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Abstract Pervasive SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans have led to multiple transmission events to animals. While SARS-CoV-2 has a potential broad wildlife host range, most documented infections have been in captive animals and a single wildlife species, the white-tailed deer. The full extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure among wildlife communities and the factors that influence wildlife transmission risk remain unknown. We sampled 23 species of wildlife for SARS-CoV-2 and examined the effects of urbanization and human use on seropositivity. Here, we document positive detections of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in six species, including the deer mouse, Virginia opossum, raccoon, groundhog, Eastern cottontail, and Eastern red bat between May 2022–September 2023 across Virginia and Washington, D.C., USA. In addition, we found that sites with high human activity had three times higher seroprevalence than low human-use areas. We obtained SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences from nine individuals of six species which were assigned to seven Pango lineages of the Omicron variant. The close match to variants circulating in humans at the time suggests at least seven recent human-to-animal transmission events. Our data support that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has been widespread in wildlife communities and suggests that areas with high human activity may serve as points of contact for cross-species transmission.

Background Rapid Start ensures that persons with HIV initiate antiretroviral therapy in less than seven days after diagnosis. Benefits of Rapid Start include timely linkage to medical care, viral suppression in a shorter time and improved retention to medical care. Despite these benefits, there is a slow uptake of Rapid Start, in New Jersey. Objective Identify barriers to Rapid Start among New Jersey providers. Methods An electronic survey, consisting of 28 questions, with the following domains was administered to New Jersey providers, using Qualtrics: provider and practice characteristics (10), knowledge (1), barriers (8) and attitudes to diverse patient types (9). The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics due to small numbers over strata. Approval to conduct the survey was obtained from the William Paterson University Institutional Review Board. Results There were 69 responses to the survey. Providers were at least 45 years old (48%), female (44/60, 73%), nurse practitioners or physician assistants (41/59, 69%). Overall, 44/63 (70%) providers did not correctly identify that integrase inhibitors had the lowest prevalence of transmitted drug resistance. Newly diagnosed patients were referred for medical care in 37 (65%) of the medical sites. Only providers from Ryan White (federally funded clinics for persons with HIV) (64%) and non-Ryan White (73%) public sites reported co-located HIV testing sites. Seventy percent of medical sites offered same-day medical appointments. However, a lower proportion of private (62%), public Ryan White (55%), and other medical sites (36%) offered same-day appointments compared to public non-Ryan White sites (82%). Despite having staff available 40 h per week (91%), only 55% of Ryan White sites offered extended office hours in the early morning, evenings, or on Saturdays. When compared to providers in public non-Ryan White sites, a lower proportion of providers in Ryan White sites were comfortable doing Rapid Start either on the day of or within one week of diagnosis, 82% and 72%, respectively, or starting antiretroviral therapy before genotype results were available, 55% and 46%, respectively. Overall, providers were not comfortable with Rapid Start for persons engaging in condomless sex (60%). Conclusions Policy and administrative decisions are needed to eliminate barriers at the clinic level. An HIV clinical scholar program, to increase providers knowledge, may increase uptake of Rapid Start.

Abstract Modern communication and navigation systems are increasingly relying on atomic clocks. As timing precision requirements increase, demands for lower SWaP (size, weight, and power) clocks rise. However, it has been challenging to break through the general trade-off trend between the clock stability performance and SWaP. Here we demonstrate micro mercury trapped ion clock (M2TIC) prototypes integrated with novel micro-fabricated technologies to simultaneously achieve high performance and low SWaP. The M2TIC prototypes could reach the $$10^{-14}$$ 10 - 14 -stability level in 1 day with a SWaP of 1.1 L, 1.2 kg, and under 6 W of power. This stability level is comparable to the widely used rack-mount Microchip 5071A cesium frequency standard. These standalone prototypes survived regular commercial shipping across the North American continent to a government laboratory, where their performance was independently tested. The M2TIC sets a new reference point for SWaP and performance and opens opportunities for high-performance clocks in terrestrial and space applications.

Summary: Background: Understanding the impact of incarceration on HIV transmission among Black men who have sex with men is important given their disproportionate representation among people experiencing incarceration and the potential impact of incarceration on social and sexual networks, employment, housing, and medical care. We developed an agent-based network model (ABNM) of 10,000 agents representing young Black men who have sex with men in the city of Chicago to examine the impact of varying degrees of post-incarceration care disruption and care engagement interventions following release from jail on HIV incidence. Methods: Exponential random graph models were used to model network formation and dissolution dynamics, and network dynamics and HIV care continuum engagement were varied according to incarceration status. Hypothetical interventions to improve post-release engagement in HIV care for individuals with incarceration (e.g., enhanced case management, linkage to housing and employment services) were compared to a control scenario with no change in HIV care engagement after release. Finding: HIV incidence at 10 years was 4.98 [95% simulation interval (SI): 4.87, 5.09 per 100 person-years (py)] in the model population overall; 5.58 (95% SI 5.38, 5.76 per 100 py) among those with history of incarceration, and 12.86 (95% SI 11.89, 13.73 per 100 py) among partners of agents recently released from incarceration. Sustained post-release HIV care for agents with HIV and experiencing recent incarceration resulted in a 46% reduction in HIV incidence among post-incarceration partners [incidence rate (IR) per 100 py = 5.72 (95% SI 5.19, 6.27) vs. 10.61 (95% SI 10.09, 11.24); incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.54; (95% SI 0.48, 0.60)] and a 19% reduction in HIV incidence in the population overall [(IR per 100 py = 3.89 (95% SI 3.81–3.99) vs. 4.83 (95% SI 4.73, 4.92); IRR = 0.81 (95% SI 0.78, 0.83)] compared to a scenario with no change in HIV care engagement from pre-to post-release. Interpretation: Developing effective and scalable interventions to increase HIV care engagement among individuals experiencing recent incarceration and their sexual partners is needed to reduce HIV transmission among Black men who have sex with men. Funding: This work was supported by the following grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01DA039934; P20 GM 130414; P30 AI 042853; P30MH058107; T32 DA 043469; U2C DA050098 and the California HIV/AIDS Research Program: OS17-LA-003; H21PC3466.

The penetration of ions plays an important role in the durability of concrete structures. This study aims to establish the feasibility of using dental X-ray equipment to measure the concentration and penetration of iodide within cementitious systems. This technique is known as checking ion penetration (CHIP). This test uses iodide as a tracer because it has a high electron density, and so it can be observed with X-ray imaging as it penetrates the concrete. Concentration profiles from CHIP are used to calculate the apparent diffusion coefficient (Dac). These results are similar to measurements from bulk chloride ponding tests. The Dac is used to predict the service life or evaluate the quality of an as-built concrete structure or concrete mixture. Because of the wide availability of dental equipment, CHIP shows promise to be used as a method to measure the in-place quality control of the concrete.

Abstract Background Native warm‐season grass (NWSG) mixtures may provide a low‐nitrogen (N)‐input summer perennial forage option to extensively managed forage–livestock systems. Methods Mixed pastures of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium Michx.), and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.) fertilized with 0 or 67 kg N ha−1 were continuously stocked with beef heifers and cows. Forage mass, nutritive value, and canopy heights were determined every 2 weeks during the grazing season. Stand persistence measures included the canopy cover and leaf area index (LAI) and plant crown density at spring emergence following 3 years of grazing management. Results Forage mass, canopy height, and stocking densities were greater for N‐fertilized NWSG than unfertilized NWSG for the first 30 days of the growing season across the 3‐year study. Forage NWSG fertilized with N had a greater decrease in LAI during the growing season (51% decrease) than unfertilized NWSG. Spring NWSG plant density estimates following 3 years of grazing did not differ across N management strategies. Conclusions Forage NWSG mixtures supported superior forage attributes and greater stocking densities early in the grazing season under low‐level N than zero‐N‐input systems and may provide a low‐N‐input alternative for improved species use in southeastern US forage–livestock systems.

The lytic replication of bacteriophage P1 requires RepL expression and the lytic stage origin, oriL, which is postulated to be located within repL gene sequence. The exact sequence of P1 oriL and the mechanism(s) of RepL-mediated DNA replication, however, are not fully understood. By using repL gene expression to induce DNA replication of a gfp and a rfp reporter plasmids, we demonstrated that synonymous base substitution in an adenine/thymidine-rich region of repL gene sequence, termed AT2, significantly inhibited the RepL-mediated signal amplification. Contrastingly, mutations in an IHF and two DnaA binding sites did not affect the RepL-mediated signal amplification significantly. A truncated repL sequence with the AT2 region allowed RepL-mediated signal amplification in trans therefore verifying a significant role of the AT2 region in RepL-mediated DNA replication. A combination of repL gene expression and a non-protein-coding copy of repL gene sequence (termed nc-repL) was able to amplify the output of an arsenic biosensor. Furthermore, mutation(s) at single or multiple positions within the AT2 region produced varying levels of RepL-mediated signal amplification. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the identity and location of P1 oriL as well as demonstrating the potential of using repL constructs to amplify and modulate the output of genetic biosensors.

Two parallel public health epidemics affecting the United States include the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in substance use disorders (SUDs). Limited research has examined the potential relationship between these two epidemics. Our objective was therefore to perform an exploratory study in order to examine the association between public stigma toward people with a past history of opioid, methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol use disorder and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. A national sample of U.S. adults (N = 6515) completed a survey which assessed the degree of negative perceptions toward individuals with a past history of substance use disorders (referred to as substance use stigma) and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, along with variables such as racial prejudice, source of health news, and other demographics. We evaluated four multivariable logistic regression models to predict COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, utilizing substance use stigma toward opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol use as independent variables. We found that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was positively associated with substance use stigma toward opioid (AOR = 1.34, p < 0.05), methamphetamine (AOR = 1.40, p < 0.01), and cocaine (AOR = 1.28, p < 0.05) use, but not alcohol use (AOR = 1.06, n.s.). Predictive models that incorporate substance use stigma may therefore improve our ability to identify individuals that may benefit from vaccine hesitancy interventions. Future research to understand the underlying reasons behind the association between substance use stigma and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy may help us to construct combined interventions which address belief systems that promote both substance use stigma and vaccine hesitancy.

Objectives: Data collected during routine care holds the potential to support hypothesis generation, study feasibility, and provide insight regarding how to address problems under real world conditions. Currently there are no practice-based research networks in Florida that focus on complementary care in general or medical marijuana specifically. Through an academic-industry partnership, we sought to develop a practice-based research network focused on cannabis science and create a de-identified database for analyses that support hypothesis generation, study feasibility estimation, and a network that also facilitates recruitment into future research studies. Design: The Complementary Care Practice-Based Research Network (CC-PBRN) is a centralized repository, which contains electronic health records (EHR) from a private medical cannabis health system in the state of Florida. Results: This paper provides cross-sectional descriptive analyses of the CC-PBRN’s 43,802 currently active patients. There are 24 clinics in the network with nine in North Florida, 11 in Central Florida, and 4 in South Florida. Conclusion: This network serves as a statewide resource for patient-reported outcomes (PRO) research in medical marijuana. The network currently has numerous outpatient practices with thousands of patients that are a potential source of research participants for both observational studies as well as traditional clinical trials. The outpatient clinical practices can also serve as units of analysis for pragmatic trials comparing different care protocols and organizational structure.

Objectives: Getting to Zero (GTZ) initiatives focus on expanding use of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to eliminate new HIV infections. Computational models help inform policies for implementation of ART and PrEP continuums. Such models, however, vary in their design, and may yield inconsistent predictions. Using multiple approaches can help assess the consistency in results obtained from varied modeling frameworks, and can inform optimal implementation strategies. Methods: A study using three different modeling approaches is conducted. Two approaches use statistical time series analysis techniques that incorporate temporal HIV incidence data. A third approach uses stochastic stimulation, conducted using an agent-based network model (ABNM). All three approaches are used to project HIV incidence among a key population, young Black MSM (YBMSM), over the course of the GTZ implementation period (2016–2030). Results: All three approaches suggest that simultaneously increasing PrEP and ART uptake is likely to be more effective than increasing only one, but increasing ART and PrEP by 20% points may not eliminate new HIV infections among YBMSM. The results further suggest that a 20% increase in ART is likely to be more effective than a 20% increase in PrEP. All three methods consistently project that increasing ART and PrEP by 30% simultaneously can help reach GTZ goals. Conclusions: Increasing PrEP and ART uptake by about 30% might be necessary to accomplish GTZ goals. Such scale-up may require addressing psychosocial and structural barriers to engagement in HIV and PrEP care continuums. ABNMs and other flexible modeling approaches can be extended to examine specific interventions that address these barriers and may provide important data to guide the successful intervention implementation.

Abstract Observations show ocean temperatures are rising due to climate change, resulting in a fivefold increase in the incidence of regional-scale coral bleaching events since the 1980s; analyses based on global climate models forecast bleaching will become an annual event for most of the world’s coral reefs within 30–50 yr. Internal waves at tidal frequencies can regularly flush reefs with cooler waters, buffering the thermal stress from rising sea-surface temperatures. Here we present the first global maps of the effects these processes have on bleaching projections for three IPCC-AR5 emissions scenarios. Incorporating semidiurnal temperature fluctuations into the projected water temperatures at depth creates a delay in the timing of annual severe bleaching ≥ 10 yr (≥ 20 yr) for 38% (9%), 15% (1%), and 1% (0%) of coral reef sites for the low, moderate, and high emission scenarios, respectively; regional averages can reach twice as high. These cooling effects are greatest later in twenty-first century for the moderate emission scenarios, and around the middle twenty-first century for the highest emission scenario. Our results demonstrate how these effects could delay bleaching for corals, providing thermal refugia. Identification of such areas could be a factor for the selection of coral reef marine protected areas.

Young Black and Latino sexual minority men (YBLSM) exhibit disproportionately high rates of negative sexual health outcomes, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, compared to other groups, partly due to relatively higher rates of exposure to a host of socio-structural risk factors (e.g., unstable housing and under-employment). However, an under-studied interpersonal resource exists for many YBLSM, non-parental adults (NPAs, i.e., adults who act as role models and provide social support), who may be able to influence contextual (e.g., unemployment) and individual (e.g., reduced health expectations) factors underlying sexual health disparities.Aims: This study sought to examine the role of NPAs in factors that affect sexual health behaviors and in supporting those health behaviors directly, among YBLSM living in a mid-sized city in the southern United States. A total of n=20 participants, n=10 YBLSM (ages 16 to 22), and n=10 NPAs (ages 26 to 52) were interviewed using semi-structured guides to examine NPA involvement in the lives of YBLSM from both sides of the relationship. The research team used a framework analysis approach to iteratively identify and define meaningful codes and sub-codes. Both YBLSM and NPAs described NPAs helping YBLSM through role modeling and social support in a variety of areas found to affect sexual health behaviors, such as housing instability and psychological distress, as well as in specific behaviors, such as condom use and HIV medication adherence. Given the multiple socio-structural obstacles facing YBLSM and their multifaceted relationships with NPAs, NPAs may be a promising resource to help address these impediments to health. Partnering more intentionally with NPAs is a potentially promising strategy to help reduce HIV-related disparities affecting YBLSM that is worthy of additional empirical attention.

In southeastern USA, the use of baleage has increased as an alternative technology to hay production, thereby allowing for a timelier harvest of the conserved forage. A series of studies were conducted to determine the nutritive value, fermentation parameters, and in situ disappearance of the cool-season annual forage mixtures that were ensiled with or without silage inoculant for up to 120 d. The forage mixtures were wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) + brassica hybrid (Brassica rapa L. × napus L.) (WB), wheat + crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) (WC), and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) + oat (Avena sativa L.) + crimson clover (ROC). The inoculant strategy affected the CP concentration (p < 0.05), with it increasing in WB and decreasing in ROC. Among the mixtures, the DM concentration decreased by up to 5%, and the NDF and ADF concentrations decreased by up to 10% during the ensiling period. The pH averaged 5.0, 5.0, and 5.5 for the WC, WB, and ROC mixtures, respectively. Based on our results, the baleage of the cool-season annual forage mixtures may provide a viable high-quality option to sustain animal growth and performance.

The mental health impact of exposure to police harassment is understudied, particularly among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM), a group at elevated risk of exposure to such discrimination. This study aimed to identify the associations among BMSM between recent police harassment and psychosocial vulnerability, psychological distress, and depression measured six months later. Data come from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 061 Study, a cohort study of BMSM recruited in 6 U.S. cities (Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Washington DC). Participants completed baseline, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up interviews. A convenience sample of 1553 BMSM was recruited between July 2009 and October 2010 of whom 1155 returned for a follow-up interview 12 months later. Accounting for previous police interaction, poverty, psychopathology, drug use, and alcohol use, we estimated associations between recent police harassment reported at the 6 month follow-up interview and 12 month outcomes including psychosocial vulnerability (elevated racial/sexual identity incongruence), psychological distress (being distressed by experiences of racism and/or homophobia), and depression. About 60% of men reported experiencing police harassment between the baseline and 6-month interview due to their race and/or sexuality. Adjusted analyses suggested police harassment was independently associated with a 10.81 (95% CI: 7.97, 13.66) point increase and 8.68 (95% CI: 6.06, 11.30) point increase in distress due to experienced racism and distress due to experienced homophobia scores, respectively. Police harassment perceived to be dually motivated predicted disproportionate levels of distress. Police harassment is prevalent and associated with negative influences on psychosocial vulnerability and psychological distress among BMSM. Reducing exposure to police harassment may improve the psychosocial health of BMSM.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a self-limited disease of unknown etiology that is clinically defined by fevers accompanied by tender posterior cervical lymphadenopathy. It often presents acutely or sub-acutely, and due to its non-specific features, the differential diagnosis is broad and includes infectious, autoimmune, and malignant causes. Although cases of extra-cervical disease are not uncommon, involvement of retroperitoneal lymph nodes has only rarely been reported. Here, we describe a patient with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease who presented with fever of unknown origin, abdominal pain, and enlarged hypermetabolic retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

Protective behaviors such as mask wearing and physical distancing are critical to slow the spread of COVID-19, even in the context of vaccine scale-up. Understanding the variation in self-reported COVID-19 protective behaviors is critical to developing public health messaging. The purpose of the study is to provide nationally representative estimates of five self-reported COVID-19 protective behaviors and correlates of such behaviors. In this cross-sectional survey study of US adults, surveys were administered via internet and telephone. Adults were surveyed from April 30-May 4, 2020, a time of peaking COVID-19 incidence within the US. Participants were recruited from the probability-based AmeriSpeak® national panel. Brief surveys were completed by 994 adults, with 73.0% of respondents reported mask wearing, 82.7% reported physical distancing, 75.1% reported crowd avoidance, 89.8% reported increased hand-washing, and 7.7% reported having prior COVID-19 testing. Multivariate analysis (p critical value .05) indicates that women were more likely to report protective behaviors than men, as were those over age 60. Respondents who self-identified as having low incomes, histories of criminal justice involvement, and Republican Party affiliation, were less likely to report four protective behaviors, though Republicans and individuals with criminal justice histories were more likely to report having received COVID-19 testing. The majority of Americans engaged in COVID-19 protective behaviors, with low-income Americans, those with histories of criminal justice involvement, and self-identified Republicans less likely to engage in these preventive behaviors. Culturally competent public health messaging and interventions might focus on these latter groups to prevent future infections. These findings will remain highly relevant even with vaccines widely available, given the complementarities between vaccines and protective behaviors, as well as the many challenges in delivering vaccines.

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