Publications

Object representations are organized according to multiple dimensions, with an important role for the distinction between animate and inanimate objects and for selectivity for faces versus bodies. For other dimensions, questions remain how they stand relative to these two primary dimensions. One such dimension is a graded selectivity for the taxonomic level that an animal belongs to. Earlier research suggested that animacy can be understood as a graded selectivity for animal taxonomy, although a recent functional magnetic resonance imaging study suggested that taxonomic effects are instead due to face/body selectivity. Here we investigated the temporal profile at which these distinctions emerge with multivariate electroencephalography (N = 25), using a stimulus set that dissociates taxonomy from face/body selectivity and from animacy as a binary distinction. Our findings reveal a very similar temporal profile for taxonomy and face/body selectivity with a peak around 150 ms. The binary animacy distinction has a more continuous and delayed temporal profile. These findings strengthen the conclusion that effects of animal taxonomy are in large part due to face/body selectivity, whereas selectivity for animate versus inanimate objects is delayed when it is dissociated from these other dimensions.

PURPOSE: USH2A mutations are the leading cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive blinding disease marked by photoreceptor degeneration. Animal models fail to recapitulate the features of USH2A RP seen in humans, and its earliest pathogenic events remain unknown. Here, we established a human model of USH2A RP using retinal organoids derived from patient induced pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR-Cas9-engineered isogenic-USH2A-/- induced pluripotent stem cells.

METHODS: We assessed organoids for cellular, molecular, and morphological defects using serial live imaging and whole organoid and fixed section analyses.

RESULTS: Both patient-derived and isogenic-USH2A-/- organoids showed preferential rod photoreceptor loss followed by widespread degeneration, consistent with the clinical phenotype. Additionally, isogenic-USH2A-/- organoids showed early defects in proliferation and structure.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that molecular changes precede overt photoreceptor loss in USH2A RP, and pathogenesis may begin before clinical symptoms emerge. By defining early and late disease features, we provide new insight on the developmental origins of USH2A RP to guide therapeutic strategies.

Building community capacity for outbreak preparedness requires understanding modifiable factors that encourage individuals to act. The current study assesses three key interrelationships with likelihood to prepare for a future outbreak: perceived importance of preparation, perceived ability to prepare, and preferred sources of outbreak information. The study used data from a 2023 online panel survey of adults living in the United States with 4,184 responses weighted to reflect national demographics. Perceived importance of outbreak preparedness, perceived ability to prepare, and likelihood to take actions in a future outbreak were estimated using composite measures derived from survey questions. Preferred sources of outbreak information were measured by subtracting the number of more "informal sources sought," eg, social media, friends, and family, selected from the number of "formal sources sought," eg, governmental websites. Direct effects linear regression models identified that a greater perception of importance and ability were each associated with a greater likelihood to prepare, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and household income (p < 0.001). Likewise, a greater preference for more formal information sources was also associated with more future outbreak preparedness actions taken (p < 0.001). The relationship between perceived importance and perceived ability on the likelihood of preparing differed based on information source preferences (p < 0.05). For those with low perceived importance or ability to prepare and a stronger preference for informal information sources, their likelihood of preparing for a future outbreak is significantly lower than for those with formal information source preferences; however, as perceived importance or ability to prepare increases, this gap is closed. Results suggest that perceptions of self-efficacy, including ability and importance, are critical to preparing for a future outbreak and that information sources also play an important role. These results highlight that if we can build the perceived importance of and remove barriers to preparation, we can increase outbreak preparedness actions regardless of which information sources are most trusted by individuals.

BACKGROUND: Police officers and firefighters often face high-stress situations that might impact their well-being. In these contexts, leadership plays a key role in both operational success and safeguarding their well-being.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review examines the relationship between leadership, well-being, and well-being predictors and outcomes in police and firefighting personnel.

METHODS: A systematic review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, was conducted using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: Relationship-oriented leadership is positively correlated with better well-being outcomes, eg, job satisfaction and engagement, and negatively correlated with poor well-being outcomes, eg, burnout and stress, among police officers and firefighters. It is also associated with individual-eg, emotional regulation and self-esteem-and contextual-eg, organizational support and shared values-predictors and negatively correlated with negative well-being consequences, eg, physical complaints and turnover intentions.

CONCLUSIONS: Relationship-oriented leadership appears to be associated with reduced stress and improved well-being. More studies focus on police officers than on firefighters, suggesting that further research is needed for firefighters. The findings emphasize the need for targeted firefighting and policing leadership programs focused on relationship-oriented skills for both professions.

Terrorist attacks on healthcare facilities disrupt healthcare delivery with increasing frequency. This study aims to assess the association between the number of casualties in terrorist attacks against healthcare facilities and economic classification of a country. Utilizing data from 1970 to 2018 compiled in the Global Terrorism Database, 901 attacks against healthcare settings were identified in 74 countries. Based on the World Bank economic classification, these 74 countries were categorized into low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income groups. We further grouped these into "developed" (high-income countries) and "developing" economies (low, lower-middle, and upper-middle economies). A Poisson regression was developed to assess the association between country economic classifications and the number of casualties in attacks on healthcare facilities. A total of 901 incidents of terrorist attacks against healthcare facilities satisfied the database query, with 239 attacks listing at least one casualty. This demonstrated that, in this database set, 30 people in economically developing countries were killed per healthcare facility attack for every one person killed in an attack in a country with a developed economy. Terrorist attacks against healthcare facilities in countries with lower economic status resulted in greater casualties than similar attacks against healthcare facilities in high-income or economically developed countries. This knowledge can help shape ongoing research into terrorism prevention, mitigation, and resource allocation to protect vulnerable healthcare facilities.

Older adults often manage multiple chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, which increases their vulnerability during emergencies. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic underscored how vulnerable older adults, especially those with multiple chronic conditions, are to social, physical, psychological, spiritual, and economic hardships in times of crisis since preparing for and responding to disaster events can be particularly challenging for these individuals. This qualitative study examined emergency experiences and preparedness of 37 older adults and informal caregivers living in a large metropolitan area. Thematic analysis of focus group transcripts revealed shared barriers to emergency planning, such as knowledge gaps, financial and physical limitations, distrust in authorities, digital divides, dismissive interactions, and isolation. Insights from the focus groups informed the creation of targeted, actionable strategies to enhance emergency planning efforts inclusive of older adults. Integrating research-informed emergency protocols is essential to mitigate adverse outcomes and enhance older adults' resilience and well-being during crises.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stands at a critical juncture in the United States. Despite its indispensable role in the healthcare continuum-providing vital acute care and transportation during -emergencies-EMS is confronted with significant challenges. Underfunding, personnel shortages, and an outdated financing model collectively undermine the sustainability and efficacy of EMS agencies nationwide. Urgent action is required to address these issues and prevent the collapse of EMS. In this article, we present recommendations from frontline EMS workers to revitalize the current EMS system. These recommendations include restructuring the financial framework to improve workforce compensation and retention; fostering professional development pathways within the EMS sector; and implementing community paramedicine initiatives while fully utilizing advanced Emergency Medical Technicians to enhance service value.

The increasing number and scale of natural and anthropogenic disasters continue to strain established disaster management systems. Major disasters' substantial and sustained impacts reinforce the calls for global collaboration. Nevertheless, worldwide emergency assistance efforts are confronted with several challenges that negatively affect disaster victims, stress international diplomatic relations, and threaten nations' social and national security. These challenges arise from the unique nature of each national emergency management framework and the lack of global standardization and governing rules for international partnerships during disasters. Using various qualitative analytical methods, we examined and compared the national emergency management charters of China, the United States, the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia. We used a variety of data sources, including national emergency management charters, as well as published studies and reports. Findings show substantial differences among the five national emergency management charters. Among those differences are the government entity overseeing emergency management activities; the levels and categories of disasters; the structure, organization, and operations of the emergency management system; and the national inclusion of and commitment to international directives and frameworks. One striking finding was the lack of a national emergency management ethics code. The challenges of global emergency response call for countries to develop standardized types, levels, and categories of disasters. Additionally, they need to develop a process to facilitate and expedite the acceptance of international aid and assistance. Countries also need to commit to international regulations and frameworks and establish a code for global emergency standards and ethics.

Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) are crucial to disaster response, yet their organizational structure and operational dynamics remain understudied. Through qualitative analysis of federal and state emergency management documents, including Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance and the Oklahoma State Emergency Operations Plan, this research examines mechanistic and organic organizational elements. Using organizational theory as an analytical framework, we identify three key findings: (1) EOCs operate along a continuum between mechanistic and organic structures; (2) informal organic design elements significantly influence EOC operations during disasters but remain largely undocumented; and (3) predisaster networking among EOC participants is essential for effective disaster operations. Drawing on crisis management and resilience frameworks, this research extends previous work while offering researchers and EOC participants practical recommendations for improving EOC design, training, and operations. Our findings suggest that EOC effectiveness depends on explicitly recognizing and supporting both mechanistic and organic structures.

This editorial discusses the need for expansion in the United States (US) of the concept of professional emergency management (EM), rejecting the proposal of US national licensure for individuals, and to include oversight and compliance for those organizations that utilize and provide EM staff, protocols, doctrine, etc. Without this last component, the EM field cannot be considered by its own practitioners as professional, as in other fields such as healthcare and financial services. In fact, those industries and others are staffing their own roles for EM as the operational aspects of risk management. EM is not for government only. While in agreement with the basic foundational concepts of both Dr. Jennifer Carlson and Dr. Carol Cwiak in their academic advocacy regarding the need for an elevation in the public's acceptance and recognition of professionalism in our field, there is no concurrence as to the specific pathways and doctrine needed to execute this. Questions of national licensure, requirements for accredited higher educational degrees, new oversight entities, and more need to be further discussed and debated, especially in the context of expanding capacity for locally driven practitioners of professional EM in the US.