Protective behavioral strategies and alcohol consequences following a group-based motivational intervention for young adults experiencing homelessness.

Objective: Young adults experiencing homelessness are at high risk for alcohol-related consequences, but protective behavioral strategies (PBS) have not been investigated as a harm reduction approach in this population. This study examines longitudinal associations between PBS and alcohol-related consequences following a group-based alcohol intervention.

Method: Data come from AWARE, a randomized controlled trial of a group-based motivational intervention to reduce substance use and risky sex compared to usual care.

Cysteine Rich Intestinal Protein 2 is a copper-responsive regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation and metal homeostasis.

Copper (Cu) is essential for respiration, neurotransmitter synthesis, oxidative stress response, and transcription regulation, with imbalances leading to neurological, cognitive, and muscular disorders. Here we show the role of a novel Cu-binding protein (Cu-BP) in mammalian transcriptional regulation, specifically on skeletal muscle differentiation using murine primary myoblasts. Utilizing synchrotron X-ray fluorescence-mass spectrometry, we identified murine cysteine-rich intestinal protein 2 (mCrip2) as a key Cu-BP abundant in both nuclear and cytosolic fractions.

Evolutionary origins of temporal discounting: Modeling how time and uncertainty constrain optimal decision-making strategies across taxa.

The propensity of humans and non-human animals to discount future returns for short-term benefits is well established. This contrasts with the ability of organisms to unfold complex developmental sequences over months or years efficiently. Research has focused on various descriptive and predictive parameters of 'temporal discounting' in behavior, and researchers have proposed models to explain temporal preference in terms of fitness-maximizing outcomes.

A comparative analysis of supply chain factors impacting COVID-19 vaccine security in high-income countries (HICs) and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic focused attention on the importance of vaccine security to national security. Demand for vaccines far exceeded supply when the first COVID-19 vaccines were released. Growing data suggest a non-perfect correlation among vaccine development, production, purchases, deliveries and vaccination rates.

Oscillating US Department of Defense policies and medical record documentation of gender dysphoria in service members: an observational time-series analysis.

Background: United States military policies regarding service by transgender service members have shifted several times within the past decade. The relationships between policy changes and electronic health record documentation of gender dysphoria, a current and historic policy requisite for gender affirming care receipt, in active duty service members remain unknown.

Methods: Bayesian estimator of abrupt change, seasonality, and trend models identified changepoints in the proportion of service members who had new and then historical medical record documentation consistent with gender dysphoria from January 2015 to August 2022.

Technology availability, sector policies and behavioral change are complementary strategies for achieving net-zero emissions.

In this study, we analyze the effects of technology availability, political coordination, and behavioral change on transformation pathways toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union by 2050. We implemented an iterative stakeholder dialogue to co-design the scenarios that were calculated using a global multi-regional energy-economy-land-climate model. We find that in scenarios without behavioral change and with restriction of technologies, the target of greenhouse gas neutrality in the European Union cannot be reached.

Development and preliminary validation of a modified Food Craving Inventory for Pregnancy (FCI-P) in U.S. military active-duty Service women.

Food cravings during pregnancy are highly common, yet no measure of cravings has been validated among pregnant women. The current study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Food Craving Inventory (FCI) for use during pregnancy. U.

Statistically Significant Associations Between HPV33, HPV35, and HPV56 With Anal HSIL in a Population of MSMLWH.

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) genotypes in men who have sex with other men and are living with HIV and the factors associated with anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL).

Methods: Anal swabs were collected for hrHPV genotyping from a cross-sectional group ( N = 163) of eligible men who have sex with other men and are living with HIV attending a high-resolution anoscopy clinic. Persistent hrHPV infections were studied in a longitudinal subset ( n = 37).

Time to Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Among US Military-Affiliated Adolescents and Young Adults.

Importance: Use of exogenous sex steroid hormones, when indicated, may improve outcomes in adolescents and young adults with gender incongruence. Little is known about factors associated with the time from diagnosis of gender dysphoria to initiation of gender-affirming hormone therapy. Identification of inequities in time to treatment may have clinical, policy, and research implications.

Military Family Physicians' Readiness to Provide Gender-Affirming Care: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Family physicians are increasingly more likely to encounter transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) patients requesting gender-affirming care. Given the significant health inequities faced by the TGD community, this study aimed to assess changes in military-affiliated clinicians' perspectives toward gender-affirming care over time.

Methods: Using a serial cross-sectional survey design of physicians at the 2016 and 2023 Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians conferences, we studied participants' perception of, comfort with, and education on gender-affirming care using Fisher's Exact tests and logistic regression.

Enhanced Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Implementation for Ugandan Fisherfolk: Pilot Intervention Outcomes.

Mobile populations such as fisherfolk show high HIV incidence and prevalence. We pilot-tested implementation strategies to enhance pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence in the context of healthcare outreach events in two mainland fisherfolk communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda from September 2021 to February 2022. The implementation strategies included PrEP adherence supporters (selected from PrEP users' social networks), community workshops (to address misconceptions and stigma, and empower PrEP advocacy), and check-in calls (including refill reminders).

scMicrobe PTA: near complete genomes from single bacterial cells.

Microbial genomes produced by standard single-cell amplification methods are largely incomplete. Here, we show that primary template-directed amplification (PTA), a novel single-cell amplification technique, generated nearly complete genomes from three bacterial isolate species. Furthermore, taxonomically diverse genomes recovered from aquatic and soil microbiomes using PTA had a median completeness of 81%, whereas genomes from standard multiple displacement amplification-based approaches were usually <30% complete.

Sleep Disturbance Mediates the Associations Between HIV Stigma and Mental and Physical Health Among Black Adults with HIV.

Objectives: Black Americans have been disproportionally affected by the HIV epidemic, and experience significant disparities in sleep health, mental health, and physical health domains. Using longitudinal data from a sample of Black adults with HIV, the current study examined the associations between stigma and mental and physical health outcomes and how sleep disturbance may play a mediating role.

Methods: Data were drawn from a recent randomized controlled trial.

Discrimination experiences and problematic alcohol and cannabis use in young adulthood.

Background And Objectives: Limited research has examined how discrimination in young adulthood relates to substance use. We examined how multiple and specific types (e.g.

Concordance of HIV Prevention Advocacy Reports and its Associations with HIV Protective Behaviors.

Peer advocacy can promote HIV protective behaviors, but little is known about the concordance on prevention advocacy(PA) reports between people living with HIV(PLWH) and their social network members. We examined prevalence and correlates of such concordance, and its association with the targeted HIV protective behavior of the social network member. Data were analyzed from 193 PLWH(index participants) and their 599 social network members(alters).

Sleep Problems and Health Outcomes Among Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents.

Importance: Adolescent sleep problems are prevalent, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, and can increase morbidity. Despite the numerous strengths of their racial and ethnic group, urban American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents face significant health disparities but are rarely included in health research. Understanding how sleep problems are associated with health outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents may elucidate novel targets for interventions to promote health equity.

Incidence and prevalence of eating disorders among U.S. military service members, 2016-2021.

Objective: Despite unique experiences that may increase eating disorder risk, U.S. military service members are an understudied population.

Variation in Time-to-Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in US Active Duty Service Members.

Background: Beginning in July 2016, transgender service members in the US military were allowed to receive gender-affirming medical care, if so desired.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate variation in time-to-hormone therapy initiation in active duty Service members after the receipt of a diagnosis indicative of gender dysphoria in the Military Health System.

Research Design: This retrospective cohort study included data from those enrolled in TRICARE Prime between July 2016 and December 2021 and extracted from the Military Health System Data Repository.

Enhancing sleep health in urban American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents: Implications for culturally tailored interventions.

Background: Urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents are vulnerable to sleep and other health-related disparities due to numerous social drivers, including historical trauma and relocation to urban areas. This study aims to identify strategies to increase protective factors and culturally tailor sleep health interventions for this population.

Methods: Using community-based participatory research, the NAYSHAW study conducted in-depth interviews with urban AI/AN adolescents aged 12-19 years to understand critical components needed for developing a culturally sensitive sleep health intervention.

Cysteine Rich Intestinal Protein 2 is a copper-responsive regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation.

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element required for respiration, neurotransmitter synthesis, oxidative stress response, and transcriptional regulation. Imbalance in Cu homeostasis can lead to several pathological conditions, affecting neuronal, cognitive, and muscular development. Mechanistically, Cu and Cu-binding proteins (Cu-BPs) have an important but underappreciated role in transcription regulation in mammalian cells.

In flux: Associations of substance use with instability in housing, employment, and income among young adults experiencing homelessness.

Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) are faced with instabilities in many areas of their lives, including their living situation, employment, and income. Little is known about how the experience of instability in these different domains might be associated with substance use. Leveraging data collected on 276 YAEH in Los Angeles County, regression analyses examine associations between three distinct types of instability (housing, employment, income) and participants' self-reported alcohol use, alcohol consequences, non-cannabis drug use, and substance use symptoms.

Health Care Utilization During the First 5½ Years of Authorized Service by Transgender U.S. Service Members (2016-2021).

This study examined the utilization of gender-affirming health care by active-duty service members during the initial 5½ years that transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals were authorized to serve in the U.S. military.

Environmental Exposures and Risks During Pregnancy.

The Women in Wilderness Medicine Research Committee of the Wilderness Medical Society conducted a narrative review to address considerations for pregnant individuals in wilderness environments. There is limited evidence behind many opinion-based recommendations on the safety of various environmental exposures in pregnancy. The authors reviewed the literature for the best available evidence, including observational studies, case series, limited controlled trials, and extrapolation from physiological data, as well as evaluating expert consensus statements.

Which medicare advantage enrollees are at highest one-year mortality risk?

Background: While a number of tools exist to predict mortality among older adults, less research has described the characteristics of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees at higher risk for 1 year mortality.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of MA enrollees at higher mortality risk using patient survey data.

Research Design: Retrospective cohort.