Differential regulation of lung homeostasis and silicosis by the TAM receptors MerTk and Axl.

Introduction: TAM receptor-mediated efferocytosis plays an important function in immune regulation and may contribute to antigen tolerance in the lungs, a site with continuous cellular turnover and generation of apoptotic cells. Some studies have identified failures in efferocytosis as a common driver of inflammation and tissue destruction in lung diseases. Our study is the first to characterize the in vivo function of the TAM receptors, Axl and MerTk, in the innate immune cell compartment, cytokine and chemokine production, as well as the alveolar macrophage (AM) phenotype in different settings in the airways and lung parenchyma. Methods: We employed MerTk and Axl defective mice to induce acute silicosis by a single exposure to crystalline silica particles (20 mg/50 µL). Although both mRNA levels of Axl and MerTk receptors were constitutively expressed by lung cells and isolated AMs, we found that MerTk was critical for maintaining lung homeostasis, whereas Axl played a role in the regulation of silica-induced inflammation. Our findings imply that MerTk and Axl differently modulated inflammatory tone via AM and neutrophil recruitment, phenotype and function by flow cytometry, and TGF-ß and CXCL1 protein levels, respectively. Finally, Axl expression was upregulated in both MerTk-/- and WT AMs, confirming its importance during inflammation. Conclusion: This study provides strong evidence that MerTk and Axl are specialized to orchestrate apoptotic cell clearance across different circumstances and may have important implications for the understanding of pulmonary inflammatory disorders as well as for the development of new approaches to therapy.

Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography in Petroleum Derived Samples: A Review on Advances in Source and Weathering Studies of Spilled Oil.

Since its introduction comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) has been widely applied to analyze complex samples due to its enhanced peak capacity and selectivity, thereby increasing the number of identifiable peaks and improving coelution issues. Even though it is still undergoing development, GC × GC provides many advantages in the analysis of petroleum-derived samples, whether in reservoir geochemistry applications or in environmental studies associated with spilled oils. In general, it facilitates more thorough fingerprinting and compositional evaluation. In environmental studies, it helps enhance understanding of weathering processes and the environmental behavior of hydrocarbons, as its chromatographic retention indices can robustly estimate liquid vapor pressures, aqueous solubility and other physical chemical properties. This review presents a brief history of GC × GC instrumentation, discussing recent and significant advances in petroleum applications, from data handling techniques to reservoir geochemistry and environmental forensics, as well as some specific advantages achieved and certain limitations that continue to be encountered.

A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study of Midwestern Latino Parents Participation and Preferences for Parenting Education Programs.

Parenting programs are an important tool that can provide support for parents and families and improve family functioning. This concurrent nested QUANT + qual mixed methods study sought to better understand parenting education program participation and examine format, delivery, and content preferences for parenting programs among Latino parents in Nebraska. Results from a statewide survey (N = 173) indicated that 31.4% of parents in the sample had participated in a parenting program. Significant predictors of participation in parenting education programs included being unmarried, not working full-time, having a higher income, and having excellent or very good health. Major barriers to participation included lack of information about available programs and logistical concerns. Focus group participants discussed key program design concerns which included: (1) cultural clashes related to acculturation gaps between parents and children; (2) cultural relevance of programming; (3) logistical considerations; and (4) the inclusion of technology to enhance parenting. Overall, participants were particularly interested in group-based learning, flexible scheduling, and improving the cultural relevance of programs. Implications for program design and outreach to improve Latino parents' access and willingness to participate in parenting education programs are presented. Future research should explore the effectiveness of parenting program implementation and dissemination with Latino parents in rural communities, if there are differences in the benefits of parenting programs by Latino subgroup or level of acculturation, and assess the impact of near-peers in the delivery of parenting programs with Latinos.

Correlates and predictors of alcohol consumption and negative consequences of alcohol use among Latino migrant farmworkers in Nebraska.

Alcohol is a significant issue among the Latino farmworker population. This study used cross-sectional data from the Nebraska Migrant Farmworker Health Study, 2016 (N = 241) to (1) describe drinking behavior, (2) evaluate associations between alcohol consumption and negative consequences from alcohol use and various social and demographic variables, and (3) assess contextual and interpersonal predictors of alcohol consumption and negative consequences from alcohol use. Descriptive, bivariate statistics and hierarchical multiple regression were used. Results indicated that over 30% of participants had engaged in heavy drinking in the last year. Alcohol consumption was significantly positively associated with negative consequences of alcohol use and significantly negatively associated with work safety climate and age. Negative consequences from alcohol use was significantly negatively associated with work safety climate. Significant predictors of alcohol consumption included work safety climate and age. Being married or in a relationship, alcohol consumption, and work safety climate were significant predictors of negative consequences from alcohol use. This study highlights the potential positive spillover effect of work safety climate on worker drinking behaviors. Implications and recommendations for agricultural employers, farmworker health advocates, and social service agencies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

The Association of Point-of-Sale E-cigarette Advertising with Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Neighborhoods.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) marketing expenditure is skyrocketing in the United States. However, little is understood about the geographic and socio-demographic patterns of e-cigarette advertising. We examined the associations between point-of-sale (POS) e-cigarette advertising and neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics in the Omaha Metropolitan Area of Nebraska. In 2014, fieldworkers collected comprehensive POS e-cigarette advertising data from all stores that sell tobacco (n = 463) in the Omaha Metropolitan Area. We used Geographic Information Systems to map POS e-cigarette advertisement density for the entire study area. Linear regression was used to examine the association between socio-demographic factors and POS e-cigarette advertising density. E-cigarette advertising density exhibited an obviously uneven geographic pattern in Omaha. Higher level of POS e-cigarette advertising was significantly related to lower median household income, higher percentage of Hispanics, and higher percentage of young adults. However, after adjusting for covariates, only median household income remained significantly associated with POS e-cigarette advertising. We found geographic, socioeconomic, and racial and ethnic disparities in exposure to POS e-cigarette advertising in Omaha, Nebraska. Future studies are needed to understand how these disparities influence e-cigarette adoption by different social groups and how to use such information to inform e-cigarette prevention strategies.

Association between Social Capital and Self-Efficacy among Latinas in Nebraska.

Ensuring the health and well-being of Latinas is critical given the size of the population and its rapid growth across the United States. Social capital may be a tool for alleviating some of the individual, neighborhood, and societal challenges that Latina immigrants face. This study uses bivariate tests and multivariate regression to assess the association between social capital and self-efficacy among Latina immigrants in the Midwest (N = 94). Self-efficacy was positively correlated with bonding and bridging social capital. Findings from a multiple regression model indicate that bonding and bridging social capital are significantly associated with self-efficacy after adjusting for the effect of related covariates. Public health interventions may benefit from building and fostering bonding and bridging social capital among immigrants as way to improve self-efficacy, promote health, and enhance public health practice.

Point-of-Sale E-cigarette Advertising Among Tobacco Stores.

The marketing expenditure and sale of e-cigarettes increased sharply in the United States in recent years. However, little is known about neighborhood characteristics of point-of-sale (POS) e-cigarette advertising among tobacco stores. The purpose of this study was to examine socio-demographic characteristics of POS e-cigarette advertising among tobacco stores in the Omaha metropolitan area of Nebraska, USA. Between April and June 2014, trained fieldworkers completed marketing audits of all stores that sell tobacco (n = 463) in the Omaha metropolitan area and collected comprehensive e-cigarette advertising data of these stores. Based on the auditing information, we categorized tobacco stores based on e-cigarette advertising status. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood socio-demographic factors and e-cigarette advertising among tobacco stores. 251 (54.2%) of the 463 tobacco stores had e-cigarette advertisements. We found that neighborhoods of stores with POS e-cigarette advertising had higher per capita income (p < 0.05), higher percentage of non-hispanic whites (p < 0.005), and higher percentage of individuals with high school education (p < 0.005) than neighborhoods of stores without POS e-cigarette advertising. There were negative associations between e-cigarette advertising and number of adolescents or number of middle/high school students. After adjusting for covariates, only percentage of non-Hispanic Whites remained a significant factor for e-cigarette advertising. POS e-cigarette advertising among tobacco stores is related with neighborhood socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Future studies are needed to understand how these characteristics are related with e-cigarette purchasing and e-cigarette prevalence among social groups.

Neighbourhood exposure to point-of-sale price promotions for cigarettes is associated with financial stress among smokers: results from a population-based study.

AIM: To examine the association between neighbourhood exposure to point-of-sale (POS) cigarette price promotions and financial stress among smokers in a Midwestern metropolitan area in the USA. METHODS: Survey data from 888 smokers provided information on sociodemographic and smoking related variables. Financial stress was measured with the question: 'In the last six months, because of lack of money, was there a time when you were unable to buy food or pay any important bills on time, such as electricity, telephone, credit card, rent or your mortgage? (Yes/No).' Using audit data from 504 tobacco retailers, we estimated a score of POS price promotions for each respondent by summing the different types of promotion in each store in their neighbourhood, as defined by a 1-km roadway buffer. RESULTS: Adjusted results provided strong support for an association between higher scores of neighbourhood POS cigarette price promotions and a higher probability of financial stress (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Exposure to POS cigarette price promotions is associated with financial stress. This finding, coupled with previous reports that smokers with financial stress are less likely to attempt to quit or succeed in quitting smoking, suggests that POS cigarette price promotions may act as an impediment to smoking cessation.

Partnering for Health with Nebraska's Latina Immigrant Community Using Design Thinking Process.

BACKGROUND: The Center for Reducing Health Disparities at the University of Nebraska Medical Center partnered with El Centro de Las Americas, a community-based organization, and various community members to develop a 1-day Spanish-language health conference entitled El Encuentro de La Mujer Sana (Healthy Woman Summit) for immigrant Latinas in Nebraska during May 2013 as part of National Women's Health Week. OBJECTIVE: Design thinking was used to create a meaningful learning experience specifically designed for monolingual Spanish-speaking immigrant Latinas in Nebraska and build a foundation for collaboration between an academic institution, community-based organizational partners, and community members. METHODS: We used the design thinking methodology to generate ideas for topics and prototyped agendas with community stakeholders that would be relevant and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health education. CONCLUSIONS: By developing community-based health education programs for Latinas with Latinas through a community-engaged co-creation process, organizations and communities build trust, enhance community capacity, and meet identified needs for education and service. Design thinking is a valuable tool that can be used to develop community health education initiatives and enhance civic participation. This method holds promise for health education and public health in becoming more relevant for traditionally marginalized or disenfranchised populations.

Perspectives on Breast Health Education and Services Among Recent Hispanic Immigrant Women in the Midwest: a Qualitative Study in Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among Hispanic women in the USA. Throughout the country, Hispanic immigrants face many barriers to achieving optimal breast health. Three focus groups were conducted to explore challenges and opportunities in access to breast health services and information among recent Hispanic immigrant women in Lancaster Country, Nebraska. Respondents perceived breast cancer as a serious issue and were concerned about it, but there were few cues to action to improve health given the limited information and access to services available to low-income Spanish-speaking individuals in the community. Results highlighted the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate health education and services, accessibility and promotion of low-cost screening and treatment services, and inclusive policies to promote preventative healthcare services for all women regardless of immigration status. Health is more than just clinical care, and therefore, it is important to understand the contextual and cultural factors that have resulted in low screening rates and develop methods to address these them. Failure to address these aspects of social determinants of health could hamper efforts to improve breast health and reduce disparities.

Stress, Depression, and Occupational Injury among Migrant Farmworkers in Nebraska.

Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. Farmworkers, including migrant farmworkers, are at risk for work-related injuries. This study explores the association between stress, depression, and occupational injury among migrant farmworkers in Nebraska. Occupational injury was hypothesized to significantly increase the odds of farmworkers being stressed and depressed. Two hundred migrant farmworkers (mean age = 33.5 years, standard deviation (SD) = 12.53; 93.0% men, 92.9% of Mexican descent) were interviewed. In bivariate analyses, results indicated that stress and depression were positively associated with occupational injury. Two logistic regression models were developed. Occupational injury was a significant factor for depression, but not for stress. Participants who had been injured on the job were over seven times more likely to be depressed. These results highlight the interconnection between the work environment and mental health. More must be done to foster well-being in rural, agricultural communities. Improving occupational health and safety information and training, integrating behavioral health services into primary care settings, and strengthening the protections of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act may improve conditions for migrant farmworkers in the rural Midwest.