The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) is part of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. As the first independent, degree-granting institution for research in epidemiology and training in public health, and the largest public health training facility in the United States, the Bloomberg School is a leading international authority on the improvement of health and prevention of disease and disability. The school's mission is to protect populations from illness and injury by pioneering new research, deploying its knowledge and expertise in the field, and training scientists and practitioners in the global defense of human life. The school is ranked first in public health in the U.S. News and World Report rankings and has held that ranking since 1994.
Radiation is one of the most pervasive environmental stressors that has profoundly influenced microbial evolution, driving the development of intricate survival strategies in extreme environments. This review examines the mechanisms underpinning microbial adaptation to various forms of radiation, including DNA repair systems, protective pigments, and antioxidant defenses. Emphasis is placed on the ecological niches occupied by radiation-resistant microbes, spanning from high-altitude deserts and deep subsurface ecosystems to space-exposed habitats. The insights gained not only enhance our understanding of microbial resilience but also hold significant implications for astrobiology and space exploration. By leveraging multi-omics approaches and experimental studies, research on radiation-resistant microbes has unveiled a broad range of potential applications in biotechnology, planetary protection, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
We analyzed data from Mapping Police Violence and the Washington Post, including 7,082 fatal police shootings in 3,125 counties between 2015—2022. We employed negative binomial regression models (NBRG) to estimate the association between income inequality and fatal shootings by race/ethnicity. All models controlled for county population density (population per square mile), age distribution, racial composition, and violent crime rates. We controlled for year and clustered the regression standard errors at the county level. On average at the county level, 0.3 (SD: 0.6) per 10,000 of the White population, 4.6 (SD: 37.4) per 10,000 of the Black population, and 0.8 (SD: 2.6) per 10,000 of the Hispanic population have been fatally shot by police, with an overall average of 0.20 (SD: 0.5) per 10,000 population. Regression findings indicated a strong association between income inequality and fatal police shootings, while violent crimes, and county racial composition were additional predictors. Policymakers must prioritize structural reforms and equitable resource allocation to reduce policing disparities and prevent unnecessary loss of life.
The aims of this study are to examine the associations between discrimination experienced by children’s caregivers, socioeconomic factors (household income, caregiver education, and Child Opportunity Index [COI]), and child IQ. We also examined whether these associations differ for Black children’s caregivers and White children’s caregivers. Using Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program data, we analyzed the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS; range 4–24, higher score means more discrimination) scores of caregivers of children from 3 to 8 years and the full-scale IQ (FSIQ; range 40 to 160) scores of the children. Median EDS scores were compared by education and income category. FSIQ scores were compared separately for Black (n = 259) and White (n = 820) children across categories of household income, parental education, and COI (very low/low opportunity and moderate/high/very high opportunity). Multivariable generalized linear regressions were used to assess the characteristics associated with EDS scores and examine the impact of everyday discrimination on FSIQ when adjusting for these characteristics. EDS scores were not associated with FSIQ for either group (Black, β = 0.21 [95
We explore and summarize the evidence linking cooking to health with consideration of the broader implications for nutrition security. We begin with an overview of social transformations in everyday meal preparation over the past century and how these transformations and cooking at home are associated behaviors. With increased availability of prepared and processed foods in the food environment, making meals at home has emerged as a pro-health behavior with the potential to promote nutrition. Food agency is a means of defining and assessing meal preparation practices, which include cooking but also other practical and cognitive actions. We discuss the theory and measurement of food agency and provide a framework for action to better understand and address possible associations between food agency, cooking skills and behavior, and nutrition security. Available evidence suggests higher level cooking skills, greater frequency of cooking at home, and higher cooking confidence are associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake and higher diet quality. However, numerous barriers to making meals from whole ingredients at home exist including food environments and sociocultural pressures that prioritize convenience. Much of the current research on food and cooking remains focused on consumption. However, more work is needed to articulate the pathways through which food agency and cooking could support dietary quality and nutrition security.
ABSTRACT Background Obesity is a key contributor to type 2 diabetes, and weight loss is a central component of diabetes management. Although clinical guidelines recommend that healthcare providers offer weight management advice, its real‐world impact remains unclear. Objective This study assessed the associations of doctor‐advised and self‐initiated weight management with weight loss among individuals with type 2 diabetes who are overweight or obese. Methods Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2011–2018). People with diabetes and overweight or obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) were categorized into four groups according to doctor‐advised weight loss and weight management status. Outcomes included one‐year weight change, assessed both continuously (percentage change) and categorically (≥ 5% and ≥ 10% weight loss). Linear regression was used for continuous outcomes and Poisson regression with robust standard errors for categorical weight loss. Results Among 1715 individuals (61.1 ± 12.4 years, 49.1% female), 1020 received doctor‐advised weight loss, and 89.6% initiated weight management. However, individuals who received advice achieved less weight loss than those not advised, particularly among those who did not engage in weight management (β: 5.07, 95% CI 3.07 to 7.07, p < 0.001). Individuals who received advice were also substantially less likely to achieve ≥ 5% (RR 0.15, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.39, p < 0.001) or ≥ 10% weight loss (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.41, p < 0.001). Conclusions Only three out of five participants with diabetes and overweight or obesity were advised by healthcare providers to lose weight. While weight loss advice spurred individuals to engage in weight management, those who received weight loss advice encounter greater challenges in reaching weight loss targets.
