Association of composite park quality with park use in four diverse cities

Park use has numerous health benefits. However, little research has investigated how the combination of park facilities, amenities, and conditions are related to park visitation. This study examined the association between a novel composite park quality metric and the use of specific parks, including variations by demographics. Data were collected in 128 census block groups across four diverse cities in the USA. Adults (n = 262) used an online, map-based survey to indicate which parks within one half-mile they had used within the past 30 days. All parks (n = 263) were audited using the Community Park Audit Tool, and a composite quality metric was calculated by standardizing and averaging six key components: access, facilities, amenities, aesthetic features, quality concerns, and neighborhood concerns. A total of 2429 participant-park pairs were analyzed. The average park quality score was 40.4/100 (s.d. = 30.2). For the full sample, a greater park quality score was significantly related to park use (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.03) such that for each one unit increase in a park's quality score, there was a 2% increase in the likelihood of the park being used. There was also a significant interaction by gender, with park quality associated with park use among females (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02-1.05) but not males (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.99-1.02). Enhancing overall park quality may increase the likelihood of a park being used. Future research can explore the utility of this comprehensive quality metric for predicting other health behaviors and outcomes and how interventions to enhance park quality augment park use and health over time.

Examining Disparities in Food Access Between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Non-Historically Black Colleges and Universities

PURPOSE

Examine if Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are more likely to be located in low food access area (LFA) census tracts compared to public non-HBCUs.

DESIGN

ArcGIS Pro was utilized to capture food environments and census tract sociodemographic data.

SETTING

The sample included 98 HBCUs and 777 public non-HBCUs within the United States. 28.9% of study census tracts were classified as LFA tracts.

MEASURES

University data were gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics. Census tract-level LFA classification was informed by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Access Research Atlas. Covariates included population density and neighborhood socioeconomic status of census tracts containing subject universities.

ANALYSIS

Multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between university type and LFA classification.

RESULTS

A higher percentage of HBCUs (46.9%) than public non-HBCUs (26.6%) were located in LFAs. After adjusting for population density and neighborhood socioeconomic status, university type was significantly associated with food access classification (B=0.71;p=.0036). The odds of an HBCU being located in LFA tracts were 104% greater than for a public non-HBCU (OR=2.04;95% CI=1.26,3.29).

CONCLUSION

Findings underscore the need for policy interventions tailored to HBCU students to promote food security, environmental justice, and public health.

Yoga for everyone: a qualitative study of a community yoga class for people with disability

Background and Objective: People with mobility impairments face increased barriers to physical activity. The study aimed to understand the lived experiences of individuals with disability who are regular participants in the Yoga for Everyone class to inform future research, intervention and community programs.Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach utilized semi-structured interviews and class observations. Data was analyzed through iterative inductive thematic analysis.Results: Six people of varied mobility limitations participated. Thematic analysis revealed themes on influential environmental and personal factors, a holistic-focused class environment, physical improvements, mental/emotional impact, and a sense of belonging to community.Conclusion: The Yoga for Everyone class fostered multi-faceted outcomes for people with diverse movement impairments. Focusing on community-clinical partnerships, utilizing a class structure with volunteers, and fostering an ongoing inclusive social environment are potential strategies for success in other community programs for those with disability.

Transcription termination in the dnaA gene

The termination of transcription in the dnaA gene of E. coli was analyzed using transcriptional fusions to the galactokinase gene, S1 nuclease mapping and quantification of translation products by Western blots. The majority of transcripts originating from dnaA promoters terminated at several positions within a 200 bp region inside the dnaA reading frame.

Functions of the DnaA protein of Escherichia coli in replication and transcription

The function of DnaA protein as a replisome organizer in the initiation of DNA replication is reviewed. A model is presented showing the construction of two basic types of DnaA-dependent replication origin. New data demonstrate that the dnaA box-DnaA protein complex is a transcription terminator. Only one orientation of the dnaA box results in termination of transcription. Mutation of the dnaA box within the dnaA reading frame shows that DnaA-mediated transcription termination has a role in the autoregulation of the dnaA gene.