High-quality haplotype-resolved chromosome assembly provides evolutionary insights and targeted steviol glycosides (SGs) biosynthesis in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is popular source of plant-derived low/no-calorie natural sweeteners (LNCSs), collectively known as steviol glycosides (SGs). Nevertheless, genetic predisposition for targeted biosynthesis of SGs is complex due to multi-substrate functionality of key uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Here, we created a high-quality monoploid assembly of 1.34 Gb with N50 value of 110 Mb, 55 551 predicted protein-coding genes, and ~80% repetitive regions in Rebaudioside-A (Reb-A) enriched cultivar of S. rebaudiana. Additionally, a haplotype-based chromosome assembly consisting of haplotype A and haplotype B with an overall genome size of 2.33Gb was resolved, harbouring 639 634 variants including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indels and structural variants (SVs). Furthermore, a lineage-specific whole genome duplication analysis revealed that gene families encoding UGTs and Cytochrome-P450 (CYPs) were tandemly duplicated. Additionally, expression analysis revealed five tandemly duplicated gene copies of UGT76G1 having significant correlations with Reb-A content, and identified key residue (leu200val) in the glycosylation of Reb-A. Furthermore, missense variations identified in the acceptor region of UGT76G1 in haplotype resolve genome, transcriptional and molecular docking analysis were confirmed with resequencing of 10 diverse stevia genotypes (~25X). Gene regulatory network analysis identified key transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, bZIP and AP2-ERF) as potential regulators of SG biosynthesis. Overall, this study provides haplotype-resolved chromosome-level genome assembly for genome editing and enhancing breeding efforts for targeted biosynthesis of SGs in S. rebaudiana.

Social Determinants of Health Among American Indians and Alaska Natives and Tribal Communities: Comparison with Other Major Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States, 1990-2022.

Background and Objective: Limited research exists on health inequities between American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs), tribal communities, and other population groups in the United States. To address this gap in research, we conducted time-trend analyses of social determinants of health and disease outcomes for AIANs as a whole and specific tribal communities and compared them with those from the other major racial/ethnic groups. Methods: We used data from the 1990-2022 National Vital Statistics System, 2015-2022 American Community Survey, and the 2018-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine socioeconomic, health, disability, disease, and mortality patterns for AIANs. Results: In 2021, life expectancy at birth was 70.6 years for AIANs, lower than that for Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs) (84.1), Hispanics (78.8), and non-Hispanic Whites (76.3). All racial/ethnic groups experienced a decline in life expectancy between the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and the peak pandemic year of 2021. However, the impact of COVID-19 was the greatest for AIANs and Blacks whose life expectancy decreased by 6.3 and 5.8 years, respectively. The infant mortality rate for AIANs was 8.5 per 1,000 live births, 78% higher than the rate for non-Hispanic Whites. One in five AIANs assessed their physical and mental health as poor, at twice the rate of non-Hispanic Whites or the general population. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death among AIANs in 2021. Risks of mortality from alcohol-related problems, drug overdose, unintentional injuries, and homicide were higher among AIANs than the general population. AIANs had the highest overall disability, mental and ambulatory disability, health uninsurance, unemployment, and poverty rates, with differences in these indicators varying markedly across the AIAN tribes. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: AIANs remain a disadvantaged racial/ethnic group in the US in many health and socioeconomic indicators, with poverty rates in many Native American tribal groups and reservations exceeding 40%.

Widening Disparities in COVID-19 Mortality and Life Expectancy Among 15 Major Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States, 2020-2021.

Persistent and often widening racial/ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in health have long existed in the US. Although racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality are well documented, COVID-19 mortality risks and resultant reductions in life expectancy during the pandemic for detailed racial and ethnic groups in the US, including Asian and Hispanic subgroups, are not known. We used 2020-2021 US mortality data to estimate age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rates, life expectancy, and the consequent declines in life expectancy due to COVID-19 overall and for the 15 largest racial/ethnic groups. We used standard life table methodology, cause-elimination life tables, and inequality indices to analyze trends in racial/ethnic disparities. The number of COVID-19 deaths increased from 350,827 in 2020 to 416,890 in 2021. COVID-19 death rates varied 7-fold among the racial/ethnic groups; Japanese and Chinese had the lowest mortality rates and Mexicans and American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs) had the highest rates. In 2021, life expectancy ranged from 70.3 years for Blacks and 70.6 years for AIANs to 85.2 years for Japanese and 87.7 years for Chinese. The life-expectancy gap was wide- 22.4 years in 2020 and 23.2 years in 2021. COVID-19 mortality had the greatest impact in reducing the life expectancy of Mexicans (3.53 years in 2020 and 3.78 years in 2021), Central/South Americans (4.86 years in 2020 and 3.50 years in 2021), and AIANs (2.51 years in 2020 and 2.38 years in 2021). Racial/ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 mortality, life expectancy, and resultant reductions in life expectancy during the pandemic widened between 2020 and 2021.

The rationale for bladder washouts in children with neurogenic bladder.

Children with a neurogenic bladder are at risk of developing recurrent urinary tract infections and long-term kidney failure. Due to an altered lower urinary tract, children may be overtreated for simple bacteriuria or undertreated for a potentially severe urinary tract infection. This group of patients represent high users of healthcare, and are at risk of colonization and development of antibiotic resistance. Bladder washouts with non-antibiotic electrochemically activated solutions are a potential new prophylactic option for patients with bladder dysfunction when clean intermittent catheterization has resulted in chronic bacteriuria.

Living alone and cancer mortality by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status among US working-age adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown an association between living alone and cancer mortality; however, findings by sex and race/ethnicity have generally been inconsistent, and data by socioeconomic status are sparse. The association between living alone and cancer mortality by sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in a nationally representative US cohort was examined. METHODS: Pooled 1998-2019 data for adults aged 18-64 years at enrollment from the National Health Interview Survey linked to the National Death Index (N = 473,648) with up to 22 years of follow-up were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between living alone and cancer mortality. RESULTS: Compared to adults living with others, adults living alone were at a higher risk of cancer death in the age-adjusted model (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.25-1.39) and after additional adjustments for multiple sociodemographic characteristics and cancer risk factors (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16). Age-adjusted models stratified by sex, poverty level, and educational attainment showed similar associations between living alone and cancer mortality, but the association was stronger among non-Hispanic White adults (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.25-1.42) than non-Hispanic Black adults (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.32; p value for difference < .05) and did not exist in other racial/ethnic groups. These associations were attenuated but persisted in fully adjusted models among men (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23), women (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01-1.18), non-Hispanic White adults (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05-1.20), and adults with a college degree (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.07-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative study in the United States, adults living alone were at a higher risk of cancer death in several sociodemographic groups.

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling and physiological investigation elucidating the molecular mechanism of multiple abiotic stress response in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

Considering the major source of plant-derived low/non-calorie steviol glycosides (SGs), comprehensive physiological, biochemical, and deep transcriptional investigations were conducted to explicit deeper insight into multiple abiotic stress responses in Stevia rebaudiana. The physiological indicators including photosynthesis, chlorophyll, relative water content, shoot growth, electrolyte leakage, and SG biosynthesis were negatively impacted under drought (DS), followed by salinity (SS) and waterlogging (WS). Global transcriptional analysis revealed significant upregulated expression of the genes encoding for ROS detoxification (GST, SOD, APX, glutathione peroxidase), osmotic adjustment (alpha-trehalose-phosphate and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase), ion transporters (CAX, NHX, CNGS, VPPase, VATPase), water channel (PIP1, TIP) and abiotic stress-responsive candidate genes (LEA, HSPs, and Dehydrins) regulating abiotic stress response in S. rebaudiana. These inferences were complemented with predicted interactome network that revealed regulation of energy metabolism by key stress-responsive genes (GST, HKT1, MAPKs, P5CSs, PIP), transcription factors (HSFA2, DREB1A, DREB2A), and abiotic stress responsive pathways (ABA, ethylene, ion stress). This is the first detailed study to comprehend the molecular regulation of stress response and their interplay under DS, SS, and WS. The key genes and regulators can be functionally validated, and will facilitate targeted gene editing for genetic improvement of crop sustainability under changing environmental conditions in S. rebaudiana.

Solvatochromic behaviour of cyclic dithioether-functionalized triphenylamine ligands and their mechano-responsive Cu(I) coordination polymers.

Cu(I)-based coordination polymers (CPs) are known as efficient emissive materials providing an eco-friendly and cost-effective platform for the development of various functional materials and sensors. In addition to the nature of the metal center, organic ligands also play a crucial role in controlling the emissive properties of coordination polymers. Herein, we report on the synthesis of dithiane- and dithiolane-substituted triphenylamine ligands L1 and L2. These ligands were found to be emissive both in the solid state and in solution. In addition, these ligands exhibit solvatochromic behaviour due to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) phenomenon. Next, coordination behaviour of these ligands was explored with Cu(I)X salts (X = Br and Cl) and four new 1D coordination polymers [{Cu(µ2-X)2Cu}(µ2-L)]n, CP1 (X = Br, L = L1), CP2 (X = Cl, L = L1), CP3 (X = Br, L = L2), and CP4 (X = Cl, L = L2) were synthesized and crystallographically characterized. The emission behaviour of all the CPs suggests ligand-centered transitions. On mechanical grinding, emission maxima (λem) for CP1 and CP2 were blue-shifted, whereas for CP3 and CP4 red-shifts were observed. All CPs were found to emit at 448 nm with increased intensity after grinding. It is supposed that grinding is responsible for a change in the spatial arrangement (dihedral angles) of the phenyl groups of triphenylamine, causing the observed emission shifts. Furthermore, the higher emission intensity after grinding suggests the occurrence of a similar phenomenon as an aggregation-induced quenching in these CPs.

Socio-ecological Challenges and Adaptation Strategies of Farmers Towards Changing Climate in Vindhyan highlands, India.

The Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change which adversely affects crop production and livelihood of farmers. The effect is more intensified in Vindhyan highlands, where prolong drought and high rate of poverty exist in depredation environment. In this context, present study conducted to explore farmers' perception, attitude about climate change and adaptive capabilities. We undertook an interview schedules survey through structured questionnaire in Duddhi block of Sonbhadra district. A total of 400 households were selected in which 347 (86.75%) male and 53 (13.25%) female respondents have participated. The perception of farmers on climate change is presented in SI (severity index) which varies from 36% to 68.63%. The statement 'rainy season decreases' ranked first with SI (68.63%) followed by 'temperature increases' SI (66.06%). This investigation identified 17 types of adaptive practices which are frequently performed in the Vindhyan highlands. Based on the WAI (Weighted Average Index) score, crop diversification (2.0), cultivation of drought-adapted crop varieties (1.99), changing plantation calendar (1.95) were the most adopted practices. Multiple regression analysis between the socio-economic status of farmers and the adaptation practices, recorded a significant positive relationship with age (P < 0.01), family size (P < 0.05), education (P < 0.01), caste categories (P < 0.05) and livestock ownership (P < 0.01) of farmer. This study will be helpful in developing drought resilience farming practices for sustaining the livelihood of farmers and inform policy making.

Racial and ethnic disparities in monthly trends in alcohol-induced mortality among US adults from January 2018 through December 2021.

Background: Historically, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs), Blacks, and Hispanics have experienced higher alcohol-induced mortality rates. Given a disproportionate surge in unemployment rate and financial strain among racial and ethnic minorities and limited access to alcohol use disorder treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to examine monthly trends in alcohol-induced mortality in the United States during the pandemic.Objectives: This study estimates changes in monthly alcohol-induced mortality among US adults by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.Methods: Using monthly deaths from 2018-2021 national mortality files (N = 178,201 deaths, 71.5% male, 28.5% female) and census-based monthly population estimates, we calculated age-specific monthly alcohol-induced death rates and performed log-linear regression to derive monthly percent increases in mortality rates.Results: Alcohol-induced deaths among adults aged ≥25 years increased by 25.7% between 2019 (38,868 deaths) and 2020 (48,872 deaths). During 2018-2021, the estimated monthly percent change was higher for females (1.1% per month) than males (1.0%), and highest for AIANs (1.4%), followed by Blacks (1.2%), Hispanics (1.0%), non-Hispanic Whites (1.0%), and Asians (0.8%). In particular, between February 2020 and January 2021, alcohol-induced mortality increased by 43% for males, 53% for females, 107% for AIANs, the largest increase, followed by Blacks (58%), Hispanics (56%), Asians (44%), and non-Hispanic Whites (39%).Conclusions: During the peak months of the pandemic, the rising trends in alcohol-induced mortality differed substantially by race and ethnicity. Our findings indicate that behavioral and policy interventions and future investigation on underlying mechanisms should be considered to reduce alcohol-induced mortality among Blacks and AIANs.

The Impact of Telemedicine Parity Requirements on Telehealth Utilization in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown a dramatic increase in telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic and marked socioeconomic disparities in telehealth utilization. However, previous studies have shown discrepant findings on the association between the state's telehealth payment parity laws and telehealth utilization, and dearth of differential impact studies by subgroups. METHODS: Using a nationally representative Household Pulse Survey from April 2021 to August 2022 and the logistic regression modeling, we estimated the impact of parity payment laws on overall, video, and phone telehealth utilization and related disparities by race and ethncity during the pandemic. RESULTS: We found that adults in parity states had 23% higher odds of telehealth utilization (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.33) and 124% higher odds of video telehealth utilization (OR = 2.24; 95% CI, 1.95-2.57) than their counterparts in nonparity states. In parity states, non-Hispanic White adults had 24% higher odds of telehealth utilization (OR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.35) and non-Hispanic Black adults had 31% higher odds of telehealth utilization (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.65), compared with those in nonparity states. For Hispanics, non-Hispanic Asians, and non-Hispanic other races, there was not a statistically significant effect of parity act on overall telehealth utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Given inequalities in telehealth utilization, increased state policy efforts are needed to reduce access disparities during the ongoing pandemic and beyond.

The Differential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization Among US Women by Medicaid Expansion and Race and Ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: The 2014 Medicaid expansion improved racial and ethnic equity in insurance coverage and access to maternal care among women of reproductive age. This study examines differential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prenatal care utilization by Medicaid expansion and by race and ethnicity. METHODS: Using the pooled 2019-2020 National Natality file (N = 7 361 190), logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of COVID-19 on prenatal care utilization among US women aged 10 to 54 years after controlling for maternal age, race, ethnicity, marital status, parity, nativity/immigrant status, education, payment type, and smoking during pregnancy. Outcome measures were having no care and delayed prenatal care (third trimester or no care). Stratified models by race/ethnicity and Medicaid expansion status yielded the differential effects of COVID-19 on prenatal care utilization. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the adjusted odds of having no prenatal care decreased by 4% (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.97) in expansion states but increased by 13% (AOR = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.15) in nonexpansion states. While most racial and ethnic groups in expansion states experienced a decrease in having no prenatal care, the adjusted odds of having no prenatal care increased by 15% for non-Hispanic Whites, 9% for non-Hispanic Blacks, 33% for American Indians/Alaska Natives, 25% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 13% for Hispanics in nonexpansion states. Women in expansion states experienced no change in delayed prenatal care during the pandemic, but women in nonexpansion states experienced an increase in delayed care. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal care utilization decreased during the pandemic among women in nonexpansion states, particularly for American Indians/Alaska Natives and Asian/Pacific Islanders, compared with expansion states.

Prediction of surface temperature and CO2 emission of leading emitters using grey model EGM (1,1, α, θ).

The current study projects the increase in surface temperature and CO2 emissions using the EGM (1,1, α, θ) grey model for the six most significant CO2 contributing countries, namely China, the USA, India, Russia, Japan, and Germany. The study uses time series data for surface temperature (in degree celsius) from 2010 to 2020, and CO2 emission (metric tons per capita) data from 2009 to 2019. The empirical results show a downward trend in CO2 emissions from Japan, Germany, the USA, and Russia by 2028. However, in the same time period, CO2 emissions are expected to increase for India and remain nearly constant for China. This study indicates an increase in surface temperature at a significant rate in all the 6 countries: by 6.70 °C for China, 7.52 °C for Germany, 2.95 °C for India, 2.66 °C for Japan, 3.61 °C for Russia, and 13.48 °C for the USA by the end of 2028. The study compares the EGM (1,1, α, θ) grey model with the general EGM (1,1) grey model and finds that the EGM (1,1, α, θ) model performs better in both in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting. The paper also puts forward policy suggestions to mitigate, manage, and reduce increases in surface temperature as well as CO2 emissions.

Double transplantation as a climate resilient and sustainable resource management strategy for rice production in eastern Uttar Pradesh, north India.

-Enhancing the productivity of rainfed crops, especially rice, while coping with climate adversities and saving critical natural resources is essential for ensuring the food and nutrition security of a growing population. With this context, the present study was undertaken to validate promising farm innovation and adaptation practices used by small-medium landholding farmers for rice cultivation in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), north India, as well as to examine the sustainability of innovative practices for large-scale adoption. For this, a 3-year study comprising extensive field surveys and experiments was undertaken to compare single transplantation (ST) and double transplantation (DT) in rice along with organic addition (farm-yard manure, FYM) on crop growth, yield, climate resilience, soil quality, and overall sustainability i.e., social (women involvements and labour productivity), environmental (water productivity and nutrient use efficiency), and economic (benefit:cost ratio) dimensions of sustainability. Field experiments were conducted in triplicate using two local rice varieties (MotiNP-360 and Sampurna Kaveri) in two agroclimatic zones, namely the middle Gangetic plains and the Vindhyan zone, in the Mirzapur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The DT practices of rice with and without farm yard manure (FYM) (replacing at a dose of 25% NPK) were evaluated over conventional methods of rice cultivation (i.e., ST, as control) and analysis was done periodically. The DT practice improved growth (p < 0.05), percent fertile tiller and grain (p < 0.05), and rice yield (15-20% higher than ST), while also improving soil quality, yield indices, water and labour productivity, and the benefit-cost ratio. The DT practice also resulted in early maturity (10-15 days earlier than ST), created more labour days for women, decreased lodging and pest/disease incidence, as well as a subsequent reduction in the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and associated environmental costs. Importantly, the residual effects of FYM application significantly improved (p < 0.05) the grain yield in subsequent years of cropping. Optimizing DT cultivation practices, preferably with FYM input for various agro-climatic regions, is essential for large-scale sustainable rice production under changing climatic conditions.

Estimating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rising trends in drug overdose mortality in the United States, 2018-2021.

PURPOSE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, social and economic disruption such as social isolation, job and income losses, and increased psychological distress, may have contributed to the increase in drug-overdose mortality. This study aims to measure the impact of the pandemic on monthly trends in drug-overdose mortality in the United States. METHODS: We used the 2018-2020 final and 2021 provisional monthly deaths from the National Vital Statistics System and monthly population estimates from the Census Bureau to compute monthly mortality rates by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. We use log-linear regression models to estimate monthly percent increases in mortality rates from January 2018 through November 2021. RESULTS: The age-adjusted drug-overdose mortality rate among individuals aged older than or equal to 15 years increased by 30% between 2019 (70,459 deaths) and 2020 (91,536 deaths). During January 2018-November 2021, the monthly drug-overdose mortality rate increased by 2.05% per month for Blacks, 2.25% for American Indians/Alaska Natives, 1.96% for Hispanics, 1.33% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 0.96% for non-Hispanic Whites. Average monthly increases in mortality were most marked among those aged 15-24 and 35-44 years. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on the rising trends in drug-overdose mortality during the peak months in 2020 and 2021.

Specialized metabolites as versatile tools in shaping plant-microbe associations.

Plants are rich repository of a large number of chemical compounds collectively referred to as specialized metabolites. These compounds are of importance for adaptive processes including responses against changing abiotic conditions and interactions with various co-existing organisms. One of the strikingly affirmed functions of these specialized metabolites is their involvement in plants' life-long interactions with complex multi-kingdom microbiomes including both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. Recent developments in genomic and molecular biology tools not only help to generate well-curated information about regulatory and structural components of biosynthetic pathways of plant specialized metabolites but also to create and screen mutant lines defective in their synthesis. In this review, we have comprehensively surveyed the function of these specialized metabolites and discussed recent research findings demonstrating the responses of various microbes on tested mutant lines having defective biosynthesis of particular metabolites. In addition, we attempt to provide key clues about the impact of these metabolites on the assembly of the plant microbiome by summarizing the major findings of recent comparative metagenomic analyses of available mutant lines under customized and natural microbial niches. Subsequently, we delineate benchmark initiatives that aim to engineer or manipulate the biosynthetic pathways to produce specialized metabolites in heterologous systems but also to diversify their immune function. While denoting the function of these metabolites, we also discuss the critical bottlenecks associated with understanding and exploiting their function in improving plant adaptation to the environment.

Housing and Inequalities in US Life Expectancy, Child and Youth Mortality, and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality, 1979-2020: Results from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study and the National Vital Statistics System.

Background: Limited research exists on the association between housing, life expectancy, and mortality disparities in the United States (US). Using longitudinal individual-level and pooled county-level mortality data from 1979 to 2020, we examine disparities in life expectancy, child and youth mortality, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the US by several housing variables. Methods: Using the 1979-2011 National Longitudinal Mortality Study (N=1,313,627) and the 2011-2020 linked county-level National Mortality Database and American Community Survey, we analyzed disparities in life expectancy and all-cause and cause-specific disparities by housing tenure, household crowding, and housing stability. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze individual-level mortality differentials by housing tenure. Age-adjusted mortality rates and rate ratios were used to analyze area-level disparities in mortality by housing variables. Results: US homeowners had, on average, a 3.5-year longer life expectancy at birth than renters (74.22 vs. 70.76 years), with advantages in longevity associated with homeownership being greater for males than for females; for American Indians/Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks than for Asian/Pacific islanders and Hispanics; and for the US-born than for immigrants. Compared with renters, homeowners had 22% lower risks of all-cause mortality, 15% lower child mortality, 17% lower youth mortality, and significantly lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases, all cancers combined, stomach, liver, esophageal and cervical cancer, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, COPD, cirrhosis, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, unintentional injuries, suicide, and homicide. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Several aspects of housing are strongly associated with life expectancy, child and youth mortality, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the US. Policies that aim to provide well-designed, accessible, and affordable housing to residents of both developed and developing countries are important policy options for addressing one of the most fundamental determinants of health for disadvantaged individuals and communities and for reducing health inequities globally.

Marked Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination among US Children and Adolescents by Racial/Ethnic, Socioeconomic, Geographic, and Health Characteristics, United States, December 2021 - April 2022.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial adverse impact on the health and well-being of populations in the United States (US) and globally. Although COVID-19 vaccine disparities among US adults aged ≥18 years are well documented, COVID-19 vaccination inequalities among US children are not well studied. Using the recent nationally representative data, we examine disparities in COVID-19 vaccination among US children aged 5-17 years by a wide range of social determinants and parental characteristics. Methods: Using the US Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey from December 1, 2021 to April 11, 2022 (N=86,335), disparities in child vaccination rates by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health insurance, parental vaccination status, parental COVID-19 diagnosis, and metropolitan area were modeled by multivariate logistic regression. Results: During December 2021-April 2022, an estimated 40.1 million or 57.2% of US children aged 5-17 received COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination rates were lowest among children of parents aged 25-34 (34.9%) and highest among children of parents aged 45-54 (69.2%). Children of non-Hispanic Black parents, divorced/separated and single individuals, parents with lower education and household income levels, renters, not-employed parents, the uninsured, and parents without COVID-19 vaccination or with COVID-19 diagnoses had significantly lower rates of vaccination. Controlling for covariates, Asian and Hispanic children aged 5-17 had 134% and 47% higher odds of receiving vaccination than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Children of parents with a high school education had 47% lower adjusted odds of receiving vaccination than children of parents with a master's degree or higher. Children with annual household income <$25,000 had 48% lower adjusted odds of vaccination than those with income ≥$200,000. Although vaccination rates were higher among children aged 12-17 than among children aged 5-11, sociodemographic patterns in vaccination rates were similar. Parental vaccination status was the strongest predictor of children's vaccination status. Vaccination rates for children aged 5-17 ranged from 49.6% in Atlanta, Georgia to 82.6% in San Francisco, California. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Ethnic minorities, socioeconomically-disadvantaged children, uninsured children, and children of parents without COVID-19 vaccination or with COVID-19 diagnoses had significantly lower vaccination rates. Equitable vaccination coverage among children and adolescents is critical to reducing inequities in COVID-19 health outcomes in the US and globally.

Monthly Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality among Youth Aged 15-34 Years in the United States, 2018-2021: Measuring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Adolescents and young adults in the United States (US) have experienced a significant increase in drug overdose mortality rates in the last two decades. During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, they experienced a lack of access to substance use disorder treatment, stay-home orders, school closure, social isolation, increased psychological distress, and financial strain. Few studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on monthly trends in drug-overdose mortality among youth by race/ethnicity. This study estimates differential changes in monthly drug overdose mortality among youth in the US by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Methods: Monthly deaths from the final 2018-2020 national mortality data and the 2021 provisional mortality data were used, and monthly population estimates were obtained from the Census Bureau. We calculated age-specific monthly drug overdose deaths per one million population and used log-linear regression models to estimate monthly percent increases in mortality rates from January 2018 through October 2021. Results: Drug-overdose deaths among individuals aged 15-34 increased by 36.5% from 2019 (21,152 deaths) to 2020 (28,879 deaths). From February 2020 to May 2020, the drug-overdose mortality rate increased by 62% for males, 53% for females, 79% for Blacks, 62% for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs), 57% for Hispanics, 56% for non-Hispanic Whites, and 47% for Asians. From January 2018 to October 2021, the average monthly drug-overdose mortality rate increased by 2.69% per month for Blacks, 2.54% for AIANs, 2.27% for Hispanics, 1.37% for Asians, and 0.81% for non-Hispanic Whites. Increases in drug-overdose mortality were more rapid among males than females and among youth aged 15-24 than youth aged 25-34. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: During the peak months in 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact by race/ethnicity on trends in drug overdose mortality among the youth. Drug overdose mortality rates increased faster among Blacks, Hispanics, AIANs, and Asians compared to non-Hispanic Whites.

Spatial Genomic Resource Reveals Molecular Insights into Key Bioactive-Metabolite Biosynthesis in Endangered Angelica glauca Edgew.

Angelica glauca Edgew, which is an endangered medicinal and aromatic herb, is a rich source of numerous industrially important bioactive metabolites, including terpenoids, phenolics, and phthalides. Nevertheless, genomic interventions for the sustainable utilization and restoration of its genetic resources are greatly offset due to the scarcity of the genomic resources and key regulators of the underlying specialized metabolism. To unravel the global atlas of the specialized metabolism, the first spatial transcriptome sequencing of the leaf, stem, and root generated 109 million high-quality paired-end reads, assembled de novo into 81,162 unigenes, which exhibit a 61.53% significant homology with the six public protein databases. The organ-specific clustering grouped 1136 differentially expressed unigenes into four subclusters differentially enriched in the leaf, stem, and root tissues. The prediction of the transcriptional-interactome network by integrating enriched gene ontology (GO) and the KEGG metabolic pathways identified the key regulatory unigenes that correspond to terpenoid, flavonoid, and carotenoid biosynthesis in the leaf tissue, followed by the stem and root tissues. Furthermore, the stem and root-specific significant enrichments of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), and caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) indicate that phenylalanine mediated the ferulic acid biosynthesis in the stem and root. However, the root-specific expressions of NADPH-dependent alkenal/one oxidoreductase (NADPH-AOR), S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferases (SDMs), polyketide cyclase (PKC), and CYP72A15 suggest the "root" as the primary site of phthalide biosynthesis. Additionally, the GC-MS and UPLC analyses corresponded to the organ-specific gene expressions, with higher contents of limonene and phthalide compounds in the roots, while there was a higher accumulation of ferulic acid in the stem, followed by in the root and leaf tissues. The first comprehensive genomic resource with an array of candidate genes of the key metabolic pathways can be potentially utilized for the targeted upscaling of aromatic and pharmaceutically important bioactive metabolites. This will also expedite genomic-assisted conservation and breeding strategies for the revival of the endangered A. glauca.