimate partner violence, sexuality and gender in popular music, and sexuality.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/feminist_zines/1025/thumbnail.jp

The Influence of HSV-1 Infection on Circadian Rhythms and Behavior in Mice

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection is a lifelong viral infection that affects approximately half of the human population (McQuillan et al., 2018), yet little is known about its neurological effects. There is correlational evidence that infection with HSV-1 can induce cognitive decline and increased anxiety behaviors (Harris & Harris, 2015; Steel & Eslick, 2015; Tarter, Simanek, Dowd, & Aiello, 2014). In addition, HSV-1 may be associated with disruptions to circadian rhythms because HSV-1 is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (Bond & Dinan, 2006), the time of HSV-1 infection impacts the viral replication (Edgar, 2016), and HSV impacts CLOCK machinery (Zhuang et al., 2017). Despite all of these associations of HSV-1 mediated neurological changes, a direct cause-effect relationship has yet to be established. This gap is vital to address in order to understand how viral infections impact behavior. In the current study, we examined causal relationships between HSV-1 infection and anxiety-like behaviors, and between HSV-1 infection and circadian rhythms. To achieve these aims, 20 BALB/c mice were infected with HSV-1 or vehicle via corneal scarification. Then, in various lighting conditions, infrared sensors tracked activity in order to non-invasively measure circadian rhythms. Next, potential differences in anxiety-levels were examined through behavioral testing (i.e., open field test, elevated zero maze, light-dark box). After behavioral testing, the animals were sacrificed and brain tissue was harvested. We hypothesized that adult mice infected with HSV-1 would exhibit increased anxiety-like behaviors and disrupted circadian rhythms as compared to control mice. Preliminary data suggest that the groups did not significantly differ in total activity during the pre-inoculation phase. There were short-term (one week post inoculation) significant decreases in activity in the HSV-1 group; however, these differences disappeared by four weeks post inoculation. These results will have important implications for understanding viral infections, specifically HSV-1, and how these infections impact anxiety-like behaviors and circadian rhythmicity

The Effects of Test Mode and Contiguity of Material on Geometry Test Scores, Cognitive Load, and Self-Efficacy

In recent years, the development and usage of computer-based tests for educational assessment has grown. The computer-based tests are typically derived from paper-based tests, with the assumption the tests being administered in different modes are equivalent. Studies examining this test mode effect have mainly focused on the test scores, but few have examined other factors important to test performance. The current study examines the test mode effect for geometry test problems, while also putting in perspective the factors of self-efficacy and cognitive load as both are significant components in performance. The results suggest test scores and cognitive load for geometry problems are similar across the test modes, however learners’ self-efficacy significantly decreases when performing the geometry test problems in computer-based test mode. The findings provide insight into the test mode literature and give direction for future lines of research. Keywords: Computer-based testing, Self-efficacy, Test mode effect, Geometry, Cognitive load DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-12-03 Publication date: April 30th 202

Perspectives on University Student Engagement in England

While national quantitative research has been conducted that measured satisfaction and engagement of undergraduate students in England, fewer qualitative studies exist that focused on the needs of students and their perceptions of the totality of their university experiences. This study examined the multifaceted phenomena of student engagement in a non-US setting to explore student attitudes and needs that contribute to retention and engaged decisions at an English university. Findings suggested that US research has applicability in the English university context. As is the case in the US, English student engagement in academics and societies was affected by factors associated with stress, belonging, career aspirations, support, and social involvement