Wayne Counties Research Articles

Tracking Chlamydia and Syphilis in the Detroit Metro Area by Molecular Analysis of Environmental Samples.

This paper describes one of the first studies applying wastewater surveillance to monitor Chlamydia and Syphilis and back-estimate infections in the community, based on bacterial shedding and wastewater surveillance data. Molecular biology laboratory methods were optimized, and a workflow was designed to implement wastewater surveillance tracking Chlamydia and Syphilis in the Detroit metro area (DMA), one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S. Untreated composite wastewater samples were collected weekly from the three main interceptors that service DMA, which collect wastewater and discharge it to the Great Lakes Water Authority Water Resource Recovery Facility. Additionally, untreated wastewater was also collected from street manholes in three neighborhood sewersheds in Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties. Centrifugation, DNA extraction, and ddPCR methods were optimized and performed, targeting Chlamydia trachomatis and Treponema pallidum, the causative agents of Chlamydia and Syphilis, respectively. The limit of blank and limit of detection methods were determined experimentally for both targets. Both targets were detected and monitored in wastewater between December 25th, 2023, and April 22nd, 2024. The magnitudes of C. trachomatis and T. pallidum concentrations observed in neighborhood sewersheds were higher as compared to the concentrations observed in the interceptors. Infections of Chlamydia and Syphilis were back-estimated through an optimized formula based on shedding dynamics and wastewater surveillance data, which indicated potentially underreported conditions relative to publicly available clinical data.

Occurrence and Distribution of Meloidogyne spp. in Fields Rotated with Sweetpotato and Host Range of a North Carolina Population of Meloidogyne enterolobii.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) are some of the most economically important and common plant parasitic nematodes in North Carolina (NC) cropping systems. Soil samples collected from fields planted with crops rotated with sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) in 39 NC counties in 2015 to 2018 were processed at the NC Nematode Assay Laboratory. The occurrence of second-stage juvenile (J2) RKN populations was examined based on collection year, month, county, and previous planted crop. The highest number of RKN-positive samples originated from Cumberland (53%), Sampson (48%), and Johnston (48%) counties. The highest average RKN population density was detected in Sampson (147 J2/500 cm3 of soil) and Nash (135 J2/500 cm3 of soil) counties, while Wayne (7 J2/500 cm3 of soil) and Greene (11 J2/500 cm3 of soil) counties had the lowest average RKN population density. Meloidogyne enterolobii is a new invasive species that is impacting sweetpotato growers of NC. The host status of an NC population of M. enterolobii, the guava RKN, was determined by examining eggs per gram of fresh root (ER) and the final nematode egg population divided by the initial population egg count (reproductive factor, RF) in greenhouse experiments. This included 18 vegetable, field, and cover crops and weed species. The tomato 'Rutgers' was used as a susceptible control. Cabbage 'Stonehead', pepper 'Red Bull', and watermelon 'Charleston Gray' and 'Fascination' were hosts and had similar mean ER values to the positive control, ranging from 64 to 18,717. Among field crops, cotton, soybean 'P5018RX', and tobacco were hosts with ER values that ranged from 185 to 706. Members of the Poaceae family such as sweet corn (Zea mays) and sudangrass (Sorghum × drummondii) were nonhosts to M. enterolobii, and the mean ER values ranged from 1.85 to 7. The peanut 'Tifguard' and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) also had lower ER values than the vegetable hosts. Growers should consider planting less susceptible hosts or nonhosts such as peanut, sudangrass, sweet corn, and winter wheat in 2- to 3-year crop rotations to lower populations of this invasive nematode.

Assessing wild turkey productivity before and after a 14-day delay in the start date of the spring hunting season in Tennessee.

Ten state wildlife management agencies in the United States, including six within the Southeast, have delayed their spring wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hunting seasons since 2017 by five or more days to address concerns related to the potential effects of hunting on wild turkey seasonal productivity. One hypothesis posits that if the spring hunting season is too early, there may be insufficient time for males to breed hens before being harvested, thus leading to reduced seasonal productivity. We conducted an experiment to determine whether delaying the wild turkey hunting season by 2 weeks in south-middle Tennessee would affect various reproductive rates. In 2021 and 2022, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission experimentally delayed the spring hunting season to open 14 days later than the traditional date (the Saturday closest to 1 April) in Giles, Lawrence, and Wayne counties. We monitored reproductive rates from 2017 to 2022 in these three counties as well as two adjacent counties, Bedford and Maury, that were not delayed. We used a Before-After-Control-Impact design to analyze the proportion of hens nesting, clutch size, hatchability, nest success, poult survival and hen survival with linear mixed-effect models and AIC model selection to detect relationships between the 14-day delay and reproductive parameters. We detected no relationship (p > .05) between the 14-day delay and any individual reproductive parameter. In addition, recruitment (hen poults per hen that survived until the next breeding season) was very low (<0.5) and did not increase because of the 14-day delay. The traditional Tennessee start date had been in place since 1986 while the turkey harvest increased markedly until about 2006 and more recently stabilized. Our data indicate that moving the start of the hunting season from a period just prior to peak nest initiation to 2 weeks later, to coincide with a period just prior to peak nest incubation initiation, resulted in no change to productivity or populations in wild turkey flocks in south-middle Tennessee.

Abstract PR019: Evaluating the role of ambient air pollution in racial disparities of colorectal cancer incidence and survival in metropolitan Detroit

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Moreover, Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) individuals have the highest rates of CRC incidence and mortality in the United States. We have become increasingly aware of the potential impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on colorectal physiology and carcinogenesis. Other than individual and neighborhood level socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood quality can also affect an individual’s risk of exposure to harmful environmental contaminants including ambient air pollution. Moreover, as NHB individuals are more likely to live in areas of lower area-level SES they experience these effects even further. We sought to understand whether higher exposure rates to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) played a role in racial differences in CRC incidence and survival in metropolitan Detroit. To do this, we obtained data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool through the Georgetown University Environmental Impact Data Collective (EIDC) and patient data from the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS) registry. Incidence rates were calculated using population data from the American Community Survey. Associations between PM2.5 exposure and CRC incidence were estimated using Poisson modeling. Data were obtained for NHB (n=3778) and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) (n=9727) individuals diagnosed with invasive CRC between 2010 and 2019 in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, including their geocoded census tract at diagnosis as well as demographic and clinical features. Vital status was reported as months from the date of diagnosis to either death or last contact. PM2.5 metrics were converted to the national percentile of PM2.5 in the air utilizing the Bayesian space-time downscaling fusion model for derived estimates of air quality at the census tract level. Survival was assessed using Cox Proportional Hazards modeling. We found that an increase in the PM2.5 percentile increased the risk for CRC overall for NHB and NHW patients (Relative Risk [RR] = 1.80, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.55 - 2.08, p-value &amp;lt;0.0001). This association was even stronger among NHB patients (RR = 7.94, 95% CI = 5.45 - 11.52, p-value &amp;lt; 0.0001), but was not statistically significant among NHW patients (RR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.95 – 1.32, p-value = 0.16). PM2.5 exposure was not associated with survival overall or stratified by race. We conclude that ambient air pollution, particularly PM2.5, increases the risk of CRC cancer and disproportionately affects NHB patients but may not play a role in mortality risk. These results highlight the importance of environmental justice research in biomedical research and the need for a better understanding of the etiology of CRC within and among differing genetic ancestries and races by evaluating the genetic and epigenetic differences in patient tumor samples. Citation Format: Natalie G. Snider, Theresa Hastert, Ed Peters, Elena M. Stoffel, Laura Rozek, Ann Schwartz, Kristen Purrington. Evaluating the role of ambient air pollution in racial disparities of colorectal cancer incidence and survival in metropolitan Detroit [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR019.

COVID-19 Virus and Vaccination Attitudes among Healthcare Workers in Michigan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Defining the characteristics of healthcare worker (HCW) attitudes toward the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can provide insights into vaccine hesitancy. This study's goal is to determine HCWs' attitudes regarding the COVID-19 vaccination and reasons for vaccine hesitancy. This cross-sectional study surveyed HCWs working in institutions in Saginaw, Sanilac, and Wayne counties in Michigan (N = 120) using tipping-scale questions. Analysis of variance and t-test were used to measure HCWs' attitudes toward the COVID-19 virus and vaccines. Most HCWs received (95.9%) and recommended (98.3%) a COVID-19 vaccine. The top three factors that HCWs cited for recommending a COVID-19 vaccine were: (1) efficacy of the vaccine, (2) current exposure to patients with active COVID-19 infection and risk of virus spread, and (3) safety of vaccine and long-term follow-up. Female HCWs or HCWs aged 25-54 years were more concerned about contracting COVID-19. Physicians or HCWs aged 55-64 were less concerned regarding the effectiveness and side effects of the vaccine. Gender, age, ethnicity, provider type, and medical specialty showed statistically significant differences among COVID-19 attitudes. Focusing educational efforts on HCW demographics who are more likely to have negative attitudes can potentially decrease vaccine hesitancy.

Crinoids from the Wooster Shale Member of the Cuyahoga Formation, Carboniferous (Mississippian, Tournaisian) of northeastern Ohio

AbstractNine crinoids are described from the Wooster Shale Member of the Cuyahoga Formation from Wayne and Ashland counties, Ohio, USA. Identifiable elements of the fauna include five camerate crinoids, one flexible crinoid, and three other eucladid crinoids. Five new species are described, includingCactocrinus woosterensisn. sp.,Cusacrinus brushin. sp.,Agaricocrinus murphyin. sp.,Decadocrinus laevisn. sp., andDecadocrinus inordinatusn. sp. Overall, the distribution of crinoid clades in the Wooster Shale is similar to that of the stratigraphically lower Meadville Shale Member of the Cuyahoga Formation, although less diverse and with only one species (Cyathocrinites simplex) in common. Many of the Wooster Shale Member crinoids are completely or partially preserved with siderite either in nodules or within siderite beds. These crinoids are commonly preserved in trauma postures, which is characteristic of burial in episodic high turbulence events. The paleoenvironments and taxa of the two Cuyahoga Formation crinoid faunas more closely resemble Viséan faunas in siliciclastic settings than typical carbonate faunas of the Tournaisian.UUID:http://zoobank.org/2d2678e1-2367-4429-bea0-a64cd020e98c

159 Bearing a higher burden: Black and Latinx community perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: During earlier periods of the pandemic, Black and Latinx populations in Michigan have suffered higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and deaths when compared to Whites. We conducted this study to understand how Black and Latinx residents perceived this disproportionate burden. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In 2021, 40 semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually in English or Spanish with Black (n=24) and Latinx (n=16) residents in Michigan areas highly impacted by COVID-19: Genesee, Kent, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. Using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, we partnered with leaders from 15 community-based organizations and health and human service agencies to develop research questions, an interview protocol, and to interpret the data. We used the data analysis software Dedoose (ver 4.12) for inductive coding (IRR=0.81). This study is a part of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 initiative. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Participants described the significant impact of the pandemic in terms of physical and mental health, job security, and the sheer number of deaths among loved ones. They attributed the impact to comorbidities and social determinants of health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, including income, housing, access to healthcare, as well as systemic racism. They noted being overrepresented among frontline workers with higher exposure to COVID-19, limited or misinformation about the virus, language barriers, and difficulty with social distancing. Cultural norms that promote being in close proximity, such as intergenerational households, and loss of trusted community leaders were also noted. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Findings reflect the needs of Black and Latinx community members in Michigan and the discussions they feel are important to highlight. We must work strategically with partners and the community to provide transparency and effective leadership, and prioritize addressing systemic disparities in SDoH.

Sampling Depth and Crop Growth Stage affect Estimates of the Population Density of Lesion Nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) in Corn Fields in Ohio.

The effects of sampling depth and crop growth stage on the population density of lesion nematodes were investigated in three commercial fields in Wayne and Fulton counties, Ohio during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Soil samples were collected at five growth stages by removing 15 soil cores to a depth of 70 cm from each of 25 plots per field-year. Cores were divided into seven 10-cm sections from each of which nematodes were extracted from the soil and root fractions. Pratylenchus crenatus and P. thornei were detected in approximately 84 and 78% of the samples collected in Wayne and Fulton counties, respectively. Depth significantly affected total population density of both species as well as densities in the soil and root factions in all field-years, but the effects of growth stage and its interaction with depth varied with field-year. In most cases, mean population densities were higher from 10 to 40 cm soil depth than at the reference 40-50 cm depth, and lower from 50 to 70 cm. There were quadratic relationships between population density (on the log link scale) and depth, with the highest peaks in estimated predicted densities generally occurring between 20 and 40 cm, depending on crop growth stage and growing conditions. These findings suggest that the standard practice of sampling between growth stages V3 and V6 to a depth of 45 to 50 cm and using the entire core for extraction and enumeration could lead to underestimation of population densities of P. crenatus and P. thornei.

410. Characteristics of Patients with Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Producing Enterobacterales, Tennessee, 2019-2020

Abstract Background Currently, data on the incidence of Enterobacterales bacteria that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) within community settings is lacking. We set out to describe patient characteristics for healthcare-associated (HA) and community-associated (CA) ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in Tennessee. Methods ESBL cases were defined as isolation of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Klebsiella oxytoca, resistant to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, or ceftazidime, non-resistant to all tested carbapenems, from a normally sterile body site, or urine, within Maury, Lewis, Marshall, or Wayne Counties, with a specimen collection date from July 1st, 2019, to the end of 2020. Patient data was collected by reviewing patients’ medical records. HA cases were defined as those with previous healthcare exposures, of any kind, in the year preceding specimen collection. All analysis was performed using SAS 9.4. Results 566 cases were included in this study. Demographically, 459 (81.1%) cases identified as white with an equal number (81.1%) of patients being female. The average age was 66.2 years. 560 (98.94%) specimens were collected from urine, 468 (85.1%) patients had a urinary tract infection (UTI), and 174 (37.2%) of those patients had a record of recurrent UTIs. 243 (49.6%) cases were identified as CA. 138 (24.4%) cases were identified as being hospitalized within 29 days of their specimen collection and 247 (50.4%) cases were determined to be HA. 142 (25.1%) patients were treated with antibiotic in the month before specimen collection. Cephalosporins (31.7%), fluroquinolones (29.6%), doxycycline (7.7%), and sulfonamides (7.7%) were the most common antibiotics used to treat the patients. Among patients prescribed these antibiotics (N=109), 19 (17.4%) patients had specimens resistant. Figure 1:Characteristics of patients with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Enterobacterales isolated from 2019-2020Figure 2:Characteristics of patients with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Enterobacterales isolated from 2019-2020, continued Conclusion Most cases were described in white women with UTIs, often recurrent, coming from private residences. With approximately 50% of cases described as CA, targeted intervention outside of healthcare facilities is necessary to reduce spread of ESBL infections. As 17.4% of cases were treated with antibiotics that the organism was resistant, there is an opportunity to improve judicial use of antibiotics based on susceptibility data. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

839. Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) Producing Enterobacteriaceae in the South East Tennessee, October-December 2017

BackgroundThe increasing spread of drug resistant gram-negative organisms is one of the major public health challenges. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae has become the most common multi drug resistant pathogen in the last three decades. These organisms confer resistance to most beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, third generation cephalosporins, monobactams and tazobactam.MethodsThe Tennessee Health Department (TDH) collaborated with CDC to pilot population based surveillance of ESBL producing organisms in Maury, Wayne, Lewis and Marshall Counties during October to December 2017. A case was defined as isolation of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Klebsiella oxytoca resistant to at least one extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ceftazidime, cefotaxime or ceftriaxone) and non-resistant to all carbapenem antibiotics from urine or normally sterile body sites from a resident of the surveillance catchment area. A line list of ESBL-producing organisms was received from the labs that serve the catchment population. Case report forms were completed for the first ESBL culture collected from a single patient in a 30 day-period.ResultsA total of 154 cases were identified during the study period. E.coli constitutes 92.2% of the ESBL producing organisms followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (5.2%) and K. oxytoca (2.6%). The estimated annual incidence rate was 400.7 per 100,000 population which is more than twice of the average rates of other sites that conducted similar studies. The most common isolate source was urine (97%), and 81.2% of all cases were female. Patient ages ranged from 3-99 years, with average of 67 years. Thirty-two isolates underwent additional sequence typing and 76.7% (23) of the isolates were ST 131. 21 (91.3%) of ST-131 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin.ConclusionThe study revealed that the incidence of ESBL producing organisms is very high in the Tennessee study area compared to other sites. The most common ESBL-producing pathogen was found to be ST 131 and most of these were resistant to ciprofloxacin suggesting that resistance to fluoroquinolone may be co-transmitted in ESBL producing pathogens through plasmids. Continued surveillance of molecular epidemiology is important to guide the prevention of the spread of drug resistant pathogens.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

“Deaths of Despair”: A case study of health and political outcomes in two rural Pennsylvanian counties since 2016

Cet article cherche à détailler la crise des « morts de désespoir », notamment l’épidémie d’opioïdes, et ses conséquences politiques dans les comtés ruraux de Pike et Wayne, Pennsylvanie, qui font partie de la Rust Belt et du nord des Appalaches. Au prisme des témoignages des résidents de Pike et Wayne recueillis pendant 40 entretiens semi-guidés effectués entre l’élection présidentielle de 2016 et l’été 2019, cet article montre les réussites et les insuffisances des actions gouvernementales à différents niveaux (local, de la Pennsylvanie, et fédéral). Cet article conclut que des comtés ruraux, comme Pike et Wayne, doivent répondre directement aux problèmes de la communauté locale, tels que la stigmatisation et le manque de transports publics, compte tenu de la réponse fédérale insuffisante aux éléments socio-économiques de l’épidémie.

Leading in an Amish Paradise: humanistic leadership in the Old Order Amish

PurposeThe authors examined the traditional leadership practiced by the Old Order Amish located in the Holmes and Wayne counties of America. Despite popular stereotypes, this community is remarkably innovative and resilient. Amish leadership aligns with the central tenets of humanistic leadership and provides a rich illustration of how such a leadership paradigm can foster a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable community. Unlike current leadership models that focus on instrumental values like wealth, profit and growth, Amish leadership is concerned with faith, community and living a simple life with purpose and dignity.Design/methodology/approachThe primary data required for this paper were collected by the lead author during a six-month ethnographic study on several Amish communities located in Ohio. The authors also consulted a large set of archival data, including think tank reports, census data, biographies, magazine features and academic publications, which helped in placing the primary data in perspective and reminding of the particularities of the contexts from which the primary data were collected. For the data analysis, the authors used a thematic analysis approach to allow the salient themes of Amish humanistic leadership emerge from the data.FindingsA total offour themes emerged from this study: (1) leadership as local identity and practice; (2) leaders without benefits, chosen by the lot; (3) leaders present matters, followers discuss and decide; (4) community welfare as the yardstick for evaluation. These themes highlighted some of the key aspects of humanistic leadership eclipsed in the mainstream theories of management and leadership. They showed how the Amish respond to the encroachment of technology, which holds critical clues for how humanistic leaders can place the needs of their people before the demands of their shareholders. By examining Amish leadership in detail, this study demonstrated the potential of humanistic leadership for creating a strong and sustainable community while also contributing to the empirical foundation of humanistic management.Originality/valueGiven the closed nature of the Amish, only few academic studies exist, which examined their leadership style. Furthermore, the traditional and conservative nature of the Amish community has prevented critics from investigating their leadership as a model for revitalizing other communities.

Distribution of Meloidogyne enterolobii in Eastern North Carolina and Comparison of Four Isolates

The guava root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne enterolobii, is a particularly aggressive pathogen with limited known distribution in the United States. In 2011, M. enterolobii was identified on field crops in North Carolina for the first time. In collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nematode Assay Laboratory, RKN-positive samples from the eastern half of North Carolina submitted to the laboratory were analyzed for Meloidogyne species identification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of individual nematodes. PCR primers specific for Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, M. arenaria, M. hapla, and M. enterolobii were used to analyze DNA from 203 RKN-positive samples representing a variety of field and vegetable crops grown in counties in the eastern half of North Carolina. M. incognita was the predominant species identified (32% of samples), and M. enterolobii was identified in 6% of samples including ones from sweetpotato, tobacco, and soybean crops. New detections of M. enterolobii were found in Nash, Greene, Sampson, and Harnett counties in addition to the previously identified locations in Johnston, Wayne, Columbus, and Wilson counties. Four isolates of M. enterolobii populations were collected from soybean and sweetpotato crops in Johnston, Greene, and Wilson counties and reared on ‘Rutgers’ tomato plants in the greenhouse. Potential differences in virulence among the four M. enterolobii populations were not detected in greenhouse infection assays on six selected resistant and susceptible sweetpotato genotypes in two independent tests.

Population Structure of Pythium ultimum from Greenhouse Floral Crops in Michigan.

Pythium ultimum causes seedling damping-off and root and crown rot in greenhouse ornamental plants. To understand the population dynamics and assess population structure of P. ultimum in Michigan floriculture crops, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were developed using the previously published P. ultimum predicted transcriptome. A total of 166 isolates sampled from 2011 to 2013 from five, one, and three greenhouses in Kalamazoo, Kent, and Wayne Counties, respectively, were analyzed using six polymorphic and fluorescently labeled SSR markers. The average unbiased Simpson's index (λu, 0.95), evenness (E5, 0.56), and recovery of 12 major clones out of the 65 multilocus genotypes obtained, suggests that P. ultimum is not a recent introduction into Michigan greenhouses. Analyses revealed a clonal population, with limited differentiation among seasons, hosts, and counties sampled. Results also indicated the presence of common genotypes among years, suggesting that sanitation measures should be enhanced to eradicate resident P. ultimum populations. Finally, the presence of common genotypes among counties suggests that there is an exchange of infected plant material among greenhouse facilities, or that there is a common source of inoculum coming to the region. Continued monitoring of pathogen populations will enhance our understanding of population dynamics of P. ultimum in Michigan and facilitate improvement of control strategies.

The "Martian" flora: new collections of vascular plants, lichens, fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

The Mars Desert Research Station is a Mars analog research site located in the desert outside of Hanksville, Utah, U.S.A. Here we present a preliminary checklist of the vascular plant and lichen flora for the station, based on collections made primarily during a two-week simulated Mars mission in November, 2014. Additionally, we present notes on the endolithic chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and the identification of a fungal genus also based on these collections. Altogether, we recorded 38 vascular plant species from 14 families, 13 lichen species from seven families, six algae taxa including both chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and one fungal genus from the station and surrounding area. We discuss this floristic diversity in the context of the ecology of the nearby San Rafael Swell and the desert areas of Wayne and Emery counties in southeastern Utah.

Characterization of Pythium Species Associated With Greenhouse Floriculture Crops in Michigan.

Michigan ranks third in the United States for the wholesale value of floriculture products, with an estimated value of $375.7 million. Seedling damping-off and root and crown rot are commonly caused by Pythium spp. and are important problems for greenhouse growers. Pythium spp. associated with Michigan's floriculture crops were characterized as a means to improve current management strategies. During 2011 and 2012, potted poinsettias with root rot symptoms were sampled from nine greenhouses located in Kent, Kalamazoo, and Wayne counties. In 2013, from the same three counties, symptomatic geranium and snapdragon bedding plants were sampled from 12 greenhouses. Additionally, symptomatic hibiscus and lantana plants were sampled at one greenhouse facility. Isolates were confirmed to be Pythium spp. via morphology and sequencing of the ITS region. A total of 287 Pythium spp. isolates were obtained from poinsettias and 726 isolates from geranium, snapdragon, hibiscus, and lantana. Seven Pythium spp., and a group of isolates determined as Pythium sp. 1 were identified. The most prevalent species were P. irregulare, P. ultimum, and P. aphanidermatum. A subset of isolates was chosen for pathogenicity and mefenoxam sensitivity testing. Six of the species were virulent to germinating geranium seeds. Most P. ultimum and P. cylindrosporum isolates tested were intermediate to highly resistant to mefenoxam, whereas most P. aphanidermatum isolates were sensitive. This study suggests that Pythium spp. recovered from Michigan greenhouses may vary depending on the host, and that mefenoxam may not be effective to control P. ultimum or P. cylindrosporum.

Abstract B43: Disparities in mortality and five-year survival by race and socioeconomic status in white and African American women diagnosed with breast cancer in metropolitan Detroit

Abstract Background: Racial and, to a lesser extent, socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality have been well documented; however, little is known about whether observed racial disparities differ by socioeconomic status. Methods: We used data from the population-based Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System to estimate hazard ratios of death for non-Hispanic white (N = 31,102, including 8,174 deaths) and African-American women (N = 9,257, including 3,133 deaths) ages 18 and older diagnosed with incident, invasive breast cancer with recorded stage between 2000 and 2013 in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties in Michigan and to estimate 5-year survival percentages for women diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 (N = 18,922). Neighborhood poverty was measured using the proportion of households with incomes below the federal poverty level in 2000 in the women's census tracts of residence at diagnosis. We used Cox proportional hazards models controlling for age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and cancer stage at diagnosis to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with mortality. Standard errors were adjusted to account for unobserved correlation between residents of the same census tracts. Results: Risk of death in African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer was 57% higher than for white women (HR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.48, 1.67), and this association attenuated when also controlling for neighborhood poverty (HR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.42). Living in high-poverty neighborhoods was associated with a 77% higher risk of death (HR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.64, 1.91), and this association also attenuated when controlling for race (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.62). Risk of death was higher for African-American women than for white women at every level of neighborhood poverty, although the associations were stronger in the lowest poverty areas (HR associated with being African-American: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.33, 2.12) than in the highest-poverty areas (HR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.08, 1.40). Among white women, higher neighborhood poverty was associated with higher risk of death (HR for high- vs. low-poverty areas: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.79), but living in higher-poverty areas was not associated with mortality among African-American women with breast cancer (HR for high- vs. low-poverty areas: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.51). Five-year survival was higher in white women (77.6%) than in African-American women (65.3%) overall. This difference in 5-year survival was largest for women living in the lowest-poverty areas (81.5% for whites vs. 70.1% for African-Americans), but was much smaller for women in the highest-poverty areas (66.2% for whites vs. 62.3% for African Americans). Conclusions: Although important disparities in mortality exist for African-American women compared with white women with breast cancer, disparities also exist by socioeconomic status, particularly for white women. The extent to which these disparities could be due to treatment differences, age at diagnosis, and type of breast cancer is being examined. It is important to consider socioeconomic status in addition to race when identifying and addressing disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Citation Format: Theresa A. Hastert, Ann G. Schwartz, Terrance L. Albrecht. Disparities in mortality and five-year survival by race and socioeconomic status in white and African American women diagnosed with breast cancer in metropolitan Detroit. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B43.

Celestine-Bearing Geodes from Wayne and Emery Counties, Southeastern Utah: Genesis and Mineralogy

Geodes containing celestine with associated quartz, calcite, chlorite, and other minerals occur in the Jurassic Curtis Formation of Emery and Wayne counties off the east and south flanks of the San...

Abstract C07: Utilizing state cancer profiles for communicating lung cancer disparities

Abstract Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the US and is the leading cause of death. The accurate profiling of lung cancer (i.e. depiction of the magnitude of this disease among the different population subgroups at the state and local levels) is necessary to inform the development of effective cancer control programs in the areas most impacted, and subsequently, reduce the cancer burden. One of the prerequisites for accurate profiling of cancer is a high quality cancer data. Unfortunately, researchers often rely on a combination of data sources that may differ in data quality, completeness and other important attributes. The State Cancer Profiles website is perhaps the most comprehensive, and high quality resource that provides national, state and local level cancer data collected from CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program. Lung cancer data from State Cancer Profiles can be utilized to assess the burden and the risks, identify trends, examine sociodemographic data, expose economic, geographic and racial disparities, identify research opportunities and make important informed decisions. In this particular project, we demonstrate how State Cancer Profiles can be used effectively to profile lung cancer and identify health disparities, using the State of Indiana as an example. Method: We utilized rate/trend comparison, mortality rates, historical trends as well as screening and risk factors data to profile lung cancer mortality. A series of maps and tables were generated to communicate the geographic differences in lung cancer mortality at the local and state levels. Results: Results show how the state of Indiana compares to other states and the within state variation in cancer and risk factors. Indiana is the 7th highest state in lung cancer mortality rates. The death rate in Indiana is above the US average nonetheless, the trend is stable for females and falling for males. Orange, Wayne and White counties have the highest death rates which are above the Indiana and US averages and show rising trends. Marion County, also show death rates above the state and US averages. However, the trend is falling. In Marion County, African Americans (a predominant population in the county) have higher death rates compared to whites, 75.8 vs. 66.3. Similarly, in Allen County, African Americans have high rates compare to whites, 68.5 vs. 48.7. As far as risk factors, Indiana is the 6th highest state in the percentage of current smokers. It is noteworthy, that indoor smoking is legislated by only 30% of the state. Demographic data show that 83% of Indiana's population under the age of 65 is insured. Of the families in Indiana, 10% are below poverty. Marion County shows poverty rate at 14.2. Conclusion: The information offered by State Cancer Profiles is useful for developing a profile of cancer; for identifying the areas where cancer burden is the greatest and subgroups of populations that are most impacted. It reveals that racial disparities in lung cancer exist at both the state and county levels, despite the fact that the overall mortality rates are dropping. Furthermore, it shows the demographic characteristics and risk factors that are relevant for understanding cancer burden. In conclusion, State Cancer Profiles is an excellent tool for communicating health disparities, depicting cancer burden and informing cancer control planning. Citation Format: Antoinette Percy-Laurry, Zaria Tatalovich. Utilizing state cancer profiles for communicating lung cancer disparities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C07. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C07

First Report of Leek yellow stripe virus in Garlic in Ohio.

Leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV), genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae, infects a wide range of Allium species worldwide. LYSV is one of several viruses that chronically infect garlic, Allium sativum L. The garlic virus complex, which includes LYSV, Onion yellow dwarf virus, and Garlic common latent virus, is perpetuated by asexual propagation (4) and is transmitted to clean planting material by aphids (3). This virus complex can reduce garlic bulb weight by nearly three quarters (2), and LYSV-only infections can result in approximately a one-quarter reduction in bulb weight (2). Garlic is grown as a small-scale, specialty crop in Ohio. During late May and early June 2013, garlic plants with virus-like symptoms were collected from Medina, Holmes, and Wayne counties, Ohio. Plants exhibited chlorotic streaking, foliar dieback, dwarfing, small bulbs, and cylindrical bulbs that failed to differentiate into cloves. Incidence of affected plants in the fields was up to 5% and all fields had early season aphid infestations. Flexuous rods were observed in TEM micrographs of plant sap from symptomatic leaves. Five symptomatic plants and six asymptomatic plants (from fields with symptomatic plants) were evaluated for LYSV by DAS-ELISA (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN). Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR with LYSV-specific primers LYSV-WA and LYSV-WAR (3) was performed with cDNA generated by the High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Both foliar and bulb tissues were tested using both detection methods. Forty percent of symptomatic plants and 67% of asymptomatic plants tested positive for LYSV with both ELISA and RT-PCR. LYSV was detected in both foliar and bulb tissues, including both tissues from asymptomatic plants. Five PCR amplicons generated from both foliar and bulb tissue were sequenced and shown to share 96 to 98% maximum identity with an LYSV polyprotein gene accession in GenBank (AY842136). This provided additional support that the detected virus was LYSV. LYSV was initially difficult to detect in Ohio fields due to low disease incidence and subtle symptom development. Use of virus-tested garlic bulbs can improve yield for several years, even following viral reinfection by aphids, compared to growing garlic from chronically infected bulbs (1). However, many growers routinely save bulbs from year to year and lack access to or knowledge of virus-tested sources of garlic bulbs. Conducive conditions, chronic infections, or co-infections with other viruses enhance the severity of symptoms and yield loss (2). LYSV has previously been reported in garlic producing regions of the northwestern United States (3), and to our knowledge, this is the first report of LYSV in garlic in Ohio.