Tribal Identity, Pain Interference, and Substance Use Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents.

Importance: Substance use is high among American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents. Pain interference is a risk factor for substance use, and identifying potential protective factors, such as Tribal identity, is important to help inform culturally grounded substance use prevention strategies. Objective: To examine the protective potential of Tribal identity as a moderator in the association between pain interference and substance use in American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study of 10th-grade students self-identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native was conducted among students enrolled at 20 high schools on or near the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Data for this study were collected from the baseline assessments of a cluster randomized trial to prevent substance use among adolescents living on or near the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Inclusion criteria for high schools' participation included being located within counties that partially or fully fall within the Cherokee Nation reservation, a town population of 3000 individuals or fewer, and class sizes between 30 and 100 students. Exclusion criteria included high schools within metropolitan and micropolitan cores (per the US Census Bureau's Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes) and the existence of an established community drug prevention coalition. Student surveys were conducted from September 2021 to May 2024. Exposure: Pain interference in the 7 days prior to baseline assessment. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were past 30-day alcohol use, marijuana use, and prescription opioid misuse. Generalized estimating equations Poisson models were used, with an exchangeable correlation structure clustered on the school level using baseline data from a cluster randomized trial to prevent alcohol and substance use among adolescents. For each substance, a separate multivariable model was fit, which included pain interference, Tribal identity, an interaction term between pain interference and Tribal identity, age, gender, food insecurity, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Results: Among 514 self-identified American Indian/Alaska Native students at 20 high schools on or near the Cherokee Nation Reservation, mean (SD) participant age was 15.59 (0.62) years, and 252 participants (49.0%) self-identified as female. Pain interference was associated with alcohol use and prescription opioid misuse in American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents, controlling for age, gender, food insecurity, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Tribal identity significantly moderated the association between pain interference and alcohol use (coefficient, -0.13; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.02). Conclusions and Relevance: When Tribal identity was high, the adverse association of pain interference with alcohol use was significantly attenuated. This demonstrates a protective role of Tribal identity on alcohol use, which can inform future substance use prevention efforts among American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04839978.

Continental-scale insights into the sugarbeet diffusion juice microbiomes.

Bacterial contamination of raw diffusion juice poses unique challenges during the sugar extraction process. This study profiled bacterial communities by using full-length 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and quantified the carbohydrate concentrations in raw diffusion juice samples received from sugar factory regions across the USA and Canada. Juice samples were collected at four time points during the 2021 and 2022 processing campaigns. Firmicutes was the dominant phylum from the raw diffusion juice samples collected during both campaigns and comprised 85.5% of total bacterial abundance. Lactic acid bacteria such as Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus were among the core genera which also dominated the bacterial community in raw diffusion juice. Positive correlations in the abundance of functionally and taxonomically related bacterial communities were identified. During the 2021 campaign, 44 bacterial genera were differentially abundant in raw diffusion juice extracted from sugarbeet roots in Periods 1 to 4. This number declined sixfold during the 2022 campaign to three genera. The concentration of raffinose in raw diffusion juice positively correlated to the relative abundance of Leuconostoc. Furthermore, an in vitro assay was performed to assess the growth dynamics of Leuconostoc mesenteroides in sucrose or raffinose-rich medium and observed the rapid consumption of both carbohydrates by this bacterium. This finding is important for deciphering microbial growth dynamics in raw diffusion juice that can be useful in minimizing sugar loss during the factory processing.IMPORTANCEFindings additionally provide baseline information that can be used to develop mitigation strategies that reduce losses due to microbial contamination of sucrose processing streams.

Meta-transcriptomic analysis reveals the geographical expansion of known sugarbeet-infecting viruses and the occurrence of a novel virus in sugarbeet in the United States.

In this study, meta-transcriptome sequencing was conducted on a total of 18 sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) sample libraries to profile the virome of field-grown sugarbeet to identify the occurrence and distribution of known and potentially new viruses from five different states in the United States. Sugarbeet roots with symptoms resembling rhizomania caused by beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), or leaves exhibiting leaf-curling, yellowing to browning, or green mosaic were collected from the sugarbeet growing areas of California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, and North Dakota. In silico analysis of de novo assembled contigs revealed the presence of nearly full-length genomes of BNYVV, beet soil-borne virus (BSBV), and beet soil-borne mosaic virus (BSBMV), which represent known sugarbeet-infecting viruses. Among those, BNYVV was widespread across the locations, whereas BSBV was prevalent in Minnesota and Idaho, and BSBMV was only detected in Minnesota. In addition, two recently reported Beta vulgaris satellite virus isoforms (BvSatV-1A and BvSatV-1B) were detected in new locations, indicating the geographical expansion of this known virus. Besides these known sugarbeet-infecting viruses, the bioinformatic analysis identified the widespread occurrence of a new uncharacterized Erysiphe necator-associated abispo virus (En_abispoV), a fungus-related virus that was identified in all 14 libraries. En_abispoV contains two RNA components, and nearly complete sequences of both RNA1 and RNA2 were obtained from RNASeq and were further confirmed by primer-walking RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic comparison of En_abispoV isolates obtained in this study showed varying levels of genetic diversity within RNA1 and RNA2 compared to previously reported isolates. The undertaken meta-transcriptomic approach revealed the widespread nature of coexisting viruses associated with field-grown sugarbeet exhibiting virus disease-like symptoms in the United States.

Genetic drift, historic migration, and limited gene flow contributing to the subpopulation divergence in wild sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (L.) Arcang).

Cultivated beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris) originated from sea beet (B. vulgaris ssp. maritima (L.) Arcang), a wild beet species widely distributed along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, as well as northern Africa. Understanding the evolution of sea beet will facilitate its efficient use in sugarbeet improvement. We used SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) covering the whole genome to analyze 599 sea beet accessions collected from the north Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea coasts. All B. maritima accessions can be grouped into eight clusters with each corresponding to a specific geographic region. Clusters 2, 3 and 4 with accessions mainly collected from Mediterranean coasts are genetically close to each other as well as to Cluster 6 that contained mainly cultivated beet. Other clusters were relatively distinct from cultivated beets with Clusters 1 and 5 containing accessions from north Atlantic Ocean coasts, Clusters 7 and Cluster 8 mainly have accessions from northern Egypt and southern Europe, and northwest Morocco, respectively. Distribution of B. maritima subpopulations aligns well with the direction of marine currents that was considered a main dynamic force in spreading B. maritima during evolution. Estimation of genetic diversity indices supported the formation of B. maritima subpopulations due to local genetic drift, historic migration, and limited gene flow. Our results indicated that B. maritima originated from southern Europe and then spread to other regions through marine currents to form subpopulations. This research provides vital information for conserving, collecting, and utilizing wild sea beet to sustain sugarbeet improvement.

Hypocretin in the nucleus accumbens shell modulates social approach in female but not male California mice.

The hypocretin (Hcrt) system modulates arousal and anxiety-related behaviors and has been considered as a novel treatment target for stress-related affective disorders. We examined the effects of Hcrt acting in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) and anterodorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (adBNST) on social behavior in male and female California mice (Peromyscus californicus). In female but not male California mice, infusion of Hcrt1 into NAcSh decreased social approach. Weak effects of Hcrt1 on social vigilance were observed in both females and males. No behavioral effects of Hcrt1 infused into the adBNST were observed. Analyses of sequencing data from California mice and Mus musculus NAc showed that Hcrtr2 was more abundant than Hcrtr1, so we infused the selective Hcrt receptor 2 antagonist into the NAcSh, which increased social approach in females previously exposed to social defeat. A calcium imaging study in the NAcSh of females before and after stress exposure showed that neural activity increased immediately following the expression of social avoidance but not during freezing behavior. This observation is consistent with previous studies that identified populations of neurons in the NAc that drive avoidance. Intriguingly, calcium transients were not affected by stress. These data suggest that hypocretin acting in the NAcSh plays a key role in modulating stress-induced social avoidance.

Intoxicating Cannabis Products in Vape Shops: United States, 2023.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2020, many types of intoxicating cannabis products have entered the U.S. market. Hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products, including hexahydrocannabinol and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, pose concerns regarding their youth-oriented marketing, potency, and health effects. Some states have attempted to ban, restrict, or regulate their sale. However, the effectiveness of these laws and their enforcement is unclear. This study provides insights into the retail landscape of intoxicating cannabis products sold across the U.S. METHODS: In November-December 2023, researchers systematically identified, called, and completed brief surveys with 520 U.S. vape shops: (n=10 per state, n=10 in District of Columbia, n=10 in Puerto Rico). The survey assessed the availability of 6 commonly sold intoxicating cannabis products. Data were analyzed by regulatory context. Analyses were conducted in 2024. RESULTS: A total of 74% of vape shops sold any intoxicating cannabis products. Intoxicating cannabis products were sold in 43% of shops in states with delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol bans, 53% in states with substantial regulations (intended to support safe use), 90% in states with significant restrictions (intended to limit potency/availability), and 92% in states with limited/no regulations. Intoxicating cannabis products were sold in vape shops in each state except Washington and Alaska, both of which banned hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products and had active retail of legalized nonmedical cannabis. CONCLUSIONS: Taking licensed dispensaries into consideration, intoxicating cannabis products can be purchased in retail stores located in all 50 states; Washington, District of Columbia; and Puerto Rico. Intoxicating cannabis products are widely available in vape shops, even in most states with relevant bans/restrictions. Enhanced laws, surveillance, and enforcement are needed. The 2024 Farm Bill and state laws should explicitly prohibit hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products.

CbCyp51-mediated DMI resistance is modulated by codon bias.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola, is the most destructive foliar disease of sugar beet worldwide. Resistance to the sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide tetraconazole has been previously correlated to synonymous and non-synonymous mutations in CbCyp51. Here, we extend these analyses to the DMI fungicides prothioconazole, difenoconazole, and mefentrifluconazole in addition to tetraconazole to confirm whether the synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations at amino acid positions 144 and 170 are associated with resistance to these fungicides. Nearly half of the 593 isolates of C. beticola collected in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota in 2021 were resistant to all four DMIs. Another 20% were resistant to tetraconazole and prothioconazole, but sensitive to difenoconazole and mefentrifluconazole. A total of 13% of isolates were sensitive to all DMIs tested. We found five CbCyp51 haplotypes and associated them with phenotypes to the four DMIs. The most predominant haplotype (E170_A/ L144F_C) correlated to resistance to all four DMIs with up to 97.6% accuracy. The second most common haplotype (E170_A/L144) consisted of isolates associated with resistance phenotypes to tetraconazole and prothioconazole while also exhibiting sensitive phenotypes to difenoconazole and mefentrifluconazole with up to 98.4% accuracy. Quantitative PCR did not identify differences in CbCyp51 expression between haplotypes. This study gives an understanding for the importance of codon usage in fungicide resistance and provides crop management acuity for fungicide application decision-making.

Spinal Pathology and Muscle Morphologies with Chronic Low Back Pain and Lower Limb Amputation.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent after lower limb amputation (LLA) and contributes to substantial reductions in quality of life and function. Towards understanding pathophysiological mechanisms underlying LBP after LLA, this article compares lumbar spine pathologies and muscle morphologies between individuals with LBP, with and without LLA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We queried electronic medical records of Service members with and without LLA who sought care for LBP at military treatment facilities between January 2002 and May 2020. Two groups with cLBP, one with (n = 15) and one without unilateral transtibial LLA (n = 15), were identified and randomly chosen from a larger sample. Groups were matched by age, mass, and sex. Lumbar muscle morphology, Pfirrmann grades, Modic changes, facet arthrosis, Meyerding grades, and lordosis angle were determined from radiographs and magnetic resonance images available in the medical record. Independent t-tests compared variables between cohorts while multiple regression models determined if intramuscular fat influenced Pfirrmann grades. Chi-square determined differences in presence of spondylolysis and facet arthrosis. RESULTS: Lordosis angle was larger with LLA (P = 0.01). Spondylolysis was more prevalent with LLA (P = 0.008; 40%) whereas facet arthrosis was similar between cohorts (P = 0.3). Muscle area was not different between cohorts, yet intramuscular fat was greater with LLA (P ≤ 0.05). Intramuscular fat did not influence Pfirrmann grades (P > 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar lumbar muscle size, those with unilateral LLA may be predisposed to progress to symptomatic spondylolisthesis and intramuscular fat. Surgical and/or rehabilitation interventions may mitigate long-term effects of diminished spinal health, decrease LBP-related disability, and improve function for individuals with LLA.

Hidden flaws in e-cigarette industry-funded studies.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased since e-cigarettes were introduced to the market nearly 20 years ago. Researchers continue to conduct studies to understand the health risks and benefits of e-cigarettes to inform health education and promotion efforts as well as public policy. Studies funded by the tobacco industry examining the potential risks and benefits of e-cigarettes have also been conducted and are sometimes published in the scientific literature. Frequently, tobacco and e-cigarette industry-funded researchers report findings that contradict research funded by other sources. While many industry-funded studies may appear methodologically sound at first glance, in some cases, industry-funded studies include methodological flaws that result in misleading conclusions. The tobacco industry's use of biased research to influence tobacco-related policy decisions in the past is well-documented. This commentary provides specific examples of recent e-cigarette research funded by the tobacco/e-cigarette industry in which methodological flaws result in misleading conclusions that support industry goals. Given the long history of biased research conducted by the tobacco industry, there is a need to assess whether research funded by the e-cigarette industry similarly contains methodological flaws. We emphasise the need for tobacco and e-cigarette-funded research to be scrutinised by non-industry-funded subject matter experts and call for journals to not consider manuscripts that have received support from the tobacco or e-cigarette industry.

Syringe reuse among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachian Kentucky.

BACKGROUND: Personal syringe reuse (i.e., reuse of one's own syringes) can place people who inject drugs at increased risk for infectious disease but has received relatively little attention in published literature. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with syringe reuse among people who inject drugs in rural Kentucky. METHODS: Participants (n = 238) completed interviewer-administered questionnaires on syringe reuse and demographic, behavioral, and service access characteristics. Unadjusted negative binomial regression with cluster-robust standard errors was used to model the associations with a logged offset for number of injections in the past 30 days. RESULTS: The average age of the sample was 35 and 59.7 % were male. Most participants (77.7 %) reused syringes at least once in the past 30 days, using each syringe a median of three times. Reuse was higher among those who were older and reported a higher street price for syringes. Syringe reuse was lower among people who were within walking distance to a syringe service program (SSP) and who obtained most of their syringes from SSPs or pharmacies. CONCLUSION: Syringe reuse among people who inject drugs in rural Kentucky is common. However, these data suggest that increased access to syringes from SSPs and pharmacies, as well as policy-level interventions that reduce street syringe price, might reduce syringe reuse and related harms.

"There's room to do more": a mixed-methods study of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) diversion program and intimate partner violence in Georgia.

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a risk factor for homicides and suicides. As poverty is both a predictor and a consequence of IPV, interventions that alleviate poverty-related stressors could mitigate IPV-related harms. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a monthly cash assistance program, is one such potential intervention. In the state of Georgia, the TANF diversion program, which provides a non-recurrent lump-sum payment to deter individuals from monthly TANF benefits, is an understudied component of TANF that may influence the effectiveness of state TANF programs in supporting IPV survivors. Aim: This study quantifies and qualifies the role of Georgia's TANF diversion program in shaping IPV-related mortality. Methods: This study relies on a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Using data from the Georgia Violent Death Reporting System (GA-VDRS), an interrupted time series analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of TANF diversion on IPV-related homicides and suicides. Semi-structured interviews were then administered with TANF policy experts and advocates, welfare caseworkers, and benefit recipients (n = 20) to contextualize the quantitative findings. Results: The interrupted time series analysis revealed three fewer IPV-related deaths per month after implementing TANF diversion, compared to pre-diversion forecasts (coefficient = -3.003, 95%CI [-5.474, -0.532]). However, the qualitative interviews illustrated three themes regarding TANF diversion: (1) it is a "band-aid" solution to the access barriers associated with TANF, (2) it provides short-term relief to recipients making hard choices, and (3) its limitations reveal avenues for policy change. Discussion: While diversion has the potential to reduce deaths from IPV, it may be an insufficient means of mitigating the poverty-related contributors to IPV harms. Its limitations unveil the need for improved programs to better support IPV survivors.

Mental Health Treatment Utilization and Unmet Mental Health Needs Among Black Reproductive-Age Women in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Black women in the United States experience increased risk for mental disorders and are less likely to have access to appropriate mental health treatment compared with White women. To develop culturally responsive strategies to improve Black women's access to mental health treatment, the authors evaluated social determinants associated with mental health treatment utilization and unmet mental health needs among Black reproductive-age women with serious psychological distress. METHODS: The authors performed a secondary analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Data from 2009 to 2019 were pooled and restricted to Black women ages 18-44 years with serious psychological distress (N=4,171). Logistic regressions were conducted to identify personal and social determinants (e.g., education, employment status, poverty, and insurance status) of mental health treatment utilization, alternative mental health treatment utilization (e.g., spiritual support and self-help), and perceived unmet mental health needs. RESULTS: Education and employment status were significantly associated with all three outcomes. Among the women who reported unmet mental health needs, opposition to treatment and cost were the highest endorsed barriers. Differences were found by pregnancy status, with pregnant women being significantly less likely to endorse cost (p<0.001) and more likely to endorse time and transportation as barriers (p<0.01) to receiving mental health treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to improve mental health outcomes for Black women should focus on reducing cost and transportation barriers and on the development of culturally responsive intervention approaches that address Black women's concerns about mental health treatment.

The relationship between felt stigma and non-fatal overdose among rural people who use drugs.

BACKGROUND: Drug overdose deaths in the United States exceeded 100,000 in 2021 and 2022. Substance use stigma is a major barrier to treatment and harm reduction utilization and is a priority target in ending the overdose epidemic. However, little is known about the relationship between stigma and overdose, especially in rural areas. We aimed to characterize the association between felt stigma and non-fatal overdose in a multi-state sample of rural-dwelling people who use drugs. METHODS: Between January 2018 and March 2020, 2,608 people reporting past 30-day opioid use were recruited via modified chain-referral sampling in rural areas across 10 states. Participants completed a computer-assisted survey of substance use and substance-related attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. We used multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to test the association between felt stigma and recent non-fatal overdose. RESULTS: 6.6% of participants (n = 173) reported an overdose in the past 30 days. Recent non-fatal overdose was significantly associated with felt stigma after adjusting for demographic and substance use-related covariates (aOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.20-1.81). The association remained significant in sensitivity analyses on component fear of enacted stigma items (aOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.20-1.83) and an internalized stigma item (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.07-2.14). CONCLUSIONS: Felt stigma related to substance use is associated with higher risk of non-fatal overdose in rural-dwelling people who use drugs. Stigma reduction interventions and tailored services for those experiencing high stigma are underutilized approaches that may mitigate overdose risk.

Alcohol to-go sales policies at on-premise drinking establishments near large public US universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: Sweeping policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic increased alcohol availability through permitted to-go sales, potentially posing unique risks to college students. While to-go sales may make binge drinking more convenient, little remains known about these practices. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether drinking establishments' to-go sales practices are associated with their other operational practices and state policy. METHOD: This cross-sectional analysis included 221 randomly selected bars, nightclubs, and restaurants within two miles of a large public university. Telephone interviews assessed establishment practices, and the Alcohol Policy Information System provided state alcohol to-go laws. Regression models tested whether establishment to-go sales practices were associated with their business practices (logistic regression) and state policy (generalized estimating equations). RESULTS: Nearly one-half (44.8%) of drinking establishments sold alcohol to-go. Establishments with higher vodka prices had nearly 30% higher odds of selling spirits to-go (aOR = 1.29) and establishments offering happy hours specials had more than twice the odds of selling beer (aOR = 2.22), wine (aOR = 2.53), and spirits to-go (aOR = 2.60). Additionally, establishments that implemented physical distance requirements had higher odds of selling wine to-go (aOR = 3.00). State to-go laws were associated with higher odds of selling wine (aOR = 3.99) and spirits to-go (aOR = 5.43) in the full sample and beer to-go (aOR = 4.92) in urban counties. CONCLUSIONS: Establishments that sell alcohol to-go tend to engage in other practices designed to drive sales. Evaluations of alcohol to-go sales laws on risky consumption among priority populations, including college students, are urgently needed to inform decisions about how to appropriately regulate sales.

Biomechanical Comparison of Anterior Cervical Plate Fixation Versus Integrated Fixation Cage for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric, biomechanic study. OBJECTIVE: To compare the range of motion profiles of the cervical spine following one-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) constructs instrumented with either an interbody cage and anterior plate or integrated fixation cage in a cadaveric model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: While anterior plates with interbody cages are the most common construct of fixation in ACDF, newer integrated cage-plate devices seek to provide similar stability with a decreased implant profile. However, differences in postoperative cervical range of motion between the 2 constructs remain unclear. METHODS: Six cadaveric spines were segmented into 2 functional spine units (FSUs): C2-C5 and C6-T2. Each FSU was nondestructively bent in flexion-extension (FE), right-left lateral bending (LB), and right-left axial rotation (AR) at a rate of 0.5°/s under a constant axial load until a limit of 2-Nm was reached to evaluate baseline range of motion (ROM). Matched pairs were then randomly assigned to undergo instrumentation with either the standard anterior cage and plate (CP) or the integrated fixation cage (IF). Following instrumentation, ROM was then remeasured as previously described. RESULTS: For CP fixation, ROM increased by 61.2±31.7% for FE, 36.3±20.4% for LB, and 31.7±19.1% for AR. For IF fixation, ROM increased by 64.2±15.5% for FE, 56.7±39.8% for LB, and 94.5±65.1% for AR. There was no significant difference in motion between each group across FE, LB, and AR. CONCLUSION: This biomechanical study demonstrated increased motion in both the CP and IF groups relative to the intact, un-instrumented state. However, our model showed no differences in ROM between CP and IF constructs in any direction of motion. These results suggest that either method of instrumentation is a suitable option for ACDF with respect to constructing stiffness at time zero.

Beet Soil-Borne Virus Is a Helper Virus for the Novel Beta vulgaris Satellite Virus 1A.

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is grown in temperate regions around the world as a source of sucrose used for natural sweetening. Sugar beet is susceptible to a number of viral diseases, but identification of the causal agent(s) under field conditions is often difficult due to mixtures of viruses that may be responsible for disease symptoms. In this study, the application of RNAseq to RNA extracted from diseased sugar beet roots obtained from the field and from greenhouse-reared plants grown in soil infested with the virus disease rhizomania (causal agent beet necrotic yellow vein virus; BNYVV) yielded genome-length sequences from BNYVV, as well as beet soil-borne virus (BSBV). The nucleotide identities of the derived consensus sequence of BSBV RNAs ranged from 99.4 to 96.7% (RNA1), 99.3 to 95.3% (RNA2), and 98.3 to 95.9% (RNA3) compared with published BSBV sequences. Based on the BSBV genome consensus sequence, clones of the genomic RNAs 1, 2, and 3 were obtained to produce RNA copies of the genome through in vitro transcription. Capped RNA produced from the clones was infectious when inoculated into leaves of Chenopodium quinoa and B. vulgaris, and extracts from transcript-infected C. quinoa leaves could infect sugar beet seedling roots through a vortex inoculation method. Subsequent exposure of these infected sugar beet seedling roots to aviruliferous Polymyxa betae, the protist vector of both BNYVV and BSBV, confirmed that BSBV derived from the infectious clones could be transmitted by the vector. Co-inoculation of BSBV synthetic transcripts with transcripts of a cloned putative satellite virus designated Beta vulgaris satellite virus 1A (BvSat1A) resulted in the production of lesions on leaves of C. quinoa similar to those produced by inoculation with BSBV alone. Nevertheless, accumulation of genomic RNA and the encoded protein of the satellite virus in co-inoculated leaves was readily detected on Northern and Western blots, respectively, whereas no accumulation of satellite virus products occurred when satellite virus RNA was inoculated alone. The predicted sequence of the detected protein encoded by BvSat1A bears hallmarks of coat proteins of other satellite viruses, and virions of a size consistent with a satellite virus were observed in samples testing positive for the virus. The results demonstrate that BSBV is a helper virus for the novel satellite virus BvSat1A.

Kentucky Outreach Service Kiosk (KyOSK) Study protocol: a community-level, controlled quasi-experimental, type 1 hybrid effectiveness study to assess implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community-tailored harm reduction kiosk on HIV, HCV and overdose risk in rural Appalachia.

INTRODUCTION: Many rural communities bear a disproportionate share of drug-related harms. Innovative harm reduction service models, such as vending machines or kiosks, can expand access to services that reduce drug-related harms. However, few kiosks operate in the USA, and their implementation, impact and cost-effectiveness have not been adequately evaluated in rural settings. This paper describes the Kentucky Outreach Service Kiosk (KyOSK) Study protocol to test the effectiveness, implementation outcomes and cost-effectiveness of a community-tailored, harm reduction kiosk in reducing HIV, hepatitis C and overdose risk in rural Appalachia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: KyOSK is a community-level, controlled quasi-experimental, non-randomised trial. KyOSK involves two cohorts of people who use drugs, one in an intervention county (n=425) and one in a control county (n=325). People who are 18 years or older, are community-dwelling residents in the target counties and have used drugs to get high in the past 6 months are eligible. The trial compares the effectiveness of a fixed-site, staffed syringe service programme (standard of care) with the standard of care supplemented with a kiosk. The kiosk will contain various harm reduction supplies accessible to participants upon valid code entry, allowing dispensing data to be linked to participant survey data. The kiosk will include a call-back feature that allows participants to select needed services and receive linkage-to-care services from a peer recovery coach. The cohorts complete follow-up surveys every 6 months for 36 months (three preceding kiosk implementation and four post-implementation). The study will test the effectiveness of the kiosk on reducing risk behaviours associated with overdose, HIV and hepatitis C, as well as implementation outcomes and cost-effectiveness. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The University of Kentucky Institutional Review Board approved the protocol. Results will be disseminated in academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals, online and print media, and community meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05657106.

Experiences of childhood, intimate partner, non-partner, and hate crime-related violence among a sample of people living with HIV in the epicenter of the U.S. HIV epidemic.

Introduction: Experiences of violence among people living with HIV (PLWH) are thought to be highly prevalent but remain inadequately captured. As a first step toward acceptable, trauma informed practices that improve engagement and retention in care for PLWH, we must acquire more comprehensive understanding of violence experiences. We examined experiences of various forms of lifetime violence: adverse childhood experiences (ACES), intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner violence (NPV), and hate crimes among diverse sample of PLWH in Atlanta, Georgia. Methods: Cross sectional data collected from in- and out-of-care PLWH (N = 285) receiving care/support from Ryan White Clinics (RWCs), AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), or large safety-net hospital, February 2021-December 2022. As part of larger study, participants completed interviewer-administered survey and reported on experiences of violence, both lifetime and past year. Participant characteristics and select HIV-related variables were collected to further describe the sample. Univariate and bivariate analyses assessed participant characteristics across types of violence. Results: High prevalence of past violence experiences across all types (ACES: 100%, IPV: 88.7%, NPV: 97.5%, lifetime hate crimes 93.2%). People assigned male at birth who identified as men experienced more violence than women, with exception of non-partner forced sex. Participants identifying as gay men were more likely to have experienced violence. Conclusion: Among our sample of PLWH at the epicenter of the United States HIV epidemic, histories of interpersonal and community violence are common. Findings emphasize need for RWCs, ASOs, and hospital systems to be universally trained in trauma-informed approaches and have integrated onsite mental health and social support services.