Spiny spiders and spiny trees: Molecular phylogenetics and biogeographic reconstruction reveal history of recurrent overwater dispersal events, single-island endemics, and new species of Caribbean Micrathena (Araneae: Araneidae)

Elucidating the processes responsible for the provenance of taxon biodiversity on islands can help us to understand macroevolutionary mechanics in addition to specific organismal histories. Current species distributions are a result of an admixture of both abiotic (i.e. geologic) and biotic (i.e. dispersal capability, speciation and extinction rates) factors. The heterogeneous tectonic histories and local ecological differentiation among islands within the Caribbean contribute to high levels of endemicity and diversity. Differential historical biogeographic processes, namely vicariance (physical separation of populations by barriers) or long-distance dispersal, represent hypotheses to explain current distributions of species on islands resulting from colonization followed by radiation and extinction. In the Caribbean, the GAARlandia landbridge, connecting northern South America with the Greater Antilles (emergent 35-33 mya) presents an appealing vicariant explanator for diversity among various animal groups. Spiders epitomize excellent study organisms for phylogeographic analyses due to their high biodiversity, occupation of a wide variety of ecological niches, and high variation in their ability to disperse. This study assesses the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the spider genus Micrathena within the Caribbean to discern the role of long-distance dispersal and vicariance in shaping their distribution and diversity. Through the process several new species were discovered that are here described, adding to our understanding of diversity within the group. Prior work on Micrathena has been limited by relatively poor specimen sampling and resulted in conflicting reports supporting opposing colonization processes and routes. A robust specimen set emphasizing increased sampling on continental mainland areas (Colombia, Florida, plus Genbank mining of data from Brazil and the largest Greater Antilles Islands (Hispaniola, Cuba) was included in our analysis. Multilocus sequence data, ancestral range reconstruction, and biogeographic model testing procedures were integrated to reconstruct an evolutionary history of Micrathena and test the roles of the alternative vicariant (GAARlandia) and long-distance dispersal hypotheses. The history of Micrathena in the Caribbean spans approximately 30 million years beginning in the mid- Oligocene. The genus originates in South America, but Caribbean groups have a newer North American origin and dispersed five times to the Caribbean, supporting a long-distance dispersal hypothesis for colonization and rejecting a GAARlandia colonization route. Our results suggest high endemicity among Caribbean islands. The novel phylogeny highlighted previously uncovered species diversity, and species delimitation along with the primary phylogenetic dataset was used to develop new species hypotheses and descriptions. Three new species are herein described with representatives from Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia, and we resurrect M. flavomaculata (Keyserling, 1863) from Hispaniola. As so few specimens (\u3c4) currently represent these species, future sampling will be necessarily undertaken at proximal collection localities to ensure diversity is adequately ascertained. These results spotlight Caribbean Micrathena among Caribbean arachnid groups in that they repeatedly dispersed to the Caribbean despite their profuse spininess, and as having originated in North America

Language and Communication Deficits in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review of the Literature on the Progression, Prevention, and Mediation of Language Barriers Experienced by Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses a significant societal problem with regard to the quality of life in the aging population worldwide (Alzheimer’s Association, 2021). One ability that is affected early on in the disease is language processing, which can result in feelings of isolation due to its significant impact on one’s relationships, overall communicative ability, and quality of life (Szatloczki et al., 2015). Thus, it is of great importance to identify evidence-based interventions and preventative measures, as well as communication strategies, helpful to patients and their caregivers. In this review of literature, we examined language difficulties pertaining to semantic verbal fluency, word finding, and discourse markers, while also identifying the neural mechanisms likely responsible (e.g., Arnoff et al., 2006; Chapman et al., 1998; Eriksson et al., 2015; Pakhomov et al., 2018). In addition, we present research on the theory of cognitive reserve as a preventative measure, with a special emphasis on the influence of bilingualism (Bialystok et al., 2007; Gold, 2016; Perani et al., 2017) and music training (Chaddock-Heyman et al., 2021; Lyu et al., 2018). The research supports the efficacy of various interactive music therapies to allow extended communication between caregivers and AD patients, especially since later life music therapy can help preserve or enhance memory and language ability in patients with moderate or severe AD (Clare et al., 2020; Lyu et al., 2018; Wong et al., 2019). Future research could further investigate the long-term effects and applications of language and music interventions. Importantly, incorporating increasingly diverse samples is necessary to increase the generalizability of the research described (Brewster et al., 2018, Ferretti et al., 2018)

Does the Decriminalization of Prostitution Reduce Rape and Sexually Transmitted Disease? A Review of Cunningham and Shah Findings

In 2013, research findings by Cunningham and Shah claimed that rape and sexually transmitted diseases were reduced by decriminalized prostitution in Rhode Island. The original unpublished claims have received wide media coverage which have gone unexamined. This review finds errors in their analyses. One error is the date when prostitution was decriminalized in Rhode Island. Cunningham and Shah claim that prostitution was decriminalized in 2003. Our analysis finds the date of decriminalization of prostitution was 1980. The change in the start date of decriminalization significantly alters the analysis and the findings. Another error results from Cunningham and Shah using an outlier data point to define a period of analysis. The results of this review call into question the claims that the decriminalization of prostitution reduced rape and sexually transmitted disease

Alexithymia and Emotional Ambivalence as Predictors of College Adjustment

The current study evaluated the constructs alexithymia and emotional ambivalence, regarding their impact on adjustment to college. Alexithymia is an emotional processing concept which is defined as difficulty identifying and describing feelings, externally oriented thought, and limited imaginal ability. Emotional ambivalence is the ongoing internal conflict about the desire to hide emotions, despite external circumstances that demand disclosure, and/or regret over decisions to disclose feelings. These were both looked at as predictors of college adjustment, with the inclusion of chronic pain and psychiatric distress as physical and mental health components of the transition

Community-based active case-finding interventions for tuberculosis : a systematic review

This work was made possible through grants provided by the WHO Global TB Programme. RMB, ELC, and PM hold Wellcome fellowships: 203905/Z/16/Z (RMB), 200901/Z/16/Z (ELC), and 206575/Z/17/Z (PM). MR, LT, and HA are funded by part of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 programme supported by the EU (grant number RIA2016S-1632-TREATS). AES is supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant K23AI140918.Background Community-based active case-finding interventions might identify and treat more people with tuberculosis disease than standard case detection. We aimed to assess whether active case-finding interventions can affect tuberculosis epidemiology in the wider community. Methods We did a systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for studies that compared tuberculosis case notification rates, tuberculosis disease prevalence, or tuberculosis infection prevalence or incidence in children, between populations exposed and unexposed to active case-finding interventions. We included studies published in English between Jan 1, 1980, and April 13, 2020. Studies of active case-finding in the general population, in populations perceived to be at high risk for tuberculosis, and in closed settings were included, whereas studies of tuberculosis screening at health-care facilities, among household contacts, or among children only, and studies that screened fewer than 1000 people were excluded. To estimate effectiveness, we extracted or calculated case notification rates, prevalence of tuberculosis disease, and incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis infection in children, and compared ratios of these outcomes between groups that were exposed or not exposed to active case-finding interventions. Results 27 883 abstracts were screened and 988 articles underwent full text review. 28 studies contributed data for analysis of tuberculosis case notifications, nine for prevalence of tuberculosis disease, and two for incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis infection in children. In one cluster-randomised trial in South Africa and Zambia, an active case-finding intervention based on community mobilisation and sputum drop-off did not affect tuberculosis prevalence, whereas, in a cluster-randomised trial in Vietnam, an active case-finding intervention based on sputum tuberculosis tests for everyone reduced tuberculosis prevalence in the community. We found inconsistent, low-quality evidence that active case-finding might increase the number of cases of tuberculosis notified in populations with structural risk factors for tuberculosis. Interpretation Community-based active case-finding for tuberculosis might be effective in changing tuberculosis epidemiology and thereby improving population health if delivered with high coverage and intensity. If possible, active case-finding projects should incorporate a well designed, robust evaluation to contribute to the evidence base and help elucidate which delivery methods and diagnostic strategies are most effective. Funding WHO Global TB Programme.Peer reviewe

Do community-based active case-finding interventions have indirect impacts on wider TB case detection and determinants of subsequent TB testing behaviour? A systematic review

Funding: This work was made possible through grants provided by the WHO Global TB Programme. RMB, ELC, and PM hold Wellcome fellowships: 203905/Z/16/Z (RMB), 200901/Z/16/Z (ELC), and 206575/Z/17/Z (PM). MR, LT, and HA are funded by part of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 programme supported by the EU (grant number RIA2016S-1632-TREATS). AES is supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant K23AI140918. WHO facilitated discussions among authors at the design stage and contributed to this manuscript but had no role in the conduct or writing of the WHO review.Community-based active case-finding (ACF) may have important impacts on routine TB case-detection and subsequent patient-initiated diagnosis pathways, contributing “indirectly” to infectious diseases prevention and care. We investigated the impact of ACF beyond directly diagnosed patients for TB, using routine case-notification rate (CNR) ratios as a measure of indirect effect. We systematically searched for publications 01-Jan-1980 to 13-Apr-2020 reporting on community-based ACF interventions compared to a comparison group, together with review of linked manuscripts reporting knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) outcomes or qualitative data on TB testing behaviour. We calculated CNR ratios of routine case-notifications (i.e. excluding cases identified directly through ACF) and compared proxy behavioural outcomes for both ACF and comparator communities. Full text manuscripts from 988 of 23,883 abstracts were screened for inclusion; 36 were eligible. Of these, 12 reported routine notification rates separately from ACF intervention-attributed rates, and one reported any proxy behavioural outcomes. Two further studies were identified from screening 1121 abstracts for linked KAP/qualitative manuscripts. 8/12 case-notification studies were considered at critical or serious risk of bias. 8/11 non-randomised studies reported bacteriologically-confirmed CNR ratios between 0.47 (95% CI:0.41–0.53) and 0.96 (95% CI:0.94–0.97), with 7/11 reporting all-form CNR ratios between 0.96 (95% CI:0.88–1.05) and 1.09 (95% CI:1.02–1.16). One high-quality randomised-controlled trial reported a ratio of 1.14 (95% CI 0.91–1.43). KAP/qualitative manuscripts provided insufficient evidence to establish the impact of ACF on subsequent TB testing behaviour. ACF interventions with routine CNR ratios >1 suggest an indirect effect on wider TB case-detection, potentially due to impact on subsequent TB testing behaviour through follow-up after a negative ACF test or increased TB knowledge. However, data on this type of impact are rarely collected. Evaluation of routine case-notification, testing and proxy behavioural outcomes in intervention and comparator communities should be included as standard methodology in future ACF campaign study designs.Peer reviewe

Optical Propagation and Communication

Contains research summary and reports on four research projects.Maryland Procurement Office (Contract MDA 904-87-C-4044)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 87-18970)U.S. Army Research Office (Contract DAAL03-87-K-0117)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N0001 4-80-C-0941)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Contract F49620-87-C-0043

Optical Propagation and Communication

Contains an introduction and reports on four research projects.Maryland Procurement Office Contract MDA 904-87-C-4044National Science Foundation Grant ECS 87-18970U.S. Army Research Office - Durham Contract DAAL03-87-K-0117U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-89-J-1163U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Contract F49620-87-C-004

Community-based active case-finding interventions for tuberculosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Community-based active case-finding interventions might identify and treat more people with tuberculosis disease than standard case detection. We aimed to assess whether active case-finding interventions can affect tuberculosis epidemiology in the wider community. METHODS: We did a systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for studies that compared tuberculosis case notification rates, tuberculosis disease prevalence, or tuberculosis infection prevalence or incidence in children, between populations exposed and unexposed to active case-finding interventions. We included studies published in English between Jan 1, 1980, and April 13, 2020. Studies of active case-finding in the general population, in populations perceived to be at high risk for tuberculosis, and in closed settings were included, whereas studies of tuberculosis screening at health-care facilities, among household contacts, or among children only, and studies that screened fewer than 1000 people were excluded. To estimate effectiveness, we extracted or calculated case notification rates, prevalence of tuberculosis disease, and incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis infection in children, and compared ratios of these outcomes between groups that were exposed or not exposed to active case-finding interventions. RESULTS: 27 883 abstracts were screened and 988 articles underwent full text review. 28 studies contributed data for analysis of tuberculosis case notifications, nine for prevalence of tuberculosis disease, and two for incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis infection in children. In one cluster-randomised trial in South Africa and Zambia, an active case-finding intervention based on community mobilisation and sputum drop-off did not affect tuberculosis prevalence, whereas, in a cluster-randomised trial in Vietnam, an active case-finding intervention based on sputum tuberculosis tests for everyone reduced tuberculosis prevalence in the community. We found inconsistent, low-quality evidence that active case-finding might increase the number of cases of tuberculosis notified in populations with structural risk factors for tuberculosis. INTERPRETATION: Community-based active case-finding for tuberculosis might be effective in changing tuberculosis epidemiology and thereby improving population health if delivered with high coverage and intensity. If possible, active case-finding projects should incorporate a well designed, robust evaluation to contribute to the evidence base and help elucidate which delivery methods and diagnostic strategies are most effective. FUNDING: WHO Global TB Programme

Optical Propagation and Communication

Contains research objectives and reports on six research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 85-09143)Maryland Procurement Office (Contract MDA 904-84-C-6037)Maryland Procurement Office (Contract MDA 904-87-C-4044)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 84-15580)National Science Foundation (Grant INT-86-14329)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-87-G-0198)U.S. Army Research Office - Durham (Contract DAAG29-84-K-0095)U.S. Army Research Office - Durham (Contract DAALO3-87-K-0117)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-80-C-0941_U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Contract F49620-87-C-0043