ABSTRACT
During the pandemic, instruction moved online, and physical formats of media were unable to be used. This presented the opportunity to undertake a quantitative study on the use of streaming videos, particularly in the sciences, at Colorado College. The authors used vendor statistics for the last 5 years (2016–2017 to 2020–2021) and reviewed the time period of March–February, which is what the authors refer to as the covid year. By 2021, streaming videos were being used 25 times more than in 2016, and science videos were being streamed 26 times as much.
ABSTRACT
No sooner had Aurora (Colo.) Water established its new pilot plant than the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its introduction to testing the utility's water treatment processes. Once put into action, Mini-Binney, as the pilot plant is called, became an invaluable tool for numerous projects to advance and improve the treatment plant's operations. The pilot plant allows for research of innovative treatment methods without affecting full-scale treatment or putting public health at risk. © 2023 American Water Works Association.
ABSTRACT
Purpose of Study: Ethnic disparities are associated with increased risk for severe disease in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Identifying the underlying social determinants of health are necessary to lead to improved health care utilization and mitigation strategies. Methods Used: This is an observational cohort study of children with COVID-19 in Colorado (the CCC study) from March 15 2020-October 31 2020. Pediatric patients between 2-20 years of age with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR were included. Multivariable logistical regression models were fitted to identify demographic, socioeconomic, and comorbid health conditions as predictors of severe COVID-19 disease, as defined by hospital admission and need for respiratory support. Summary of Results: We identified 1572 pediatric patients with COVID-19 (45% Hispanic, 54% Medicaid or uninsured, 16% non-English language, and 20% obese). In univariable analyses, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with severe outcomes, including hospital admission (OR 2.4, CI: 1.57, 3.80, p<0.01) and respiratory support (OR 2.4, CI: 1.38, 4.14, p<0.01). Patients who identified as Hispanic or Latino had significantly increased rates of obesity (28% vs. 14%, p<0.01), preferred non-English language (31% vs. 3%, p<0.01), and had Medicaid or no insurance (79% vs. 33%, p<0.01) when compared to non-Hispanic or Latino children. After adjusting for covariables, ethnicity was no longer associated with hospital admission (OR 0.9, CI: 0.53, 1.63, p=0.79) or respiratory support (OR 0.6, CI: 0.29, 1.21, p=0.15). Obesity (OR 1.9, CI: 1.15, 3.08, p=0.01), non-English language (OR 2.4, CI: 1.35, 4.23, p<0.01), and Medicaid insurance (OR 2.0, CI: 1.10, 3.71, p=0.02) were identified as independent risk factors for severe disease. Conclusion(s): Severe COVID-19 disease observed in Hispanic or Latino patients early in the pandemic appears to be secondary to underlying comorbid conditions, such as obesity, and socioeconomic disadvantages that may have influenced access to care, such as language and insurance status. Pediatric healthcare providers and public health officials should use this knowledge to tailor resource allocation to better target this underserved patient population.
ABSTRACT
The Prediction of Rainfall Extremes Campaign In the Pacific (PRECIP) aims to improve our understanding of extreme rainfall processes in the East Asian summer monsoon. A convection-permitting ensemble-based data assimilation and forecast system (the PSU WRF-EnKF system) was run in real time in the summers of 2020–21 in advance of the 2022 field campaign, assimilating all-sky infrared (IR) radiances from the geostationary Himawari-8 and GOES-16 satellites, and providing 48-h ensemble forecasts every day for weather briefings and discussions. This is the first time that all-sky IR data assimilation has been performed in a real-time forecast system at a convection-permitting resolution for several seasons. Compared with retrospective forecasts that exclude all-sky IR radiances, rainfall predictions are statistically significantly improved out to at least 4–6 h for the real-time forecasts, which is comparable to the time scale of improvements gained from assimilating observations from the dense ground-based Doppler weather radars. The assimilation of all-sky IR radiances also reduced the forecast errors of large-scale environments and helped to maintain a more reasonable ensemble spread compared with the counterpart experiments that did not assimilate all-sky IR radiances. The results indicate strong potential for improving routine short-term quantitative precipitation forecasts using these high-spatiotemporal-resolution satellite observations in the future.Significance StatementDuring the summers of 2020/21, the PSU WRF-EnKF data assimilation and forecast system was run in real time in advance of the 2022 Prediction of Rainfall Extremes Campaign In the Pacific (PRECIP), assimilating all-sky (clear-sky and cloudy) infrared radiances from geostationary satellites into a numerical weather prediction model and providing ensemble forecasts. This study presents the first-of-its-kind systematic evaluation of the impacts of assimilating all-sky infrared radiances on short-term qualitative precipitation forecasts using multiyear, multiregion, real-time ensemble forecasts. Results suggest that rainfall forecasts are improved out to at least 4–6 h with the assimilation of all-sky infrared radiances, comparable to the influence of assimilating radar observations, with benefits in forecasting large-scale environments and representing atmospheric uncertainties as well.
ABSTRACT
The current global pandemic threatens the food, energy, and water security of households given the economic fallout that it has caused. In this analysis, we present preliminary survey data from respondents in Colorado, United States. We asked how the pandemic and related lockdown orders have impacted the food, energy, and water security of their households. Results imply that, in the near term, households have avoided significant insecurities, yet many have serious concerns moving forward.
ABSTRACT
Foo, who manages the colony and is affiliated with Duke-National University of Singapore (Duke-NUS) Medical School, and Yroy, a veterinary technician at SingHealth Experimental Medicine Centre, have nurtured the bats for years. The colonywas set up by Lin-fa Wang, a virologist at Duke-NUS Medical School to create a controlled setting for studying bat biology, including the inner workings of their immune system. Attendance at talks and conferences about bats is rising - at one symposium hosted last year in the United States, there were 30% more participants compared with the same event organized before the pandemic - and funders are ploughing money into studies of bats and infectious diseases: in 2021, for instance, both China and the United States announced specific funding pots for research into bats and viruses. The latest research is filling in details of the biological mechanisms underpinning the bat immune response, including the identification of cell types that are potentially unique to bats1.
ABSTRACT
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on demands, resources, and job satisfaction among a convenience sample of early childhood education (ECE) staff employed in Head Start preschools in a large metro area of Colorado. A survey was administered to a sample of Head Start staff at two timepoints: Time 1 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic) in October of 2019 (n = 137) and Time 2 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) in November of 2020 (n = 86). The survey consisted of a combination of validated measures to assess personal and external demands and resources and work satisfaction. Workload is a perceived external "demand" that significantly improved from pre- to mid-pandemic in this sample (z = -3.3, p < 0.01). Many personal and external "resources" changed pre- to mid-pandemic, though none were statistically significant. Overall job satisfaction in this sample increased, though it was not statistically significant (z = -1.04, p = 0.3). Mitigating demands, such as minimizing workload, and increasing job-related resources, such as bolstering management supports, may lead to improved job satisfaction of the ECE workforce employed in Head Start settings. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified poor mental health and numerous job demands, some of the pandemic-related regulations may have also decreased the workload for some subgroups of the ECE workforce, potentially translating to improved job satisfaction. However, significant disparities remain with respect to personal and external demands among this sample of the ECE workforce compared to the national workforce suggesting multi-level resources and supports are critical to further buffer these stressors.
ABSTRACT
Social network analysis (SNA) has been gaining traction as a technique for quantitatively studying student collaboration. We analyze networks, constructed from student self-reports of collaboration on homework assignments, in two courses from the University of Colorado Boulder and one course from the Colorado School of Mines. All three courses occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allows for a comparison between the course at the Colorado School of Mines (in a fully remote format) with results from a previous pre-pandemic study of student collaboration at the Colorado School of Mines (in an in-person format), as well as comparison between the Mines results with the two University of Colorado courses (in a hybrid format). We compute nodal centrality measures and calculate the correlation between student centrality and performance. Results varied widely between each of the courses studied. The course at the Colorado School of Mines had strong correlations between many centrality measures and performance which matched the patterns seen in the pre-pandemic study. The courses at the University of Colorado Boulder showed weaker correlations, and one course showed nearly no correlations at all between students' connectivity to their classmates and their performance. Taken together, the results from the trio of courses indicate that the context and environment in which the course is situated play a more important role in fostering a correlation between student collaboration and course performance than the format (remote, hybrid, in-person) of the course, a finding which has implications for the broader use of SNA within physics education research. Additionally, we conducted a short study on the effect that missing nodes may have on the correlations calculated from the measured networks, an analysis largely missing from the SNA literature within PER. This investigation showed that missing nodes tend to shift correlations towards zero, providing evidence that the statistically significant correlations measured in our networks are not spurious.
ABSTRACT
To compare SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence among children with seropositive confirmed COVID-19 case counts (case ascertainment by molecular amplification) in Colorado, USA, we conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey during May-July 2021. For a convenience sample of 829 Colorado children, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 36.7%, compared with prevalence of 6.5% according to individually matched COVID-19 test results reported to public health. Compared with non-Hispanic White children, seroprevalence was higher among Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic other race children, and case ascertainment was significantly lower among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children. This serosurvey accurately estimated SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among children compared with confirmed COVID-19 case counts and revealed substantial racial/ethnic disparities in infections and case ascertainment. Continued efforts to address racial and ethnic differences in disease burden and to overcome potential barriers to case ascertainment, including access to testing, may help mitigate these ongoing disparities.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Child , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Colorado/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
In 2020, Montana, USA, reported a large increase in Colorado tick fever (CTF) cases. To investigate potential causes of the increase, we conducted a case-control study of Montana residents who tested positive or negative for CTF during 2020, assessed healthcare providers' CTF awareness and testing practices, and reviewed CTF testing methods. Case-patients reported more time recreating outdoors on weekends, and all reported finding a tick on themselves before illness. No consistent changes were identified in provider practices. Previously, only CTF serologic testing was used in Montana. In 2020, because of SARS-CoV-2 testing needs, the state laboratory sent specimens for CTF testing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where more sensitive molecular methods are used. This change in testing probably increased the number of CTF cases detected. Molecular testing is optimal for CTF diagnosis during acute illness. Tick bite prevention measures should continue to be advised for persons doing outdoor activities.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Colorado Tick Fever , Colorado tick fever virus , Humans , Montana , COVID-19 Testing , Case-Control Studies , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Colorado Tick Fever/epidemiologyABSTRACT
When the pandemic closed schools in Denver, an enterprising parent with community connections stepped in to meet immediate needs--and paved a new path to supporting students and families in the future. Joanna Rosa-Saenz determined to "turn negatives into positives" by using whatever means she had to ensure her children and others in the community had a safe space to continue learning. That meant stepping up and creating such a space herself. She converted her basement into a classroom, used her car like a school bus, and devoted her time and energy to support a pod that served up to 14 students at a given time. She welcomed them for as long as they needed to stay and charged no tuition. Older students mostly followed their school's remote instruction, with Rosa-Saenz serving in a supervisory role rather than providing direct academic instruction. True to Montessori-style teaching, Rosa-Saenz involved the older students as mentors for younger students. This article provides details on how Rosa-Saenz operated a pod in her community, which led to strong relationships with students and between students.
ABSTRACT
The pandemic-fueled expansion of online learning will certainly persist beyond the pandemic, and schools must ensure that the transition creates accessible, high-quality options for all students. Most recently, the surge in COVID-19 Omicron variant cases and persistent ambiguity around whether and how to close schools reinforces the fact that we have failed to build intentional on-ramps to virtual education. State and local leaders can employ evidence from past online learning efforts, emerging best practices, and data from the pandemic to understand how to build a path forward that capitalizes on the potential of online learning, while avoiding the pitfalls. Virtual learning is not going away, but it must improve, especially for students of color and those facing economic insecurity. The bottom line is that students cannot afford to repeat the emergency distance learning that took place in 2020 and 2021. This brief provides a guide for education leaders and policymakers building a path to sustainable and quality virtual learning. It includes four steps school system leaders can take in the short and longer term to harness the potential of online learning, avoid pitfalls that made it ineffective, and ensure students have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities that meet their needs.
ABSTRACT
Community college early childhood education programs prepare students for a career path that enjoys plenty of demand, although that's at least in part due to low wages that make hiring and retaining good workers a challenge. That challenge has become more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, given the literally hands-on nature of the work. Demand for early childhood education programs likely would spike if President Biden's Build Back Better plan passes Congress, given that it includes money for universal preschool. Administrators and faculty of community college early childhood education programs say they're paying close attention to what's happening in Washington as well as their own states as they try to recruit students, upgrade training to deal with challenges like COVID-19 and meet the demand in their respective areas.
ABSTRACT
In this article, the authors describe the redesign of a first-semester Spanish course at the United States Air Force Academy due to the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent transition from traditional, face-to-face instruction to fully online language teaching during the fall of 2020. More than 200 learners were enrolled across 11 course sections that were taught by eight different instructors who were required to use the same syllabus, learning platforms, lesson plans, and assessments under the supervision of a course director. The developers integrated a series of pedagogical interventions--such as online integrated performance assessments, lessons and content that were infused with open-access, authentic materials, and a digital storytelling project--to ensure that students engaged in three modes of communication within a meaningful cultural context. The instruction of culture, intercultural communicative competence, and pragmatics figured predominantly into the course design, which could be replicated by instructors who wish to teach language communicatively online.
ABSTRACT
Background: Underutilization of proven therapies in peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains a critical problem. Implementation science aims to improve this, but few trials exist. We describe a randomized trial designed with pragmatic elements in PAD patients. Method(s): OPTIMIZE PAD-1 was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a multidisciplinary vascular care team using an intensive lipid reduction program in PAD patients versus usual care. The primary endpoint is low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction at 12 months. A second objective is to assess the impact of a structured quality assurance program (EQuIP) on variability in 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance. Due to COVID-19, pragmatic aspects were introduced, including virtual consent/recruitment, home-based subject conducted lab testing, and virtually monitored homebased 6MWT. Result(s): A total of 114 subjects with PAD were recruited over ~18 months at the University of Colorado and randomized to algorithm-driven lipid management by a multidisciplinary vascular care team with pharmacist support or to usual care (Figure). Subjects were also randomized to 6MWT conducted by site versus EQuIP staff. Potential participants and clinical events during follow up were identified via electronic medical records. Adjustments to enable remote study conduct were successfully implemented. Conclusion(s): Pragmatic randomized trials in PAD patients are feasible to strengthen implementation science.
ABSTRACT
The Missouri recreational marijuana referendum is financed by a despicable conglomerate of entities ranging from George Soros, to the Mexican drug cartels, to mainline businesses such as the alcohol industry which considers 95% THC (the high/ euphoria producing chemical of cannabis products) the next 'logical' adult beverage to accompany beer, wine, and liquor. 1,2,3 Collectively, I refer to this unsavory and unwholesome alliance as "Big Weed." After a decade of effort, tens of millions of dollars of advertising, promotion, and half-hearted, ineffectual opposition by the healthcare professions, no opposition by the Missouri Hospital Association and support by the Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspapers, sham medical pot was passed into constitutional law in 2018.1 That ship has sailed and, for better or for worse (my bet the latter), we will have to live with the consequences. Anecdotal reports from Missouri suburban hospitals and emergency rooms published in Missouri Medicine already indicate easy access medical marijuana is resulting in increased cannabis related ER visits and hospitalizations.5 Missouri Medicine has published more scientific and perspective articles on the unscientific nature of the studies of medical marijuana and the deleterious effects of moving from legal sham medical marijuana to legal recreational marijuana than any other state medical journal.
ABSTRACT
Background: The utilization and reimbursement of technology-based health care services has drastically increased, especially in the era of COVID-19. However, they are not universally accessible and are disproportionately utilized, which can exacerbate already existing disparities Objective: To evaluate differences in technology-based health care usage in an academic pediatric gastroenterology practice based on demographic characteristics and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated composite index of socioeconomic status (SES). Design/Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of new patients seen in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic at the Children's Hospital Colorado for constipation from 1/1/2019-12/31/2020. Demographic variables and number of secure messages, telephone calls, telehealth visits, and emergency department (ED) visits for constipation were extracted for up to one year. We assigned each patient a state and national ADI based on home address. Univariate negative binomial regression models were used to determine significance. We also used a Poisson regression model to better understand the interplay between ED visits, technology-based health care usage, and SES. Result(s): 2087 patients were included in our study. The predicted mean number of patient-initiated secure messages (P=0.04) and phone calls (P=0.03) were significantly less in those with lower socioeconomic status (higher state ADI) (Figure 1). Socioeconomic status based on both state and national ADI did not significantly affect telehealth video usage. The predicted mean number of telehealth video visits and patient-initiated secure messages were significantly lower in Hispanic patients (P<0.001 and P<0.001), non-English speakers (P<0.001 and P<0.001), and those with government insurance (P=0.02 and P<0.001) (Table 1). The predicted mean number of patient-initiated phone calls was also significantly lower in Non-English speakers (P=0.02). The Poisson regression model showed that when the number of patient-initiated secure messages and telephone calls is small, lower SES is associated with more ED visits. As the number of patient-initiated secure messages and telephone calls increase, the extent of the positive association between low SES and ED visits attenuated gradually and eventually became negatively associated (P=0.04 and P=<0.001). This relationship was not significant for telehealth video visits. Conclusion(s): Patients with lower socioeconomic status, non-English speakers, and Hispanic patients utilize technology-based health care services significantly less. Thus, while technology-based health care services may help to increase access to care for some patients, it is important to minimize barriers and prevent the worsening of already-existing inequities in health care access. Improving access to secure messaging and telephone calls in patients with low SES may help to prevent constipation-related ED visits as well as reduce healthcare costs.
ABSTRACT
Background: In Colorado, food insecurity affects about 10% of patients with celiac disease and is associated with decreased adherence to gluten-free diet. With the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for gluten-free foods from food banks increased. We sought to assess the availability of gluten-free foods at food banks in Colorado during the pandemic. Method(s): Food banks in Colorado were asked to complete a survey about general understanding of celiac disease and identifying perceived barriers to providing gluten-free foods to people with celiac disease and food insecurity. In-person visits with additional predefined questions for the director were planned. Result(s): Of the 63 food banks contacted, 27 (43%) responded and 15 (24%) completed questionnaires (Table). Some in the Denver Metro area reported no barriers as they felt well equipped with resources and information related to celiac disease. The most common barrier reported was access to gluten-free foods from both donors and from mass suppliers. The next most common barriers were volunteer training and lack of celiac community advocacy about need. Of 16 providing written responses, 8 requested written resources and 3 indicated a separate area for those with food restrictions and adequate supply of gluten-free foods. Only one food bank was visited. The others were inaccessible due to lack of resources or capacity due to the pandemic or lack of communication. The food bank visited was Integrated Family Community Services, a social service whose mission is to alleviate hunger and empower people to make health adjustments. This food bank works with hospitals and the community to support low-income families in Englewood CO, an area with population at high risk of food insecurity. The director at this food bank reported knowing what celiac disease and gluten-free are, as well as trying to provide food for those with specific food restrictions. Prior to COVID, recipients could select the food items they wanted, and gluten-free pastas, flours, breads were separated, as were low glycemic foods for those with diabetes and low sodium foods for those with hypertension. However, due to COVID restrictions, this was no longer possible;volunteers put together pre-made boxes, but not gluten-free boxes. Conclusion(s): During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for gluten-free food items increased;however, not only was there diminished supply of gluten-free foods to food banks by large and small donors, food banks also were reduced in their capacity to sort and deliver the gluten-free foods to those in need. In addition, there was little awareness of the need for gluten-free donations and the need for volunteers at the food banks. Food insecurity is a contributing factor in adverse health outcomes for celiac disease. Discussion(s): Food insecurity is common, impacting 10%-20% of families with celiac disease and is associated with rural communities, reduced adherence to the gluten-free diet, and the burden of the higher cost of gluten-free foods on low income families. Recognizing the impact on social determinants of health, the US Preventive Services Task Force is developing a research agenda for food insecurity. Strategies celiac centers could adapt to improve access include 1) focused advocacy to increase donations to food banks by gluten-free food producers, 2) creation of areas within food pantries for special dietary needs, 3) provide expert dietitian support to food banks, 4) develop written resources about gluten-free foods, labelling and recipes for food banks, and 5) improve staffing by promoting volunteering. Limitations of this study include low participation rate by food pantries, inability to visit more than one pantry during this study, and extrapolation of findings to other areas outside Colorado. Future directions could include studies to increase health care systems awareness of and screening for food insecurity (demand side), as well as partnering with food banks and gluten free food manufacturers and suppliers to enhance the availability of these foods (supply side) and then assess any impact on health outcomes. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
Panelists included Eric Bradley, deputy health director of Linn County Public Health;Tom Gonzales, public health director of the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment;and Niki Lemin, assistant health commissioner and director of environmental health for Franklin County Public Health. William (Bill) Marler, JD, attorney and food safety expert from Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, closed out the AEC by speaking virtually to attendees about a lawyer's view of modern foodborne outbreaks. During the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was environmental health manager for the Scott County Health Department in Davenport, Iowa. * Tom Gonzales, public health director for the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment in Fort Collins, Colorado. Prior to this position, he served as deputy public Featured Speakers health director at El Paso County Public Health in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and oversaw programs for environmental health and emergency preparedness and response. * Niki Lemin, assistant health commissioner and environmental health director of Franklin County Public Health in Columbus, Ohio.
ABSTRACT
The information used in developing this survey was obtained through an exhaustive review of each state's relevant statute and court rules, as well as a thorough review of appellate court opinions interpreting a relevant statute or providing guidance in the absence of statutory directive. In most instances, tenants are provided the lease on a take-it-or-leave-it basis with no opportunity to negotiate any of its terms, including provisions related to late fees.1 States that impose late fee maximums vary greatly on the amount and form of the limitation. In most of these states, the reasonableness requirement is established by courts rather than through legislation. * Arizona: For residential tenancies, it is implied within its eviction statutes that late fees must be reasonable. * California: Must be reasonably related to costs the landlord faces as a result of rent being late. * Connecticut: Fees must bear a reasonable relationship to the actual damage that the landlord sustains, and the court may void if excessive. * Illinois: Must be a reasonable forecast of damage caused by the breach. * Kentucky: Must be reasonable;$20 or 20 percent of the rental fee for each month is deemed reasonable. * Ohio: Must be reasonable in proportion to the rental rate and have a rational basis supporting the imposition of the charge. * Oklahoma: Must be reasonably related to actual costs incurred. * Pennsylvania: Late fees must be reasonable. * Texas: Must be reasonable;presumed reasonable if not more than 12 percent of the amount of rent for a dwelling located in a structure that contains no more than four units or 10 percent for a structure that contains more than four units. * Vermont: Late fee allowed if reasonably related to costs incurred. * Washington: Presumably must be reasonable. * West Virginia: Presumably must be reasonable. Most of these moratoriums were expired as of the date of the initial publication of this survey. * California: Renters who have submitted a declaration of COVID-19-related financial distress cannot be charged a late fee for the late payment of rental payments (no expiration date). * Colorado: Executive order prohibited landlords and lenders from charging late fees for any rent incurred between May 1, 2020, and April 27, 2021, due to the pandemic (expired). * Connecticut: Executive order 7X granted tenants an automatic 60-day grace period for April 2020 rent and made a 60-day grace period for May 2020 rent available upon request.