Contamination of the environment with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a major health concern. The presence of estrogenic compounds in water and their deleterious effect are well documented. However, detection and monitoring of other classes of EDCs is limited. Here we utilize a high-throughput live cell assay based on sub-cellular relocalization of GFP-tagged glucocorticoid and androgen receptors (GFP-GR and GFP-AR), in combination with gene transcription analysis, to screen for glucocorticoid and androgen activity in water samples. We report previously unrecognized glucocorticoid activity in 27%, and androgen activity in 35% of tested water sources from 14 states in the US. Steroids of both classes impact body development, metabolism, and interfere with reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems. This prevalent contamination could negatively affect wildlife and human populations.

The representation of the environment of a mobile robot by line models is a popular alternative to occupancy grid maps. Line maps require significantly less memory than occupancy grids and therefore scale better with the size of the environment. They furthermore are more accurate since they do not suffer from discretization problems. In the past a variety of techniques for learning line maps from range data have been developed. These techniques differ in various aspects such as the way lines are extracted from range scans, how the lines are updated upon sensory input. There furthermore are techniques that are able to operate online, whereas others postprocess the data. In this paper we compare three different techniques for learning line models with respect to various parameters such as efficiency and quality of the resulting maps. Experimental results illustrate the advantages and the disadvantages of the different techniques.

Objectives There have been conflicting reports of altered vaginal microbiota and infection susceptibility associated with contraception use. The objectives of this study were to determine if intrauterine contraception altered the vaginal microbiota and to compare the effects of a copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) and a levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on the vaginal microbiota. Study Design DNA was isolated from the vaginal swab samples of 76 women using Cu-IUD (n=36) or LNG-IUS (n=40) collected prior to insertion of intrauterine contraception (baseline) and at 6 months. A third swab from approximately 12 months following insertion was available for 69 (Cu-IUD, n=33; LNG-IUS, n=36) of these women. The V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA-encoding gene was amplified from the vaginal swab DNA and sequenced. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were processed and analyzed using the software package mothur to compare the structure and dynamics of the vaginal bacterial communities. Results The vaginal microbiota from individuals in this study clustered into 3 major vaginal bacterial community types: one dominated by Lactobacillus iners, one dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and one community type that was not dominated by a single Lactobacillus species. Changes in the vaginal bacterial community composition were not associated with the use of Cu-IUD or LNG-IUS. Additionally, we did not observe a clear difference in vaginal microbiota stability with Cu-IUD versus LNG-IUS use. Conclusions Although the vaginal microbiota can be highly dynamic, alterations in the community associated with the use of intrauterine contraception (Cu-IUD or LNG-IUS) were not detected over 12 months. Implications We found no evidence that intrauterine contraception (Cu-IUD or LNG-IUS) altered the vaginal microbiota composition. Therefore, the use of intrauterine contraception is unlikely to shift the composition of the vaginal microbiota such that infection susceptibility is altered.

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Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to reduce HIV transmission and stem the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, PrEP uptake in rural sub-Saharan Africa has been slow and medication adherence has been suboptimal. Objective: To explore the perspectives, attitudes, and experiences of HIV serodiscordant partners taking PrEP and develop a messaging campaign to improve PrEP uptake in rural Mozambique to reduce HIV transmission among serodiscordant partners. Methods: In this qualitative study, we interviewed 20 people in serodiscordant relationships using PrEP at a rural health center in Zambézia province, Mozambique and employed inductive and deductive coding to elicit their perspectives, attitudes, and experiences related to learning their partner's HIV status, barriers to PrEP uptake, obstacles to PrEP adherence, and decisions to disclose their PrEP use with family and friends using thematic analysis. Results: Our analysis generated nine themes across various levels of the socioecological model. Participants reported a strong desire to stay in the discordant relationship and highlighted the importance of working together to ensure PrEP and antiretroviral therapy adherence, with the majority skeptical that adherence could be achieved without both partners' support (individual and interpersonal). Although most participants were reticent about sharing their serodiscordant status with family and friends (individual and interpersonal), those who did found their family and friends supportive (interpersonal). Participants suggested increasing community health agent availability to help people navigate HIV prevention and treatment (organizational). We then created three oral stories, using themes from the interviews, with examples from various levels of the socioecological model that will be used to generate support for PrEP use among community members. Conclusions: Our findings informed oral template stories that will be used to emphasize how couples can work together to improve PrEP uptake and reduce incident HIV infections in serodiscordant couples elsewhere in rural Mozambique.

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Background: Traditional healers are frequently exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through the widespread practice of traditional "injections", in which the healer performs dozens of subcutaneous incisions using a razor blade to rub herbs directly into bloodied tissue. An average healer in Agincourt, a rural northeastern sub-district in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, experiences approximately 1500 occupational blood exposures over the course of their lifetime. Healers in Agincourt have an HIV prevalence of 30% compared to 19% in the general population, and healers who report exposure to patient blood have an adjusted 2.4-fold higher odds of being HIV-positive than those with no exposure. Although research on appropriate PPE use has been well documented for allopathic care providers, little is known about the practices of traditional healers. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with 30 traditional healers who practice in the rural Bushbuckridge sub-district of Mpumalanga province, northeastern South Africa. We elicited traditional healer attitudes towards glove use during traditional treatmentsincluding patient baths, injections, or other treatments that exposed healers to patient blood or open sores. Results: While 90% of healers reported using latex gloves during some treatments, the majority do not use them regularly. Most employ a combination of gloves, plastic shopping bags, bread bags, paper, and sticks to prevent blood exposure. Healers reported plastic bags slipping or breaking during procedures, exposing them to patient blood. Only three healers consistently used gloves, regardless of the cost. Conclusions: Inadequate PPE use and high HIV prevalence make traditional healers particularly susceptible to contracting HIV in rural South Africa. Despite positive attitudes, consistent glove use remains low due to financial constraints and glove availability. Addressing issues of accessibility and cost of gloves for traditional healers could have a significant impact on the adherence to PPE and, in turn, reduce new HIV infections among this high-risk group.