Determinants of anemia and hemoglobin concentration in haitian school-aged children

Anemia diminishes oxygen transport in the body, resulting in potentially irreversible growth and developmental consequences for children. Limited evidence for determinants of anemia exists for school-aged children. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in Haiti from 2012 to 2013 to test the efficacy of a fortified school snack. Children (N = 1,047) aged 3–13 years were followed longitudinally at three time points for hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, anthropometry, and bioelectrical impedance measures. Dietary intakes, infectious disease morbidities, and socioeconomic and demographic factors were collected at baseline and endline. Longitudinal regression modeling with generalized least squares and logit models with random effects identified anemia risk factors beyond the intervention effect. At baseline, 70.6% of children were anemic and 2.6% were severely anemic. Stunting increased the odds of developing anemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–2.08) and severe anemia (adjusted OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.30–4.71). Parent-reported vitamin A supplementation and deworming were positively associated with Hb concentrations, whereas fever and poultry ownership showed a negative relationship with Hb concentration and increased odds of severe anemia, respectively. Further research should explore the full spectrum of anemia etiologies in school children, including genetic causes

Low housing quality, unmet social needs, stress and depression among low-income smokers

Smokers are at greater risk of multiple health conditions that are exacerbated by environmental hazards associated with low housing quality. However, little is known about the prevalence of low housing quality among low-income smokers. Using correlations and logistic regression, we examined associations among eight housing quality indicators - pests, water leaks, mold, lead paint, and working smoke detectors, appliances, heating, and air conditioning - and between housing quality and social needs, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, sleep problems, and self-rated health in a community-based sample of 786 low-income smokers from 6 states. Most participants were female (68%), and White (45%) or African-American (43%). One in four (27%) completed less than high school education, and 41% reported annual pre-tax household income of less than $10,000. Housing quality problems were common. Most participants (64%) reported at least one problem in their home, and 41% reported two or more problems, most commonly pest infestations (40%), water leaks (22%), lack of air conditioning (22%) and mold (18%). Lack of heat and air conditioning were correlated, as were water leaks and mold. Using logistic regression analyses controlling for participant demographic characteristics, we found that reporting more housing quality problems was associated with greater odds of worse mental and physical health outcomes. Multiple health threats, including housing quality, depressive symptoms, stress, poor sleep, and financial strain may be mutually reinforcing and compound the health consequence of smoking. Future research should seek to replicate these findings in other samples, and examine associations longitudinally to better understand causality

A Malvaceae mystery: A mallow maelstrom of genome multiplications and maybe misleading methods?

Previous research suggests that Gossypium has undergone a 5- to 6-fold multiplication following its divergence from Theobroma. However, the number of events, or where they occurred in the Malvaceae phylogeny remains unknown. We analyzed transcriptomic and genomic data from representatives of eight of the nine Malvaceae subfamilies. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear data placed Dombeya (Dombeyoideae) as sister to the rest of Malvadendrina clade, but the plastid DNA tree strongly supported Durio (Helicteroideae) in this position. Intraspecific Ks plots indicated that all sampled taxa, except Theobroma (Byttnerioideae), Corchorus (Grewioideae), and Dombeya (Dombeyoideae), have experienced whole genome multiplications (WGMs). Quartet analysis suggested WGMs were shared by Malvoideae-Bombacoideae and Sterculioideae-Tilioideae, but did not resolve whether these are shared with each other or Helicteroideae (Durio). Gene tree reconciliation and Bayesian concordance analysis suggested a complex history. Alternative hypotheses are suggested, each involving two independent autotetraploid and one allopolyploid event. They differ in that one entails an allopolyploid origin for the Durio lineage, whereas the other invokes an allopolyploid origin for Malvoideae-Bombacoideae. We highlight the need for more genomic information in the Malvaceae and improved methods to resolve complex evolutionary histories that may include allopolyploidy, incomplete lineage sorting, and variable rates of gene and genome evolution

Psychological, peer, and family influences on smoking among an adolescent psychiatric sample

While much is known about adolescent cigarette use and initiation in community samples, less is known about these factors among adolescents in clinic-referred populations or those with severe psychopathology. Data were collected from 106 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years (M = 13.6; SD = .74) recruited from a psychiatric inpatient facility. Hierarchical logistic regressions assessed the relationship between psychological, peer, and family environment factors and smoking at baseline and 18 months post-hospitalization. Conduct problem symptoms, friends’ cigarette use, and friends’ marijuana use were associated with greater odds of lifetime and current smoking at baseline, but not at follow-up. After accounting for the significant effect of baseline use, greater family conflict predicted decreased odds of having initiated smoking at the 18 month follow-up. The period following inpatient psychiatric hospitalization may represent an important window for smoking cessation and prevention efforts targeting peer and family factors, especially for youth with externalizing problems

The relationship of smoking and unhealthy alcohol use to the HIV care continuum among people with HIV in an integrated health care system

INTRODUCTION: Smoking tobacco and unhealthy alcohol use may negatively influence HIV care continuum outcomes but have not been examined in combination. METHODS: Participants were people with HIV (PWH) in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Predictors included smoking status and unhealthy alcohol use (exceeding daily and/or weekly limits) reported by patients during primary care screening (index date). Outcomes were based on not achieving the following steps in the care continuum: linkage to HIV care (≥1 visit within 90 days of newly identified HIV diagnosis), retention (2+ in-person visits, 60+ days apart) and HIV RNA control (<75 copies/mL). Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were obtained from separate logistic regression models for each outcome associated with smoking and unhealthy alcohol use independently and combined. RESULTS: The overall sample (N=8,958) had a mean age of 48.0 years; was 91.3% male; 54.0% white, 17.6% Latino, 15.1% black, and 9.6% other race/ethnicity. Smoking was associated with higher odds of not being linked to HIV care (OR=1.60 [95% CI 1.03–2.48]), not retained (OR=1.30 [95% CI 1.13–1.50]), and HIV RNA not in control (OR=1.91 [95% CI 1.60–2.27]). Alcohol measures were not independently associated with outcomes. The combination of unhealthy alcohol use and smoking (versus neither) was associated with higher odds of not being linked to care (OR=2.83 [95% CI 1.40–5.71]), although the interaction did not reach significance (p=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: In this large sample of PWH in an integrated health care system, smoking, both independently and in combination with unhealthy alcohol use, was associated with worse HIV care continuum outcomes

Temporal relationship between substance use and delinquent behavior among young psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents

There is considerable evidence linking substance use and delinquent behavior among adolescents. However, the nature and temporal ordering of this relationship remains uncertain, particularly among early adolescents and those with significant psychopathology. This study examined the temporal ordering of substance use and delinquent behavior in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized early adolescents. Youth (n = 108) between the ages of 12 and 15 years completed three assessments over 18 months following hospitalization. Separate cross-lagged panel models examined the reciprocal relationship between delinquent behavior and two types of substance use (e.g., alcohol and marijuana). Results provided evidence of cross-lagged effects for marijuana: delinquent behavior at 9 months predicted marijuana use at 18 months. No predictive effects were found between alcohol use and delinquent behavior over time. Findings demonstrate the stability of delinquent behavior and substance use among young adolescents with psychiatric concerns. Furthermore, results highlight the value of examining alcohol and marijuana use outcomes separately in order to better understand the complex pathways between substance use and delinquent behavior among early adolescents

Improving and Assessing Planet Sensitivity of the GPI Exoplanet Survey with a Forward Model Matched Filter

We present a new matched filter algorithm for direct detection of point sources in the immediate vicinity of bright stars. The stellar Point Spread Function (PSF) is first subtracted using a Karhunen-Lo\'eve Image Processing (KLIP) algorithm with Angular and Spectral Differential Imaging (ADI and SDI). The KLIP-induced distortion of the astrophysical signal is included in the matched filter template by computing a forward model of the PSF at every position in the image. To optimize the performance of the algorithm, we conduct extensive planet injection and recovery tests and tune the exoplanet spectra template and KLIP reduction aggressiveness to maximize the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the recovered planets. We show that only two spectral templates are necessary to recover any young Jovian exoplanets with minimal SNR loss. We also developed a complete pipeline for the automated detection of point source candidates, the calculation of Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC), false positives based contrast curves, and completeness contours. We process in a uniform manner more than 330 datasets from the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey (GPIES) and assess GPI typical sensitivity as a function of the star and the hypothetical companion spectral type. This work allows for the first time a comparison of different detection algorithms at a survey scale accounting for both planet completeness and false positive rate. We show that the new forward model matched filter allows the detection of $50\%$ fainter objects than a conventional cross-correlation technique with a Gaussian PSF template for the same false positive rate.Comment: ApJ accepte

GPI spectra of HR 8799 c, d, and e from 1.5 to 2.4μ\mum with KLIP Forward Modeling

We explore KLIP forward modeling spectral extraction on Gemini Planet Imager coronagraphic data of HR 8799, using PyKLIP and show algorithm stability with varying KLIP parameters. We report new and re-reduced spectrophotometry of HR 8799 c, d, and e in H & K bands. We discuss a strategy for choosing optimal KLIP PSF subtraction parameters by injecting simulated sources and recovering them over a range of parameters. The K1/K2 spectra for HR 8799 c and d are similar to previously published results from the same dataset. We also present a K band spectrum of HR 8799 e for the first time and show that our H-band spectra agree well with previously published spectra from the VLT/SPHERE instrument. We show that HR 8799 c and d show significant differences in their H & K spectra, but do not find any conclusive differences between d and e or c and e, likely due to large error bars in the recovered spectrum of e. Compared to M, L, and T-type field brown dwarfs, all three planets are most consistent with mid and late L spectral types. All objects are consistent with low gravity but a lack of standard spectra for low gravity limit the ability to fit the best spectral type. We discuss how dedicated modeling efforts can better fit HR 8799 planets' near-IR flux and discuss how differences between the properties of these planets can be further explored.Comment: Accepted to AJ, 25 pages, 16 Figure