Collegno, tomb 143. Iron 'multiple' belt elements with silver and brass inlay.
Photo by Caterina Giostra
Stony Brook Ecology & Evolution professor and an international team complete DNA analysis that provides insight to how communities formed after the collapse of the Roman Empire
A new study of ancientDNA by a team of international researchers and co-led by Krishna R. Veeramah, PhD, of Stony Brook University, provides insight into the development and social structures of European rural communities following the fall of the Roman Empire. The findings, published in a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggest that early medieval elites, or those of higher social status, were initially made up of multiple families with distinct genetic ancestries. However, over time these families intermarried and also the local communities integrated genetically diverse newcomers from a variety of different social and cultural backgrounds.
Collegno, tomb no. 150. End element of belt for weapon suspension in iron with silver and brass inlay. Photo by Caterina Giostra
The research team combined paleogenomic, archaeological, and isotopic data to shed light on the community that used a cemetery in Collegno, Italy, as a burial site during the 6th to 8th centuries CE. Researchers sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 28 individuals from the cemetery and incorporated data from 24 previously published genomes. They also studied individuals’ patterns of social mobility, burial patterns, and diet.
“When the Roman Empire collapsed, we did not really know much about how new communities formed, yet many of these communities would go on to be the basis for modern European countries,” explains Veeramah, an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolution in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Director of The Veeramah Lab, which is dedicated the study of evolutionary genomics. “Our study reveals that these elites were genetically surprisingly diverse, and in the process of creating new European communities in the medieval era, families with diverse genetic ancestry would come together to form ruling groups.”
“In 2018, our team published a paper that demonstrated genomic and cultural similarities between Collegno and Szólád, a village in modern Hungary that showed a significant correspondence between individuals with a northern European ancestry in both,” adds Patrick Geary, PhD, of the Institute for Advanced Study. “Our new study follows the transformation of this Italian community over a century, and shows how new groups moved into and merged with the existing inhabitants.”
The researchers discovered that the Collegno community was initially established by and organized around a network of closely related individuals, likely from several elite families. But over time, they evolved into a single extended lineage spanning at least five generations.
Veeramah and colleagues believe individuals from this lineage had a higher ranking in society based on their richer diets and heavily detailed, and likely more expensively made items they were buried with, such as weapons and elaborate belts [see attached photos].
The findings also show that while the Collegno community was initially established by these elite families, a majority that came from northern Europe, the community later incorporated individuals from other origins and genetic backgrounds into it, including surrounding locals.
It was a victorious opening weekend for the Stony Brook volleyball team as they secured a five-set win over James Madison University in Harrisburg, PA on Aug. 31.The Seawolves were led by double-doubles from Quinn Anderson, who had 15 kills and 13 digs and Leoni Kunz, who had 12 kills and 16 digs. The win improved the Seawolves’ overall record to 3-0 on the season, their first 3-0 start since the 2006 season.
Offensively, Kunz recorded her 16th double-double of her career while Anderson tallied her first in just her third collegiate outing. Kali Moore also added 16 kills to help the offense. Torri Henry dished out 48 assists to bring her invitational total to 139. On the defensive end, Julia Patsos chipped in with 19 digs to go with six blocks from Ayanna Pierre Louis.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Seawolves found themselves in an early deficit, dropping a tough first set 25-12. Stony Brook trailed by as many as 13 points as JMU never surrendered the lead in a set that didn’t have a single tie before the Dukes took control.
SET 2 | Stony Brook rallied after dropping the first set to take the second set 25-21, evening the match at one set apiece. The Seawolves grabbed control of the set lead early on, at 6-5, and held the lead the rest of the way. Stony Brook led by as many as six points at 21-15 before closing out the set, totaling 16 kills while only notching two attack errors in the process. Stony Brook’s front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four JMU attacks in the stanza.
SET 3 | JMU took a 2-1 match lead after taking down the Seawolves in the third set by a score of 25-20. JMU grabbed the advantage for good at 15-14 in a set that was tied up 10 times before the Dukes took over in the second half.
SET 4 | Stony Brook then responded to secure set four 25-23 to force a fifth set. A strong performance on the attacking side led the Seawolves to victory in the set. Stony Brook put together a .378 attack percentage with 17 kills in the set win. After the lead changed hands five times, the Seawolves took control for good at 24-23 and rode that advantage to victory. Stony Brook got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked five JMU attacks.
SET 5 | Down two sets to one, Stony Brook fought back to win sets four and five, culminating in a 15-9 fifth-set victory, to take the match 3-2. The Seawolves took control of the set-five lead at 3-2 and never looked back. Stony Brook ended strong, opening its biggest lead of six points, to finish off the set.
STATS AND NOTES
This marked the second time in program history that the Seawolves and Dukes met, and the first time since August 30, 2019. Stony Brook improved to 1-1 all-time against JMU.
Freshman outside hitter Quinn Anderson and graduate student outside hitter Leoni Kunz each registered double-doubles in the win.
Junior outside hitter Kali Moore had a team-high 16 kills for Stony Brook.
Graduate student setter Torri Henry recorded 48 assists in the victory, adding 14 digs, four kills, four blocks, and one ace.
Graduate student libero Julia Patsos led the Seawolves with 19 digs.
Sophomore middle blocker Ayanna Pierre Louis tied her career-high with six blocks.
With the win, the Seawolves start their season at 3-0 overall; the first time since the 2006 season.
“The fight in our group this weekend was incredible,” stated head coach Kristin Belzung postgame. “Today was a cat and mouse match and we made adjustments throughout both offensively and defensively. I’m so proud of our team for competing throughout and taking care of each other.”The team returns to action next weekend as they travel upstate to take on Buffalo, UConn, and Colgate in the Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament. Friday’s match will begin at 4 p.m. with coverage available on ESPN+. Saturday and Sunday both have first serve scheduled for 2 p.m.
They bother us, particularly in the summer, but they don’t need us.
The 23 species of Borrelia bacteria, which cause Lyme disease, have been around for millions of years, dating back to when the continents were all linked together like pieces of a puzzle in Pangea. The bacteria likely infected early mammals in those days.
In a recent paper in the journal mBIO, researchers from over 12 institutions put together the genetic sequence of these bacteria, which include 47 strains.
The scope of the work “was enormous and we were lucky” to have so many dedicated investigators, said Ben Luft, Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, including lead senior author Weigang Qiu, Professor of Biology at Hunter College of the City University of New York.
The work, which took about a decade to complete, could provide a valuable resource to researchers and doctors today and in the future. The genetic information could lead to advances in diagnostics, treatment and prevention of Lyme disease.
Scientist could use the database to compare the genomes of different species and variations that cause different symptoms to help diagnose the likely severity of an infection as well as to search for specific pathways that lead to the virulence of an infection.
Some infections can lead to fever, headaches, fatigue and a skin rash. Starting with the bite of an intermediate host such as a tick, these infections, when left untreated, can lead to problems in the joints, heart, and nervous system.
The number of new cases of Lyme disease each year has been climbing, reaching close to 500,000 per year in the United States.
Researchers added that creating a genetic catalog of the different bacterial species can also help current and future scientists and doctors manage new threats from strains of bacteria that move into new areas amid climate change.
These species haven’t interacted with each other in the past, but climate change may create opportunities for bacteria to create recombinant genes, presenting new threats to human health.
“You may start seeing things that you didn’t see before,” said Luft. “We don’t know what’s going to happen” amid climate change. “There might be new forms” of Lyme disease.
The challenge with Lyme is not necessarily what happens in 2024, but how it might change in 20 years, when organisms develop a new pathogenicity.
Lyme on four continents
An international team of researchers sequenced the genomes of many species of Borrelia, the cause of Lyme disease. By comparing these genomes, the researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of Lyme disease bacteria. The map shows many of the global regions where the team sequenced a species. Borrelia burgdorferi, the most common cause of disease, is indicated in red. Other species are indicated by different colors. Image created by Saymon Akther
In addition to generating a database of the Lyme disease bacterial genome, the researchers wanted to develop an understanding of its phylogenetic history.
“The goal really was to show how genetically diverse Borelia is throughout the world,” said Luft.
The researchers gathered genetic data from this bacteria, which was sampled in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.
By collecting the genetic information in each of these locations, the scientists were able to recreate the history of a bacteria that’s lasted considerably longer than many other organisms that have since become extinct.
“The genetic make up (genes and plasmids) hasn’t changed very much since the last common ancestor on Pangea (otherwise we would see different sets of genes and plasmids from different continents),” explained Qiu.
An extensive collaboration
Qiu and Luft were grateful for all the work scientists around the world did to contribute to this study.
On Long Island, Lyme disease is transmitted mainly by the bite of an infected deer tick, also is known as the black-legged tick.
The team of Claire Fraser and Emmanuel Mongodin at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Richard G. Morgan of New England Biolabs helped use next generation sequencing to determine the bacterial genome.
Indeed, Fraser was the first to map the complete genetic code of a free-living organisms. She worked with the Haemophilus influenza, which causes respiratory infections and meningitis in infants and young children, according to the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Qiu, who earned his Phd from Stony Brook in 1999, suggested that the effort required regular, ongoing work. He supervised Dr. Saymon Akther for her thesis work, which was the basis of the paper. He also performed additional evolutionary analysis.
“For the past two years, we have been having weekly meetings on zoom,” said Qiu. “It’s a big relief” that the researchers published the study and shared the information with the scientific community.
Qiu credited Luft with being a consistent coordinator of the sequencing effort and diversity study for over 20 years.
The next steps
At this point, Luft and his colleagues are eager to share the information with the broader scientific community.
The researchers hope experts in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and computer programming can use the data to understand more about the genome and develop potential therapeutic targets.
Luft is eager to see “how smart people take advantage of a decade’s worth of work that has been very carefully done, to move it all forward,” he said. “We have certain ideas that we are doing” to fill in the gaps.
Qiu has some existing grants he’s using to work on diagnostics and vaccine development.
Qiu, along with chemistry-department colleague Brian Zeglis, and Lyme diagnostic/ vaccine researcher Maria Gomes-Solecki, has a joint NIH/ NIAID grant to develop a novel PET-based technology to detect Lyme pathogens in vivo. They have also proposed a new Lyme vaccine design strategy.
Additional sequencing of the variable plasmid, which is not a part of the chromosomal DNA but can replicate independently, would continue to help determine what genetic codes contribute to the level of virulence for each strain or species.
“That’s like the last mile for the communication network,” said Qiu. The challenges include annotating the genomes, providing comparative analysis and using informatics development to share the genome variability with the research community.
Stony Brook University Assistant Professor Jian Li, from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of Computer Science, was recently awarded a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Early CAREER award for his project, “CAREER: Structured Learning and Optimization for Efficient Management in the Wireless Edge Cloud: Theory and Algorithms.”
“This project aims to bridge the gap between prevailing graph-based job services and wireless edge cloud designs via advocating structured learning and optimization solutions with provable performance guarantees,” said Professor Li. “The results will enhance the performance of wireless edge networks for distributed computing loads. At the same time this project develops fundamental theories that pertain to the area of machine learning, specially to reinforcement learning and distributed learning.”
According to the National Science Foundation, NSF CAREER Awards support early-career faculty with the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
“These awards are extremely competitive and are selectively given to the nation’s most promising researchers. We are very proud of Jian,” said Professor Joe Mitchell, chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. “Professor Li’s project seeks to improve our fundamental understanding in areas of reinforcement learning, optimization, and scheduling, with potential broader impacts in the performance and responsiveness of edge and cloud computing, which is a core technology we all rely upon, especially for the ever-expanding suite of AI tools that have become an integral part of our daily lives.”
Li earned his doctorate in computer engineering from Texas A&M University in 2016 and his bachelor of engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2012. He was a postdoc with the College of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst from 2017 to 2019 and an assistant professor at Binghamton University before joining Stony Brook in 2023.
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours Mill Dam storm damage in Stony Brook. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours SUNY Stony Brook storm damage. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours SUNY Stony Brook storm damage. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours SUNY Stony Brook storm damage. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
August 27, 2024 — Stony Brook, NY —
Governor Kathy Hochul tours SUNY Stony Brook storm damage. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
Extensive water damage at the Gitto Group’s properties. Photo by Rob Gitto
Extensive water damage at the Gitto Group’s properties. Photo by Rob Gitto
Extensive water damage at the Gitto Group’s properties. Photo by Rob Gitto
Extensive water damage at the Gitto Group’s properties. Photo by Rob Gitto
Extensive water damage at the Gitto Group’s properties. Photo by Rob Gitto
Extensive water damage at the Gitto Group’s properties. Photo by Rob Gitto
By Toni-Elena Gallo
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) and Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico (R), declared a State of Emergency, following the Aug. 18-19 devastating storm.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) responded by procuring President Joe Biden’s (D) approval for a federal Emergency Declaration. This allows for federal resources and assistance to be provided for the necessary repairs, prevalent in hard-hit western and middle Suffolk. FEMA will provide emergency protective measures, such as the protection of critical infrastructure facilities. According to the state’s website, “with this Emergency Declaration secured, New York’s disaster recovery experts are continuing to work with local and federal partners, to determine the state’s ability to also request a federal Major Disaster Declaration and low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.”
Hochul toured the damage of both Stony Brook University and the site of the Mill Pond dam collapse. At the event, Hochul said, “In the wake of unprecedented rainfall, we continue to support Suffolk County to ensure those impacted can get back to life as usual as quickly as possible. … But seeing the people of Long Island come together to rebuild, shows the true strength of New York.”
Over in Port Jefferson, the toll of the extreme weather event is still being felt.
Rob Gitto, of the Gitto Group in Port Jefferson village, was blindsided by the severity of the storm.
“We were watching the storm closely, as we do with other major storms. I went to bed at 11;30 p.m. We checked our cameras, watched our radars and it looked like everything was going to stop in an hour,” Gitto said.
“But, this was a unique storm, where it apparently came from the North to the South, so it was a different situation. In fact, one of my employees was on standby, and went down to both [our] buildings, at around 12:30 p.m., and everything seemed fine. But, I just happened to wake up at 1:30 a.m., and whenever I can see the floors of one of the lobbies glistening, I know it’s water,” he added.
Gitto went down to the area immediately, and walked into a disaster area.
“Unfortunately, there was nowhere to pump water at that point. This particular area is taking on quite a bit of the village’s stormwater. You can see it in video footage, coming down the hill, and hitting the CVS, Barnum property, first, and then it seeped into The Brookport property.”
He said that Brookport, on Barnum Avenue, was made with the “latest and greatest” drainage requirements, but the almost-11 inches overwhelmed the system. Flood doors were on some of the water entry points, but those were, also, quickly overcome. The properties do have flood insurance.
Gitto said his main priority in the coming months will be to replace the cardio equipment in the two gyms, rip up the carpets, take out the damp sheetrock and repainting.
Rocky Point is not faring much better. Hagerman Landing Road, a dead end street, had five homes severely flooded.
In the coming weeks, more information will become available about updated financial aid disbursements.
For all the latest coverage, go to our website at tbrnewsmedia.com.
Eric Strovink and his friend Eric Reichenbach are supporting the Suffolk County Police Athletic League Blue Line Rangers baseball teams.
Both well-known coaches and players, they are determined to teach high-level baseball at an affordable price. As costs for travel teams have risen, the league’s affordable approach stands out. For $1,000, these youngsters will receive the same quality of training as other similar programs that can set families back thousands a year. The league’s founders believe kids shouldn’t be penalized for family financial constraints.
Brett Engmann, a police officer who helps run the Police Athletic League for various sports and community programs, said, “It’s a shame that many capable players don’t get noticed because they can’t afford travel teams.”
“Kids who aren’t at tournaments aren’t being seen and have a lesser chance of playing in college. Regardless of family funds, this team offers an affordable way to play our pastime and gives kids an opportunity to play under tremendous coaching,” he continued.
The students are eager to compete against strong opponents, under the tutelage of coaches who are not only passionate about baseball, but also highly qualified.
Strovink batted .516 at Shoreham-Wading River High School, hit three home runs in a single game, and helped his team win the New York State Championship in 1987. He spent three years at Louisiana State University, where he befriended major leaguers Ben McDonald and Russ Springer. Strovink returned home to care for his ailing mother and played for CW Post, where he hit 17 home runs and drove in 52 runs, helping his team win a conference title.
In 1991, Strovink played a minor league season for the Texas Rangers. Over the next two decades, he coached travel and high school teams and directed clinics and lessons.
His two sons continue the Strovink baseball tradition. Brennan, an All-State standout, played and coached at Limestone University.
Kyle, an All-American catcher, later played at Limestone with his brother. Both sons now coach high school baseball teams. Kyle also coached at Princeton and Long Island University.
Reichenbach was one of the area’s finest pitchers and a runner-up for the Suffolk County Carl Yastrzemski Award. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in 1988, pitched at the University of Tennessee, and later transferred to St. John’s, where he became an All-American. Reichenbach played three years in the minor leagues for the New York Mets before becoming a teacher in 1996.
For years, Reichenbach led successful baseball teams at Mount Sinai High School, winning league titles, and the 2016 County Championship, among other accomplishments.
The pandemic was a setback for Mount Sinai, as the team had six Division I pitchers who missed the chance to chase a state title.
Reichenbach, who also guides travel teams and gives lessons, believes in the PAL baseball team’s mission to give back to local athletes and help them become better ballplayers.
These experienced local and college coaches will share their expertise with the mostly 15- to 16-year-old boys who will make up these teams. The Blue Line Rangers will play games on Long Island, at Diamond Nation in Flemington, New Jersey, and on Staten Island.
All baseball statistics and game accounts will be posted on the bluelinerangers.org website, where they can be seen by college scouts.
Both coaches say they are excited about this new travel team, which will have 15 players for the summer and fall seasons. All players are expected to complete 25 hours of community service. Strovink and Reichenbach aim to develop not just skilled ballplayers, but also responsible young men who contribute to their community.
On Oct. 12, the team will host a baseball showcase. Non-PAL players can participate for $99, while Blue Line Rangers members can attend for free. These young athletes will have the chance to play for scouts, from schools like Stony Brook, LIU and St. Joseph’s University.
Stony Brook doctor, tending to a newborn baby. Courtesy Stonybrookchildrens.org
By Daniel Dunaief
Water inside a house isn’t just bad for the structure, it can also be damaging to your health.
Local health care professionals suggested that Stony Brook residents whose basements flooded from this weekend’s heavy rainfall should be careful about the growth of mold or mildew, which can be especially problematic for anyone with chronic breathing issues.
“People can inhale spores over a period of time and can develop respiratory symptoms,” said Dr. Sunil Dhuper, Chief Medical Officer at Port Jefferson’s St. Charles Hospital.
People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and emphysema “need to be particularly concerned about some of these issues,” he continued.
Dr. Sharon Nachman, Chief of Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, suggested that residents of Stony Brook, who experienced a localized 10 inches of rain this weekend, should “aggressively clean” their basements, from any standing water, as mold and mildew can start growing within a few days.
“You won’t see it because it’s small,” but people should dry the walls and under the floorboards and carpet, she said. “You want to get the water out.”
Local doctors, also, recommended dumping standing water off any surface that might become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, who can carry the West Nile virus.
At this point, the County Department of Health believed the West Nile threat wasn’t likely particularly high.
“The heavy rains and wind might have washed away adult larvae and adult mosquitoes,” Dr. Scott R. Campbell, Laboratory Chief in the Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory at the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, explained in an email.
“Wet springs and hot, dry summers — in which mosquitoes and birds may congregate at limited sources of water — may be conducive to higher West Nile virus transmission.”
The heavy rain, which was triple the usual average for the entire month of August, according to Weather Spark, likely reduced area mosquitoes.
Local medical care professionals suggested that residents should still remove standing water as a way to protect themselves against any remaining mosquitoes.
Congenital viral infection
Apart from the impact of local flooding, doctors discussed a host of other medical issues.
New York State has been testing newborns, since last fall, for congenital cytomegalovirus, or CMV, which infected mothers can give to their unborn children.
The testing so far has shown that CMV is less prevalent than previous estimates.
The state started the one-year study of the virus to track children who might develop symptoms, such as hearing loss or learning challenges, later on.
“The earlier you identify babies with hearing deficits, the sooner you can act, and there will be fewer ramifications on their intellectual development, as a result of it,” said Dr. Andrew Handel, pediatric infectious diseases expert at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and a co-leader, along with Dr. Nachman, of one of the 11 units across the state.
Dr. Sharon Nachman. Courtesy Stony Brook Medicine Facebook page
Earlier medical sources estimated that the infection rate for newborns was about one in 200 babies. But, with about 300 newborns testing positive, the rate is closer to one in 325.
The percentage of symptomatic babies is tracking with previous expectations, at around 10 percent. Symptoms of congenital CMV at birth include hearing loss, jaundice, low birth weight, seizures and retinitis.
“Our numbers are matching up with the 90 percent” of those who have the virus, but are asymptomatic, Handel added.
“That’s why we feel screening is so important.”
For the asymptomatic newborns, about 10 percent will develop permanent hearing loss, which is why doctors are tracking them so closely.
The virus, which is a relative of the Epstein Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis, is spread through direct contact with body fluids, such as tears, saliva or urine. Over half of all adults have had a CMV infection, with some studies estimating the rate as high as 80 percent.
Adults can shed the virus for a few weeks after contracting it, while children can shed it for a few months.
While all newborns will receive CMV screening after birth, parents have five days to opt out of any link to a report of the presence of the virus in their children.
At this point, fewer than one percent of parents are opting out of the testing. Some of the parents aren’t interested in the test, others don’t believe it’s useful, while some believe their babies look fine, and don’t want the additional test.
Most parents appreciate the opportunity to gather information about their children’s health. Patients are “grateful the state has this program,” said Dr. Sunil Sood, Systems CMV specialist at Northwell Health.
At Stony Brook and other hospitals, doctors are monitoring those babies who test positive.
The County Department of Health supports the testing, as well.
“Routine screening of newborns for [congenital CMV] will help identify affected infants early on so they can receive appropriate follow-up and treatment,” Cynthia Friedman, Director of Public Health Suffolk County Department of Health Services, explained in an email.
“Infants who screen positive … should be followed closely by their pediatricians and referred to specialists as needed to ensure early detection of problems with hearing, vision or development so that appropriate care and support can be implemented.”
Once the funding for the testing runs out, which will be around October, hospitals around the state will no longer perform the test.
Parents can ask for a urine test, which doctors estimate could cost between $50 and $100, but which insurance, likely, won’t pay for — especially if the child is asymptomatic.
Legislators, including Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-NYC) plan to introduce a bill in January that would fund tests, in future years.
“We would advocate that that become a permanent part of infant testing,” said Sood. “There are diseases that are far less common than CMV that have made it into the newborn testing programs.”
Immunization
Amid pushes by some pharmacies to encourage people to get flu shots, health care experts suggest waiting until closer to late September, or early October, for the inoculation.
“Vaccine efficacy is about three to four months,” said Nachman. “If you get it in August, when the flu season hits in January, you may not have much protection.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends similar timing, around September or October.
At the same time, Nachman expects a new batch of Covid vaccines will be available around September.
She recommends getting both shots at the same time, which increases both vaccines’ effectiveness.
Pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, and BioNTech, recently reported that a single combined shot for Covid and flu was not effective against influenza B, which means that people interested in receiving vaccines this fall should plan to get two shots.
Covid numbers
As for Covid, the current strain has made the rounds this summer.
“Everybody and their neighbor had Covid,” said Nachman, who added that the virus has spread across all ages. Covid was “clearly more infectious than what we had in the spring” and people were sicker for longer.
While the number of infected people has decreased, the start of the fall semester could trigger an increase.
From left to right: County Legislator Robert Trotta, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, TOB Supervisor Dan Panico, TOB Superintendent of Highways Daniel Losquadro, Representative from the Governor's, office Thalia Olaya, and in front, Gloria Rocchio, Ward Melville Heritage Organization President, at a Stony Brook Village press conference. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
By Toni-Elena Gallo with contributions by Lynn Hallarman and John Broven
Photo gallery to come.
According to the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center, Stony Brook recorded 9.4 inches of rain, in the 24 hours between Sunday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 19, amounting to a rainfall that is not just a once in a lifetime event —but a one-in-a-thousand year-event.
At a Monday press conference, County Executive Ed Romaine (R) spoke about the shock many Long Islanders experienced.
“This storm was not predicted for northern Suffolk,” he said. “This storm was over Connecticut and probably traveled south. When you get almost 10 inches of rain, that’s a once [in a lifetime event]. Unfortunately, these once-in-a-lifetime events seem to be coming more than that. I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another hundred years for another storm like this.”
“It tells you the impact that climate change is having on our weather,” the county executive added.
Stony Brook
In Stony Brook village, Harbor Road was split in half, and the pond at Avalon Nature Preserve ran off into nearby Stony Brook Harbor, taking dead fish and turtles with it.
“We have put drones up to document the before and after. We believe the damage will [amount to] $25 million, minimum. A minimum, between cleanup that’s required [not just here, but] other parts of the county, like Rocky Point,” Romaine said.
“We will document everything that we do, and all the expenditures that will be made, because we will be seeking some hope of state [and] federal reimbursement, because this is a huge hit on local government, on the town and on the villages along the North Shore,” he added.
At the press conference, Gloria Rocchio, president of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, expressed her sadness and frustration, but was able to provide a small glint of hope.
“We did have a structural engineer come already, to check the [historic] Grist Mill … and it is, [fortunately] structurally sound. It was built in 1699. In 1750 the dam broke for the first time, and then once again in the 1800s, and the last time it broke was 1910,” she said.
Over at Stony Brook University, Judy Pittigher, an office administrator at the Renaissance School of Medicine, suffered an office full of water damage and a collapsed ceiling, forcing her to work from home for, at least, the remainder of the week.
“The squares of one doctor’s tile roof collapsed; the floor is disgusting, covered in mush. By the time I got there, half the rugs had already been pulled up … anything on them was destroyed, like boxes. One box had this past graduation’s programs, and someone picked it up and put it on my desk, and it was sopping wet,” she said.
Smithtown
In Smithtown, the Nissequogue River dam broke from the nearly 10 inches of rain. Two residents were saved by members of the Smithtown Fire Department, as they were trapped on the second floor of their home.
This is despite the town’s recent stormwater and drain infrastructure upgrades. However, Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) said that Smithtown was lucky, in comparison to the nearby villages, as a result of these proactive measures.
Rocky Point
Rocky Point was extensively impacted, as well.
“I tried to take a tour of most of the damage this morning … and several catchment basins overflowed,” Romaine said. “I went down Hagerman Landing Road, and the tops of all the cars in sight had mud. The mudslide that came down Hagerman Landing Road was, easily, 7 to 9 feet. It left its mark on the trees, and the houses, right up to the windows. We had to rescue someone down there from their rooftop.”
Port Jefferson
At about 3 a.m., Monday, a rush of stormwater cascaded down Main Street, past CVS, affecting local property and flooding the Port Jefferson fire station.
According to Fire Commissioner Thomas Meehan, the flooding rose to about 36 inches in the station, bringing sewage and other debris into the building.
“We were just recovering from the flooding we had three years ago,” he said.
Port Jefferson village officials assisted the fire station in the initial cleanup in the early hours of Monday morning.
Several businesses along the Main Street corridor were impacted, including Theatre Three [see editorial].
Huntington
According to a Town of Huntington press release, “The Highway Department took to the roads at the early onset of the storm. After surveying the town, they reported approximately 10 sink holes and minimal trees down. Flooding, however, was the predominant issue, with the town reporting heavy flooding in a few areas.”
All areas will be rebuilt
The Town of Brookhaven’s superintendent of highways, Dan Losquadro (R), explained how the topography of the North Shore created a disastrous alignment of storm conditions.
“Water picks up velocity, as it travels down into these natural drainage points,” he said. “Many of these areas were built a very long time ago. They just have catch basins, and do not have sumps recharge basins, as we call them. [Even so] recharge basins, optimally, can only store 8 inches of water, and a catch basin, no more than 2 to 3.”
“This exceeded even the capacity of a modern sump. So, we saw our systems completely overwhelmed by this volume of water in such a short period of time,” he elaborated.
As for what’s next, Losquadro said, “We will get into the engineering and estimating phase, throughout the day, and, probably, for days to come. We have, unfortunately, been through this process with FEMA, and the state before, even back to the recovery from [Hurricane] Sandy. We will do our best to secure funding, from the higher levels of government, to ease the burden on our local taxpayers because as the county executive and the supervisor [Dan Panico (R)] rightly pointed out, many of these projects are beyond our ability to fund on a local level.”
“This process will take a great deal of time,” Romaine said. “[This damage behind me] will require permitting, not only from D.C., but from the EPA, and from the Army Corps of Engineers as well.”
Both Losquadro and Romaine expressed that the parts of the county hit by this storm will be built back “stronger and better.”
“We will clean this up, whatever it takes. These are our communities, these are our friends, our neighbors. We’re one county, one people and we will work together,” Romaine said.
Kimberly Christian. Courtesy Rocky Point Union Free School District
The Rocky Point School District welcomes Kimberly Christian, as its new director of math, science, technology, business education, career and technical education, and family and consumer sciences. Dr. Christian will continue to advance initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for the district.
Christian earned an undergraduate degree in biology from Cornell University, a Master of Arts in Teaching Biology, a doctorate in science education, and certification in school district leadership from Stony Brook University.
In her new role,Christian aims to provide all students with a comprehensive, 21st-century education to develop information literacy, critical thinking, and analytical skills. She is known for her motivation, innovation, and problem-solving skills. She hopes to foster productive, collaborative relationships among colleagues, parents, students, and community members.
“I am pleased to join the Rocky Point community,” Christian said. “It is a privilege to work alongside our talented educators, supportive staff, and enthusiastic students and families. I look forward to advancing initiatives that will drive student success and inspire a passion for learning.”
Christian has been a science teacher at Smithtown High School East since 2004, where she taught AP Biology and Project Lead the Way: Medical Interventions, as well as Regents Living Environment and Oceans. She contributed to curriculum development and implementation and maintained innovative instructional practices, integrating technology and differentiation.
For the past decade, Christian has served as an instructional specialist at Smithtown High School East, where she facilitated dialogue between colleagues and district leadership. Her work included participating in the science curriculum committee, aligning K-12 science instruction with NYSSLS, and coordinating standardized testing administration, including local and state exams. She also collaborated with the district’s science director on master scheduling, managed materials acquisition, and provided professional development during conference days and department meetings.
She co-authored “NGSS-Based Teacher Professional Development to Implement Engineering Practices in STEM Instruction,” published in 2021 in the International Journal of STEM Education, and “NGSS Teacher Professional Development to Implement Engineering Practices in Science Instruction,” presented virtually at the 2020 International Conference of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching in Portland, Oregon.
Stony Brook University named physician-scientist Dr. Imoigele “Imo” Aisiku as chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine, starting Aug. 15.
A national leader who has dedicated his career to critical care and neurocritical care in emergency medicine, Aisiku worked for more than a decade at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Aisiku, who was born in Nigeria and raised in Brooklyn and Auburn, Massachusetts, found several factors appealing about the Stony Brook role.
“My immediate family is predominantly in the Northeast” stretching from New York to Richmond, Virginia,” he said. Additionally, he suggested that numerous aspects of the role were “right in my area of expertise.”
His experience at Brigham and Women’s Hospital involved integrating systems, and he recognizes the opportunity to deploy that skill set at Stony Brook, where he will help integrate the emergency department at different hospitals.
He also has considerable experience in critical care, which is a strength at SBU.
“There are some natural synergies that you couldn’t script” he added, including strong clinical interest in stroke, telehealth, critical care and a desire to develop a systems integration model
Indeed, before he came to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Aisiku worked at the University of Texas at Houston. UT Houston/Memorial Hermann was one of the earliest to be named a JCAHO Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Aisiku was the medical director of their neurosurgery intensive care unit, which had one of the first mobile stroke units in the country. The unit was a collaboration between EMS, neurology, the stroke division, EM and the ICU.
A mobile stroke unit can provide critical and timely diagnostics and care for people having a stroke, which can not only save lives but can also lead to a dramatic improvement in the outcome after a stroke event for patients.
Stony Brook currently has two mobile stroke units and is working on adding a third.
“I hope to leverage what is the strength of Stony Brook with my experiences” and strengthen any weaknesses in a bidirectional manner, said Aisiku, who will report to Peter Igarashi, dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine.
For his part, Igarashi was eager to welcome the new addition to the emergency department.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Aisiku will lead Stony Brook’s remarkable team of emergency physicians,” Igarashi said in a statement. “As a pioneering physician-scientist in neurocritical care, and as an emergency medicine scholar and researcher, Dr. Aisiku will help advance our capacity to save lives and care for critically ill patients in the years to come.”
Evolutionary change
The new emergency department chair is hoping to learn more about Stony Brook’s strengths and weaknesses before implementing any changes.
“I hope to make a change and a difference,” Aisiku explained in an email. “I believe it is prudent to aim for evolutionary change and, if there is an opportunity, for positive revolutionary change.”
His goal is to see the department grow from a regional strength to a national and even an international strength.
He plans to develop partnerships with other chairs and departments and hopes to enhance programmatic and faculty development.
Aisiku also hopes to develop opportunities for faculty at Stony Brook, including in areas that involve research. He would like to see the department earn more National Institutes of Health and federal funding.
DEI experience
An accomplished physician, researcher and administrator, Aisiku also has considerable experience building and encouraging opportunities for underrepresented groups in medicine.
Aisiku was the founder and director of the Offices of IDEaS, which stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Social Justice, in Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he credits a team of faculty administrative staff and supportive chair for the success of that effort.
Aisiku “played a crucial role in the development of the office of IDEaS,” Jayelani Hall, administrative manager for Emergency Medicine and the Office of IDEaS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explained in an email. Aisiku’s vision for creating an inclusive environment and commitment to equity and diversity were “instrumental in shaping the initiatives and programs that define IDEaS today.”
IDEaS has launched several initiatives, such as the Profile in Diversity Series and the SPAK Grant program, which provides funding to projects that advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
The office established scholarship programs to support underrepresented students pursuing careers in medicine and health care, Hall added.
The president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital named Aisiku endowed Distinguished Chair in Health Equity and Diversity.
The broader Stony Brook area extending to New York City “draws diverse and international people to the region,” Aisiku explained. “While I acknowledge that [DEI] is an area of controversy in our country, I believe continuing to strive for diversity has a significant role for the development of our youth all the way to impacting our patients.”
In speaking with the leadership of the hospital and medical school, Aisiku believes his diversity goals are “aligned in these efforts” as he looks forward to developing strategies that will lead to diverse students, residents and faculty.
In addition to providing opportunities to students in the health care field, a more diverse population of caregivers enhances the patient experience, Aisiku contends.
A diverse health care force provides greater opportunity for patient choice and advocacy, he added.
Aisiku, who has master’s degrees in business administration from Goizueta School of Business and a master’s in clinical research from Rollings School of Public Health at Emory University, would like to partner with the business school and the school of public health, among others, to build diversity, which may broaden and enhance his efforts in this area.
People who have worked with Aisiku appreciate his commitment and openness to those around him.
Aisiku is “known for his compassion and dedication both as a physician and as a leader,” Hall wrote. “He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that his patients receive the best care possible and his commitment to equity in health care is evident in all his endeavors.”
Hall suggested that the Stony Brook community is fortunate to have Aisiku in this role.
“Given his track record, I fully expect him to engage deeply with students, faculty and community members, fostering connections and driving positive change,” Hall explained.
From left to right, Robert Samuel Decosta Higgins, Jayelani Hall, Imoigele Aisiku, Ron Walls and Mike VanRooyen, at a ceremony for Aisiku. Photo courtesy Imoigele Aisiku
Telehealth experience
Over a decade ago, Aisiku started iDoc Telehealth Solutions, a telemedicine company dedicated to critical and neurocritical care and tele-stroke services, with the goal of providing this type of care to people in areas that didn’t have enough clinicians with that experience.
Since then, he has become co-CEO of a public company called VSEE Health.
He expects to pass the torch on to other executives. His commitment is to the university as his obligation to the company is for about four more months.
To be sure, he wants to ensure there are no conflicts of interest in his roles at Stony Brook and in the decision about how and in what ways the university can continue to build telehealth capacity.
“If there is an opportunity to enhance an area, with full disclosure, there can be pathways to achieve things that improve the patient experience while separating ‘church’ and ‘state’ so to speak,” he explained in an email.
Morana Lasic, interim chief diversity & inclusion officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, suggested that Aisiku has served as a personal and institutional resource for a wide range of people.
Aisiku “works with those who are yet to enter the medical field and need mentorship, just as he does with institution presidents,” Lasic explained in an email. “He empowers those on his team and pays special attention to those who are often forgotten in mentorship (such as young administrative staff.)”
Lasic added that Aisiku was generous with his time and has reached out to her with emails and new thoughts and ideas at any time of day.
“Just like the rest of his life, his sleeping schedule is unique and his own, and he wears an Oura ring (which tracks sleep patterns) just to confuse it,” Lasic said.
In his research, Aisiku has focused on three areas: traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhages and acute respiratory distress syndrome/sepsis.
Aisiku is living with his wife Diana, who is a nurse, and their 4 1/2-year-old son Myles in Westbury. They are in the process of searching for a home.
Outside of work, Aisiku has a black belt in the martial art of Jeet Kune Do, enjoys working out and played Division 3 tennis and basketball, at Worcester State University. He is also a motorcycle enthusiast.
As for his likely contribution to the Stony Brook community, Lasic, who has been at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for 25 years, suggested that she anticipated he would continue on an impressive journey.
Aisiku is “one of the most innovative leaders in academic medicine I have seen in a long time,” she wrote. “He is a true role model in his ability to connect with those around him.”
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