Subsidization of race entry fees lowers barriers to participation in 5K races in children 14 and under

Background: Numerous studies have highlighted the physical health benefits of children's participation in sports and more recently, a body of research is growing that details the mental health benefits. Despite these benefits, children are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles and this puts them at greater risk of chronic disease, obesity, and poor school performance. The key barriers to participation in sport for children have been identified by researchers as 'cost' and 'time'. One way to reduce the cost barrier is to subsidize race entry fees for 5K races.Methods: Data for national averages was retrieved from a public database (meteor.run), which calculates statistics for the aggregate of all 5K events in the system. Data from selected races where fee waivers are available was retrieved from public databases containing specific event information (oksportsandfitness.com and tatur.org). Male and female participation in the age group of 1-14 years was analyzed.Results: Nationally, in races where fees are not subsidized, participation by children aged 1-14 is 7.0% in females and 10.5% in males. In selected races where fee-subsidization is offered, participation by children is much greater. Over the course of five years (2015-2019) in the Cherokee National Holiday 5K, average participation by females aged 1-14 years is 14.3% and males is 21.3%. In the 2019 Redbird 5K, female participation in the 1-14 age group was 16% and the male rate was 26.8%. The 2019 Beat the Heat 5K had 15.4% female participation in the 1-14 years age group and 21.5% male participation. The Isaiah Sapp 2019 5K was 17.8% females aged 1-14 and 28.2% males. The Huckleberry 5K 2019 was 12.5% females aged 1-14 and 21.3% males. The Mayes Co HOPE 2019 5K had 14.3% participation from females aged 1- 14 and 20.1% participation from males aged 1-14.Conclusions: The races where fee waivers were available took place at different times during the school year and summer (the Holiday 5K was calculated over a five-year period). These races took place during differing weather conditions and in different cities around northeastern Oklahoma. There is a commitment necessary by parents to enroll the children into the wellness program in order to receive the race fee waivers and there is a requirement to attend the races once registered. However, despite the membership, registration, and attendance requirements, children are still motivated to train for and participate in the races at a greater rate if their fees are paid. Policy makers, parents, and teachers should be aware that 'cost' and 'time' are key barriers to participation in sport for children. More opportunities are needed where costs are reduced and this provides one example of an effective cost-reducing method for increasing participation in running

Fee-waived virtual 5K races allow increase participation compared to in-person races during COVID-19

Background: Children’s participation in physical exercise has numerous benefits and is well- studied. While there are many significant barriers to participation in exercise in young people, one that has arisen lately is the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cherokee Nation developed the “WINGS” program “to promote and give awareness to regular physical activity, health education, and nutrition for a healthier lifestyle.” One of the benefits of this program is fee waivers for participation in selected 5K races, which were transitioned to virtual races during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether race participation differed in children (17 years and under) who were given fee-waivers to virtual races compared to those who signed up for normal in-person races.Methods: Seven fee-waived races and seven non-fee-waived races were selected, matched as occurring during the same month. The selected races took place during 2021 in different areas of Oklahoma. Male and female participation in the age group of 17 years and under was analyzed. Data from selected races was retrieved from public databases containing specific event information (oksportsandfitness.com; tatur.org; http://www.onlineraceresults.com).Results: Of the seven WINGS 5k virtual fee-waived races, it was found that 273 males and 296 females (17 and under) participated in the 5k races. Whereas in the seven in-person 5k non-feewaived races, it was found that 77 males and 51 females (17 and under) participated in the 5k races. Of the seven WINGS 5k virtual fee-waived races there was a total of 569 males and females (17 and under). Of the seven in-person 5k non-fee waived races there was a total of 128 males and females (17 and under). Participation rates of the 5k virtual fee-waived races were greater than the participation rates of the inperson non-fee waived races.Conclusion: The WINGS program, even when offering its races in a virtual format, is able to increase participation in 5K events for children 17 years and under compared to in-person 5K races held in the same month in a similar location where the fee is not waived. This program allows children to continue exercising during the pandemic and reduce the barrier to exercise caused by COVID-19

Breastfeeding status and its influence on Native American women’s food preferences

Introduction: To evaluate if breastfeeding alters Native American women’s food preferences, recently postpartum women were offered food interest surveys during their 6-week postpartum checkup at W. W. Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, OK (a Native American serving health facility owned by the Cherokee Nation of OK).Methods: Surveys were offered at check in, and no identifying information (name, age, race, SSN) or protected health information was collected. Women were asked whether they were breastfeeding, number of infants delivered, and if this was their first baby. Level of hunger was rated on a Likert scale that ranged from 1 (not hungry at all) to 9 (very hungry), with 5 indicating “don’t care.”Results: Overall, breastfeeding women indicated increased hunger ratings over non-breastfeeding women. Next, the rate of interest in eating specific foods from 6 different taste categories (salty, sweet, meaty, bitter, sour, and hot) was determined. There were no striking differences in eating foods in particular taste categories, except for sweet foods. In the sweet group, there was a greater interest in eating chocolate bars and cookies in the breastfeeding women.Conclusions: These findings represent the potential impact of breastfeeding on the interest in eating certain foods by Native American women and how breastfeeding status may guide food preferences, thus altering food choices. We found that Native American women in the breastfeeding group indicated a higher interest in eating foods of the sweet category in comparison to the nonbreastfeeding Native American mothers. These choices may have implications for postpartum weight loss as well as for childhood disease processes such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and other nutrition related diseases as maternal food choices influence family meals and the overall health of her children

31064 The Detroit Keloid Scale: A validated tool for rating keloids

Background: No keloid-specific outcome measures exist. Objective: To develop and validate the Detroit Keloid Scale (DKS), a standardized method of keloid assessment to better compare treatments. Methods: Forty-seven physicians were polled to develop the DKS. The scale was validated in 52 patients with keloids against the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) by 3 physicians. Results: The interrater reliability was “substantial” for observer component of the DKS and only “moderate” for the VSS and observer POSAS (ICC were 0.80, 0.60, and 0.47, respectively). Pearson’s correlation indicated a “moderate” association between the observer component of DKS with observer component of POSAS (ρ = 0.56, P \u3c.001) and a “substantial” relationship between the observer component of DKS and VSS (ρ = 0.63, P \u3c.001). Pearson’s correlation indicated a “moderate” association between the patient portion of DKS and patient portion of POSAS and the patient portion of the DKS and DLQI (0.61 and 0.60, respectively, P \u3c.05). The DKS total score consistently showed “substantial” relationship with POSAS total score (ρ = 0.65, P \u3c.001). Limitations: Single center study, no intrarater reliability analysis. Conclusions: The substantial interrater reliability of the DKS will allow for improved standardization in future keloid research

“I Should Know Better”: The Roles of Relationships, Spirituality, Disclosure, Stigma, and Shame for Older Women Living With HIV Seeking Support in the South

The population of older people living with HIV in the United States is growing. Little is known about specific challenges older HIV-infected women face in coping with the disease and its attendant stressors. To understand these issues for older women, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 women (13 African American, 2 Caucasian) 50 years of age and older (range 50–79) in HIV care in the Southeastern United States, and coded transcripts for salient themes. Many women felt isolated and inhibited from seeking social connection due to reluctance to disclose their HIV status, which they viewed as more shameful at their older ages. Those receiving social support did so mainly through relationships with family and friends, rather than romantic relationships. Spirituality provided great support for all participants, although fear of disclosure led several to restrict connections with a church community. Community-level stigma-reduction programs may help older HIV-infected women receive support

Making Space for Failure in Geographic Research

The idea that field research is an inherently “messy” process has become widely accepted by geographers in recent years. There has thus far been little acknowledgment, however, of the role that failure plays in doing human geography. In this article we push back against this, arguing that failure should be recognized as a central component of what it means to do qualitative geographical field research. This article seeks to use failure proactively and provocatively as a powerful resource to improve research practice and outcomes, reconsidering and giving voice to it as everyday, productive, and necessary to our continual development as researchers and academics. This article argues that there is much value to be found in failure if it is critically examined and shared, and—crucially—if there is a supportive space in which to exchange our experiences of failing in the field

A SMART decade: outcomes of an integrated, inclusive, first-year college-level STEM curricular innovation

In the early 2000s, our primarily undergraduate, white institution (PUI/PWI), began recruiting and enrolling higher numbers of students of color and first-generation college students. However, like many of our peer institutions, our established pedagogies and mindsets did not provide these students an educational experience to enable them to persist and thrive in STEM. Realizing the need to systematically address our lack of inclusivity in science majors, in 2012 faculty from multiple disciplines developed the Science, Math, and Research Training (SMART) program. Here, we describe an educational innovation, originally funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, designed to support and retain students of color, first generation college students, and other students with marginalized identities in the sciences through a cohort-based, integrated, and inclusive first-year experience focused on community and sense of belonging. The SMART program engages first-year students with semester-long themed courses around “real world” problems of antibiotic resistance and viral infections while integrating the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and an optional Computer Science component. In the decade since its inception, 97% of SMART students have graduated or are on track to graduate, with 80.9% of these students earning a major in a STEM discipline. Here, we present additional student outcomes since the initiation of this program, results of the student self-evaluative surveys SALG and CURE, and lessons we have learned from a decade of this educational experience

Higher incidence of perineal community acquired MRSA infections among toddlers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A six-fold increase in pediatric MRSA infections, prompted us to examine the clinical profile of children with MRSA infections seen at Mercy Children's Hospital, Toledo, Ohio and to characterize the responsible strains.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Records were reviewed of pediatric patients who cultured positive for MRSA from June 1 to December 31, 2007. Strain typing by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFT) and DiversiLab, SCC<it>mec </it>typing, and PCR-based <it>lukSF-PV </it>gene (encodes Panton-Valentine leukocidin), arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and <it>cap</it>5 gene detection was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Chart review of 63 patients with MRSA infections revealed that 58(92%) were community acquired MRSA (CAMRSA). All CAMRSA were skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Twenty five (43%) patients were aged < 3 yrs, 19(33%) aged 4-12 and 14(24%) aged 13-18. Nineteen (76%) of those aged < 3 yrs had higher incidence of perineal infections compared to only 2(11%) of the 4-12 yrs and none of the 13-18 yrs of age. Infections in the extremities were more common in the older youth compared to the youngest children. Overall, there was a significant association between site of the infection and age group (Fisher's Exact p-value < 0.001). All CAMRSA were USA300 PFT, clindamycin susceptible, SCC<it>mec </it>type IVa and <it>lukSF-PV gene </it>positive. Nearly all contained ACME and about 80% were <it>cap</it>5 positive. Of the 58 USA300 strains by PFT, 55(95%) were also identified as USA300 via the automated repetitive sequence-based PCR method from DiversiLab.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CAMRSA SSTI of the perineum was significantly more common among toddlers and that of the extremities in older children. The infecting strains were all USA300 PFT. Further studies are needed to identify the unique virulence and colonization characteristics of USA300 strains in these infections.</p

Autotrophic and heterotrophic acquisition of carbon and nitrogen by a mixotrophic chrysophyte established through stable isotope analysis

Collectively, phagotrophic algae (mixotrophs) form a functional continuum of nutritional modes between autotrophy and heterotrophy, but the specific physiological benefits of mixotrophic nutrition differ among taxa. Ochromonas spp. are ubiquitous chrysophytes that exhibit high nutritional flexibility, although most species generally fall towards the heterotrophic end of the mixotrophy spectrum. We assessed the sources of carbon and nitrogen in Ochromonas sp. strain BG-1 growing mixotrophically via short-term stable isotope probing. An axenic culture was grown in the presence of either heat-killed bacteria enriched with ^(15)N and ^(13)C, or unlabeled heat-killed bacteria and labeled inorganic substrates (^(13)C-bicarbonate and ^(15)N-ammonium). The alga exhibited high growth rates (up to 2 divisions per day) only until heat-killed bacteria were depleted. NanoSIMS and bulk IRMS isotope analyses revealed that Ochromonas obtained 84–99% of its carbon and 88–95% of its nitrogen from consumed bacteria. The chrysophyte assimilated inorganic ^(13)C-carbon and ^(15)N-nitrogen when bacterial abundances were very low, but autotrophic (photosynthetic) activity was insufficient to support net population growth of the alga. Our use of nanoSIMS represents its first application towards the study of a mixotrophic alga, enabling a better understanding and quantitative assessment of carbon and nutrient acquisition by this species