University of Massachusetts Amherst

Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are increasingly recognized worldwide as threats to public health. Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, and Rickettsia rickettsii subspecies californica cause spotted fever rickettsioses, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These disease agents are transmitted to humans by various tick vectors in the United States. There is growing concern that other tick species, such as Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, may also transmit new and potentially unrecognized SFG rickettsial pathogens. In this study, we found that 6.1 % of 296 questing H. leporispalustris ticks (21 larvae, 260 nymphs, 9 males, and 6 females) collected from 38 towns across nine counties in Maine, USA, were positive for Rickettsia spp. Further multilocus sequence typing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that this is a new Rickettsia genotype (Rickettsia sp. ME2023) belonging to the SFG group and close to Candidatus Rickettsia lanei. Tick vectors and rickettsial species associated with SFG rickettsioses in New England warrant further investigation. Additionally, the role of H. leporispalustris in pathogen enzootic cycles and transmission requires further study.

The practice of racial stacking continues to play a significant role in the National Football League (NFL or the League). This paper explores the effects of racial stacking on NFL hiring practices by enumerating examples of the selection of football players and how it fosters a disadvantageous environment for Blacks who desire to become head coaches and leaders of sport franchises. With data analysis that showcases hiring practices that affect Black and Brown head coaches and front-office personnel, the paper traces the hiring of Black presidents, general managers, and head coaches while critically assessing indicators of color blindness within the pipeline to NFL leadership positions. We contend that channeling athletes to specific playing positions on a team adversely affects their chances of advancing to leadership roles as coaches and team executives.

Allyl sulfides enable unique addition-fragmentation transfer (AFT) reactions, facilitating rapid and robust bond exchange under various stimuli. This article highlights our recent work creating residual stress-free polymer coatings and sustainable re/upcycling of vinyl polymers. By leveraging AFT, light-triggered stress relaxation in coatings effectively mitigates interfacial stresses, preventing defects and delamination. Incorporating allyl sulfides as comonomer additives for vinyl polymers enables closed-loop recycling through targeted molecular scission and extension reactions, even yielding block copolymers for upcycling. These innovations demonstrate the versatility and sustainability of AFT-based systems in addressing critical challenges in polymer science, from minimizing coating defects to enhancing recyclability―a promising material design strategy to incorporate adaptable bonds.

The chapter examines the relationship between the increased polarization of American political parties and the candidate nomination process. It links a growing insurgency in the Republican Party, in part, to the unique American system of primary elections. Using a variety of data sources, it shows that Republican primaries in particular have become a home for a large cohort of primary voters who tend to view politics in black-and-white terms, holding purist beliefs on which they are unwilling to compromise. These same voters believe strongly in procedural populism, meaning they resist any vetting by party professionals in the selection process, preferring that only Republican voters select candidates in primary elections. Through primary voting and other forms of engagement these populist voters exercise disproportionate influence on the direction of the party issue agenda. Their attitudes and behaviors incentivize the entry of insurgent candidates who benefit from a campaign finance system that allows independent spending from ideologically extreme groups. We do not observe these patterns in such stark terms on the Democratic side, helping us isolate some of the unique factors affecting the modern Republican Party. Given the populists impulses of core Republican voters, we expect strong resistance to institutional changes within the Party that might strengthen the gatekeeping role of party professionals who would prefer establishment-oriented conservatives. The voters’ anti-pluralist attitudes reflect an understanding of democratic politics that appears to leave little room for elite discretion or accommodation with other interests in the polity.

Background Incidence of premenopausal breast cancer (BC) has risen in recent years, though most existing BC prediction models are not generalizable to young women due to underrepresentation of this age group in model development. Methods Using questionnaire-based data from 19 prospective studies harmonized within the Premenopausal Breast Cancer Collaborative Group (PBCCG), representing 783,830 women, we developed a premenopausal BC risk prediction model. The data were split into training (2/3) and validation (1/3) datasets with equal distribution of cohorts in each. In the training dataset variables were chosen from known and hypothesized risk factors: age, age at menarche, age at first birth, parity, breastfeeding, height, BMI, young adulthood BMI, recent weight change, alcohol consumption, first-degree family history of BC, and personal history of benign breast disease (BBD). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression using age as time scale, stratified by cohort. Given that complete information on all risk factors was not available in all cohorts, coefficients were estimated separately in groups of cohorts with the same available covariate information, adjusted to account for the correlation between missing and non-missing variables and meta-analyzed. Absolute risk of BC (in situ or invasive) within 5 years, was determined using country-, age-, and birth cohort-specific incidence rates. Discrimination (area under the curve, AUC) and calibration (Expected/Observed, E/O) were evaluated in the validation dataset. We compared our model with a literature-based model for women < 50 years (iCARE-Lit). Results Selected model risk factors were age at menarche, parity, height, current and young adulthood BMI, family history of BC, and personal BBD history. Predicted absolute 5-year risk ranged from 0% to 5.7%. The model overestimated risk on average [E/O risk = 1.18 (1.14–1.23)], with underestimation of risk in lower absolute risk deciles and overestimation in upper absolute risk deciles [E/O 1st decile = 0.59 (0.58–0.60); E/O 10th decile = 1.48 (1.48–1.49)]. The AUC was 59.1% (58.1–60.1%). Performance was similar to the iCARE-Lit model. Conclusion In this prediction model for premenopausal BC, the relative contribution of risk factors to absolute risk was similar to existing models for overall BC. The discriminatory ability was nearly identical (< 1% difference in AUC) to the existing iCARE-Lit model developed in women under 50 years. The inability to improve discrimination highlights the need to investigate additional predictors to better understand premenopausal BC risk.

Background Smoking significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), yet quitting smoking after diagnosis of CVD can mitigate further negative impacts. However, encouraging smoking cessation remains a challenge for General Practitioners (GPs) with concerns regarding mental health. Since 2004, the UK’s Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) incentivises GP smoking cessation support. Despite this, a significant proportion of individuals diagnosed with CVD continue to smoke after diagnosis. This study aims to investigate the frequencies and types of smoking cessation interventions offered to people with CVD (defined as coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke), with and without mental illness, and assess their association with successful cessation. Methods This retrospective cohort study examined adults diagnosed with CHD or stroke using the QResearch general practice records database (1996–2019). We evaluated the frequency and types of smoking cessation interventions documented in patients’ records, including education, brief interventions, pharmacological support, referrals, and counselling. Logistic regression assessed the relationship between recorded interventions and smoking abstinence rates within the one-year post-index event, considering QOF incentives and mental illness presence. Results While smoking cessation education was common in general practice settings, prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapy or other evidence-based interventions were comparatively low. CHD and stroke populations showed a significant association between any intervention and smoking cessation within one year (CHD: OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.36–1.45; stroke: OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.43–1.55). Education consistently correlated with higher cessation likelihoods, while other interventions were linked to lower rates. Individuals with common and serious mental illness were less likely to quit, irrespective of intervention. QOF implementation led to increased documentation of advice but not intensive support or treatment, with pre-QOF interventions associated with significantly increased abstinence likelihoods (CHD: OR 5.09, 95% CI 4.84–5.35; stroke: OR 4.44, 95% CI 4.07–4.86). Conclusions Financial incentives for GP smoking cessation support outlined in QOF may not suffice to enhance methods that are more efficacious or improve cessation rates, especially among people with mental illness. Practical strategies that provide tangible support and treatment are needed for CVD patients, including those with mental illness, to facilitate successful cessation.

Despite the advances in detection, diagnosis, and treatments, cancer remains a lethal disease, claiming the lives of more than 600,000 people in the United States alone in 2024. To accelerate the development of new therapeutic strategies with improved responses, significant efforts have been made to develop microfabricated in vitro models of tumor microenvironments (TMEs) that address the limitations of animal-based cancer models. These models incorporate several advanced tissue engineering techniques to better reflect the organ- and patient-specific TMEs. Additionally, microfabricated models integrated with next-generation single-cell omics technologies provide unprecedented insights into patient's cellular and molecular heterogeneity and complexity. This review provides an overview of the recent understanding of cancer development and outlines the key TME elements that can be captured in microfabricated models to enhance their physiological relevance. We highlight the recent advances in microfabricated cancer models that reflect the unique characteristics of their organs of origin or sites of dissemination.

With joint interpersonal and affective impairments associated with personality disorders, understanding the intersection of these processes in these disorders is a critical emerging trajectory for research. An emerging line of research has been devoted to understanding interpersonal emotion regulation processes in personality disorders. This relatively nascent research area has recently gained traction internationally. This special section summarizes some of the recent innovations in this area of research. These investigations have harnessed a diverse range of methods, including dyadic approaches, intensive longitudinal assessments, and information processing perspectives. Moreover, this section suggests that interpersonal emotion regulation is relevant to personality disorders beyond borderline personality disorder. This summary of innovative approaches is timely and can propel future clinically relevant and impactful research in this area. We provide recommendations for important next steps in this area of research.

What does it mean when we rehearse the time‐worn temporal phrase, ‘ from manuscript to print’? For several decades, scholars have offered powerful models for understanding how queer individuals and communities experience both the restrictive and liberatory potentials of living against the grain of normative, linear time. Time has likewise been a perennial concern in the history of art, whether focused on how sequences of objects produced by a given community obey a unique temporal logic, how the endurance of objects outside of their ‘own’ time makes affective demands on the contemporary viewer or how notions of originality and epigonism are themselves time‐bound. This article engages such discourses of non‐normative temporalities while examining British Library Arundel MS 66, an English manuscript of mostly astrological texts with images copied from printed Italian sources, focusing in particular on the figure of Andromeda, variously rendered as a beautiful trans woman, unjustly bound. The purpose of this essay is to offer a point of resistance against the prepositional paradigm, from/to , that has dominated book history and in so doing expose the broader social imperatives that such an evolutionary model has underwritten. More than a critique via a case study, this essay will point up what is to be gained by considering manuscripts copied from printed books not as a perverse reversal of prepositional decorum, but instead as generative conjunctions.

This paper examines the role of Digital Twin Technology (DTT) in transforming infrastructure management, with a focus on sustainability. It highlights how advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Mod-eling (BIM), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are driving the effectiveness of Digital Twins in real-world applications. Through detailed case studies, the paper showcases the practical benefits of DTT across various infrastructure sectors. It also evaluates current trends and strategies for enhancing DTT integration into infrastructure systems. The research reveals a striking 80% increase in DTT-related publications from 2019 to 2024, with Asia, particularly China, leading in contributions. The paper concludes by addressing the future potential, challenges, and risks of DTT, offering valuable insights for stakeholders aiming to optimize infrastructure management in the digital era. ■

Tuberculosis (TB), a leading cause of death among infectious diseases globally, is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The pathogenicity of Mtb is largely attributed to its complex cell envelope, which includes a class of glycolipids called phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs). These glycolipids maintain the integrity of the cell envelope, regulate permeability, and mediate host-pathogen interactions. PIMs comprise a phosphatidyl-myo-inositol core decorated with one to six mannose residues and up to four acyl chains. The mannosyltransferase PimE catalyzes the transfer of the fifth PIM mannose residue from a polyprenyl phosphate-mannose (PPM) donor. This step contributes to the proper assembly and function of the mycobacterial cell envelope; however, the structural basis for substrate recognition and the catalytic mechanism of PimE remain poorly understood. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of PimE from Mycobacterium abscessus in its apo and product-bound form. The structures reveal a distinctive binding cavity that accommodates both donor and acceptor substrates/products. Key residues involved in substrate coordination and catalysis were identified and validated via in vitro assays and in vivo complementation, while molecular dynamics simulations delineated access pathways and binding dynamics. Our integrated approach provides comprehensive insights into PimE function and informs potential strategies for anti-TB therapeutics.

BACKGROUND Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are underrepresented in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) caregiving research. This study examines potential factors associated with the health of SGM ADRD caregivers. METHODS A secondary analysis using data from an online survey with a sample of SGM ADRD caregivers (n = 286). Hierarchical regression models tested associations between health outcomes and socioenvironmental, stigma, and risk and protective factors. RESULTS Bisexual caregivers reported more stress, albeit better health than gay caregivers. Like bisexual caregivers, queer/other caregivers reported higher global health scores than gay caregivers. However, queer/other caregivers did not report significantly more stress. Transgender caregivers reported lower health scores than cisgender caregivers. Hispanic/Latino (H/L) caregivers reported worse health, but lower levels or perceived stress than non‐H/Ls. DISCUSSION This study highlights factors associated with SGM caregivers’ health, which can serve as targets for the development of caregiver supports, as well as further exploration of the unique experiences of SGM caregivers. Highlights The health of SGM ADRD caregivers varies by sexual orientation and gender identity. Bisexual caregivers reported more stress but better health than gay caregivers. Transgender caregivers reported worse health than cisgender caregivers. Hispanic/Latino (H/L) caregivers reported worse health than non‐H/L caregivers.

Objective To systematically review available data on the effects of heated tobacco products (HTPs) on biomarkers of potential harm (BoPH) and adverse events, including comparison to cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smoking abstinence. Data sources Web of Science, Scopus, MedRxiv, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP database and HTP manufacturer libraries were searched from January 2010 to December 2024. Study selection Included studies were interventional clinical trials of any design that measured BoPH or adverse events in adults assigned a marketed HTP and another assigned either cigarettes, e-cigarettes or smoking abstinence. Data extraction Two reviewers independently extracted data into a predesigned form and assessed risk of bias using Cochrane’s Risk of Bias tool version 1. Data synthesis BoPH data were synthesised using effect direction plots. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratios for adverse event data. 40 studies (10 independent, 29 industry-affiliated and 1 of unclear affiliation) were included. Only nine studies lasted longer than 5 days. 19 involved using the intervention just once. Risk of bias was high for 32 studies and unclear for 8. Data on 143 BoPH indicated short-term HTP use had mixed effects compared with cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smoking abstinence. The rate of adverse event reporting was not significantly different between HTP and any comparator group. Conclusions Despite a growing evidence base, significant limitations hinder interpretation of the data, which do not yet provide clear indication of harm or benefit, even compared with cigarettes. Longer, better quality studies independent of tobacco industry funding are needed to determine the health impacts of HTPs.

Background : To assess the impact of a pregnancy and postpartum culturally modified, motivationally targeted, individually tailored intervention on infant outcomes among Latinas. Methods : We conducted a pooled analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials in Western Massachusetts: Estudio Parto (collected 2013–2017, analyzed 2018–2020, n = 203) and Proyecto Mamá (data collected 2014–2020, analyzed 2021–2022, n = 141) focused on pregnant Latinas (predominantly Puerto Rican) with abnormal glucose tolerance and prepregnancy body mass index in the overweight/obese range, respectively. Women were randomized in pregnancy to a Lifestyle Intervention (n = 167) focusing on healthy exercise and diet or to a comparison Health and Wellness Intervention (n = 177) with no mention of exercise or diet. The primary outcomes in both studies were birth weight, gestational age, birth weight-for-gestational-age z score, low birth weight, preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age, large for gestational age, macrosomia). Proyecto Mamá also assessed infant anthropometrics (ie, weight, length, sum and ratio of skin fold thickness, ponderal index) at 6 weeks of age. We used linear regression for continuous outcomes and logistic regression for dichotomous outcomes. Results : In modified intent-to-treat analyses, we observed no statistically significant impact of the Lifestyle Intervention on infant outcomes or anthropometric measures. For example, there was no difference in odds of small-for-gestational-age between intervention arms (odds ratio = 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.60–2.76). Conclusions : In these randomized trials among pregnant Latina women, we found that a culturally modified, individually tailored Lifestyle Intervention did not lead to a significant difference in infant birth weight outcomes or anthropometric measures when compared to the Health and Wellness control arm.

Excavation during the 2024 season revealed new evidence related to industrial activities at Poggio Civitate as well as traces of habitation and related activities located to the east of Piano del Tesoro.

In Lebanon, carceral spaces are located in abandoned buildings, underground parking lots, and other such structures. These spaces are marked by neglect: mattresses are exposed to mold, infections spread rampantly, and food and water are scarce resources. Yet in spite of this marked brutality, Lebanon's prisons remain underrepresented in the literature and absent from public awareness. My article seeks to undo this invisibility, centering on the possibilities of life within Lebanon's carceral network through the memories of one formerly incarcerated woman named Sana. From Sana, I learned about the mutual, reciprocal, and intimate bonds that she forged with other incarcerated women. In my article, I mobilize creative ethnographic tools to explore how Sana remembers the caring, kin‐like, and relational bonds she forged with other incarcerated women despite the suppression of care endemic to carceral spaces. Drawing on the anthropology of care, I argue that these relationships point to cracks in the workings of carceral power or small spaces of alterity where prisoners collaborate with one another to transform everyday life inside the prison. In the end, this article helps fill a void within the scholarship on incarceration from which the experiences of incarcerated women, particularly in Lebanon, are still missing.