Community Context Research Articles

Emergence of community behaviors in the gut microbiota upon drug treatment

Pharmaceuticals can directly inhibit the growth of gut bacteria, but the degree to which such interactions manifest in complex community settings is an open question. Here, we compared the effects of 30 drugs on a 32-species synthetic community with their effects on each community member in isolation. While most individual drug-species interactions remained the same in the community context, communal behaviors emerged in 26% of all tested cases. Cross-protection during which drug-sensitive species were protected in community was 6 times more frequent than cross-sensitization, the converse phenomenon. Cross-protection decreased and cross-sensitization increased at higher drug concentrations, suggesting that the resilience of microbial communities can collapse when perturbations get stronger. By metabolically profiling drug-treated communities, we showed that both drug biotransformation and bioaccumulation contribute mechanistically to communal protection. As a proof of principle, we molecularly dissected a prominent case: species expressing specific nitroreductases degraded niclosamide, thereby protecting both themselves and sensitive community members.

Decolonizing the New Testament Texts: A Postcolonial Task

This essay traces some of the major directions of New Testament interpretation, both in terms of a turn to empire and also specifically in India. Attention to the impact of empire in shaping the world and texts of the New Testament is argued to be a crucial development which provides an important foundation for postcolonial hermeneutics. Postcolonial hermeneutics is shown to be especially influential for interpreters in the Indian context, and various streams and trends within Indian biblical interpretation are presented. Decolonizing the New Testament texts will require such an empire-critical and postcolonial hermeneutic, as well as the incorporation of such concerns within the Western academy. Finally, a reading of Jude 23 is offered as an illustration of this postcolonial hermeneutic in practice. This text illustrates both the imperial context of the early Christian communities and also their efforts to develop a spirituality of resistance.

Structural inequality modifies midlife outcomes of a multisystemic early childhood program.

The role of structural inequalities in the long-term benefits of early childhood programs has not been assessed. Previous findings in the Chicago Longitudinal Study, an early childhood cohort investigation with low-income families, indicate that Child-Parent Center (CPC) participation beginning in preschool was associated with a variety of positive health behaviors. In this secondary analysis, we assessed if structural inequalities (neighborhood poverty, history of discrimination) modified the magnitude of associations between CPC and health and education outcomes (cardiovascular health, body mass index, educational attainment) 30 years later. The Chicago Longitudinal Study cohort of 1,539 children (93% Black, 7% Hispanic) grew up in high-poverty neighborhoods and attended CPCs or the usual district programs. At midlife (ages 32-37, M = 34.9 years, 2012-2017), 1,073 participants completed telephone interviews on structural inequalities, health, and education. Regression analyses were conducted with inverse propensity score weighting. After accounting for structural inequality, CPC participation was significantly associated with outcomes. Mean differences on Framingham risk scores, for example, were significant for CPC preschool at ages 3 and 4 (coefficient = -2.15, p = .004, standardized difference = -0.20). Neighborhood poverty moderated (reduced) the association between CPC and cardiovascular health. Neighborhood poverty and perceived discrimination had independent contributions with outcomes. Findings show that structural inequalities, especially poverty, directly influence and/or moderate long-term effects of CPC participation. Increasing neighborhood resources and socioeconomic status may help comprehensive programs sustain their impacts. Early childhood and sociostructural influences reflect the increasing importance of community contexts to health promotion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Scoping Review to Identify Community- and Societal-Level Strategies Evaluated from 2013 to 2023 for Their Potential Impact on Child Well-Being in the United States.

There is increased recognition for solutions that address the social determinants of health (SDOHs)-the context in which families are raising children. Unfortunately, implementing solutions that address inequities in the SDOHs has proven to be difficult. Many child and family serving systems and communities do not know where to start or do not have the capacity to identify and implement upstream SDOH strategies. As such, we conducted a scoping review to assess the status of evidence connecting strategies that address the SDOHs and child well-being. A total of 29,079 records were identified using natural language processing with 341 records meeting inclusion criteria (e.g., outcomes focused on child well-being, interventions happening at a population level, and evaluations of prevention strategies in the United States). Records were coded, and the findings are presented by the SDOH domain, such as strategies that addressed economic stability (n = 94), education access and quality (n = 17), food security (n = 106), healthcare access and quality (n = 96), neighborhood and built environment (n = 7), and social and community context (n = 12). This review provides an overview of the associations between population-level SDOH strategies and the impact-good and bad-on child well-being and may be a useful resource for communities and practitioners when considering equitable solutions that promote thriving childhoods.

Investigating associations between climate change anxiety and mental health impact on vulnerable populations: A qualitative analysis.

Climate anxiety has a negative impact on the mental health and psychological wellbeing of the vulnerable population. The goal is to assess many factors that affect mental health and psychological wellbeing, as well as how climate change affects mental health in Pakistan's vulnerable population. This study provides evidence-based insights on the long- and medium-term impacts of extreme weather events on mental health. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of 72 students aged 10-16 years, employing an exploratory qualitative design. The resulting process identified themes and questions for future research on climate change and its psychological effects on children's mental health. As a result, positive emotions embedded in children's climate strategic actions in parent and community contexts helped to mitigate children's perceptions of negative emotions (such as climate anxiety, phobias, fear, sleep disorders, depression, sadness, and substance abuse). Climate change's effects can have a significant impact on mental health. We will be discussing effective strategies to address the expected mental health issues among children caused by climate change. The discussion paper offers a set of recommendations for addressing the mental health impacts of climate change, including improving mental health support systems, integrating climate change education into services, and developing targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.

Parallel ecological and evolutionary responses to selection in a natural bacterial community

Evolution can occur over ecological timescales, suggesting a potentially important role for rapid evolution in shaping community trait distributions. However, evidence of concordant eco-evolutionary dynamics often comes from in vitro studies of highly simplified communities, and measures of ecological and evolutionary dynamics are rarely directly comparable. Here, we quantified how ecological species sorting and rapid evolution simultaneously shape community trait distributions by tracking within- and between-species changes in a key trait in a complex bacterial community. We focused on the production of siderophores; bacteria use these costly secreted metabolites to scavenge poorly soluble iron and to detoxify environments polluted with toxic nonferrous metals. We found that responses to copper-imposed selection within and between species were ultimately the same-intermediate siderophore levels were favored-and occurred over similar timescales. Despite being a social trait, this level of siderophore production was selected regardless of whether species evolved in isolation or in a community context. Our study suggests that evolutionary selection can play a pivotal role in shaping community trait distributions within natural, highly complex, bacterial communities. Furthermore, trait evolution may not always be qualitatively affected by interactions with other community members.

Social Determinants Influencing Nutrition Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health in Indigenous Populations: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Nutrition behavior is influenced by a large number of factors, including social and cultural factors. This scoping review aims to summarize how social determinants of health (SDoH) influence nutrition behaviors in Indigenous populations affected by or at risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a systematic search in six databases-PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and World Health Organization Global Index Medicus-limiting results to studies published in English up to 27 October 2023. A descriptive synthesis was conducted. We identified 1490 articles, and after screening, 31 of them met our inclusion criteria. We found that nutritional behavior is impacted by various SDoH domains, including economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, education, health and healthcare, and social and community context. The shift from traditional diets to Westernized diets and from subsistence-based food gathering to reliance on store-bought and processed foods reflects changes in SDoH, affecting both nutrition behaviors and health outcomes. Although not all included studies examined every SDoH domain in our review, future research should consider all domains to gain a comprehensive understanding of how they impact nutritional behavior. This approach will better inform interventions and policies, ultimately promoting health equity in Indigenous communities.

Resistance against aminoglycoside antibiotics via drug or target modification enables community-wide antiphage defense.

The ongoing arms race between bacteria and phages has forced bacteria to evolve a sophisticated set of antiphage defense mechanisms that constitute the bacterial immune system. In our previous study, we highlighted the antiphage properties of aminoglycoside antibiotics, which are naturally secreted by Streptomyces. Successful inhibition of phage infection was achieved by addition of pure compounds and supernatants from a natural producer strain emphasizing the potential for community-wide antiphage defense. However, given the dual functionality of these compounds, neighboring bacterial cells require resistance to the antibacterial activity of aminoglycosides to benefit from the protection they confer against phages. In this study, we tested a variety of different aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms acting via drug or target (16S rRNA) modification and demonstrated that they do not interfere with the antiphage properties of the molecules. Furthermore, we confirmed the antiphage impact of aminoglycosides in a community context by coculturing phage-susceptible, apramycin-resistant Streptomyces venezuelae with the apramycin-producing strain Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius. Given the prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance among natural bacterial isolates, this study highlights the ecological relevance of chemical defense via aminoglycosides at the community level.

Sexual Identity Development, Psychiatric Risk, and Protective Factors Among Bisexual People in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Purpose: This study aimed to uncover sexual identity development and investigate the psychiatric risks for bisexual people across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan by examining ecologically informed factors at the individual, family, and community levels. Methods: An internet-based survey was administered to 685 respondents, from June to August 2021, reached primarily through lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community organizations and professional networks. Participants reported their demographics, identity milestones, and psychiatric symptoms. Results: Significant birth cohort and regional differences were observed regarding bisexual identity milestones. Individuals who were older, transgender and/or nonbinary, and based in Taiwan disclosed their sexual identity more. All respondents reported clinically elevated depression and anxiety symptoms, with a majority experiencing moderately severe depression (60%) and moderate or severe anxiety (80%). Approximately half of respondents contemplated suicide in the past year. Compared with cisgender women, identifying as transgender and nonbinary assigned female at birth was significantly associated with increased depression and higher odds of suicidal ideation in the past year. Enhanced self-esteem was associated with greater well-being and decreased psychiatric symptoms. Experiencing family shame was associated with increased anxiety and depression. At the community level, living in Hong Kong was linked to lower depression and suicidal ideation compared to mainland China. The presence of an LGBT group correlated with improved psychological well-being. Conclusions: Chinese bisexual people face substantial risks for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, influenced by factors including self-esteem, transgender and nonbinary gender identity, family dynamics, and community context. Significant birth cohort and regional differences in bisexual identity development exist.

I See You: A Dual Testimonio of The Latina Doctoral Experience

This article is a dual testimonio of the doctoral experiences of two Latina doctoral candidates. It focuses on the context of the Hispanic community and the lack of Hispanic female representation in academia. It examines the influence of colonialism, sexism, racism, and socioeconomic disadvantages throughout their journey. These testimonios are a raw reflection of the struggle as a female, academic scholar, and human being within a boxed academic society.

“These Researchers Think They Come From Heaven with Analytical Superpowers When They Don’t”: A Qualitative Analysis of Research Experiences in Intersex-Related Studies

This article explores diverse ethical considerations related to the study of vulnerable population groups to produce meaningful project outcomes that avoid harm to the involved communities. In the specific context of the intersex community, previous analyses have encountered various challenges, including the medicalization of intersex people’s bodies, the use of pathologizing language, and misrepresentation of the population’s needs. The article explores some of the beliefs, experiences, and tools that experts in research ethics, researchers, and intersex research participants consider most important regarding research ethics in intersex-related studies. The article is based on original empirical research; semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants, recruited through email and snowball sampling methods, and the data were examined using thematic analysis. It moves from issues related to the research design (positionality, researcher preparation, framing intersex within the LGBT acronym) to experiences related to the research development (ethical approval, informed consent process, language use, relationship of trust). The article describes some of the major concerns and raises discussions that could be relevant for the development of future research under human rights-based perspectives. The findings are aimed to be useful beyond the field of intersex-related studies, as they can be relevant to research about other communities that have endured violations of their human rights during research.

Technology-rich Engineering Experiences in Indigenous and Rural Schools

Indigenous populations, constituting 6.2% of the global population, face challenges in STEM education due to systemic barriers and limited exposure to science and engineering. Our research, part of a federally funded project, aimed to address these challenges by implementing Community-Based Engineering (CBE) education in an elementary school located on a Native American Reservation in the United States. In this paper, we used CBE as our theoretical framework situating engineering within the context of students' communities and cultures. Our participants included 15 students and two Native American teachers with varying teaching experience. We employed mixed methods and combined quantitative tools such as the Engineering Identity Development Scale and the Engineering Technology subscale of the S-STEM survey, with qualitative data from teacher and student interviews. Our analysis revealed significant changes in students' perceptions of engineering for their communities and their personal engineering identities after they engaged with CBE lessons. We also found that the cultural connections to community were evident in student interviews. Furthermore, teachers appreciated CBE and emphasized that these engineering lessons enrich their rich traditions and practices. This study highlights the effectiveness of CBE and demonstrates how engineering education can be more inclusive and resonant with Indigenous students.

Nutrient competition predicts gut microbiome restructuring under drug perturbations.

Human gut commensal bacteria are routinely exposed to various stresses, including therapeutic drugs, and collateral effects are difficult to predict. To systematically interrogate community-level effects of drug perturbations, we screened stool-derived in vitro communities with 707 clinically relevant small molecules. Across ∼5,000 community-drug interaction conditions, compositional and metabolomic responses were predictably impacted by nutrient competition, with certain species exhibiting improved growth due to adverse impacts on competitors. Changes to community composition were generally reversed by reseeding with the original community, although occasionally species promotion was long-lasting, due to higher-order interactions, even when the competitor was reseeded. Despite strong selection pressures, emergence of resistance within communities was infrequent. Finally, while qualitative species responses to drug perturbations were conserved across community contexts, nutrient competition quantitatively affected their abundances, consistent with predictions of consumer-resource models. Our study reveals that quantitative understanding of the interaction landscape, particularly nutrient competition, can be used to anticipate and potentially mitigate side effects of drug treatment on the gut microbiota.

Benefits and challenges of geographic information systems (GIS) for data-driven outreach in black communities experiencing overdose disparities: results of a stakeholder focus group

BackgroundBlack individuals in the U.S. face increasing racial disparities in drug overdose related to social determinants of health, including place-based features. Mobile outreach efforts work to mitigate social determinants by servicing geographic areas with low drug treatment and overdose prevention access but are often limited by convenience-based targets. Geographic information systems (GIS) are often used to characterize and visualize the overdose crisis and could be translated to community to guide mobile outreach services. The current study examines the initial acceptability and appropriateness of GIS to facilitate data-driven outreach for reducing overdose inequities facing Black individuals.MethodsWe convened a focus group of stakeholders (N = 8) in leadership roles at organizations conducting mobile outreach in predominantly Black neighborhoods of St. Louis, MO. Organizations represented provided adult mental health and substance use treatment or harm reduction services. Participants were prompted to discuss current outreach strategies and provided feedback on preliminary GIS-derived maps displaying regional overdose epidemiology. A reflexive approach to thematic analysis was used to extract themes.ResultsFour themes were identified that contextualize the acceptability and utility of an overdose visualization tool to mobile service providers in Black communities. They were: 1) importance of considering broader community context; 2) potential for awareness, engagement, and community collaboration; 3) ensuring data relevance to the affected community; and 4) data manipulation and validity concerns.ConclusionsThere are several perceived benefits of using GIS to map overdose among mobile providers serving Black communities that are overburdened by the overdose crisis but under resourced. Perceived potential benefits included informing location-based targets for services as well as improving awareness of the overdose crisis and facilitating collaboration, advocacy, and resource allocation. However, as GIS-enabled visualization of drug overdose grows in science, public health, and community settings, stakeholders must consider concerns undermining community trust and benefits, particularly for Black communities facing historical inequities and ongoing disparities.

Variation of bacterial communities in bumblebees: Transmission and regulation by mating behavior

Bumblebees, as vital pollinators, serve as ideal models for investigating the relationship between hosts and their microbiomes. Mating behavior in bumblebees may influence microbial diversity, either through sexual transmission or immunity activation. Therefore, the study of mating-induced changes in microbiomes is crucial for understanding its biological and evolutionary significance. In this study, we examined microbiomes in a community context within both the gut and reproductive organs of bumblebees, using 16S rRNA sequences. Analysis of alpha and beta diversities revealed that the bacterial microbiome in the gut exhibits lower diversity than reproductive organs, with mating exerting a significant impact on the composition of microbiota in both gut and reproductive organs. By assessing Bray–Curtis dissimilarity at the amplicon sequence variant level, we observed a reduction in the divergence of bacterial communities between queen and drone reproductive organs following mating, a phenomenon not observed in the gut. This convergence is attributed to horizontal transmission and physiological responses post-mating. Notably, one bacterial genus in the gut and 13 genera in the seminal vesicle exhibited potential for horizontal transmission. Furthermore, the core bacterium Lactobacillus is suppressed in both gut and reproductive organs post-mating, while Weissella is increased in spermathecae. Our results reveal horizontal microbiome transfer between queen and drone bumblebees.

The Israelite Community Council of Sidon 1914–1948: Between the Yishuv and Grand Liban

Abstract The history of the Jews of Lebanon is often overlooked—they are considered victims of the Arab–Israeli conflict, or within the context of the wider Levantine Jewish community. Sidon, a port city of biblical origins, is a distinct case study through which to examine the interplay between Zionism and Lebanese nationalism because of Sidon’s historical background, geographic proximity to Palestine, and subordinate position to the Beiruti Jewish community. I show how the Israelite Community Council operated within a contested national-ethnic sphere, where it effectively straddled the Zionism promoted by members of the Yishuv and the emerging Lebanese nationalism of the newly established Grand Liban. Initially seeing itself as part of the Land of Israel/Eretz Israel, the Jewish community of Sidon asserted itself within the multiconfessional Lebanese state. Sitting at the crossroads of competing ethnonational currents, Sidon’s Jewish community leaders espoused a fluid, local-territorial-based identity, one that was at ease both with Jewish and Lebanese nationalism. We expand our understanding of this now dispersed community through an examination of the evolution of national borders, intercommunal relationships, and engagement with the Yishuv.

Structural Equality and Support Index in Early Childhood Education

Whether early childhood education is associated with a wide range of adult outcomes above and beyond individual- and family-level outcomes is unknown. As a consequence of improving educational and career success, it is postulated that participation in high quality, comprehensive programs can promote residence in more supportive community contexts in adulthood. To investigate whether participation in high-quality early childhood programs (ECP) in high-poverty neighborhoods is associated with neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDH) at midlife. This cohort study analyzed data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study, a prospective cohort investigation following-up 989 children aged 3 to 4 years attending the Child-Parent Center (CPC) preschool program between 1983 and 1985 and a comparison group of 550 children using a nonrandomized trial design. Participants from the original sample who completed a telephone interview on health and well-being between ages 32 and 37 years were included in this analysis. Data analysis was conducted from April to June 2024. Participation in a CPC program, which includes preschool (ages 3 to 4 years) and school-age (kindergarten through third grade), vs usual early education programs. The study used a new SDH measure (Index of Structural Equality and Support [I-SES]) based on the Healthy People 2030 framework. This 9-item index score included neighborhood-level assessment, measurement of the quality of education and health services, and assessment of racial discrimination in social and community contexts. Years of education by age 34 years was assessed as the key mediator of influence. A total of 1124 individuals (mean [SD] age at survey completion, 34.9 [1.4] years; 614 women [54.6%]; 1054 non-Hispanic Black [93.8%]; 69 Hispanic [6.2%]; 1 non-Hispanic White [<0.1%]) were included in the study, of whom 740 were in the CPC cohort and 384 were in the comparison cohort. After adjustment for baseline attributes and attrition, compared with no CPC preschool, CPC preschool was associated with significantly higher mean (SD) I-SES scores (5.93 vs 5.53; mean difference, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16-0.65; standardized mean difference = 0.22). Compared with CPC participation for 0 to 3 years, CPC participation for 4 to 6 years showed a similar pattern of positive associations (adjusted mean I-SES score, 5.97 vs 5.69; mean difference, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.06-0.50; P = .01; SMD = 0.15). CPC participation had a larger-magnitude association with I-SES in married vs single-parent households. Years of education partially mediated the association of CPC with I-SES (up to 41%), especially among those growing up in the highest-poverty neighborhoods. This cohort study found that early childhood programming is associated with SDH in adulthood. These findings reinforce the importance of early childhood education in addressing health disparities and contributing to healthier, more equitable communities and suggest that educational attainment is a key mechanism for health promotion.

Social Risk and Clinical Outcomes Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

No clear process exists for categorizing social risks in a way that informs effective social risk screening and intervention development. To investigate social risk profiles and associations of those profiles with clinical outcomes in adults with diabetes using latent profile analysis. For this cross-sectional study, a latent profile analysis was conducted using data for adults with type 2 diabetes collected at 2 primary care clinics in the Southeastern US from 2013 to 2014. Data were analyzed from November to December 2023. Participants completed validated questionnaires for 26 social risk factors within 5 domains of social determinants of health: socioeconomic, neighborhood, education, food, and social and community context. In addition, participants completed questions that assessed psychological risk and behavioral risk. A 3-step latent profile analysis was used to identify different subgroups within the sample. Profiles were then regressed on outcomes of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure, and quality of life. A total of 615 participants (mean [SD] age, 61.3 [10.9] years; 379 men [61.6%]) were included. Five latent class profiles were identified. The lowest risk group had significantly higher mental health-related quality of life compared with a group with higher neighborhood risk (β, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.55). The second group had low economic risk but high neighborhood risk and served as the reference group. The third group had high economic and neighborhood risk and had significantly higher blood pressure (β, 8.08; 95% CI, 2.16 to 14.01) compared with the reference. The fourth group had high psychological and behavioral risks but low socioeconomic and neighborhood risks. This group had significantly higher HbA1c (β, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.92) and lower mental health-related quality of life (β, -1.83; 95% CI, -2.41 to -1.24) compared with the reference. The highest risk group indicated high risk in all domains, had significantly higher HbA1c (β, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.63), and had lower mental health-related quality of life (β, -2.15; 95% CI, -2.87 to -1.42) compared with the reference. These findings suggest that social risk profiles can be identified according to social, psychological, and behavioral risk domains and the health outcome of concern among adults with diabetes. Future work should consider the use of social risk profiles in intervention development and testing.

Factors Influencing the Use of Tobacco Among Youth in Low-Income, Lower-Middle-Income, and Upper-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

The use of tobacco is a significant global public health issue. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use is a considerable risk factor for many diseases and causes more than 8 million deaths per year, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to identify the factors influencing tobacco use among youth in low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries. Study Design: A system review. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023430552). Several data sources were utilized, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ProQuest, and cross-sectional data from participants aged 15‒24 underwent investigation. Original full-text articles have been published between 2015 and 2023. Out of the 2892 studies, 20 were included in this review after two reviewers confirmed the eligibility criteria. The average age of the participants was (mean±standard deviation: 19.45±1.686). Most studies were conducted in lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries. Frequently reported influences were at the individual and social levels, including demographic, economic, and psychological parameters, attitude and knowledge, individual behavioral factors, parental education, family member tobacco use, stressful life events, and social networks. At the environmental level, factors included secondhand smoke exposure, community context, media channels, and access to tobacco. The findings demonstrated a significant association between youth tobacco use and individual-, social-, and environmental-level factors. Consequently, specific interventions targeting these factors should be deployed to mitigate youth tobacco use in various socioeconomic settings.

Decision-Making for Collective Organizing in Community Contexts

Decision-Making for Collective Organizing in Community Contexts