Microbial odors are essential for attracting mosquitoes to their hosts, but their role in attraction to other nutrient sources remains unknown. Sugar sources provide nutrients that lengthen the lifespan of both male and female mosquitoes and increase the vectorial capacity in host-seeking female mosquitoes. Microbial odors have been shown to act as proxy signals for the availability and composition of certain nutrients, such as amino acids and mineral ions, found in nectar and fruit sap. As microbes are abundant in flowers and fruits, we hypothesize that Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (mVOCs) from these nutrient sources play an important role in the feeding behavior of mosquitos. To test this, we analyzed the microbial community of a known attractive fruit, Mangifera indica ‘Keitt.’ Microbial species were identified from our environmental samples through amplicon sequencing of the 16S and 26S regions. Isolates of the most abundant and relevant species were cultured for mVOC collection and chemical analysis via Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Behavioral assays were then performed with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to observe the effect of microbial odors on the attractiveness of nutrient sources. Through the identification of behaviorally-relevant microbial compounds, we can gain a stronger understanding of the ecological dynamics of mosquito chemoreception and microbial community signaling, which can help inform future mosquito-control measures.

This paper investigates the impact of the benefits of the INDYC Program on the social determinants of health of immigrant children. Using the data extracted from the IPUMS CPS, I applied an event study - a dynamic difference-in-differences model with the combination of propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting to study the effects of IDNYC on immigrant children's access to public insurance coverages and affordable housing options. The analysis suggests that the benefits offered by the program could support immigrant children in gaining short-term coverage on the Medicaid and extended Medicaid Program, yet only positively associated with gaining long-term access to Medicare. The analysis also suggests a short-term increase in immigrant families' access to public housing and no cause-and-effect relationship with their access to government subsidies on rent. Lastly, similar to findings from previous papers, the effect of the program on health status remains ambiguous. Overall, the findings of this paper are consistent with previous research in the related field, contributing to the big picture of how municipal ID programs improve the social inclusion of immigrants in the North American region.

Adenomyosis is a painful gynecological condition with a prevalence ranging from 20-35% in symptomatic patients. Current detection methods, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, are suboptimal and definitive diagnosis frequently relies on hysterectomy, prompting more research for less invasive diagnostic tests, which is the aim of this study. We enrolled 108 women undergoing hysterectomies, after post-operative histopathology diagnosed women with adenomyosis (n=46) and other benign conditions (n=62). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) and vaginal swab samples were collected. CVLs were used for global metabolomic data, as well as immunoproteomic profiling. We conducted 16s rRNA microbiome profiling on vaginal swabs. The integration of datasets was performed using MetaboAnalyst and MetOrigin. No significant differences were found in body mass index, menopausal status, co-occurring conditions, and parity between patient groups. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed co-metabolic pathways pyrimidine metabolism, D-amino acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and histidine metabolism as the most enriched in the adenomyosis group. Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) for biomarker selection, multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that a model based on metabolomics dataset has an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.852, predictive accuracy (PA) of 77%, and Youden's Index (J) of 0.607. Compared to immunoproteomics and microbiome models, which had a PA of 68.8% and 66.5%, respectively, combining metabolomics with immunoproteomics resulted in an improved PA of 74.8%, while combining metabolomics with microbiome led to a PA of 74.3%, both outperforming their individual counterparts. Three-omics integration in a multivariate model resulted in an AUC of 0.859, PA of 77.4%, and J of 0.624, with metabolites being the top predictive features in the model. Our study identified that global metabolomics is the best single omics predictor of adenomyosis. Multi-omics integration increases performance metrics. Overall, this study identified key metabolic biomarkers for diagnostic development and assessment in future studies. 

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) has been widely recognized for its positive effects on student health, academic performance, and school attendance, particularly for low-income students. However, there is limited research on the long-term economic impacts of SBPs, such as their influence on family income, employment, juvenile delinquency rates, and overall educational attainment. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the broader economic implications of SBPs through a state-by-state comparison. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) model, this research will compare educational and economic outcomes between schools in Minnesota (control) and Wisconsin (intervention), where recent SBP expansions have been implemented. Key variables will include graduation rates, family income, employment levels, and juvenile delinquency rates. Data will be sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau. By exploring the long-term effects of school breakfast programs, this study will provide insights into their role in shaping economic mobility and community well-being.