The Cost of Expanding Ethiopia's Salt Iodization Program to Include Multiple Micronutrients.

Background: With near universal consumption of salt and technological advances that have made its fortification with multiple micronutrients feasible, salt has great potential for public health impact as a delivery vehicle for not only iodine but also multiple micronutrients. Decisions around modifying existing salt standards to include additional micronutrients should consider not only potential impacts but also stakeholder-specific costs.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the total and incremental cost of expanding Ethiopia's salt iodization program to include folic acid (dual fortified salt), folic acid and vitamin B-12 (triple fortified salt), or folic acid, vitamin B-12, and zinc (quadruple fortified salt).

Effectiveness of 2023-2024 seasonal influenza vaccine against influenza-associated emergency department and urgent care encounters among pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age.

Influenza vaccination is particularly important for pregnant women. Using a test-negative, case-control design, we estimated the effectiveness of 2023-2024 seasonal influenza vaccination against influenza-associated emergency department and urgent care (ED/UC) encounters among pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age using data from seven healthcare systems. Eligible encounters were among individuals aged 18-49 years with documented female sex.

Anemia, micronutrient deficiency, and elevated biomarkers of inflammation among women and children in two districts in the Northern Region of Ghana: A pilot study.

Introduction: Previous data had shown a high prevalence of anemia and various micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) in the Tolon and Kumbungu districts. We aimed to reassess these outcomes among lactating women (LW), women of reproductive age (WRA), and preschool children (PSC) to inform the design of a MN-fortified bouillon cubes trial, including the choice of micronutrients and selection of study sites; among WRA and PSC, we aimed to identify factors associated with anemia, MND, and inflammation, and to examine anemia co-occurring with MND and inflammation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study (Nov 2020-Jan 2021), we randomly selected 7 urban and 7 rural clusters per district from those accessible at the time, recruited participants through a random walk-based search, and collected and analyzed breastmilk (LW) and venous blood (WRA and PSC).

Examining the Association Between a United States Federal Grant and Reports of On-Campus Sexual Violence.

This investigation aimed to examine the association of the Office on Violence Against Women's (OVW) Campus Program grant on the reporting of on-campus sexual violence crimes: Clery Act forcible sex offenses and Violence Against Women offenses. Clery Act crime data was analyzed from 72 Campus Program grant recipients before, during, and after the grant cycle. Findings indicate higher reporting during grant implementation, with notable decreases postgrant cycle.

Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) demographics and metal(loid) concentrations in egg contents from the Kootenai River basin, Montana nest box colonies.

Selenium (Se) levels in water have been increasing in Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River below Libby Dam in Montana due to coal mining in the drainage basin of the Elk River, British Columbia. Aquatic monitoring of Se is ongoing to assess potential effects; however, exposure to terrestrial, aquatic-dependent wildlife has not been investigated. Tree swallows are a targeted receptor for evaluation of potential Se-related effects as this species is a mid-level consumer with aquatic-terrestrial food web linkages, is sensitive to Se, and reliably uses nest boxes.

Implementation strategies to increase seasonal influenza vaccination among adults: A rapid scoping review.

Many strategies have been applied to increase seasonal influenza vaccination; however, gaps in coverage remain. We synthesized the evidence on effectiveness of implementation strategies to increase seasonal influenza vaccination among U.S.

Patterns in prescribing and dispensing of influenza antivirals among adults with influenza presenting to urgent care and emergency department settings, VISION Network, 2023-2024.

Background: We describe prescribing and dispensing patterns of influenza antivirals among patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza within U.S. urgent care and emergency department settings.

Informing the Design of Large-Scale Food Fortification Programs with Secondary Data: Pilot Results from Nigeria and Zambia.

Background: Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) can improve micronutrient intake, but low-income and middle-income countries often lack resources to collect data for LSFF decision making. We designed a methodology using existing data and methods to inform LSFF programming.

Objectives: This study aimed to pilot a methodology using existing diet, market, and diet cost data and assess its implementation feasibility and usefulness for LSFF decision making.

Cost effectiveness of fortified bouillon in addressing Burkinabe children's vitamin A inadequacy: An economic optimization model.

Vitamin A dietary inadequacy remains a serious public health problem among young children 6-59 months of age in Burkina Faso. Planners face several interrelated challenges: Selecting concrete policy objectives regarding vitamin A inadequacy reductions, identifying cost-effective vitamin A intervention programs that can achieve those objectives, and being reasonably sure that proposed intervention programs are robust to uncertainty in program benefits and costs. A 10-year, subnational economic optimization model making use of secondary dietary intake data and program cost data was developed and implemented to address these issues and included the following vitamin A program options: existing or improved edible oils fortification, a pair of hypothetical vitamin A-fortified bouillon programs, and a set of subnational vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs.

Current and potential contributions of large-scale food fortification to meeting micronutrient requirements in Senegal: a modelling study using household food consumption data.

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies are common among women of reproductive age (WRA) and children in Senegal. Large-scale food fortification (LSFF) can help fill gaps in dietary intakes.

Methods: We used household food consumption data to model the contributions of existing LSFF programs (vitamin A-fortified refined oil and iron and folic acid-fortified wheat flour) and the potential contributions of expanding these programs to meeting the micronutrient requirements of WRA (15-49 years) and children (6-59 months).

Influenza vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations and emergency department or urgent care encounters for children, adolescents, and adults during the 2023-2024 season, United States.

Background: The 2023-2024 influenza season had predominant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus activity, but A(H3N2) and B viruses co-circulated. Seasonal influenza vaccine strains were well-matched to these viruses.

Methods: Using health care encounters data from health systems in 8 states, we evaluated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza-associated medical encounters from October 2023-April 2024.

Impact of a multicomponent strategy including decentralized molecular testing for tuberculosis on mortality: planned analysis of a cluster-randomized trial in Uganda.

Background: Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is important for improving outcomes and reducing transmission. Previous studies assessing the impact of Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), a molecular assay that provides results within 2 h, on mortality have been inconclusive. In this planned analysis of a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial in Uganda, we assessed whether a multicomponent strategy, including decentralized Xpert testing, decreased mortality among adults evaluated for TB.

The Potential for Bouillon Fortification to Reduce Dietary Micronutrient Inadequacy: Modeling Analyses Using National Survey Data from Cameroon, Ghana, and Haiti.

Background: Bouillon is commonly consumed in some countries where micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent, but it has not been widely adopted as a micronutrient fortification vehicle.

Objectives: We modeled the potential impacts of bouillon fortification on dietary micronutrient adequacy to inform future discussions around bouillon fortification programs.

Methods: We analyzed the dietary intake of women of reproductive age (WRA) and 1- to 5-y-old children from a national dietary survey in Cameroon, and "apparent intake" (using the nutrient density approach) of WRA, children, and men from 3 household surveys in Cameroon, Ghana, and Haiti.

The costs and the potential allocation of costs of bouillon fortification: The cases of Nigeria, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.

Food and condiment fortification programs are needed to address micronutrient deficiencies and their health, developmental, and mortality consequences; but these programs are never free. Knowing program costs and their allocation across stakeholders is essential to design and manage effective, efficient, and sustainable programs. We developed 10-year hypothetical bouillon fortification program cost models for Nigeria, Senegal, and Burkina Faso that included start-up and operational costs for government and industry, as well as premix costs generated by an embedded premix cost calculator to allow for alternative premix formulas in cost calculations.

Bouillon fortification as a strategy to address inequities in micronutrient adequacy of diets in Nigeria.

Bouillon is a widely consumed condiment in many West African countries, including Nigeria. Although Nigeria has mandatory fortification standards for multiple food vehicles, bouillon fortification could help address remaining gaps in micronutrient intake. Using household food consumption data, we used the nutrient density method to model the additional contribution of bouillon fortified with vitamin A (40-250 µg/g bouillon), folic acid (20-120 µg/g), vitamin B12 (0.

Mapping Competencies and Recommendations for Educating Nursing Students (CARES): Reviewing Palliative Care in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program.

The Competencies and Recommendations for Educating undergraduate Nursing Students (CARES) was originally designed for nursing students' palliative and end-of-life care education. The competencies were later revised to align with the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials core competencies for baccalaureate nursing education. This project aimed to (1) review the courses in an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program for alignment with CARES, (2) determine any gaps, and (3) make program recommendations.

Modeling the Contribution of Multiple Micronutrient Fortification of Salt to Daily Nutrient Intake Among the Ethiopian Population.

Background: Salt is an affordable commodity and has wide coverage regardless of economic and social status and, hence, could be suitable vehicle for multiple micronutrient fortification.

Objectives: This study aimed to simulate the contribution folic acid and zinc fortification of iodized salt to nutrient intake among the Ethiopian population.

Methods: The 2013 Ethiopian National Food Consumption Survey and various food composition tables were used to estimate baseline individual-level micronutrient intake.

Micronutrient-fortified bouillon as a strategy to improve the micronutrient adequacy of diets in Burkina Faso.

Bouillon is a promising candidate for fortification to complement existing large-scale food fortification (LSFF) programs. We used household dietary data from Burkina Faso to model potential contributions of bouillon fortified with vitamin A (40-250 μg/g bouillon), folic acid (20-120 μg/g), vitamin B12 (0.2-2 μg/g), iron (0.

Effect of multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon on micronutrient status among women and children in the Northern Region of Ghana: Protocol for the Condiment Micronutrient Innovation Trial (CoMIT), a community-based randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in West Africa, particularly among women of reproductive age (WRA) and young children. Bouillon is a promising food fortification vehicle due to its widespread consumption. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multiple micronutrient-fortified bouillon cubes, compared to control bouillon cubes (fortified with iodine only), on micronutrient status and hemoglobin concentrations among lactating and non-lactating WRA and young children in northern Ghana.

Relationship Between Anxiety, Coping Strategies, and Perfectionism in Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Students.

Introduction: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students must meet high standards throughout their lives and careers, which can cause stress and anxiety, with potentially devastating impacts. This quantitative study examined whether and to what extent perfectionism, demographic characteristics, and coping strategies relate to state (situation-related) and trait (personality-related) anxiety in DPT students.

Review Of Literature: Existing literature demonstrates high anxiety levels in DPT students; also, maladaptive perfectionism is associated with higher levels of stress.