Hospital-acquired Aspergillus rates among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients were initially higher at a hospital with high negative-pressure room utilization compared to a similar hospital with low utilization but with otherwise identical infection control policies. After the index hospital decreased negative-pressure utilization, hospital-acquired Aspergillus case rates at the 2 hospitals converged.

Capacity development is increasingly recognized as central to conservation goals. Efforts to develop individual, organizational and societal capacity underpin direct investments in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, and sustain their impact over time. In the face of urgent needs and increasingly complex contexts for conservation the sector not only needs more capacity development, it needs new approaches to capacity development. The sector is embracing the dynamic relationships between the ecological, political, social and economic dimensions of conservation. Capacity development practitioners should ensure that individuals, organizations and communities are prepared to work effectively in these complex environments of constant change to transform the systems that drive biodiversity loss and unsustainable, unequitable resource use. Here we advocate for a systems view of capacity development. We propose a conceptual framework that aligns capacity development components with all stages of conservation efforts, fosters attention to context, and coordinates with parallel efforts to engage across practitioners and sectors for more systemic impact. Furthermore, we highlight a need for practitioners to target, measure and support vital elements of capacity that have traditionally received less attention, such as values and motivation, leadership and organizational culture, and governance and participation by using approaches from psychology, the social sciences and systems thinking. Drawing from conservation and other sectors, we highlight examples of approaches that can support reflective practice, so capacity development practitioners can better understand the factors that favour or hinder effectiveness of interventions and influence system-wide change.

Two introduced carnivores, the European red fox Vulpes vulpes and domestic cat Felis catus, have had extensive impacts on Australian biodiversity. In this study, we collate information on consumption of Australian birds by the fox, paralleling a recent study reporting on birds consumed by cats. We found records of consumption by foxes on 128 native bird species (18% of the non-vagrant bird fauna and 25% of those species within the fox’s range), a smaller tally than for cats (343 species, including 297 within the fox’s Australian range, a subset of that of the cat). Most (81%) bird species eaten by foxes are also eaten by cats, suggesting that predation impacts are compounded. As with consumption by cats, birds that nest or forage on the ground are most likely to be consumed by foxes. However, there is also some partitioning, with records of consumption by foxes but not cats for 25 bird species, indicating that impacts of the two predators may also be complementary. Bird species ≥3.4 kg were more likely to be eaten by foxes, and those <3.4 kg by cats. Our compilation provides an inventory and describes characteristics of Australian bird species known to be consumed by foxes, but we acknowledge that records of predation do not imply population-level impacts. Nonetheless, there is sufficient information from other studies to demonstrate that fox predation has significant impacts on the population viability of some Australian birds, especially larger birds, and those that nest or forage on the ground.

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Leveraging partnerships with faith-based institutions and community centers in at-risk NYC neighborhoods, the H2H Program breaks down barriers to engaging with the medical establishment and addresses the increasing burden of diabetes and CVD risk factors in the most vulnerable individuals. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Screening for modifiable risk factors is critical for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. Low-income, urban communities often encounter barriers to care. Community-academic outreach partnerships are vital in addressing such disparities and promoting health equity and culturally targeted interventions among high-risk populations. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In 2010, the Weill Cornell Clinical and Translational Science Center along with Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) and Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing (HBSON) launched Heart to Heart (H2H), a community outreach program partnering with faith-based centers to offer free health screenings and education to some of New York City’s (NYC) most vulnerable communities. Participants work with undergraduate, nursing, medical and dietician students to complete a demographics and health questionnaire followed by vital signs and point-of-care blood testing. Participants then receive personalized health education, nutrition and lifestyle counseling by student volunteers, precepted by WCM Primary Care and HBSON faculty. Participants are provided information on local free or low-cost clinics as necessary for follow-up. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: To date H2H held 125 events and 5,952 screenings. Mean age of the participants was 54.3 (SD 39.6) and 3,682 (63.1%) were female. 74.2% identified as non-white. 42.1% were uninsured. 32.3% reported annual income of less than $20k. 18.3% of participants reported not having seen a doctor in the past year. 40.7% reported preexisting hypertension, of which 74.5% were on medication and 78% with sub-optimal control. 15.7% had been previously diagnosed with diabetes, of which 75.8% were on medication and 41.4% with sub-optimal control (HbA1c <7). 37.7% had been diagnosed with dyslipidemia previously, of which 47.4% were on medication and 62.1% with sub-optimal control. Screenings revealed, 56.9% had undiagnosed hypertensive blood pressures, 4.7% had an elevated HbA1c >6.5, and 49.2% had dyslipidemia. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: H2H screening revealed significant cardiovascular health disparities, many of which were poorly controlled or newly discovered. Cross-institutional academic partnerships can empower communities with knowledge of their health status and help facilitate access to medical care to further address health risk factors.