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Objective: This study evaluated a media literacy education program designed for sexual health promotion, "Media Aware," in southeastern universities. Participants: Participants included college students from four universities in the southeastern United States (n = 457). Methods: "Media Aware" was implemented on college campuses either in a group setting, one-on-one setting, at a student event, or online only. "Media Aware" contains four sections on sexual health promotion including on how media messages influence sexual health, gender stereotypes and representations of romantic relationships, sexual violence, substance use, consent, sexual risk behaviors, contraception, STIs, and partner communication. Results: Results indicated significant changes in intention to visit a healthcare provider for sexual health services, intention to use condoms and other forms of birth control, and awareness of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives after participation in "Media Aware." Conclusion: Future research should explore how to extend program impacts and use an experimental study design to assess between group differences.

Lettuce is one of the most important leafy vegetables in the United States, and it is subjected to a decrease in edible quality when cultivated in environments with hot temperatures and increased daylength. Specifically, bitter-tasting compounds called sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) accumulate in certain cultivars and lettuce market types, especially during the bolting stage. However, increased sugar accumulation may offset bitterness, with high sugar:SL ratios reducing the bitter flavor perception. Hence, it is important to determine the effect of seasonal temperatures on sugar, SL, and sugar:SL accumulation in lettuce cultivars to predict the likelihood of perceived bitterness. Twelve cultivars spread across four different commonly grown market types (i.e., Romaine, Butterhead, Batavian, and Salanova®) were grown for four harvest seasons (Spring 2020, Fall 2020, early Summer 2021, and Winter 2021) in nutrient flow technique hydroponic culture. Lettuces exhibited significant differences in harvest seasons, cultivar, and their interaction for free SLs and total SLs, sucrose, and sugar:SL ratio. Specifically, plant fresh weight and total SLs were greatest in Spring 2020 and Fall 2020, respectively, and lowest in Winter 2021. Total sugars were the same between harvests, and Winter 2021 had a significantly lower sugar:SL ratio than that of the other three harvests. Cultivars included in this study within romaine (Parris Island, Jericho, and Coastal Star) and Batavian market types (Nevada and Sierra, but excluding Cherokee) emerged as top candidates to grow during the summer heat because of the higher plant weights, sugar concentrations, and lower sugar:SL ratio, as well as decreased SL concentrations. Overall, SL and sugar concentrations were notably low in the Winter 2021 harvest season for all cultivars and market types. Growers can optimize their production and ensure better plant yield and quality by strategically choosing lettuce market types and cultivars that have better plant growth and predicted flavor for different seasons in a greenhouse.

The continued evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants capable of subverting vaccine and infection-induced immunity suggests the advantage of a broadly protective vaccine against betacoronaviruses (β-CoVs). Recent studies have isolated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from SARS-CoV-2 recovered-vaccinated donors capable of neutralizing many variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other β-CoVs. Many of these mAbs target the conserved S2 stem region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, rather than the receptor binding domain contained within S1 primarily targeted by current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. One of these S2-directed mAbs, CC40.8, has demonstrated protective efficacy in small animal models against SARS-CoV-2 challenge. As the next step in the pre-clinical testing of S2-directed antibodies as a strategy to protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of CC40.8 in a clinically relevant non-human primate model by conducting passive antibody transfer to rhesus macaques (RM) followed by SARS-CoV-2 challenge. CC40.8 mAb was intravenously infused at 10mg/kg, 1mg/kg, or 0.1 mg/kg into groups (n = 6) of RM, alongside one group that received a control antibody (PGT121). Viral loads in the lower airway were significantly reduced in animals receiving higher doses of CC40.8. We observed a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines and macrophages within the lower airway of animals infused with 10mg/kg and 1mg/kg doses of CC40.8. Viral genome sequencing demonstrated a lack of escape mutations in the CC40.8 epitope. Collectively, these data demonstrate the protective efficiency of broadly neutralizing S2-targeting antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection within the lower airway while providing critical preclinical work necessary for the development of pan-β-CoV vaccines.

Abstract An influenza vaccine approach that overcomes the problem of viral sequence diversity and provides long-lived heterosubtypic protection is urgently needed to protect against pandemic influenza viruses. Here, to determine if lung-resident effector memory T cells induced by cytomegalovirus (CMV)-vectored vaccines expressing conserved internal influenza antigens could protect against lethal influenza challenge, we immunize Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCM) with cynomolgus CMV (CyCMV) vaccines expressing H1N1 1918 influenza M1, NP, and PB1 antigens (CyCMV/Flu), and challenge with heterologous, aerosolized avian H5N1 influenza. All six unvaccinated MCM died by seven days post infection with acute respiratory distress, while 54.5% (6/11) CyCMV/Flu-vaccinated MCM survived. Survival correlates with the magnitude of lung-resident influenza-specific CD4 + T cells prior to challenge. These data demonstrate that CD4 + T cells targeting conserved internal influenza proteins can protect against highly pathogenic heterologous influenza challenge and support further exploration of effector memory T cell-based vaccines for universal influenza vaccine development.

Objective: Childhood environment and socioeconomic status influence adult health. Past research links early social and economic disadvantages to later-life diseases and substance abuse, but their effects on contraceptive use remain unexplored. This longitudinal study utilizes the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) framework to explore the associations between social domains in adolescence and contraceptive use in young adulthood. Study design: Fourteen measures of the SDH domains were extracted from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health Wave I data (1994–95) to explore associations with reported ever-use and consistent use of contraception among young adults in the U.S (18–26 years) at Wave III (2001) using multilevel logistic regression. Results: Among 11,172 participants, 87.60 % reported past-year ever-use of contraception, while 47.30 % were consistent contraceptive users. Measures significantly associated with the past year's ever-use of contraceptives in young adulthood included parents' high school graduation status (positive/+), volunteering experience (+), history of foster care (negative/−), and parental reporting a trash problem in the neighborhood (−) during adolescence. For consistent use of contraception in young adulthood, parent high school education (+), volunteering experience (+), higher social cohesion scores (+), access to health care (+), receiving family planning counseling (−), parental receipt of public assistance (−), non-English language spoken at home (−) and the number of neighborhood crimes (−) during adolescence were found to be significant. Conclusions: A favorable environment during adolescence provides a foundation for positive health behaviors. Interventions aimed at improving contraceptive use in young adulthood should consider creating supportive environments for adolescents.

Abstract As current treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) lack disease‐modifying interventions, novel therapies capable of restraining AD progression and maintaining better brain function have great significance. Anti‐inflammatory extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)‐derived neural stem cells (NSCs) hold promise as a disease‐modifying biologic for AD. This study directly addressed this issue by examining the effects of intranasal (IN) administrations of hiPSC‐NSC‐EVs in 3‐month‐old 5xFAD mice. IN administered hiPSC‐NSC‐EVs incorporated into microglia, including plaque‐associated microglia, and encountered astrocyte soma and processes in the brain. Single‐cell RNA sequencing revealed transcriptomic changes indicative of diminished activation of microglia and astrocytes. Multiple genes linked to disease‐associated microglia, NOD‐, LRR‐, and pyrin domain‐containing protein 3 (NLRP3)‐inflammasome and interferon‐1 (IFN‐1) signalling displayed reduced expression in microglia. Adding hiPSC‐NSC‐EVs to cultured human microglia challenged with amyloid‐beta oligomers resulted in similar effects. Astrocytes also displayed reduced expression of genes linked to IFN‐1 and interleukin‐6 signalling. Furthermore, the modulatory effects of hiPSC‐NSC‐EVs on microglia in the hippocampus persisted 2 months post‐EV treatment without impacting their phagocytosis function. Such effects were evidenced by reductions in microglial clusters and inflammasome complexes, concentrations of mediators, and end products of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, the expression of genes and/or proteins involved in the activation of p38/mitogen‐activated protein kinase and IFN‐1 signalling, and unaltered phagocytosis function. The extent of astrocyte hypertrophy, amyloid‐beta plaques, and p‐tau were also reduced in the hippocampus. Such modulatory effects of hiPSC‐NSC‐EVs also led to better cognitive and mood function. Thus, early hiPSC‐NSC‐EV intervention in AD can maintain better brain function by reducing adverse neuroinflammatory signalling cascades, amyloid‐beta plaque load, and p‐tau. These results reflect the first demonstration of the efficacy of hiPSC‐NSC‐EVs to restrain neuroinflammatory signalling cascades in an AD model by inducing transcriptomic changes in activated microglia and reactive astrocytes.

Numerous studies have evaluated snap bean pod yield and quality at different pod maturities, but only a few have evaluated yield and pod quality across different seasons within the same year or for pods harvested at the same relative maturity successively from the same plants. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine if snap bean yield or pod sugar accumulation differed for pods at the same relative stage of maturity from plants harvested multiple times in spring and fall planting seasons in north central Oklahoma. Nine snap bean cultivars (seven green-podded and two yellow-podded) were field-grown in Spring and Fall 2022 and 2023. Pods were harvested weekly for 3 weeks from the same plants and at the same relative pod development stage. Pod yield and sugar concentration were measured. The total pod yield pooled across seasons and years of ‘Sybaris’ was lower (approximately 4100 kg⋅ha−1) than that of six of the other cultivars, which yielded between 7000 to 8600 kg⋅ha−1. In spring, pod yield increased from 900 to 1300 kg⋅ha−1 in the first harvest to 3500 to 3700 kg⋅ha−1 by the last harvest. In Fall 2022, the yield decreased from 1900 kg⋅ha−1 in the first harvest to 690 kg⋅ha−1 by the last harvest, whereas in Fall 2023 the pod yield remained steady at 2600 to 3000 kg⋅ha−1 at each weekly harvest. The Fall 2022 decrease in yield was likely caused by low temperatures during pod development and a freeze that shortened the harvest season. From the first to the last harvest, the total pod sugar concentration decreased from 145.5 to 107.2 mg⋅g−1, glucose decreased from 48.4 to 33.0 mg⋅g−1, and fructose decreased from 90.7 to 52.0 mg⋅g−1. However, the sucrose concentration increased from 9.2 to 21.9 mg⋅g−1. This decrease in the total and monomeric sugar concentrations, coupled with a disproportionally smaller increase in sucrose, is typical for overly mature snap bean pods, which are considered less desirable because of lower sweetness. Snap bean pods harvested later in the growing season in a successive harvest system at the same relative stage of maturity as earlier harvested pods had sugar concentrations resembling those of overly mature pods, indicating that snap bean plant age may influence the pod sugar concentration.

Clostridium thermocellum is a desirable biocatalyst for biohydrogen production, with a native ability to simultaneously saccharify cellulose and to metabolize released cellodextrins for hydrogen production. During fermentation with C. thermocellum, partial pressures of two gases - CO2 and H2 - are critical drivers of overall reaction kinetics. Biohydrogen production is enhanced by maintaining a low hydrogen partial pressure, while high concentrations of dissolved CO2 promote microbial biomass synthesis. Our study evaluates the inherent trade-offs between hydrogen stripping and inorganic carbon supply for optimized biohydrogen synthesis. We find that nitrogen sparging at low flow rates increases hydrogen production when compared with an equivalent nitrogen overlay, but that high rates of nitrogen sparging inhibit cell growth and hydrogen production. Decreasing dissolved hydrogen partial pressure via nitrogen sparging also lowers the production of reduced metabolites, including lactate and ethanol. To address potential stripping of inorganic carbon from the production medium, we supplemented CO2 to the sparging gas and co-optimized for gas flow rate and for the CO2 fraction of the sparging gas. Total hydrogen production increased from 50 mmol∙L−1 in the base condition, when the bioreactor was sparged with 0.1 LPM of pure nitrogen, to 181.3 mmol∙L−1 when sparged with 1.3 LPM of 33 % CO2, demonstrating that biohydrogen production is highly sensitive to both parameters. Fine sensitivity of biohydrogen production to sparging conditions highlights the critical importance of bioreactor design and operation to achieve maximum H2 removal without compromising inorganic carbon supply to bacterial central metabolism.

Three online courses at the authors' institution have successfully used an extensive guest lecturer format (N = 22-30) for almost 10 years. The course design facilitates networking within the relatively small but diverse and global field of aquatic animal health. In this study of students' learning experiences, students perceived the courses as valuable and provided ample positive feedback in appreciation of the inclusion of many diverse guest speakers. Moreover, only minimal course design modifications were identified to improve upon learner satisfaction and academic success.

Introduction: HPV vaccination prevents most HPV-related cancers, yet uptake remains low. HPV is linked to an estimated 70% of oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) in the US and outnumber cases of HPV-related cervical cancers. Not all OPCs can be detected through routine screening, making HPV vaccination a more effective primary prevention strategy. However, bridging primary and oral healthcare faces challenges due to a lack of referral networks between practices. The purpose of this study is to identify key infrastructure elements and policies, as well as HPV prevention strategies, among an academic practice network of dental clinics and partnering community health clinics in a southeastern state. Methods: Researchers held interviews with directors and focus groups with staff at six dental clinics and eight associated community clinics in a southeastern state. Interviews and focus groups at dental and community clinics were analyzed by two study team members using thematic analysis with Nvivo software. Results: A total of 90 participants participated in all focus groups and interviews (N = 14 interviews, 10 focus groups (5–13 participants per focus group). Most participants identified as white (58.9%) and female (70%), with an average age of 38.5 years. Researchers identified nine key study themes: three specific to the dental clinics’ HPV conversations with patients, two related to community clinics’ vaccine provision, and four involving the relationship between the dental and co-located community clinics. Dental clinic staff do not currently discuss HPV with patients. They are open to discussing HPV with patients but anticipate barriers that require preparation to overcome them. Community clinics have demonstrated previous success with HPV vaccination, but patients over the age of 18 face financial barriers to vaccination. Community clinics and dental clinics report that they do not currently have existing referral networks but are open to a referral system between practices if infrastructure is put into place to support it. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there is interest in, and potential for, increased discussion of HPV with dental patients and collaboration between dental and community clinics for HPV vaccination referral. The results of this investigation can be used to develop intervention strategies to increase HPV vaccination through referrals between dental clinics and nearby community clinics. Ultimately, this work can reduce health inequities in HPV-related cancers, serve as a model for US dental practices, and possibly influence public health policy.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is unique among mosquito-borne flaviviruses in that it is also vertically and sexually transmitted by humans. The male reproductive tract is thought to be a ZIKV reservoir; however, the reported magnitude and duration of viral persistence in male genital tissues vary widely in humans and non-human primate models. ZIKV tissue and cellular tropism and potential effects on male fertility also remain unclear. The objective of this study was to resolve these questions by analyzing archived genital tissues from 51 ZIKV-inoculated male macaques and correlating data on plasma viral kinetics, tissue tropism, and ZIKV-induced pathological changes in the reproductive tract. We hypothesized that ZIKV would persist in the male macaque genital tract for longer than there was detectable viremia, where it would localize to germ and epithelial cells and associate with lesions. We detected ZIKV RNA and infectious virus in testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostate gland. In contrast to prepubertal males, sexually mature macaques were significantly more likely to harbor persistent ZIKV RNA or infectious virus somewhere in the genital tract, with detection as late as 60 days post-inoculation. ZIKV RNA localized primarily to testicular stem cells/sperm precursors and epithelial cells, including Sertoli cells, epididymal duct epithelium, and glandular epithelia of the seminal vesicle and prostate gland. ZIKV infection was associated with microscopic evidence of inflammation in the epididymis and prostate gland of sexually mature males, pathologies that were absent in uninfected controls, which could have significant effects on male fertility. The findings from this study increase our understanding of persistent ZIKV infection which can inform risk of sexual transmission during assisted reproductive therapies as well as potential impacts on male fertility.

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause persistent respiratory sequelae. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we report that sub-lethally infected K18-human ACE2 mice show patchy pneumonia associated with histiocytic inflammation and collagen deposition at 21 and 45 days post infection (DPI). Transcriptomic analyses revealed that compared to influenza-infected mice, SARS-CoV-2-infected mice had reduced interferon-gamma/alpha responses at 4 DPI and failed to induce keratin 5 (Krt5) at 6 DPI in lung, a marker of nascent pulmonary progenitor cells. Histologically, influenza- but not SARS-CoV-2-infected mice showed extensive Krt5+ “pods” structure co-stained with stem cell markers Trp63/NGFR proliferated in the pulmonary consolidation area at both 7 and 14 DPI, with regression at 21 DPI. These Krt5+ “pods” structures were not observed in the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected humans or nonhuman primates. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection fails to induce nascent Krt5+ cell proliferation in consolidated regions, leading to incomplete repair of the injured lung.

Pecan (Carya illinoensis), an economically important deciduous tree, bears commercially valuable nutritional nuts. Spring freezes in April can severely injure pecan buds, decreasing bloom, and fruit set. This study determined how low temperatures affect pecan buds/flowers at different growth stages in several pecan scion/rootstock combinations. This study focused on three pecan scion/rootstock combinations: Pawnee/Peruque (PP), Kanza/Giles (KG), and Maramec/Colby (MC), grown at the Cimarron Valley Research Station, Perkins, Oklahoma. Branches at three different growth stages, i.e., outer bud scale shed, one week after bud break, and early bloom stages were collected from PP, MC, and KG. Branches were held in a Conviron E8 freezing unit at 4 temperatures (-2, 0, 2, and 4°C) for 4 and 8 hours; A total of 8 treatments. One sample set was kept as an untreated control. After 2–3 weeks, branch samples from all the temperature treatments were observed and categorized into two groups. Group one with number of branches had healthy buds/formation of healthy leaves/flowers and group two with number of dead branches. The carbohydrate content reserved from dormant was analyzed using an Anthrone reagent. Visual observations and carbohydrate analyses revealed differences in damage and carbohydrate content among the scion/rootstock combinations, low-temperature treatments, and growth stages. The MC combination had minimum visual damage to leaves, buds, and flowers and significantly lower soluble sugars and starch in bark phloem as well as significantly lower soluble sugars in woody tissue xylem. The KG combination had maximum visual damage and significantly higher soluble sugars and starches in the bark, and soluble sugars in the woody tissues. These results indicate the MC combination is more tolerant to spring freeze damage at all three growth stages compared to the other two pecan scion/rootstock combinations. The results also demonstrate the MC combination is using more non-structural carbohydrates, soluble sugars and starches, suggesting this is a possible mechanism in its freeze tolerance.

The well-being of wildlife populations, ecosystem health, and human health are interlinked, and preserving wildlife is crucial for sustaining healthy ecosystems. Wildlife numbers, and in particular avian populations, have steeply declined over the past century, associated with anthropogenic factors originating from industry, urbanization, changing land use, habitat loss, pollution, emerging diseases, and climate change. All these factors combine to exert increasing stress and impair health for both humans and wildlife, with diminished metabolic, immune, and reproductive function, deteriorating overall health, and reduced longevity. The “toxic aging coin” suggests that these stressors may have dual impacts on aging–they can accelerate the aging process, and older individuals may struggle to cope with pollutants compared to younger ones. These responses are reflected in the health and productivity of individuals, and at a larger scale, the health and ability of populations to withstand disturbances. To understand the potential risk to health over the lifespan, it is important to articulate some of these global challenges and consider both their impacts on aging populations and on the aging process. In this review, we use the toxic aging coin and One Health conceptual frameworks to examine the interconnected health of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. This exploration aims to develop proactive approaches for optimizing wildlife and human health.

BackgroundAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is fatal in elderly patients who are unfit for standard induction chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival benefit of administering sapacitabine, an oral nucleoside analogue, in alternating cycles with decitabine, a low-intensity therapy, to elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML.MethodsThis randomized, open-label, phase 3 study (SEAMLESS) was conducted at 87 sites in 11 countries. Patients aged ≥70 years who were not candidates for or chose not to receive standard induction chemotherapy were randomized 1:1 to arm A (decitabine in alternating cycles with sapacitabine) received 1-hour intravenous infusions of decitabine 20 mg/m2 once daily for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks (first cycle and subsequent odd cycles) and sapacitabine 300 mg twice daily on 3 consecutive days per week for 2 weeks every 8 weeks (second cycle and subsequent even cycles) or to control arm C who received 1-hour infusions of decitabine 20 mg/m2 once daily for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. Prior hypomethylating agent therapy for preexisting myelodysplastic syndromes or myeloproliferative neoplasms was an exclusion criterion. Randomization was stratified by antecedent myelodysplastic syndromes or myeloproliferative neoplasms, white blood cell count (

BackgroundRhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) exhibit pronounced individual differences in social traits as measured by the macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised. The macaque Social Responsiveness Scale was previously adapted from the Social Responsiveness Scale, an instrument designed to assess social and autistic trait variation in humans. To better understand potential biological underpinnings of this behavioral variation, we evaluated the trait-like consistency of several biological measures previously implicated in autism (e.g., arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, and their receptors, as well as ERK1/2, PTEN, and AKT(1-3) from the RAS-MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways). We also tested which biological measures predicted macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised scores.MethodsCerebrospinal fluid and blood samples were collected from N = 76 male monkeys, which, as a sample, showed a continuous distribution on the macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised. In a subset of these subjects (n = 43), samples were collected thrice over a 10-month period. The following statistical tests were used: "Case 2A" intra-class correlation coefficients of consistency, principal component analysis, and general linear modeling.ResultsAll biological measures (except AKT) showed significant test-retest reliability within individuals across time points. We next performed principal component analysis on data from monkeys with complete biological measurement sets at the first time point (n = 57), to explore potential correlations between the reliable biological measures and their relationship to macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised score; a three-component solution was found. Follow-up analyses revealed that cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration, but no other biological measure, robustly predicted individual differences in macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised scores, such that monkeys with the lowest cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration exhibited the greatest social impairment. Finally, we confirmed that this result held in the larger study sample (in which cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin values were available from n = 75 of the subjects).ConclusionsThese findings indicate that cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration is a stable trait-like measure and that it is linked to quantitative social trait variation in male rhesus monkeys.

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a variety of medical morbidities at significantly higher rates than the general population. Using an established monkey model of naturally occurring low sociality, we investigated whether low-social monkeys show an increased burden of medical morbidities compared to their high-social counterparts. We systematically reviewed the medical records of N = 152 (n = 73 low-social; n = 79 high-social) rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to assess the number of traumatic injury, gastrointestinal, and inflammatory events, as well as the presence of rare medical conditions. Subjects' nonsocial scores, determined by the frequency they were observed in a nonsocial state (i.e., alone), and macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised (mSRS-R) scores were also used to test whether individual differences in social functioning were related to medical morbidity burden. Medical morbidity type significantly differed by group, such that low-social monkeys incurred higher rates of traumatic injury compared to high-social monkeys. Nonsocial scores and mSRS-R scores also significantly and positively predicted traumatic injury rates, indicating that monkeys with the greatest social impairment were most impacted on this health measure. These findings from low-social monkeys are consistent with well-documented evidence that people with ASD incur a greater number of traumatic injuries and receive more peer bullying than their neurotypical peers, and add to growing evidence for the face validity of this primate model. LAY SUMMARY: People with autism exhibit multiple medical problems at higher rates than the general population. We conducted a comprehensive medical record review of monkeys that naturally exhibit differences in sociality and found that low-social monkeys are more susceptible to traumatic injuries than high-social monkeys. These results are consistent with reports that people with autism also incur greater traumatic injury and peer bullying and add to growing evidence for the validity of this monkey model.

Most primate species are highly social. Yet, within species, pronounced individual differences in social functioning are evident. In humans, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) measures variation in social functioning. The SRS provides a quantitative measure of social functioning in natural social settings and can be used as a screening tool for autistic traits. The SRS was previously adapted for use in chimpanzees and recently refined for rhesus macaques, resulting in the macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised (mSRS-R). Here, we performed an exploratory factor analysis on the mSRS-R in a large sample of male rhesus macaques (N = 233). We investigated the relationships of the resulting mSRS-R factors to quantitative social behavior (alone, proximity, contact, groom, and play) and to previously-established personality dimensions (Sociability, Confidence, Irritability, and Equability). Factor analysis yielded three mSRS-R factors: Poor Social Motivation, Poor Social Attractiveness, and Inappropriate Behavior. mSRS-R factors mapped closely to social behavior and personality dimensions in rhesus macaques, providing support for this instrument's convergent and discriminant validity. Animals with higher Poor Social Motivation were more likely to be observed alone and less likely to be observed in contact and grooming with conspecifics. Animals with higher Poor Social Attractiveness were less likely to be observed playing but more likely to be observed grooming with conspecifics. Inappropriate Behavior did not predict any behavioral measure. Finally, animals with higher Poor Social Motivation and higher Poor Social Attractiveness had less sociable personalities, whereas animals with more Inappropriate Behavior were more confident and more irritable. These findings suggest that the mSRS-R is a promising, psychometrically robust tool that can be deployed to better understand the psychological factors contributing to individual differences in macaque social functioning and, with relevant species-specific modification, the SRS may hold promise for investigating variation in social functioning across diverse primate taxa.

The effects of immunodeficiency associated with chronic HIV infection on COVID-19 disease and viral persistence have not been directly addressed in a controlled setting. In this pilot study, we exposed two pigtail macaques (PTMs) chronically infected with SIVmac239, exhibiting from very low to no CD4 T cells across all compartments, to SARS-CoV-2. We monitored the disease progression, viral replication, and evolution, and compared these outcomes with SIV-naïve PTMs infected with SARS-CoV-2. No overt signs of COVID-19 disease were observed in either animal, and the SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetics and evolution in the SIVmac239 PTMs were indistinguishable from those in the SIV-naïve PTMs in all sampled mucosal sites. However, the single-cell RNA sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage cells revealed an infiltration of functionally inert monocytes after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Critically, neither of the SIV-infected PTMs mounted detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses nor anti-SARS-CoV-2 binding or neutralizing antibodies. Thus, HIV-induced immunodeficiency alone may not be sufficient to drive the emergence of novel viral variants but may remove the ability of infected individuals to mount adaptive immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.

The significance of urban landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity is often disregarded, even though a considerable amount of conservation focus is directed toward biodiversity hotspots where urban land conversion is happening at the fastest pace. Maintaining biodiversity in urban areas not only benefits the environment, but along with social, economic, and technological factors can increase the stability of urban systems to disturbance, a concept known as “urban resilience”. In this synthesis paper, we explore the ecological dimension of urban resilience and specifically focus on avian biodiversity because birds are easy to observe, relatively abundant, and can serve as an indicator of the overall health of urban environments. We first examine the concept of ecological resilience and discuss the role of environmental stressors associated with urbanization in the ongoing avian biodiversity crisis. We then provide an overview of characteristics of the urban environment that may promote ecological resilience in birds, and associations between social and economic factors and urban ecological resilience. Finally, we provide recommendations on future research regarding strategies to improve urban ecological resilience and thus, urban resilience as a whole, at the intersections of urban ecology, ecosystem ecology, environmental justice, and urban planning. Since 68% of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050, it is imperative that scientists, urban planners, civil engineers, architects, and others consider urban ecological resilience as a dimension of both environmental health and the resilience of cities to future natural and anthropogenic stressors.

Abstract Introduction Choosing the right contraception can be a daunting process and it is important that people feel in control of their bodies during this decision‐making process. Materials and Methods This study investigates who college‐aged students talk to about their hormonal contraceptive choice and how that impacts their feeling of control during their decision‐making process. Results The study found participants spoke to a variety of sources about this decision, like their healthcare providers when they wanted a clinical point of view, their mothers when they wanted a more personal and caring point a view, their overall social networks when they wanted multiple point of views, and some participants ultimately felt the most control when just referring to themselves and their own feelings. Conclusions More research can be done on how specific beliefs among figures in college‐aged students' lives impact these contraceptive discussions, the choices they feel they can make, and how in control of themselves they feel.

Burkholderia thailandensis, a gram-negative bacterium found in the environment, poses a public health threat both because of its ability to cause infections as an opportunistic pathogen and potential misidentification as [...]

Author(s): Aleyah Johnson [sup.1] , Page D. Dobbs [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Lois Coleman [sup.1] [sup.4] , Sarah Maness [sup.1] [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.266900.b, 0000 0004 0447 0018, Department [...], Objectives Adverse birth outcomes among children born to women of color (WOC) have been associated with discrimination during pregnancy; however, little research has explored stressed caused by discrimination as well as pregnancy-specific stress. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in stress and racial discrimination (lifetime and during pregnancy) between U.S. women of different racial/ethnic groups. Methods Women between 18 and 45 years (n = 198; 101 non-Hispanic White, 58 Black, and 39 other WOC [i.e., Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian, Mixed Race]) completed an online, cross-sectional survey between December 2019 and March 2020. Participants reported pregnancy-specific stress using the pregnancy distress questionnaire (PDQ) and pregnancy life events scale (PLE) and discrimination via the general ethnic discrimination scale (GED). ANOVAs explored differences between racial/ethnic groups&apos; stress and discrimination. Results We found non-Hispanic White (p < 0.05) and other WOC (p < 0.01) reported higher distress during pregnancy than Black women, and other WOC (p < 0.05) reported more stressful prenatal life events (p 0.05) than non-Hispanic Whites. However, Black (p 0.001) and other WOC (p 0.001) both experienced more ethnic discrimination throughout their lifetime and during their pregnancy than non-Hispanic Whites. Also, Black women experienced five times the stress from these encounters than White women (p < 0.001). Conclusions for Practice Previously developed pregnancy distress questionnaires may be better suited for non-Hispanic White populations and may miss important experiences unique to marginalized populations such as racial/ethnic discrimination. Adaptations to pregnancy-related stress scales are warranted given the toxicity of discrimination during pregnancy.

Naturally low-social rhesus macaques exhibit social impairments with direct relevance to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To more efficiently identify low-social individuals in a large colony, we exploited, refined, and psychometrically assessed the macaque Social Responsiveness Scale (mSRS), an instrument previously derived from the human ASD screening tool. We performed quantitative social behavior assessments and mSRS ratings on a total of N = 349 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) housed in large, outdoor corrals. In one cohort (N = 116), we conducted inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities, and in a second cohort (N = 233), we evaluated the convergent construct and predictive validity of the mSRS-Revised (mSRS-R). Only 17 of the original 36 items demonstrated inter-rater and test-retest reliability, resulting in the 17-item mSRS-R. The mSRS-R showed strong validity: mSRS-R scores robustly predicted monkeys' social behavior frequencies in home corrals. Monkeys that scored 1.5 standard deviations from the mean on nonsocial behavior likewise exhibited significantly more autistic-like traits, and mSRS-R scores predicted individuals' social classification (low-social vs. high-social) with 96% accuracy (likelihood ratio chi-square = 25.07; P

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine, college student's beliefs toward HPV, and HPV vaccine uptake between US and international college students studying in the US. Participants: The study was conducted using a sample (N = 588) of college students from a university in the South Central US. Methods: Study measures was derived from previously validated measures. Data were collected via an online survey using Qualtrics. Results: Significant differences were found in HPV awareness, HPV vaccine awareness, and HPV vaccine uptake between US and international college students. Conclusion: This study showed existing disparities between US and international college students regarding HPV and HPV vaccine awareness, and HPV vaccine uptake. College health centers can play a crucial role in raising awareness of HPV and HPV vaccination rates by organizing various intervention programs to reduce these disparities.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium spp., are endemic in similar geographical locations. As a result, there is high potential for HIV/Plasmodium co-infection, which increases the pathology of both diseases. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying the exacerbated disease pathology observed in co-infected individuals are poorly understood. Moreover, there is limited data available on the impact of Plasmodium co-infection on antiretroviral (ART)-treated HIV infection. Here, we used the rhesus macaque (RM) model to conduct a pilot study to establish a model of Plasmodium fragile co-infection during ART-treated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, and to begin to characterize the immunopathogenic effect of co-infection in the context of ART. We observed that P. fragile co-infection resulted in parasitemia and anemia, as well as persistently detectable viral loads (VLs) and decreased absolute CD4+ T-cell counts despite daily ART treatment. Notably, P. fragile co-infection was associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). P. fragile co-infection was also associated with increased levels of neutrophil elastase, a plasma marker of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, but significant decreases in markers of neutrophil degranulation, potentially indicating a shift in the neutrophil functionality during co-infection. Finally, we characterized the levels of plasma markers of gastrointestinal (GI) barrier permeability and microbial translocation and observed significant correlations between indicators of GI dysfunction, clinical markers of SIV and Plasmodium infection, and neutrophil frequency and function. Taken together, these pilot data verify the utility of using the RM model to examine ART-treated SIV/P. fragile co-infection, and indicate that neutrophil-driven inflammation and GI dysfunction may underlie heightened SIV/P. fragile co-infection pathogenesis.