Kent County Research Articles

Pediobius Rotundatus (Fonscolombe, 1832) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) New to Britain with First Reports of Native Parasitoids Reared from Plagiotrochus Quercusilicis (Fabricius, 1798) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in England

Pediobius rotundatus (Fonscolombe) (Eulophidae) is reported for the first time from Britain, reared from sexual generation galls of Plagiotrochus quercusilicis (Fabricius) (Cynipidae) on Quercus ilex L ., collected in the counties of Suffolk and Kent, England. Additional first British host records of three species of Pteromalidae and one of Torymidae, from galls of P. quercusilicis, are also presented.

Influenza vaccination uptake during COVID-19 pandemic: A trusted messenger approach

Objective: Seasonal influenza is a preventable disease that may cause high morbidity and mortality. In the USA, the 2020 influenza season overlapped with the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is a dearth of research on understanding influenza vaccination uptake and attitudes towards the vaccine among marginalised communities in the USA. The aim of this study was to examine general knowledge, misconceptions about, and barriers to influenza vaccination and determine if flu education delivered via trusted messengers improved knowledge among Asian Americans. Design: Quantitative prospective pre- and post-test design. Setting: Asian American communities in Metro Detroit area, Hamtramck, and Kent County in Michigan. Method: The study started with a training event in which 26 community leaders were trained to become trusted messengers to disseminate flu education. A total of 260 Asian American participants subsequently completed pre- and post-education surveys. Results: Asian Americans in the study reported low flu vaccination rate (48.5%). Reasons varied but included access-related issues (e.g. no access and no insurance) and health literacy (did not know they needed it). After education by trusted messengers, the paired t tests measuring improvement between pre- and post-survey scores showed a significant improvement ( p < .05) for all of the knowledge items. Conclusion: Educational campaigns using targeted messages to address specific barriers and acknowledge individuals’ concerns regarding misconceptions while providing equitable vaccine access can be key for the successful implementation of vaccination programmes.

Racial/Ethnic and Geo-clustering Differentials in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Cumulative Incidence, Mortality and Temporal Trend in Delaware State, USA

Purpose: COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 indicates subpopulation differentials in cumulative incidence (CmI) and mortality. We aimed to assess the racial/ethnic and geo-clustering in COVID-19 CmI and mortality in Delaware. Method: A cross-sectional ecologic design was used to assess COVID-19 mortality in April, May and November 2020. The binomial and poison regression models were utilized for race/ethnic and geo-clustering risk prediction, respectively. Results: As per late April, CmI remains to be flattened in DE, with the confirmed SARS-CoV-2, n=4575 (47.5 per 10,000), Sussex county (SC), n=2,114 (111.4 per 10,000), Kent county, n=728 (41.8 per 10,000) and New Castle county, n=1,701 (28.7 per 10,000). CmI was highest for Non-Hispanic blacks (NHB), 27% (n=1250) but lowest among Asian/Pacific Islanders, n=61 (1%). The disproportionate burden of COVID-19 CmI was highest among Hispanics, 100.2 per 10,000. COVID-19 cases were more prevalent among NHB (30%) and Hispanics (19%). Mortality was higher among NHB, 1.70 per 10,000 compared to Non-Hispanic whites (NHW), 1.34 per 10,000. COVID-19 mortality differed by race, with NHB relative to NHW 27% more likely to die, risk ratio (RR)=1.27, 95%CI, 0.85-1.89. Geo-clustering indicated a significant 50% increased mortality risk in SC compared to DE, incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.50, 95%CI, 1.11-2.03.During November, the case fatality rate (CFR) in DE was 27 per 10,000, while in the US, the CFR was 25 per 10,000. Conclusions: The Delaware COVID-19 CmI indicates disproportionate burden on NHB and Hispanics; case clustering disproportionate burden in SC; and the risk of dying was highest among NHB.

Divergence and Curl of COVID19 Spreading in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan

This paper explores the COVID19 transmission pattern and circulation dynamics in the Euclidean space at the lower peninsula of Michigan by using the divergence and curl concept in vector field. The COVID19 transmission volume flux can be calculated for each county by using vector divergence. The results shows Wayne county had the highest divergence (162660), the Kent county had the second highest divergence (152540), and the Saginaw county had the third highest divergence (103240), the divergence is positive which means the COVID19 virus was transmitted from these counties to other places. The results also shows Monroe county had the lowest divergence (-187843), the Allegan county had the second lowest number in divergence (-90824), the divergence is negative which means the COVID19 virus was transmitted from other places to these counties. The circulation of the virus is also calculated by using vector curl. The positive curl means that the virus has circulated in a counter-clockwise direction, and the negative curl means the virus has circulated in a clockwise direction.
 
 The divergence is an operator of the COVID19 transmission vector field, which produces a scalar field giving the quantity of the transmission vector field’s source at each location. The COVID19 spreading volume density of the outward flux of transmission field is represented by divergence around a given location. 
 
 The curl is an operator of the COVID19 transmission field, which describes the circulation of a transmission vector field. The curl at a location in COVID19 transmission field is represented by a vector whose length and direction denote the magnitude and axis of the maximum circulation. The curl of a transmission field is formally defined as the circulation density at each location of COVID19 transmission field.

First records of Ixodes brunneus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Delaware

Eight adult specimens of Ixodes brunneus (Acari: Ixodidae) were collected in Delaware via a combination of methods. The first was an engorged female recovered from a deceased Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), a window strike victim, in Kent County. The other seven were four males and three females, all apparently unfed, collected by flagging and dragging vegetation in Kent, New Castle, and Sussex Counties during routine tick surveillance. These collections represent a new host record as well as new state and county records, and indicate a statewide presence of this species.

Bridging the gap: Using biological data from teeth to comment on social identity of archeological populations from early Anglo-Saxon, England

Human teeth are storytellers, in that, through analysis of their size and shape osteoarchaeologists are able to ‘talk’ to the dead and translate biological data into social meaning. This concept has been explored in parts of the world through investigations of biological similarity and kinship, but few have focused in depth on early medieval populations who emphasized the importance of family and kinship. This paper presents the results from four early Anglo-Saxon cemeteries which highlight the utility of dental metrics in identifying biological similarity within the skeletal assemblages. 5988 mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements were recorded from the identifiable permanent dentition of adult individuals from early Anglo-Saxon cemeteries in the UK counties of Cambridgeshire and Kent. Results from statistical hierarchical cluster analysis of dental metric data revealed that it was possible to identify individuals within the cemetery sites that were more similar to one another according to their dental metrics. This similarity was not attributed statistically to biological sex or shared familial environment, as similarity between individuals could be found between males and females and few significant differences were found across the sites sampled. It was found that tooth metrics provided a meaningful biological dataset from which current theories regarding the identity of Anglo-Saxon individuals and families could be refined and improved. These types of data are useful as building blocks which help to bridge the gap between social constructs and human skeletal remains in order to substantiate interpretations about past populations in more significant ways. This work supports the need for multidisciplinary approaches to bioarchaeological investigations of past people while highlighting the utility of human dentition to enhance such areas of study.

Sustain Renewable Energy – Lessons for Bangladesh from an Interprofessional Study Conducted in West Michigan, USA

Objective: Between 1999–2018, the Global Climate Risk Index placed Bangladesh in the top 10 countries most affected from extreme weather events associated with climate change. Implementation of alternative energy may minimize climate change in vulnerable countries. Our objectives were to characterize public knowledge and perceptions of costs and benefits of renewable energy in west Michigan, USA, and recommend areas in which policy discussions on renewable energy should focus. Method: Via email and postal service, we distributed a survey to 1,000 randomly-selected university employees, and 1,000 residents of primarily Ottawa and Kent counties in west Michigan (Grand Valley State University Institutional Review Board #20-118-H). Result: A total of 313 respondents completed the survey, including 170 university employees and 122 county residents. Results suggest that 12.5% of people older than age 60, and people with no college degree use alternative energy sources more than other age classes or those with higher education. Females (p = 0.0636) and people who have lived in their homes for 10–15 years (p = 0.0802) perceived renewable energy as less costly than other sources. Although females perceived less knowledge than males (p = 0.0001), there were no differences in perceived knowledge level among respondents of various ages, education levels, careers, salary, or whether they owned a home. Respondents aged 40–49 and 60–69 also perceived lower pollution from renewable energy than other age groups (p = 0.0393 and p = 0.0779, respectively). Conclusion: With a broader, more diverse population in future work, we anticipate more variability in responses, but similar trends. The prospect of implementing renewal energy is positive and suggests that policy makers should supply incentives, promote education, and invest resources for effective implementation. The Bangladesh government can support studies to understand peoples’ perception of alternative energy sources and explore socially suitable interventions to address climate change.

Abstracts

Abstracts

CCBHC Thrive launches MAT with CODAC in Rhode Island

Last week, Thrive Behavioral Health and CODAC Behavioral Healthcare announced they would work together to provide medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder adjacent to Kent Hospital in Rhode Island. A certified community behavioral health Clinic (CCBHC), Thrive provides a comprehensive range of services that increase access, stabilize individuals in crisis and treat children, adults and families facing serious, complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders. “When Thrive applied for the CCBHC grant, we were charged with identifying gaps in services and creating solutions to those gaps that would break down treatment barriers,” stated Dawn Allen, CCBHC project director. “We determined that there was a need for medication‐assisted treatment in Kent County. Together with CODAC, we are connecting our community members to high‐quality treatment, decreasing their risk of experiencing a fatal overdose, expediting their transitions into long‐term recovery and providing support for them to live healthy, fulfilling lives.” CODAC's President and CEO Linda Hurley stated, “We are proud to partner with Thrive Behavioral Health on this important initiative. Together, we are moving forward in treating individuals struggling with addiction as patients, just like those facing diabetes or cancer, and offering them the most comprehensive, evidence‐based therapeutic approaches available.” Founded in 1971, CODAC has provided MAT services in Rhode Island for more than 40 years, and is the state's longest‐running not‐for‐profit outpatient opioid use disorder treatment provider. CODAC will administer the MAT services, and additional clinical support will come from Thrive's adult outpatient program, which offers wraparound services including individual, group and family counseling; psychiatric medication evaluation and management; case management services;, and an Intensive Outpatient Program for substance use and co‐occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

An interview with Paul Jerome from Kent County Council on easy read

An interview with Paul Jerome from Kent County Council on easy read

Risky business? Analysing the challenges and opportunities of Brexit on English local government

ABSTRACT Brexit is proving epochal in its impacts on Britain. Work exploring Brexit’s impact upon the structure, responsibilities and future plans of English local government is critical for anumber of reasons, from the sheer preponderance of legislation fundamentally altered in the context of the European Union Withdrawal Act of 2018, to changes in regional funding streams and alteration to the governance of local authorities. Based on the original research undertaken between 2015 and 2018 in South East England and the county of Kent, this article contributes to the body of research exploring Brexit’s impact on local government. To do so, it draws on acombination of stakeholder interviews, in-house analysis, regional Brexit impact assessment reports, evidence given in 2017 to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, and the Committee’s final report of April2019.

Anagrus avalae Soyka, 1956, a new synonym of A. bakkendorfi Soyka, 1946 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

Soyka (1946) described the European fairyfly species Anagrus bakkendorfi Soyka (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from a single female collected on the same day, 7.x.1931, together with several non-type specimens incorrectly labeled as paratypes (Chiappini Triapitsyn 1999), on a window at its type locality, the former St. Ignatius Jesuit College in Valkenburg, Limburg, the Netherlands. Soyka (1956) did not mention type specimens of any of his species of Anagrus Haliday. He described Anagrus avalae Soyka (Soyka 1956) based apparently on a specimen collected on Mt. Avala, Belgrade, Serbia, former Yugoslavia, along with several other nominal species (some also from Valkenburg) that were later synonymized with A. avalae and A. bakkendorfi by Chiappini (1989) and Chiappini Triapitsyn (1999). The only, minor, morphological difference between the two nominal species is the length of the ovipositor in females relative to the length of the protibia, being at least 2.6× in A. bakkendorfi and at most 2.3× in A. avalae (Triapitsyn 2015). Specimens identifiable as both species were captured by the second author in 2000 by a Malaise trap in Iratibizkar, Irati Forest (Selva de Irati), Navarra, Spain. Chiappini Triapitsyn (1999) discussed both nominal species but despite recognizing their apparent conspecificity, no formal synonymy was proposed. Triapitsyn Berezovskiy (2004) and Triapitsyn (2015) also did not propose synonymy because at that time genetic evidence for conspecificity was lacking. However, Triapitsyn et al. (2019) obtained DNA and sequenced selected mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal gene regions (COI and ITS2) from a specimen unambiguously identified by the first author as A. avalae that was collected in Sevenoaks, Kent County, England, United Kingdom. Because of this we decided to collect fresh specimens identifiable as A. bakkendorfi for molecular analysis and genetic comparison with those identifiable as A. avalae. Based on the previous record (Triapitsyn 2015), several females of A. bakkendorfi were successfully captured by the second author on 4.ix.2020 in Irati Forest, preserved in ethanol, and shipped to the first and third authors for morphological and molecular identification, respectively.

Small Tech, Big Impact: Twenty-First Century Educational Collaborations to Preserve and Share Rural Museum Collections

ABSTRACT Thoughtful and intentional collaborations among small, community-curated museums, colleges, and schools have the potential to create transformative learning opportunities for all partners while also improving access to, and preservation of, museum collections. In this article, we describe the Digital Scholarship in Museum Partnerships (DSMP) project, a project designed to establish authentic, technology-enhanced educational experiences that forge synergistic relationships between college students, area museums and public school educators. We focus on the first of a series of collaborations between DSMP and the rural, volunteer-led museums in Kent County, Maryland. Through intentional collaboration, and on a next-to-nothing budget, project members digitized more than 4,000 objects, collected oral histories, created two middle-school unit plans, and built a virtual reality (VR) tour with more than 70 interactive buttons. Here, we describe the collaborative and planning processes, as well as the strengths and challenges of collaborations of this kind, in order to provide a road map for other museums and educators interested in doing similar work.

Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum):: An Emerging Threat in Delaware.

Public health messaging in the eastern United States has historically underemphasized the risks posed by lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), focusing instead on blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). This gap persists despite mounting evidence that lone star ticks also play an important role in disease ecology as confirmed vectors for a wide variety of tick-borne pathogens. These pathogens include several distinct bacterial agents that cause ehrlichiosis and tularensis in humans and dogs, a protozoal agent that causes cytauxzoonosis in cats, and emerging viruses such as Heartland, Bourbon, and Tacaribe. Lone star ticks are additionally linked to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, southern tick-associated rash illness, and alpha-gal syndrome, a condition marked by immune reactions to ingestion of mammalian meat. Moreover, their distribution in North America is expanding due to changing climatic factors and land use patterns. Lone star ticks are the most commonly encountered tick in Delaware, especially in Sussex and Kent Counties, and make up the vast majority of ticks collected in the first two years of the state’s tick surveillance program. Given the magnitude of lone star ticks’ medical and veterinary import, it is vital for healthcare professionals and health educators to devote more attention to this emerging threat.

A web-based geographic interface system to support decision making for municipal solid waste management in England

To evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of the waste management solutions, it is necessary to assess the quantity and the flows of the waste generated. This research developed a web application which serves as a decision support system for those involved in the planning and management of municipal solid waste. In contrast to present web-based solutions, this tool provides the necessary information regarding the supply chain that is required to assess the suitability of waste valorisation in a particular location such as waste types, waste quantities and related waste contractors. Using publicly available data, a web geographic information system was designed where factors that affect the supply chain of municipal solid waste can be investigated. These include spatial and temporal variation of waste generated. The concept was demonstrated in the developed web application using publicly available data about England. Waste market opportunities were identified, for example Kent County Council and Essex County Council were identified to have the highest quantity of incinerated waste with and without energy recovery (344 and 65 kiloton) respectively. Then Staffordshire and Lancashire County Councils were identified to have the highest quantity of hazardous and non-hazardous waste being landfilled (5 and 296 kiloton) respectively. Seasonal variation was inconsistent across counties, with East Northamptonshire having little seasonal variation in household waste (<500 tonne variation) as opposed to East Riding of Yorkshire which had higher waste volumes in summer with up to 15,000 tonne variation). Circular economy partners were also identified through the web application and these results are presented in context of waste-derived supply chain decisions. The web application is therefore able to provide a comprehensive tool for improving both strategic and logistical decision-making process for municipal solid waste management.

Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) Detected in New Castle and Kent Counties, Delaware

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian Longhorned Tick [ALT]) was first recognized in the US, outside of customs, in New Jersey in 2017, and now has been documented in 2 Delaware counties. In Asia, where this species is native, and other parts of the world, the ALT is a known or suspected vector of various pathogens to humans, wildlife, and livestock. The ALT's role as a pest of medical and veterinary concern highlights its potential to become an economic burden in the US. The detection of ALT in the eastern US has prompted an initiative to identify and monitor its establishment and spread. Delaware is now the twelfth US state where ALT has been documented. The continued monitoring of this species is of great importance to the agricultural and public health communities.

Surveillance for Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in the State of Delaware, and Their Public Health Implications.

Amblyomma maculatum Koch is the primary vector of Rickettsia parkeri, the etiologic agent of tidewater spotted fever, and can also carry and transmit a variety of other pathogens. This tick historically has been a costly nuisance to livestock owners in the southeastern United States. Over the past 6 yr, A. maculatum has been collected in numbers sufficient to demonstrate their establishment in Kent County, Delaware, and the presence of R. parkeri has been documented. Our goals were to determine the geographic distribution of A. maculatum and R. parkeri in Delaware, and to equate this to relative risk to the public of encountering R. parkeri-infected ticks. We surveyed for ticks in four locations throughout the state from May to August 2019, and found established A. maculatum populations in all three counties. Laboratory analysis of collected specimens by quantitative polymerase chain reaction detected R. parkeri in A. maculatum populations across the state. These results indicate that A. maculatum could present a health risk to inhabitants of the state, and they also historically have posed a risk to the livestock industry, making them an important consideration in the development and implementation of continued tick surveillance efforts and future policies regarding tick management.

This Land: The Story of Two Hundred Acres in Kent County, Ontario by Kae Elgie

This Land: The Story of Two Hundred Acres in Kent County, Ontario by Kae Elgie. Un article de la revue Ontario History (Special Issue: Ontario’s Environmental History) diffusée par la plateforme Érudit.

Breeding and diet of White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus) in the Texas panhandle

White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus) are grassland raptors that typically breed along coastal regions, particularly in California, southeastern Texas, and southern Florida. This species is irregular in the Texas panhandle, with few confirmed breeding and sighting records. We describe the first breeding record in Lubbock County, Texas, in which a pair of adults successfully raised 2 young in 2017 and may have returned and nested in 2018. Evaluation of cast pellets suggested dietary composition primarily consisted of diurnal rodents. Additionally, we compiled published and unpublished sighting and breeding records for the region and discovered reports for 2 nearby counties (Crosby and Kent counties, Texas) where White-tailed Kites have nested over multiple years, as well as several more counties with sighting records. Our data indicate that the southern extent of the Texas panhandle is now part of the species' breeding or “rare” range.

Nothing about us, without us: An inclusive preparedness programme for the whole community from inception to sustainment

Nearly one fifth of the US population has a disability that impacts their communicative, mental or physical function. There are often not enough opportunities for people with disabilities to receive basic emergency preparedness training to help them be more resilient in times of crisis as preparedness education typically targets the general population. The Kent County Health Department, in collaboration with local disability advocates and preparedness educators, developed an inclusive preparedness programme to provide basic preparedness training for the whole community. This paper describes the evolution of the programme along with lessons learned by the participants and instructors.