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Despite the increasing adoption of a syndemic approach in HIV research, few health communication campaigns have used a syndemic approach in messaging to improve health outcomes for persons living with HIV (PWH). This paper introduces a framework for practitioners and researchers developing health communication messages in support of a syndemic approach to HIV care for PWH in the United States. Grounded in insights from a review of counseling and psychosocial interventions that demonstrated significant positive effects on HIV clinical outcomes, the C4H Framework emphasizes four components: compassion, comprehensive messaging, capacity-building, and coordination. Compassion ensures that messages resonate with individuals experiencing the intertwined challenges of HIV, substance abuse, and mental health issues. Comprehensive messaging integrates a holistic view of the barriers faced by PWH. Capacity-building empowers individuals to effectively engage with and act upon health information. Coordination promotes alignment between stakeholders and resources to ensure consistent and supportive messaging. The C4H Framework bridges the gap between research and practice, offering a foundation for crafting effective communication messages that resonate with individuals facing the complex challenges inherent in HIV syndemics. Future research should explicitly test the effectiveness and acceptability of messages developed using the C4H Framework with people living with HIV. Full article

Low uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention among Black women has been partly attributed to barriers related to patient-provider communication. The goal of this paper was to investigate the association between exposure to the #ShesWell campaign and Black women’s communication about PrEP with a healthcare provider (HCP). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 403 sexually active, Black women after the initial phase of #ShesWell and used multivariable regression models to analyze whether exposure to #ShesWell was associated with talking to an HCP about PrEP or intention to discuss PrEP with an HCP in the future. Approximately 33% of women surveyed reported exposure to #ShesWell. Campaign exposure was significantly associated with talking to an HCP in the past year about PrEP (OR = 4.96, p = 0.001) and intention to discuss PrEP with an HCP in the next six months (B = 0.29, p = 0.038). Stronger beliefs that doctors should initiate sexual health conversations were positively associated with past PrEP conversations (OR = 2.32, p < 0.001) and future intention (B = 0.11, p = 0.029). Greater comfort discussing prevention (B = 0.35, p < 0.001), self-efficacy discussing PrEP (B = 0.29, p = 0.001), and concern about getting HIV (B = 0.51, p < 0.001) were also associated with intention to discuss PrEP with an HCP. Findings highlight the potential for communication campaigns to motivate patient-provider communication about PrEP, addressing a reported barrier to PrEP uptake among Black women. Full article

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the limited availability of antiviral therapeutics for pathogens such as human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) underscore the need for novel, plant-derived antimicrobial substances. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative, antibacterial, and antiviral activities of aqueous leaf extracts from two plants commonly found in North America, Osage orange (M. pomifera) and spearmint (M. spicata). Both extracts exhibited no significant cytotoxic or morphologic impact on HEp-2 human cancer cells up to 25 mg/mL. However, both extracts demonstrated strong dose-dependent antibacterial activity, significantly inhibiting replication of E. coli and S. aureus at concentrations ≥ 1 mg/mL. Antiviral assays revealed that both extracts inhibited hRSV infectivity, with spearmint extract showing higher potency (EC₅₀ = 1.01 mg/mL) compared to Osage orange (EC₅₀ = 3.85 mg/mL). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified three major extract constituents: 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (Osage orange), and R-(-)-carvone (spearmint). Among these, only carvone significantly inhibited hRSV in vitro, suggesting its key role in spearmint’s antiviral activity. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Osage orange and spearmint leaf extracts, particularly as sources of water-soluble compounds with antimicrobial properties, and support further investigation into their mechanisms of action and broader clinical relevance. Full article

Background: This study was performed to validate the addition of capacitive-based pressure sensors to an existing smart sock developed by the research team. This study focused on evaluating the accuracy of soft robotic sensor (SRS) pressure data and its relationship with laboratory-grade Kistler force plates in collecting ground force reaction data. Methods: Nineteen participants performed walking trials while wearing the smart sock with and without shoes. Data was collected simultaneously with the sock and the force plates for each gait phase including foot-flat, heel-off, and midstance. The correlation between the smart sock and force plates was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and R-squared values. Results: Overall, the strength of the relationship between the smart sock’s SRS data and the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) data from the force plates showed a strong correlation, with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.85 ± 0.1; 86% of the trials had a value higher than 0.75. The linear regression models also showed a strong correlation, with an R-squared value of 0.88 ± 0.12, which improved to 0.90 ± 0.07 when including a stretch-SRS for measuring ankle flexion. Conclusions: With these strong correlation results, there is potential for capacitive pressure sensors to be integrated into the proposed device and utilized in telehealth and sports performance applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: A growing body of literature has demonstrated that living with food insecurity (FI) increases risk for mental health concerns in addition to nutritional deficits (e.g., suboptimal micronutrient consumption, excessive macronutrient consumption, malnutrition). Yet, research is needed to improve our understanding of subpopulations potentially at increased risk for mental health concerns when living in the context of FI. The current study examined psychosocial health across women of different developmental life stages all living with FI. Methods: Female clients of a large, urban food bank (N = 680) living with FI completed measures of mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a cross-sectional design conducted on site at the food bank. Results: Consistent with past research, FI severity was correlated with poorer psychosocial health across all variables. A multivariate analysis of covariance compared women living with FI across 4 developmental life stages (young adult, early midlife, late midlife, and older adult; age range = 18–94 years), controlling for FI severity and race/ethnicity, on outcomes related to mental health and HRQOL. Women in early and late midlife reported higher anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, and eating-related psychosocial impairment than younger and older women. Conclusions: The mental health toll of living with FI is profound; midlife may comprise a developmental period of increased vulnerability to experience this mental health burden of living with FI for women. Thus, efforts are needed to develop innovative pathways for interventions to support the mental health of midlife women living with FI, likely involving multi-level and/or multicomponent approaches to resource access. Full article

In the United States, ecosystems regularly experience wildfires and as fire seasons lengthen, fires are becoming a more important disturbance. While all types of disturbance have impacts on the carbon cycle, fires result in immediate emissions into the atmosphere. To assist managers in assessing wildland fire impacts, particularly on federally managed land, we developed estimates of area burned and related emissions for a 21-year period. These estimates are based on wildland fires defined by the interagency Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity database; emissions are simulated through the Wildland Fire Emissions Inventory System; and the classification of public land is performed according to the US Geological Survey’s Protected Areas Database of the United States. Wildland fires on federal land contributed 62 percent of all annual CO₂ emissions from wildfires in the United States between 2001 and 2021. During this period, emissions from the forest fire subset of wildland fires ranged from 328 Tg CO₂ in 2004 to 37 Tg CO₂ in 2001. While forest fires averaged 38 percent of burned area, they represent the majority—59 to 89 percent of annual emissions—relative to fires in all ecosystems, including non-forest. Wildland fire emissions on land belonging to the federal government accounted for 44 to 77 percent of total annual fire emissions for the entire United States. Land managed by three federal agencies—the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service—accounted for 93 percent of fire emissions from federal land over the course of the study period, but year-to-year contributions varied. Full article

The sodium–citrate cotransporter (NaCT) plays a crucial role in citrate transport during amelogenesis. Mutations in the SLC13A5 gene, which encodes the NaCT, cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 25 and amelogenesis imperfecta. We analyzed developing pig molars and determined that the citrate concentrations in secretory- and maturation-stage enamel are both 5.3 µmol/g, with about 95% of the citrate being bound to mineral. To better understand how citrate might enter developing enamel, we developed Slc13a5^Flag reporter mice that express NaCT with a C-terminal Flag-tag (DYKDDDDK) that can be specifically and accurately recognized by commercially available anti-Flag antibodies. The 24-base Flag coding sequence was located immediately upstream of the natural translation termination codon (TAG) and was validated by Sanger sequencing. The general development, physical activities, and reproductive outcomes of this mouse strain were comparable to those of the C57BL/6 mice. No differences were detected between the Slc13a5^Flag and wild-type mice. Tooth development was extensively characterized using dissection microscopy, bSEM, light microscopy, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Tooth formation was not altered in any detectable way by the introduction of the Flag. The Slc13a5^Flag citrate transporter was observed on all outer membranes of secretory ameloblasts (distal, lateral, and proximal), with the strongest signal on the Tomes process, and was detectable in all but the distal membrane of maturation-stage ameloblasts. The papillary layer also showed positive immunostaining for Flag. The outer membrane of odontoblasts stained stronger than ameloblasts, except for the odontoblastic processes, which did not immunostain. As NaCT is thought to only facilitate citrate entry into the cell, we performed in situ hybridization that showed Ank is not expressed by secretory- or maturation-stage ameloblasts, ruling out that ANK can transport citrate into enamel. In conclusion, we developed Slc13a5^Flag reporter mice that provide specific and sensitive localization of a fully functional NaCT-Flag protein. The localization of the Slc13a5^Flag citrate transporter throughout the ameloblast membrane suggests that either citrate enters enamel by a paracellular route or NaCT can transport citrate bidirectionally (into or out of ameloblasts) depending upon local conditions. Full article

Intermittent catheterization mitigates urinary retention for over 300,000 people in the US every year, but can cause microtrauma in the urothelium, compromising its barrier function and increasing the risk of pathogen entry, which may affect user health. To reduce adverse effects, intermittent catheters (ICs) with increased lubricity are used. A common strategy to enhance IC lubricity is to apply a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coating to ICs; however, this coating can become adhesive upon drying, potentially leading to microtrauma. An alternative approach for lubricity is the migration of integrated amphiphilic surfactant (IAS) within the IC to the surface. The present work examines differences in urethral microtrauma caused by the simulated catheterization of ex vivo porcine urethral tissue using PVP-coated and IAS ICs. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy of the tissue showed the removal of the apical cell layer after contact with the PVP-coated ICs, but not the IAS IC. More extracellular matrices and DNA were observed on the PVP-coated ICs than the IAS IC after tissue contact. Contact angle analysis of the polar and dispersive components of the surface energy demonstrated that the PVP-coated ICs promoted mucoadhesion, while the IAS IC limited mucoadhesion. Overall, the results indicate that IAS ICs cause less microtrauma to urethral tissue than traditional PVP-coated ICs. Full article

Ketones, which are key biomarkers of fat oxidation, are relevant for metabolic health maintenance and disease development, making continuous monitoring essential. In this study, we introduce a novel colorimetric sensor designed for potential continuous acetone detection in biological fluids. The sensor features a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) shell that encapsulates a sensitive and specific liquid-core acetone-sensing probe. The microsphere sensors were characterized by evaluating their size, PDMS shell thickness, colorimetric response, and sensitivity under realistic conditions, including 100% relative humidity (RH) and CO₂ interference. The microsphere size and sensor sensitivity can be controlled by modifying the fabrication parameters. Critically, the sensor showed high selectivity for acetone detection, with negligible interference from CO₂ concentrations up to 4%. In addition, the sensor displayed good reproducibility (CV < 5%) and stability under realistic storage conditions (over two weeks at 4 °C). Finally, the accuracy of the microsphere sensor was validated against a gold standard gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method using simulated and real breath samples from healthy individuals and type 1 diabetes patients. The correlation between the microsphere sensor and GC-MS produced a linear fit with a slope of 0.948 and an adjusted R-squared value of 0.954. Therefore, the liquid-core microsphere-based sensor is a promising platform for acetone body fluid analysis. Full article

Antimicrobial use in food animals selects for antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, which most commonly reach humans via the food chain. However, AMR bacteria can also escape the feedyard via agricultural runoff, manure used as crop fertilizer, and even dust. A study published in 2015 reported AMR genes in dust from cattle feedyards; however, one of the study’s major limitations was the failure to investigate gene presence in viable bacteria, or more importantly, viable bacteria of importance to human health. Our main objective was to investigate the presence and quantity of viable bacteria and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) determinants in fugitive bioaerosols from cattle feedyards in the downwind environment. Six bioaerosol sampling campaigns were conducted at three commercial beef cattle feedyards to assess variability in viable bacteria and AMR determinants associated with geographic location, meteorological conditions, and season. Dust samples were collected using four different sampling methods, and spiral plated in triplicate on both non-selective and antibiotic-selective media. Colonies of total aerobic bacteria, Enterococcus spp., Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli were enumerated. Viable bacteria, including AMR bacteria, were identified in dust from cattle feedyards. Bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs via qPCR) were mainly found in downwind samples. Total suspended particles (TSPs) and impinger samples yielded the highest bacterial counts. Genes encoding beta-lactam resistance (bla_CMY-2 and bla_CTX-M) were detected while the most common ARG was tet(M). The predominant Salmonella serovar identified was Lubbock. Further research is needed to assess how far viable AMR bacteria can travel in the ambient environment downwind from cattle feedyards, to model potential public health risks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Artificial tendons offer an alternative to biological tendon grafts and may restore normative biomechanical functions in humans and animals suffering segmental or complete tendon loss. The aim of this study was to quantify movement biomechanics during hopping gait and muscle properties of New Zealand White rabbits with a polyester silicone-coated (PET-SI) artificial tendon. Methods: In five rabbits, the biological Achilles tendon of the left hindlimb was surgically replaced with a PET-SI artificial tendon; five operated control rabbits underwent complete surgical excision of the biological Achilles tendon in the left hindlimb with no replacement (TE). Results: Across both groups at 2 and 8 weeks post-surgery compared to baseline, the maximum ankle angle during stance and swing phases of stride was significantly lower (i.e., more dorsiflexed) (p < 0.001), the peak vertical force was significantly higher (p < 0.001), and the average ground contact area was significantly lower (p < 0.001). At 8 weeks post-surgery, the muscle cross-sectional area of the lateral gastrocnemius was significantly higher in the PET-SI group than in the TE group (p = 0.006). Muscle mass and length were lower in the operated limb compared to the non-operated limb across the two groups (TE and PET-SI), with no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: The artificial Achilles tendon did not appear to provide superior biomechanical support during hopping compared to the TE group. However, the artificial tendon preserved muscle structural properties that correspond to the muscle’s capacity to generate force. Future studies should optimize the tendon–tissue interface. Full article

Historical application of wastewater treatment sludge (biosolids) has introduced per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into agricultural systems and led to contamination of crops and livestock. Previous work validated a dynamic exposure and population toxicokinetic (DE_PopTK) modeling approach for estimating perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) concentrations in cattle tissues at sites primarily dominated by water contamination. This work expands the efforts to validate the DE_PopTK model at a self-contained beef farm in Maine with PFAS exposures from feed grown on site where soil is contaminated from historical biosolids applications. The model is also extended to estimate perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) exposure and tissue levels. Farm-specific data were obtained to consider farm management practices, spatial variation of PFAS in soil, animal growth, and seasonal and annual variability in estimating daily exposures based on water, feed, and soil intake. A dynamic exposure pattern was observed as cattle accumulated PFAS while consuming feed grown on contaminated land and eliminated it while grazing on non-contaminated pastures. Model-estimated PFOS and PFDA levels in serum and muscle were in good agreement with biomonitoring data collected at the farm over a four-year period to reflect periods of accumulation and depuration, with the percentage error ranging from 16% to 73% when comparing modeled and measured data. Our findings demonstrated that understanding farm exposures and collecting site-specific data were integral to model performance. The model was applied to simulate management strategies and complement economic analyses to demonstrate that, with modifications to management practices, it is feasible for the farm to achieve lower PFOS and PFDA levels in beef and maintain economic viability despite elevated PFAS soil levels. Full article

Bilateral (BL) and unilateral (UL) muscle actions are commonly incorporated in training programs to achieve distinct goals, however, the mechanisms driving modality-specific training adaptations remain unclear. This study examined peak force, electromyographic (EMG) amplitude (AMP), and mean power frequency (MPF) of the non-dominant leg during isokinetic leg extensions performed as either a BL or BLUL combined modality. Twelve recreationally trained men (Mean ± SD; age = 20.8 ± 1.7 years; weight = 83.1 ± 15.7 kg; height = 178.2 ± 7.8 cm) attended 2 test visits that included BL and UL maximal isokinetic leg extensions at 180°·s⁻¹ followed by a fatiguing task of either 50 BL or 25 BL followed immediately by 25 UL (BLUL) maximal, isokinetic leg extensions at 180°·s⁻¹, in random order on separate days. The results demonstrated a 33.3% decline in peak force with a concomitant increase in EMG AMP across the fatiguing task, but there were no significant differences between conditions. For EMG MPF, the BLUL condition exhibited a 19.39% decline versus a 10.97% decline in the BL condition. Overall, the present study suggested there were no significant differences in neuromuscular activation strategies between the tested modalities. However, our findings indicated that incorporating UL muscle actions after a BL task may induce a greater degree of peripheral fatigue compared to sustained BL muscle actions. Practitioners might consider implementing UL exercises at the end of a training bout to induce greater metabolic stress. Full article

Background: Postmenopausal women face a higher risk of obesity and related chronic diseases. While lifestyle interventions improve cardiometabolic health and physical function, their effects on cognitive function remain understudied, especially in diverse populations. This study examined the impact of a lifestyle intervention combining caloric restriction and exercise on cognitive function in a diverse sample of postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity and functional limitations. Methods: This study represents a secondary analysis of a previously conducted pilot trial, in which 34 participants were randomly assigned to a 24-week intervention: (i) caloric restriction plus exercise (CR + E; n = 17) or (ii) educational control (EC; n = 17). In the CR + E group, participants engaged in group-based weight management focused on caloric restriction and three weekly exercise sessions, including walking and lower-body resistance training. The EC group attended monthly health education lectures. Changes in cognitive scores were assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) test. Additionally, we explored the correlation between changes in cognitive scores and physical function in the CR + E group. Results: In the CR + E group, DSST scores significantly improved compared to the EC group (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in COWA scores for either group compared to their baseline value or between groups. Furthermore, changes in DSST or COWA were not significantly correlated with changes in walking speed or physical function. Conclusions: The preliminary results of this study suggest that CR + E may improve complex attention in functionally limited postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity but does not appear to significantly affect verbal fluency. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of a formalized fertility preservation (FP) program for transgender and nonbinary patients assigned male at birth (TGNB-AMAB) at our institution. Methods: We reviewed TGNB-AMAB patients who were referred to the FP program at our academic institution between 2016 and September 2023. We compared the number of referrals and the percentage of patients who underwent FP per year. Clinical and demographic information including age at referral, time from referral to banking, semen parameters, and serum hormone values were evaluated. Results: In total, 154 TGNB-AMAB patients were referred to the FP program since 2016; 131 (85.1%) met with a reproductive urologist or advanced practice provider for FP consultation; and 124 (94.7%) completed sperm cryopreservation. The number of annual referrals significantly increased over time (p = 0.001). The average age (±standard deviation) at referral was 20.5 ± 5.7 years. The median time from referral to sperm cryopreservation was 14 days. The average semen parameters among all the patients were volume 2.7 ± 1.7 mL, sperm concentration 36.0 ± 31.6 M/mL, sperm motility 56.8 ± 19.0%, and sperm morphology 4.7 ± 2.9%. There was no significant difference in semen parameters between TGNB-AMAB patients previously on gender-affirming hormonal therapy prior to banking and those not on prior hormonal treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our fertility preservation program significantly increased the number of TGNB-AMAB patients who received consultation and underwent sperm cryopreservation. The institution of a formalized FP program can be used to increase access for TGNB-AMAB patients who desire future fertility. Full article