Northern Virginia Research Articles

Survival of white‐tailed deer fawns on Marine Corps Base Quantico

AbstractSome jurisdictions in the eastern United States have reduced harvest of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) because of perceived declines in recruitment and population size over the last decade. Although the restoration of American black bears (Ursus americanus) and the colonization of coyotes (Canis latrans) have increased fawn predation in some areas, limited information exists on how temporally dynamic resources and weather influence fawn survival. Therefore, we evaluated fawn survival probability, cause specific mortality, and if factors such as oak (Quercus spp.) mast abundance, winter severity, precipitation, and landscape composition influenced mortality risk on Marine Corps Base Quantico in northern Virginia, USA, from 2008 to 2019. We tracked 248 fawns outfitted with very high frequency radio‐collars and predation was the leading cause of mortality (n = 42; 45%). We estimated survival to 133 days and survival pooling all years (2008–2019) was 0.50 (95% CI = 0.42–0.60). Increased annual red oak (Quercus spp.) mast abundance from the previous fall reduced mortality hazard for fawns. The longevity of our study revealed a link between fawn survival and a specific maternal resource (red oak mast) only available during gestation. Our results highlight the importance of oak mast in eastern deciduous forests and, more broadly, overwinter maternal condition on white‐tailed deer recruitment.

Exploratory Evaluation of Incentives to Increase High-Occupancy Vehicle Use on Priced Highway Facilities

This paper introduces an innovative way to incentivize increased person throughput on priced highway facilities such as toll roads, express toll lanes, and high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, using cash rewards for carpoolers and transit riders. An exploratory evaluation of the concept is demonstrated for the I-66 HOT facility inside the Capital Beltway in Northern Virginia. The results of the analysis suggest that the concept could provide significant benefits at a relatively low cost to public agencies for cash incentives.

Assessing Carbon Storage Potential of Forested Wetland Soils in Two Physiographic Provinces of Northern Virginia, USA

This study assessed the soil carbon storage potential in terms of the total carbon (TC) and total carbon stocks (TC stocks) and associated soil physicochemical properties (i.e., soil pH, bulk density (Db), and gravimetric soil moisture (GSM)) for four forested wetlands in the urbanized region of Northern Virginia (NOVA). The study sites were balanced between the two physiographic provinces of the region (Piedmont vs. Coastal Plain); at each site, soils were sampled and analyzed (n = 180) at three depth intervals (0–10 cm; 10–20 cm; 20–30 cm). There was no significant difference in TC stocks between physiographic provinces (p > 0.05); however, wetland soils had higher TC contents at the Coastal Plain (4.32 ± 0.41%) than in Piedmont (2.57 ± 0.22%; p < 0.05). Both Db and GSM significantly differed by physiographic province and were highly correlated to TC, indicating that the TC variability is strongly explained by Db (R2 = 0.38) or GSM (R2 = 0.39), respectively (p < 0.01 for all). These outcomes highlight the capacity of urban forested wetlands to store carbon, especially in their topsoil (top 10 cm). Elucidating the carbon storage potentials of forested wetlands in an urbanized landscape may assist with future efforts to combat urban carbon emissions.

Acroneuria kirchneri Stark amp; Kondratieff, 2004 is a synonym of Acroneuria kosztarabi Kondratieff amp; Kirchner, 1993 (Plecoptera: Perlidae).

Acroneuria Pictet, 1841 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) is a genus of stoneflies which presently includes 18 summer emerging Nearctic species. Diagnosis of species relies primarily on male aedeagal setal patterns, details of the ovum chorion, and larval dorsal maculations. Several species are morphologically cryptic in one or more life stages. In 2010, an apparently rare species, A. kosztarabi Kondratieff Kirchner, 1993, was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. A status survey conducted in 20162017 produced new specimen collections from near the type locality and surrounding areas. Examination of new material and the holotype of A. kirchneri Stark Kondratieff, 2004 demonstrates that it is a junior subjective synonym of A. kosztarabi. All life stages of A. kosztarabi are redescribed using color photographs and scanning electron microscope photomicrographs. Supporting data include maximum likelihood and pairwise genetic distance analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I fragment data. Acroneuria kosztarabi, previously known only from the type locality, is now reported from six states in the southeastern United States ranging from central North Carolina to western Tennessee and north to northern Virginia and northern Ohio.

Review: Enemies among Us: The Relocation, Internment, and Repatriation of German, Italian, and Japanese Americans during the Second World War, by John E. Schmitz

Review: Enemies among Us: The Relocation, Internment, and Repatriation of German, Italian, and Japanese Americans during the Second World War, by John E. Schmitz

Characterization of redoximorphic features of forested wetland soils by simple hydro-physicochemical attributes in Northern Virginia, USA

Characterization of redoximorphic features of forested wetland soils by simple hydro-physicochemical attributes in Northern Virginia, USA

Balut: Fertilized Eggs and the Making of Culinary Capital in the Filipino Diaspora

Chances are if you've heard about balut and are not Filipino, it was in the context of bizarreness, exoticism, and cultural superiority. In the Philippines, balut (a not-hatched duck that is boiled and eaten from the shell) is both street food and delicacy, a commonly consumed snack with a flavor profile that is now replicated in everyday potato chips. Yet in recent years, particularly in the United States, its popular significance has evolved, first as an item to be feared and gawked at by non-Filipinos, and later as a bulwark of diasporic cultural identity for Filipinos abroad. Margaret Magat's Balut: Fertilized Eggs and the Making of Culinary Capital in the Filipino Diaspora tells this story. On a macro scale, Magat uses balut to trace an example of identity during migration “to tell the story of how globalization and migration interact in a consumption of a street food and create new expressive culture from the old” (p. 165). On an individual level, she elevates consumers of balut as empowered cultural creators who “broker, create, and articulate dynamic and complex identities which are influenced by the forces of globalization, diaspora, and mass media” (p. 165).Magat develops her argument over five chapters. Chapter 1 covers the historical context of balut in the Philippines and its production in the United States. It describes how balut developed from its cultural roots in Laguna Province to its growing consumption in the United States, thanks to a network of American duck farmers, Filipino American restaurateurs, and other immigrant consumers. Chapter 2 considers balut's emergence as an empowering symbol of transnational Filipino identity, showing how Filipino American restaurateurs have worked to remove sensationalized stigmas of the aforementioned “bizarre” and “exotic.” Chapter 3 deepens the cultural and social significance of balut by connecting it to Filipino folklore about creation and the dead, particularly balut's association with fertility. The final two chapters then turn to the spectacle of balut consumption. Chapter 4 examines balut in physical public space, showing how the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest-ization of balut eating is now a staple of Filipino American fiestas and cultural celebrations. Chapter 5 surveys balut in social media, examining how YouTube videos of people eating balut amplify the questions of exoticization, consumable identity, and reclaiming pride in Filipino culture.Magat's research is both novel and impressive. Numerous food studies pieces have discussed the international influences on Filipino cuisine in the past as a selection of ingredients and procedures driven by economics, migration, and race. But Magat provides a compelling case that these forces remain at play in an ironic postcolonial way. For her, the once-colonized now reclaim the meaning of balut from the once-colonizer. She demonstrates how balut, a rare street food that the American media has dismissed, contains worlds of history and meaning not just for Filipinos but for the entire region of Southeast Asia. Furthermore, Magat makes a clear case of thoughtful advocacy by celebrating how Filipino Americans have reclaimed the narrative around balut from reality television exploiters and social media hacks.Magat does posit questions that provide avenues for deeper analysis. A broader study of balut in the Filipino American community would move beyond Magat's focus on the San Francisco Bay Area Filipino American community to other traditional Filipino American communities (such as Woodside in Queens and Cerritos in Los Angeles), as well as newer fast-growing communities (Atlanta, Houston, and Northern Virginia, for example). A deeper analysis of balut in popular culture would have looked at empowering examples of Filipino food journalism, such as the work of journalist Bettina Makalintal or food-writing essays from progressive Philippine media outlets such as Rappler. The book's conclusion could have hypothesized upon balut's role in the dynamic Filipino American community by asking, do folk beliefs about balut travel fully intact during the Filipino diaspora, or do they adapt for Filipino Americans who did not grow up eating balut on the street?As the first close study of balut's cultural significance for Filipinos abroad, Balut is a much-needed scholarly contribution demonstrating the racialization of food. Magat demonstrates how food studies uncovers much larger forces of race, class, and gender by showing how balut has developed different connotations largely based on race and ethnicity.

482. SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence in Feces of Very Young Children, A Longitudinal Study

BackgroundUnderstanding the disease burden of SARS- CoV-2 in young children has been challenging as the majority are asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms and were rarely tested. SARS-CoV-2 is traditionally detected through respiratory secretions but has also been reported in feces where shedding may continue for weeks after respiratory samples show resolution. We examined the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in already collected fecal samples from young children through the pandemic as well as associated demographic factors.MethodsAs part of an ongoing longitudinal microbiome study in Northern Virginia, serial stools samples were collected from infants before and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Reverse transcription quantitative-PCR detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid gene in the N1 and N2 regions was performed. Penalized logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the association between fecal positivity and potential risk factors. ResultsThe overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in infant feces was 1.69 % (13 samples) with a prevalence at delivery, 2, 6, 12 and 24 months of 0, 0, 2.56, 1.96, and 0.85 % respectively. Fecal positivity was first detected 31 days before the reported first case of Covid-19 in Northern Virginia; prevalence rates peaked in September at 4.5% (Figure 1). Only one infant who tested positive was symptomatic with COVID-19 21 days before his stool was collected. Of the 13 positive samples, 8 reported Hispanic ethnicity and 7 reported an essential worker (Table 1). Penalized logistic regression model showed association between Hispanic ethnicity and testing positive (OR 5.04 (95% CI 1.7 – 15.0)) that remained after controlling for the presences of an essential worker (OR 4.7 (95% CI 1.6 – 14.0)). ConclusionPrevalence of SARS- CoV-2 in infant stool correlated with the prevalence of COVID-19 during the pandemic, with higher rates in those of Hispanic ethnicity corelating with regional trends. Fecal positivity in asymptomatic infants even before quarantine restrictions supports the early but silent transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This study likely underestimates true prevalence rates as stool samples were stored without viral preservative. There are many socioeconomic factors that predispose to disease while ethnicity may be a mediating or confounding factorDisclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

478. Contemporaneous Evaluation of Kawasaki Disease and Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in Northern Virginia

BackgroundMulti-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) can present like Kawasaki disease (KD). After Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance was issued in May 2020, we implemented local management strategies emphasizing limited laboratory work up of non-toxic children with suspected MIS-C or KD. We then re-evaluated our management recommendations to ensure appropriate resource utilization for children with MIS-C and KD. MethodsWe identified MIS-C and KD cases via convenience sampling of Pediatric Infectious Diseases records at Inova Fairfax Medical Center from May 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021. Manual chart review extracted clinical points of interest and descriptive statistics compared cohorts. Oral changes included edema, erythema, cracking, or strawberry tongue. Abdominal symptoms included pain, emesis, and diarrhea. Respiratory symptoms included shortness of breath, tachypnea, cough, and need for mechanical ventilation. Musculoskeletal symptoms included pain and edema. Neurological symptoms included headache, dizziness, altered mental status, and irritability. ResultsWe identified 8 KD cases and 29 concurrent MIS-C cases. MIS-C cases tended to be older and have presenting abdominal symptoms (median age 8 years old versus 2 years old, p < 0.01) and hypotension (20 versus 0, p < 0.01), otherwise there was no difference in the frequency of oral changes, rash, conjunctivitis, musculoskeletal symptoms, or neurological symptoms. 7 KD cases and 8 MIS-C cases did not require intensive care. Patients with MIS-C who did not need intensive care still had a lower initial absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) (median 1275/µL, p < 0.01), lower initial platelet count (median 217/µL, p = 0.05), and higher initial C-reactive protein (CRP) (median 18.3 mg/dL, p = 0.06) compared to KD cases; other results were not different between the two cohorts. ConclusionWe observed differences in the initial ALC, platelet count, and CRP between KD and MIS-C cases not requiring intensive care, whereas other labs such as ferritin, troponin, B-natriuretic peptide, and initial echocardiograms did not significantly differ between the two cohorts. Thus, our diagnostic management recommending limited laboratory evaluation for non-toxic patients with suspected KD or MIS-C is reasonable. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Evaluating the joint effects of climate and land use change on runoff and pollutant loading in a rapidly developing watershed

Communities are coping with changes in runoff quantity and quality, stemming mainly from changes in climate and land use/land cover (LULC); there is a need to identify the most adaptable strategies that improve community resilience. However, the joint impacts of climate and LULC change have rarely been assessed at local scales. To address these needs, we assessed the response of runoff and pollutant loads from Broad Run, a rapidly developing watershed in northern Virginia, to projected climate and LULC change. Climate data from two downscaled Global Climate Models (GCMs) were used to force an urban watershed model, the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), while forecasts of LULC change were derived from the Chesapeake Bay Land Change Model (CBLCM). Two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), 4.5 and 8.5, a historic baseline (1995–2020), and projected periods (2040–2065); and four LULC change scenarios designated agricultural conservation (AC), forest conservation (FC), growth management (GM), and historical trend (HT) were used to create a series of ensemble simulations of coupled LULC and climate change. Results indicated that, under RCP 8.5, annual precipitation is projected to increase substantially more than RCP 4.5. Projected LULC change resulted in a projected increase in imperviousness from 6.3% to 13.1%. Results indicated that climate change will likely increase the seasonal variability of runoff, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) for both RCPs. The largest increase for a single LULC change (without climate change) scenario for runoff, TSS, TN, and TP was 32.6%, 33.4%, 31.6%, and 35.8%, respectively. which occurred with the HT scenario. Results of LULC change also indicated that more pollutant loads were associated with increased imperviousness from increased urban development and loss of deciduous forests and grasslands. The largest increase for climate and LULC change scenarios in runoff, TSS, TN, and TP was 67.6%, 66.7%, 63.4%, and 69.4%, respectively, which occurred with the RCP 8.5 and HT scenarios. Similar, but smaller increases were obtained for other scenarios, suggesting that climate and LULC change may be synergistic, likely undermining watershed restoration efforts. The results of our study also indicate that runoff, TSS, TN, and TP are expected to be more affected by changes in future LULC than by projected changes in climate. Our study can be used to inform watershed restoration efforts, urban planning, and environmental policy. The combined impact of climate and LULC change will likely generate increased runoff, and nutrients and sediment loading, indicating that robust mitigation strategies are needed for watershed restoration to succeed.

A cross-sectional investigation of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and associated risk factors in children and adolescents in the United States.

Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 data remain limited and seropositivity rates in children were reported as <1% early in the pandemic. Seroepidemiologic evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in children in a major metropolitan region of the US was performed. Children and adolescents ≤19 years were enrolled in a cross-sectional, observational study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence from July-October 2020 in Northern Virginia, US. Demographic, health, and COVID-19 exposure information was collected, and blood analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein total antibody. Risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity were analyzed. Orthogonal antibody testing was performed, and samples were evaluated for responses to different antigens. In 1038 children, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 total antibody positivity rate was 8.5%. After multivariate logistic regression, significant risk factors included Hispanic ethnicity, public or absent insurance, a history of COVID-19 symptoms, exposure to person with COVID-19, a household member positive for SARS-CoV-2 and multi-family or apartment dwelling without a private entrance. 66% of seropositive children had no symptoms of COVID-19. Secondary analysis included orthogonal antibody testing with assays for 1) a receptor binding domain specific antigen and 2) a nucleocapsid specific antigen had concordance rates of 80.5% and 79.3% respectively. A much higher burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as determined by seropositivity, was found in children than previously reported; this was also higher compared to adults in the same region at a similar time. Contrary to prior reports, we determined children shoulder a significant burden of COVID-19 infection. The role of children's disease transmission must be considered in COVID-19 mitigation strategies including vaccination.

Evaluation of Provider Implementation of the 2019 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Aspirin for Primary Prevention Guideline Recommendations for Older People.

Design Retrospective chart review study using electronic medical record data from Inova Health System patients. Setting All cardiology, endocrinology, and primary care outpatient clinics operated by Inova Medical Group (IMG) in Northern Virginia. Participants Participants included were 70 years of age or older and taking aspirin 81 mg as of April 1, 2019. They had completed at least one visit with an IMG provider in primary care, cardiology, or endocrinology clinics between April 1, 2019, and February 17, 2020. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome of this study was percentage of older people seen by a primary care physician, cardiologist, or endocrinologist since guideline publication who were continued on aspirin for primary prevention. Results The percentage of participants continued on aspirin for primary prevention was 92% versus 8.0% who were discontinued (P < 0.0001). Differences in subgroup analyses based on smoking history, diagnosis of diabetes, or history of venous thromboembolism were not statistically significant. Conclusion There was a significantly greater rate of aspirin continuation versus discontinuation among patients 70 years of age and older in the setting of primary cardiovascular prevention. Based on this result, most primary care physicians, endocrinologists, and cardiologists at this institution have chosen to continue aspirin in older people following the 2019 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline statement publication.

Community gardening seen as supporting MH recovery

Gardening activities continue to be seen as paramount to reducing stress, improving mood and even promoting better nutrition. Research published last year in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reported that gardening activities have been widely studied as methods of restoration from stress and negative mood, or as therapeutic interventions for people suffering from mental health–related difficulties. So it's no surprise that a Northern Virginia nonprofit is helping its residents with mental illness reap the benefits of its community gardening program.

Quantifying the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Passenger Vehicle Drivers' Willingness to Pay for Travel Time Savings and Reliability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally disrupted travel behavior and consumer preferences. To slow the spread of the virus, public health officials and state and local governments issued stay-at-home orders and, among other actions, closed nonessential businesses and educational facilities. The resulting recessionary effects have been particularly acute for U.S. toll roads, with an observed year-over-year decline in traffic and revenue of 50% to 90% in April and May 2020. These disruptions have also led to changes in the types of trip that travelers make and their frequency, their choice of travel mode, and their willingness to pay tolls for travel time savings and travel time reliability. This paper describes the results of travel behavior research conducted on behalf of the Virginia Department of Transportation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the National Capital Region of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The research included a stated preference survey to estimate travelers' willingness to pay for travel time savings and travel time reliability, to support forecasts of traffic and revenue for existing and proposed toll corridors. The survey collected data between December 2019 and June 2020. A comparison of the data collected before and during the pandemic shows widespread changes in travel behavior and a reduction in willingness to pay for travel time savings and travel time reliability across all traveler types, particularly for drivers making trips to or from work. These findings have significant implications for the return of travelers to toll corridors in the region and future forecasts of traffic and revenue.

Predicting forested wetland soil carbon using quantitative color sensor measurements in the region of northern Virginia, USA

Forested wetland soils within the Piedmont and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces of Northern Virginia (NOVA) were investigated to determine the utility of a handheld colorimeter, the Nix Pro Color Sensor (“Nix”), for predicting carbon contents (TC) and stocks (TC stocks) from on-site color measurements. Both the color variables recorded with each Nix scan (“Nix color variables”; n = 15) and carbon contents significantly differed between sites, with redder soils (higher a and h) at Piedmont sites, and higher TC at sites with darker soils (lower values of L, or lightness; p < 0.05). Nix–carbon correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between L (lightness), X (a virtual spectral variable), R (additive red), and KK (black) and log-transformed TC (Ln[TC]; |r| = 0.70; p < 0.01 for all). Simple linear regressions were conducted to identify how well these four final Nix variables could predict soil carbon. Using all color measurements, about 50% of Ln(TC) variability could be explained by L, X, R, or KK (p < 0.01), yet with higher predictive power obtained for Coastal Plain soils (0.55 < R2 < 0.65; p < 0.01). Regression model strength was maximized between Ln(TC) and the four final Nix variables using simple linear regressions when color measurements observed at a specific depth were first averaged (0.66 < R2 < 0.70; p < 0.01). While further study is warranted to investigate Nix applicability within various soil settings, these results demonstrate potential for the Nix and its soil color measurements to assist with rapid field-based assessments of soil carbon in forested wetlands.

What’s next for real-time COVID-19-era marketing?

COVID-19 took a heavy toll in the world of higher education and higher education marketing. This paper outlines how Northern Virginia Community College and VisionPoint Marketing tackled the issue of declining summer 2020 enrollment head-on as the pandemic hit the United States and turned the problem on its head in the span of just three weeks. The campaign’s remarkable success serves as a guidepost on what to do in times of crisis in the world of higher education.

New Virginia partnership aims to increase MH service access

PRS, a behavioral health nonprofit serving Northern Virginia, announced Aug. 19 a partnership with Access Hope to increase access to mental health services, including to those who are uninsured or otherwise would not qualify for needed services. As part of the long‐term partnership, Access Hope has awarded a $210,000 grant to help PRS respond to the rise in mental health issues, with additional emphasis on diverse communities, a news release stated. The grant from Access Hope, a nonprofit working to eliminate barriers to mental health services in the D.C. metro region for underserved populations by building local partnerships, will enable PRS to add staff capacity and ensure more access to these existing PRS programs.

Daniel H. Mintz (1930–2020): An Extraordinary Physician-Scientist and a Pioneer in Islet Transplantation

Daniel H. Mintz Fig. 1 was born in Far Rockaway, New York, in 1930 to European Jewish parents, Jacob and Fanny, and grew up on Long Island, New York, where his parents immigrated in the early 1900s. In his youth he excelled both in sports (basketball) and academically; he was accepted as a premed student at St. Bonaventure College, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree cum laude. He entered New York Medical College, which had no quotas for Jewish students (unlike many other schools at that time), and completed his medical training in 1956. (Fig. 2) While serving his internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, he met his future wife, Dawn, a hospital nurse. In 1961, Dan entered residency at Georgetown University School of Medicine and joined the faculty, initiating his research career under the mentorship of Dr. Larry Kyle, Chairman of Medicine, studying parathyroid and bone disorders (1). Daniel Mintz in 2006. Daniel Mintz as a young student, and with his parents and sister at his medical graduation ceremony, New York Medical College, 1956. Dan’s first love was clinical medicine, so it is no surprise that he was appointed Chief of Medicine at the then District of Columbia General Hospital in 1964. He once recounted the story that kept him in academic medicine after planning to start a private practice in Leesburg, Northern Virginia. Dr. Kyle called him into his office and told him in no uncertain terms that he was making a mistake and should remain in academia. As Dan recalled years later, “In those days you did what your boss told you to do!” This career-changing decision was a testament to Dan’s primary reason for entering medicine—to be a healer of the sick. His capacity for responding to people in need strongly influenced his …

Seropositivity of COVID-19 among asymptomatic healthcare workers: A multi-site prospective cohort study from Northern Virginia, United States

BackgroundBecause of their direct patient contact, healthcare workers (HCW) face an unprecedented risk of exposure to COVID-19. The aim of this study was to examine incidence of COVID-19 disease among asymptomatic HCW and community participants in Northern Virginia during 6 months of follow-up. MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study that enrolled healthy HCW and residents who never had a symptomatic COVID-19 infection prior to enrolment from the community in Northern Virginia from April to November 2020. All participants were invited to enrol in study, and they were followed at 2-, and 6-months intervals. Participants were evaluated by commercial chemiluminescence SARS-CoV-2 serology assays as part of regional health system and public health surveillance program to monitor the spread of COVID-19 disease. FindingsOf a total of 1,819 asymptomatic HCW enrolled, 1,473 (96%) had data at two-months interval, and 1,323 (73%) participants had data at 6-months interval. At baseline, 21 (1.15%) were found to have prior COVID-19 exposure. At two-months interval, COVID-19 rate was 2.8% and at six months follow-up, the overall incidence rate increased to 4.8%, but was as high as 7.9% among those who belong to the youngest age group (20–29 years). Seroconversion rates in HCW were comparable to the seropositive rates in the Northern Virginia community. The overall incidence of COVID-19 in the community was 4.5%, but the estimate was higher among Hispanic ethnicity (incidence rate = 15.3%) potentially reflecting different socio-economic factors among the community participants and the HCW group. Using cross-sectional logistic regression and spatio-temporal mixed effects models, significant factors that influence the transmission rate among HCW include age, race/ethnicity, resident ZIP-code, and household exposure, but not direct patient contact. InterpretationIn Northern Virginia, the seropositive rate of COVID-19 disease among HCW was comparable to that in the community.

The nature of MS-13 in the American context: a transnational comparison

ABSTRACT By focusing on the case of Northern Virginia (NOVA) and comparing it to the countries of the Central American Northern Triangle, this article argues that, in contrast to the dominant narrative, MS-13 in NOVA is a fragmented criminal organisation without much capacity to engage in sophisticated, transnational criminal activities. This piece “brings the State back in” to show that strong State capacity, grounded in a combination of coercive and infrastructural powers, allows us to understand the weakness of MS-13 in NOVA. These findings are supported by interviews with experts, members of law enforcement, and public officials.