Academic literature on the topic 'Mackenzie County (N.Z.)'

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity (FI), a social determinant of health, disproportionally affects U.S. racial/ethnic minority households. Reducing FI can lower health inequities, especially in San Diego County, CA where 42% of Hispanic/Latinx households experience FI. Capacity-oriented approaches may reduce FI and improve diet and health in low-resource settings, but local data are needed to develop these approaches. The overarching goal of this study was to identify multi-level sources of existing capital (assets) in San Diego County to inform an integrated approach to reducing FI. Methods Framed by the Socioecological Model, we conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with key informants at stakeholder agencies (n = 10) providing food and nutrition services to low-income households across San Diego County. Data collection is ongoing. Interview audio recordings were transcribed, checked, and discussed among the team (primary investigator and student researchers). The student researchers iteratively coded transcripts. The team discussed coding in biweekly meetings. As part of the analytical process, the team referenced the literature to identify theories or frameworks that helped explain what they were observing. Analyses were conducted in NVivo 12. Results Preliminary findings demonstrated that across-agency partnerships may be influential sources of existing capital for addressing FI. The Parent and Harvey model was identified as a framework to better understand agency partnerships, as it outlined partnership attributes in the context of partnership outputs. In San Diego County, across-agency partnership attributes that appeared to make partnerships successful included communication (e.g., regular communication, information sharing), coordination (e.g., referrals), trust, and mutuality (e.g., common vision/mission). For example, partnerships enabled a centralized referral process for clients needing access to a variety of services across multiple agencies. Conclusions In San Diego County, across-agency partnerships may be uniquely influential to addressing FI. Future research should consider how to continue to leverage these partnership capacities to reduce FI. Funding Sources NIH-NHLBI; SDSU ENS Thom Mackenzie Student Research Grant; SDSU Student Undergraduate Research Program.

An apartment with a view of an apartment with a view: Contemporary development of accommodation facilities in Tatra County from the perspective of the local community The rapid growth in the number of individual tourist trips to the towns and villages of Podhale, observed nowadays in combination with changes in visitor preferences, in particular the growing share of short stays, higher expectations in terms of standards offered by accommodation facilities and a greater interest in renting separate apartments, coincides with the growing demand for properties to be purchased in tourist resorts in Poland for investment purposes. These processes trigger the expansion of accommodation opportunities, particularly by increasing the number of facilities that offer apartments: houses for rent, self-catering apartment buildings, and aparthotels. Recognising the new trends in the development of accommodation facilities in Tatra County that lead to spatial, social, and economic changes, a study was carried out, aiming to: 1) verify the availability of accommodation facilities, in particular including the scale of the phenomenon of apartment rental of apartments (the data were obtained from available statistical and spatial databases, a field inventory and the Booking.com website), and 2) examine the problems caused by the contemporary development of the accommodation infrastructure in local communities (the data were obtained during interviews with representatives of local communities, n = 74). The study demonstrated well-developed accommodation facilities in Tatra County, characterised by uneven spatial distribution, a large share of informally operating facilities and a rich offer of apartments for rent. The development of accommodation facilities, triggered by mechanisms of the free market, helps to satisfy the fluctuating tourist demand, and consequently to maintain the economic function of tourism in the region. However, on the other hand, it causes numerous spatial and social conflicts. In particular, it leads to excessive intensification of development, dwindling of landscape values, and destruction of cultural heritage (including the vanishing of traditional architecture). Furthermore, it may result in reduced availability of accommodation facilities operated by local residents, as well as in tourism gentrification of Zakopane and loss of the traditional highland character of villages of the Podhale region.

The third species belonging to Zygastrocarcinus from the Cretaceous of the Western Interior is represented by a single carapace collected from below the Groat Sandstone Bed, Gammon Ferruginous Member, Pierre Shale of Carter County, Montana. Comparison of Zygastrocarcinus cardsmithi n. sp. with the other North American congeners, Z. mendryki (Bishop, 1982) and Z. griesi Bishop, 1983, and with the Pacific Slope species Z. richardsoni (Woodward, 1896) suggests early separation of the Pacific Slope and Western Interior lineage having Z. cardsmithi as a possible ancestor to Z. mendryki and Z. griesi.

AimsBenzodiazepines and Z-drugs are used frequently in acute psychiatric wards, however long-term administration can result in undesirable consequences. Guidelines recommend prescription of the lowest effective dose for the shortest period and if possible to prescribe “as required” rather than regularly. The 25-beded inpatient unit at Cavan General Hospital admits adult patients requiring acute care from the counties of Cavan and Monaghan. Admissions are accepted from four community mental health teams, two psychiatry of old age teams and the rehabilitation and mental health of intellectual disability teams. In order to evaluate the potential to improve our practice of prescribing benzodiazepine and Z-drugs, it was decided to evaluate current use.MethodThe NICE guidelines were consulted, and we retrospectively reviewed the use of these agents from mid-January to the end of May 2020. Demographic variables included age, gender, and county. Patients were stratified into three groups, the benzodiazepine group, the Z-drugs group, and the combined benzodiazepine and Z-drugs group. In each group therapeutic variables were recorded including the medication type, dose, frequency, prescriber, and duration of treatment. Other variables included psychiatric diagnoses, length of inpatient admission, status on admission, and recommendations on dischargeResultThere were 101admissions during that period, and 74 of them were prescribed these agents (n = 74; 73.3%). Fifty one (n = 51; 68.9%) received benzodiazepines only, twenty-three (n = 23; 31.1%) were prescribed Z-drugs, and twelve (n = 12; 16.2%) received both benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Forty two patients (n = 42; 56.8%) were commenced on hypnotics in the APU, 23 patients (n = 23; 31.1%) already received hypnotics from the CMHTs, and the rest were prescribed by both. Thirty two patients (n = 32; 43.2%) were discharged on hypnotics. Patients admitted involuntarily and female patients had longer admissions (mean of 16.62 ± 3.26 days and 16.16 ± 2.89 days respectively). Schizophrenia and BPAD were the commonest diagnoses.ConclusionIt appears that large amounts of these agents are used in the Acute Hospital Setting which is not overly surprising given the severity of illness and clinical indications however improved awareness could still lead to more appropriate and hopefully reduced use. We therefore recommend:A formal audit including appropriate interventions i.e., educate staff and patients, highlight guidelines, and review subsequent practice.Train staff in safer prescribing practices including prn rather than regular use if appropriate.Regularly review discharge prescriptions indicating recommended duration of use.

The G143A mutation in cytb (cytochrome b gene) is associated with high levels of resistance to quinone outside inhibitor (QoI or strobilurin) fungicides that disrupt electron transport during cellular respiration (1). The G143A mutation in Zymoseptoria tritici (synonyms: Mycosphaerella graminicola and Septoria tritici), the causal agent of septoria tritici blotch of wheat (Triticum aestivum), was first reported in Europe in 2001 (1). Although Z. tritici has a global distribution (3), G143A mutants of Z. tritici have not been reported outside of Europe. We used PCR-RFLP (4) to estimate the frequencies of G143A mutants in Z. tritici populations at two locations in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon: the Hyslop Crop Science Field Research Laboratory (Hyslop Farm, HF), Benton County (44°37′52.85″ N, 123°11′55.19″ W) and research plots planted in a commercial wheat field in Washington County (45°33′58.53″ N, 123°00′11.78″ W) (North Valley Farm, NVF). Isolates originated from flag leaf collections from two cultivars (‘Bobtail’ and ‘Tubbs 06’) made in April and June of 2012 from plants in a replicated fungicide-treatment experiment, with isolates collected from both sprayed and unsprayed plots. Sixteen of the 169 isolates (9.5%) from HF possessed the G143A mutation (7 of 132 isolates from plots not receiving a QoI fungicide and 9 of 37 isolates collected from plots receiving two applications of the QoI azoxystrobin). One hundred forty six of the 175 isolates (83.4%) from NVF were G143A mutants (101 of 129 isolates from plots receiving no QoI fungicide and 45 of 46 isolates from plots receiving two applications of azoxystrobin). Results of phenotypic assays of a subset of 10 isolates from each location (5 mutants, 5 wild types from each location; 20 isolates altogether) supported a high level of resistance to azoxystrobin only in the G143A mutants. All 10 G143A mutants developed colonies after 8 days of growth on YMA plates amended with SHAM (2) and 1 ppm or 10 ppm azoxystrobin, with nine and eight G143A mutant isolates developing colonies on plates amended with 1 ppm and 10 ppm azoxystrobin, respectively. None of the wild-type isolates developed colonies on plates amended with SHAM and 1 ppm azoxystrobin, nor on plates amended with SHAM and 10 ppm azoxystrobin. All 20 isolates developed colonies on YMA plates lacking azoxystrobin, and treatments produced identical results across three replicates. These results are consistent with findings of higher levels of azoxystrobin resistance in G143A mutants compared to wild types in European populations (1). Isolates from HF and NVF differ in their previous exposure to QoI fungicides. The majority of the wheat area at HF is planted to breeding plots that are not sprayed with fungicide. Plots at NVF were planted in a commercial wheat field in a county where most wheat fields were treated with two to three applications of strobilurins each year over the past 4 years. Future monitoring for G143A mutants of Z. tritici throughout its range in North America will be necessary to assess whether strobilurin resistance will spread via wind-dispersal of ascospores or emerge de novo in treated fields. In Europe, stobilurins were first applied to wheat in 1996. G143A mutants of Z. tritici emerged de novo several times (4) and were widespread by 2007. References: (1) B. A. Fraaje et al. Phytopathology 95:933, 2005. (2) J. A. LaMondia. Tob. Sci. 49:1, 2012. (3) E. S. Orton et al. Mol. Plant Pathol. 12:413, 2011. (4) S. F. F. Torriani et al. Pest Manag. Sci. 65:155, 2008.

AbstractThe new mineral feynmanite, Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH)·3.5H2O, was found in both the Blue Lizard and Markey mines, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as a secondary phase on pyrite-rich asphaltum in association with chinleite-(Y), gypsum, goethite, natrojarosite, natrozippeite, plášilite, shumwayite (Blue Lizard) and wetherillite (Markey). The mineral is pale greenish yellow with a white streak and fluoresces bright greenish white under a 405 nm laser. Crystals are transparent with a vitreous lustre. It is brittle, with a Mohs hardness of ~2, irregular fracture and one perfect cleavage on {010}. The calculated density is 3.324 g cm–3. Crystals are thin needles or blades, flattened on {010} and elongate on [100], exhibiting the forms {010}, {001}, {101} and {10$\bar{1}$}, and are up to ~0.1 mm in length. Feynmanite is optically biaxial (–), with α = 1.534(2), β = 1.561(2) and γ = 1.571(2) (white light); 2Vmeas.= 62(2)°; no dispersion; and optical orientation:X=b,Y≈a,Z≈c. It is weakly pleochroic:X= colourless,Y= very pale green yellow andZ= pale green yellow (X<Y<Z). Electron microprobe analyses (WDS mode) provided (Na0.84Fe0.01)(U1.01O2)(S1.01O4)(OH)·3.5H2O. The five strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [dobsÅ(I)(hkl)]: 8.37(100)(010), 6.37(33)($\bar{1}$01,101), 5.07(27)($\bar{1}$11,111), 4.053(46)(004,021) and 3.578(34)(120). Feynmanite is monoclinic, has space groupP2/n,a= 6.927(3),b= 8.355(4),c= 16.210(7) Å, β = 90.543(4)°,V= 938.1(7) Å3andZ= 4. The structure of feynmanite (R1= 0.0371 for 1879Io> 2σI) contains edge-sharing pairs of pentagonal bipyramids that are linked by sharing corners with SO4groups, yielding a [(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]2–sheet based on the phosphuranylite anion topology. The sheet is topologically identical to those in deliensite, johannite and plášilite. The dehydration of feynmanite to plášilite results in interlayer collapse involving geometric reconfiguration of the sheets and the ordering of Na.

The extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) of very preterm infants has been associated with long-term complications and neurodevelopmental problems. EUGR has been reported at higher rates in low resource settings. There is limited research investigating how metropolitan human milk banks contribute to the growth outcomes of very preterm infants cared in rural areas. The setting of this study is located at a rural county in Taiwan and affiliated with the Taiwan Southern Human Milk Bank. Donor human milk was provided through a novel supplemental system. A renewal nutritional protocol was initiated as a quality improvement project after the affiliated program. This study aimed to compare the clinical morbidities and growth outcome at term equivalent age (TEA) of preterm infants less than 33 weeks of gestational age before (Epoch-I, July 2015–June 2018, n = 40) and after the new implementation (Epoch-II, July 2018–December 2020, n = 42). The Epoch-II group significantly increased in bodyweight z-score at TEA ((−0.02 ± 1.00) versus Epoch-I group (−0.84 ± 1.08), p = 0.002). In multivariate regression models, the statistical difference between two epochs in bodyweight z-score changes from birth to TEA was still noted. Modern human milk banks may facilitate the nutritional protocol renewal in rural areas and improve the growth outcomes of very preterm infants cared for. Establishing more distribution sites of milk banks should be encouraged.

Multiple myeloma and its precursor, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), both occur twice as often within Black populations compared to White populations, suggesting that racial factors may influence the development of MGUS, not the progression from MGUS to malignancy. The landmark epidemiologic study that described the natural history of MGUS was conducted among 21,463 of the 28,000 residents in Olmsted County, Minnesota, a 97% White population, and found the age-standardized prevalence (including light-chain, LC, MGUS) to be 4.2% (Dispenzieri, et al, Lancet, 2010). Although MGUS disproportionately affects Black individuals, few studies have been conducted on MGUS in Africa, and no prior study has evaluated MGUS in a Black African cohort inclusive of both sexes. Using a population-based biorepository from Eswatini, a small country in southern Africa, we further explored the racial disparities related to plasma cell dyscrasias. Our primary objective was to determine the prevalence of MGUS in Eswatini, as compared to that found in Olmsted County. Additionally, we aimed to determine the association between MGUS and HIV status. From 2016 to 2017, over 15,000 individuals from a nationally representative selection of households participated in the Second Eswatini Population-based HIV Impact Assessment survey, SHIMS2 (phia.icap.columbia.edu/countries/eswatini). After providing informed consent, interviews were conducted and blood samples were collected. Samples were tested for HIV, and if positive, also for CD4+ cell counts and the serologic presence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The remaining plasma aliquots were stored and linked to their de-identified corresponding survey data for future research endeavors. For our current study, all adults over the age of 35 years who had SHIMS2 specimens stored were included in the sampling frame. We randomly selected 515 plasma samples from the sampling frame, with the sample size determined to produce a two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) with a width of 0.05 and power >80% for MGUS prevalence and comparison by HIV status. We performed protein electrophoresis with reflex immunofixation, as well as free light chain and creatinine quantification, and defined MGUS cases by the same criteria as the Olmsted County studies. If creatinine was greater than the upper limit of normal, then the renal reference range was used for free-light-chain ratios . Historical proportions and means were compared with z-tests and t-tests, respectively. To determine associations between categorical variables, odds ratios (OR) were calculated with logistic regressions or Fisher Exact tests. The study cohort (n=515) was 60% female (n=309) with a median age of 50 years (range 35-80); 199 (38.6%) were HIV-positive, of whom 82.4% (n=164) were on ART, and 8.5% (n=17) had a CD4+ cell count of <200 cells/ul. These numbers reflected the overall national estimates (Kingdom of Eswatini, SHIMS2 Final Report, 2019). The MGUS prevalence (including LC-MGUS) standardized for age and sex was 13.2% (95%CI: 10.5-16.5) (n=68), which was significantly greater than Olmsted County (RR 3.1, p<0.0001). Most (84%, n=57) MGUS cases were LC. Prevalence of non-light-chain (NLC) MGUS was 2.1% (n=11), which was similar to Olmsted County. Of the 11 participants with NLC MGUS, 4 were considered very low risk for progression to malignancy, 6 low risk, 1 intermediate risk, and 0 high risk by Mayo stratification (Rajkumar, et al., Blood, 2005). HIV status was not found to be significantly associated with MGUS (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 0.62-1.77). However, within the HIV-positive cohort, the odds of MGUS were 69% lower among those on ART (OR: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.11-0.82) when adjusted for age, sex, and wealth quintile. Furthermore, MGUS was 2.8 times more frequent in those with untreated HIV when compared to those with treated HIV (95%CI: 1.1-7.2, p=0.031), and 2.3 times more frequent when compared to non-HIV (95%CI: 1.0-5.6, p=0.056); treated HIV was not significantly different from non-HIV (data not shown). In conclusion, the MGUS prevalence in Eswatini was more than three-fold higher than that in Olmsted County, largely due to those with LC-MGUS. The high rate of HIV in Eswatini did not explain the high prevalence of MGUS, as the majority of those with HIV were on ART and only untreated HIV was significantly associated with MGUS.

Abstract Identifying county-level spatial clusters of fatal accidents due to non-use of seatbelt among drivers 65 years and older can help with injury prevention policies and targeted place-based interventions. We estimated the odds and identified hotspots of fatal accidents among drivers 65 years and older (n=57,715) based on a cross-sectional analysis of data from 2010 to 2018 from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The outcome variable was fatality status (fatal/non-fatal), and the main independent variable was seatbelt use (not used/used). Other covariates were drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding while age, gender, and airbag deployment were used as confounders. Rural-urban status of accident location was used as an effect modifier. Odds ratios were calculated from logistic regression. The age-adjusted fatality rate was computed as the crude fatality rate per 100,000 population weighted by the average population composition by age-groups. Spatial autocorrelation was assessed by local Moran’s I, and cluster analysis was performed using the Moran’s I index-derived Z-scores. The median age-adjusted seatbelt-related fatality rate per county was 2.35 per 100,000 population (IQR: 5.60). Not wearing a seatbelt was associated with an 11-fold (Adjusted OR: 11.37; 95% CI: 10.18-12.70) increased odds of a fatal event in metropolitan counties and a 7-fold (Adjusted OR: 7.43; 95% CI: 6.10-9.04) increased odds in rural counties and small towns. Hot spots for seatbelt-related fatal road accidents were found in multiple counties in Texas, South Dakota, and Mississippi. Study findings can be used for county-specific interventions tailored to 65 and older for preventing fatal road accidents.

Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. (Rutaceae) stem bark is used by communities in Africa and Asia to manage diabetes mellitus. This study determined the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Z. chalybeum aqueous stem bark extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. The plant was obtained from Machakos County, Kenya and a stem bark extract prepared. Rats were divided into experimental (n=5), negative control (n=5) and positive control groups (n=5). Diabetes was induced in each rat in experimental groups by a single dose intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin at 45mg/kg body weight. The plant extract was administered orally to the experimental rats at dosages of 10, 100 and 1000mg/kg body weight for 14 days. The negative control group was left untreated while the positive control group was treated orally with glibenclamide (10mg/kg body weight). The effect of the extract on blood glucose, body weight, food and water intake and oral glucose tolerance were determined in all rats in the experimental and control groups. The aqueous stem bark extract exhibited significant antidiabetic activity compared to the untreated diabetic controls (P<0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference between the extract fed diabetic rats and the normal controls. Furthermore, extract treated diabetic animals recorded a comparatively decreased weight loss which was dose dependent. These results suggest that the aqueous stem bark extract of Z. chalybeum possesses significant antihyperglycemic activity. This study thus corroborates the traditional use of the plant for the management of diabetes. However, further studies are required to identify the active ingredient(s) and determine the mode of action.