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\"Perplexed by plate tectonics? Confused by climates? Disorientated by demographics? Help Your Kids With Geography helps parents to get a grasp on what their children learn in geography class by exploring all these topics and more.\"--Publisher's description.

The development of emotional regulation capacities in children at high versus low risk for externalizing disorder was examined in a longitudinal study investigating: (a) whether disturbances in emotion regulation precede and predict the emergence of externalizing symptoms and (b) whether sensitive maternal behavior is a significant influence on the development of child emotion regulation. Families experiencing high (n = 58) and low (n = 63) levels of psychosocial adversity were recruited to the study during pregnancy. Direct observational assessments of child emotion regulation capacities and maternal sensitivity were completed in early infancy, at 12 and 18 months, and at 5 years. Key findings were as follows. First, high-risk children showed poorer emotion regulation capacities than their low-risk counterparts at every stage of assessment. Second, from 12 months onward, emotion regulation capacities showed a degree of stability and were associated with behavioral problems, both concurrently and prospectively. Third, maternal sensitivity was related to child emotion regulation capacities throughout development, with poorer emotion regulation in the high-risk group being associated with lower maternal sensitivity. The results are consistent with a causal role for problems in the regulation of negative emotions in the etiology of externalizing psychopathology and highlight insensitive parenting as a potentially key developmental influence.

Recently, concern has increased globally over farmers’ mental health issues. We present a systematic review of the outcomes, locations, study designs, and methods of current studies on farmers’ mental health. In particular, this review aims to fill an important gap in understanding of the potential key risk factors affecting farmers’ mental health around the world. 167 articles on farmer mental health were included in a final systematic review using a standardized electronic literature search strategy and PRISMA guidelines. The four most-cited influences on farmers’ mental health in the reviewed literature respectively were pesticide exposure, financial difficulties, climate variabilities/drought, and poor physical health/past injuries. The majority of studies were from developed countries, most specifically from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Comparative studies on the mental health of farmers and other occupational workers showed mixed results, with a larger portion identifying that psychological health disturbances were more common in farmers and farm-workers. Knowledge of farmer psychological disorder risk factors and its impacts are essential for reducing the burden of mental illness. Further research will be required on climate change impacts, developing country farmers’ mental health, and information on how to reduce help-seeking barriers amongst farmers.

Abstract Objectives Acute viral infections and some vaccines have been shown to increase false positivity in serologic assays. We assessed if the messenger RNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines could cause false reactivity in common serologic assays in a pilot longitudinal cohort. Methods Thirty-eight participants with sera available prevaccination, 2 weeks after each vaccine dose, and monthly thereafter for up to 5 months were tested for common infectious disease serologies and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) serology markers on the BioPlex 2200, Sure-Vue rapid plasma reagin (RPR), and Macro-Vue RPR. Twenty-two participants received the Moderna vaccine and 16 received the Pfizer vaccine. Results Most assays had no change in reactivity over the course of the sample draws, including APS markers. Epstein-Barr virus immunoglobulin G (IgG), measles IgG, and rubella immunoglobulin M all had possible false reactivity in one to two participants. RPR tests demonstrated false reactivity, with baseline nonreactive participant samples becoming reactive following vaccination. There were more false reactive participants (7/38) in the BioPlex RPR than in the Sure-Vue (2/38) and Macro-Vue (1/38) tests. All falsely reactive RPR tests were in participants who received the Moderna vaccine. Conclusions Serologic assays with results that do not fit the clinical picture following COVID-19 vaccination should be repeated. Effects of false reactivity can last more than 5 months in some assays. In particular, RPR is susceptible to false reactivity, and there is variability among assays. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to determine the incidence and window of false reactivity.

Climate change will put pressure on irrigated agriculture, increasing water scarcity and possible non‐compliance with water regulations. This is especially true in areas such as the Murray‐Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, an area where water resources have been overallocated. Understanding the expected penalties and probability of detection and prosecution of water theft faced by irrigators is important for understanding the incentives for water compliance. We analyze state‐level compliance action data and undertake a detailed case study of estimating the real penalty value of water theft in New South Wales (NSW), the largest MDB state. This analysis is supplemented with qualitative comment on compliance issues from 63 MDB stakeholder interviews. Although findings from random audits suggest that only a small percentage of irrigators commit water theft offenses, the average probabilities of audit detection and prosecution for water theft in NSW between 2018/19 and 2020/21 were low, leading to an average real expected penalty value of stealing water well below existing market prices. Stakeholder interviews confirmed that the majority did not believe there were serious water theft or water compliance challenges—whereas recent secondary survey data suggests that the general public perceives water theft and compliance as a serious and ongoing challenge in the MDB and more needs to be done to address it. Three recommendations for data and policy reform are proposed, namely: (a) improving compliance data and reporting; (b) increasing the probability of detection and prosecution; and (c) increasing penalties, regulator visibility, and reforming legislation. Results illustrate that even countries with highly advanced water governance require data improvements, along with sufficient levels of compliance activities and penalties for effective deterrence and stakeholder confidence. Key Points Murray‐Darling Basin (MDB) compliance data is fragmented, incomplete and lacks common definitions Audit detection, prosecution and enforcement probabilities for New South Wales water offenses are assessed, with the real penalty value below water prices Stakeholder and public perceptions of water compliance in the MDB are assessed and three broad compliance reform recommendations are made

Background Performance management (PM) systems in healthcare consist of many interacting interventions, such as contracts, scorecards and incentives. The diversity, complexity and poor description of PM interventions hampers replication in research, standardized comparative analysis and accumulation of evidence. Specifying PM systems and interventions in terms of their behaviour change techniques (BCTs) using standardized language can address these challenges and clarify the mechanisms linking system-level PM with individual behaviours. Methods We conducted an analysis of BCTs in a PM system in Ontario, Canada using a modified behaviour change technique taxonomy (BCTT). We reviewed 64 documents, observed 15 meetings and conducted 4 semi-structured interviews with key informants to map the PM interventions on to the taxonomy. Results We identified 54 BCTs spanning 13 taxonomy domains in the PM system. BCTs were concentrated in four domains: (1) goals and planning, (2) reward and threat, (3) feedback and monitoring and (4) identity. The BCTs coded most often included: (1) discrepancy between current behaviour and goal, (2) feedback on outcome(s) of behaviour, (3) social comparison and (4) social incentive/reward. These BCTs suggest that this PM system seeks to change behaviour primarily by directing programme attention to their current performance in relation to the target and in relation to other programs across the province, and by acknowledging good performance with praise or recognition. A total of five PM interventions accounted for 58% of identified BCTs – the scorecard, quarterly performance review reports, quarterly performance review meetings, escalation letter for poor or declining performance and the improvement action plan. Conclusions The results provide a unique analytical and evaluative characterization of the PM system, revealing how a behaviour-change lens on health systems PM can support the (re)design, standardized comparison, and evaluation of PM systems in research and in practice.

Pyrethroid insecticides are widely used to control mosquitoes that transmit pathogens such as West Nile virus (WNV) to people. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the knockdown resistance locus ( kdr ) of the voltage gated sodium channel ( Vgsc ) gene in Culex mosquitoes are associated with knockdown resistance to pyrethroids. RNAseq was used to sequence the coding region of Vgsc for Culex tarsalis Coquillett and Culex erythrothorax Dyar, two WNV vectors. The cDNA sequences were used to develop a quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR assay that detects the L1014F kdr mutation in the Vgsc . Because this locus is conserved, the assay was used successfully in six Culex spp . The resulting Culex RT kdr assay was validated using quantitative PCR and sequencing of PCR products. The accuracy of the Culex RT kdr assay was 99%. The L1014F kdr mutation associated with pyrethroid resistance was more common among Cx . pipiens than other Culex spp. and was more prevalent in mosquitoes collected near farmland. The Culex RT kdr assay takes advantage of the RNA that vector control agencies routinely isolate to assess arbovirus prevalence in mosquitoes. We anticipate that public health and vector control agencies may employ the Culex RT kdr assay to define the geographic distribution of the L1014F kdr mutation in Culex species and improve the monitoring of insecticide resistance that will ultimately contribute to effective control of Culex mosquitoes.

The establishment of a tropical virus such as West Nile (WNV; Flaviviridae: Flavivirus) within the temperate latitudes of the continental United States was unexpected and perhaps contingent, in part, upon the ability of this invasive virus to persist during winter when temperatures become too cold for replication and vector mosquito gonotrophic activity. Our Forum article reviews research examining possible overwintering mechanisms that include consistent reintroduction and local persistence in vector mosquitoes and avian hosts, mostly using examples from research conducted in California. We conclude that the transmission of WNV involves so many vectors and hosts within different landscapes that multiple overwintering pathways are possible and collectively may be necessary to allow this virus to overwinter consistently within the United States.

Letter to the Editor

BackgroundThe brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Rh. sanguineus s.l.), is an important vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), in western North America, with the most prominent tick infestations occurring in the Southwestern USA and Northern Mexico. RMSF is a significant public health threat in these regions, including in the state of California.MethodsIn 2024, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District detected a brown dog tick infestation in a neighborhood in South Sacramento (CA, USA) that encompassed three adjoining properties. This infestation was unusual due to its location farther north than those in most recent reports. In partnership with the Laboratory of Infectious Disease Ecology at the University of California, Davis, a surveillance and abatement program was implemented. This included tick monitoring, residual spraying of acaricide, deployment of tick collars on dogs and bilingual public outreach.ResultsThe integrated intervention substantially reduced tick populations at the affected site. Both adult and immature stages of Rh. sanguineus s.l. declined following sequential treatments. Sustained suppression and elimination were achieved through continued control and outreach efforts.ConclusionsThis localized infestation of Rh. sanguineus s.l. in northern California highlights the potential for range expansion of RMSF vectors and underscores the need for continued surveillance, rapid response and community engagement to mitigate vector-borne disease risks.