Rural/Urban Differences in Inmate Perceptions of the Punitiveness of Prison: Does Having Children Make Prison More Punitive

Many researchers have argued that an inmate’s relationship with their family is an important determinant of their behavior while incarcerated and their success in the community upon release from prison. Nevertheless, no research of which we are aware examines the impact of an inmate’s parental involvement on their perception of the punitiveness of prison while incarcerated or whether this impact varies between prisoners raised in rural or urban areas. The current study used exchange rates from more than 1200 incarcerated prisoners to examine this relationship. Our findings suggest that whether an inmate has a child has almost no impact on their perception of the punitiveness of prison, no matter whether the inmate was raised in a rural or urban area. The findings further suggest that the well-documented impact of age on perceived punitiveness of prison might be largely important among prisoners from rural areas. Implications for future research are also discussed

Examining the Nexus of Obesity, Mental Health and Rural County Level Food Access: Testing the Enduring Role of Persistent Poverty

This study investigates the nexus between obesity, mental health, and food access across counties in the state of Mississippi. Recent research suggests that food access and poor nutrition may not only lead to poor physical health, but may also increase depression. Data from the USDA and the CDC were used to estimate obesity and mental health rates across counties. Analyses revealed that poverty was the key factor influencing on obesity and mental health at the county level. More specifically, county level per capita SNAP benefits and status of persistent poverty were predictors of obesity and mental health. Findings are discussed in light of identifying the community determinants of food access and their impact on health

An Ecological Approach to Understanding Program Management Practices for Food Pantries in Rural Communities

This qualitative study was conducted in Mississippi, a state comprised of 82 counties, many of which are rural and highly impoverished. To gain a greater understanding of the food needs of residents from across the state, a representative sample of food pantries from each region of the state was identified. For this project, researchers with the Mississippi Food Insecurity Project formed a partnership with the Mississippi Food Network to interview partner pantries across the state. Interviews were conducted with food pantry managers and volunteers to examine various issues, challenges, and successes related to their operations. All interviews were transcribed and coded using a systematic analysis of codes to generate major themes related to pantry management protocols. Using an ecological framework, our study yielded five major areas of consideration for optimal pantry management: volunteer recruitment, operating and control systems, patron needs, collaboration, and advocacy

High phenotypic and genotypic plasticity among strains of the mushroom-forming fungus Schizophyllum commune

Schizophyllum commune is a mushroom-forming fungus notable for its distinctive fruiting bodies with split gills. It is used as a model organism to study mushroom development, lignocellulose degradation and mating type loci. It is a hypervariable species with considerable genetic and phenotypic diversity between the strains. In this study, we systematically phenotyped 16 dikaryotic strains for aspects of mushroom development and 18 monokaryotic strains for lignocellulose degradation. There was considerable heterogeneity among the strains regarding these phenotypes. The majority of the strains developed mushrooms with varying morphologies, although some strains only grew vegetatively under the tested conditions. Growth on various carbon sources showed strain-specific profiles. The genomes of seven monokaryotic strains were sequenced and analyzed together with six previously published genome sequences. Moreover, the related species Schizophyllum fasciatum was sequenced. Although there was considerable genetic variation between the genome assemblies, the genes related to mushroom formation and lignocellulose degradation were well conserved. These sequenced genomes, in combination with the high phenotypic diversity, will provide a solid basis for functional genomics analyses of the strains of S. commune

Birth cohorts in asthma and allergic diseases: Report of a NIAID/NHLBI/MeDALL joint workshop

Population-based birth cohorts on asthma and allergies increasingly provide new insights into the development and natural history of the diseases. Over 130 birth cohorts focusing on asthma and allergy have been initiated in the last 30 years. A NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), NHLBI (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute), MeDALL (Mechanisms of the Development of Allergy, Framework Programme 7 of the European Commission) joint workshop was held in Bethesda, MD, USA September 11–12, 2012 with 3 objectives (1) documenting the knowledge that asthma/allergy birth cohorts have provided, (2) identifying the knowledge gaps and inconsistencies and (3) developing strategies for moving forward, including potential new study designs and the harmonization of existing asthma birth cohort data. The meeting was organized around the presentations of 5 distinct workgroups: (1) clinical phenotypes, (2) risk factors, (3) immune development of asthma and allergy, (4) pulmonary development and (5) harmonization of existing birth cohorts. This manuscript presents the workgroup reports and provides web links (AsthmaBirthCohorts.niaid.nih.gov or www.medall-fp7.eu) where the reader will find tables describing the characteristics of the birth cohorts included in this report, type of data collected at differing ages, and a selected bibliography provided by the participating birth cohorts

Plenary Session 1: Delta Scholars Student Presentations

Moderator: Kecia Johnson; Supplemental program will be provide

1554. Facilitators and Barriers to Engaging in PrEP and Gender Affirming Therapy for Black and Latina Transgender Women in South Florida

Abstract Background Black and Latina transgender women (BLTW) have the highest HIV rates among transgender women (Black: 62%, Latinx: 35%). PrEP-GAT is an EHE grant which evaluated barriers and facilitators to engagement in PrEP and gender affirming therapy (GAT) services and the use of friendship networks to promote these interventions. Methods Participants were recruited through the University of Miami’s GenWell Service, which provides bundled PrEP and GAT. This study has two components: qualitative and social networks. Qualitative component: 20 in-depth interviews focused on barriers and facilitators to PrEP and GAT services using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Social network component: 27 social network-based interviews identified friendship dynamics that could promote conversations and encouragement to engage with PrEP and GAT. Analysis included multilevel logistic regression using R and network visualizations using UCINET. Results Qualitative Component. Barriers to accessing PrEP and GAT services included cost, need for Spanish-language materials, bias, stigma, and discrimination. Facilitators included access to telehealth, mobile services, pharmacists, and co-located PrEP-GAT services. BLTW were not comfortable disclosing their HIV status due to HIV stigma. “HIV clinics” discouraged individuals from seeking services. Social network component: most participants were using GAT (75%), and more than half reported lifetime PrEP use (56%). Bivariate analysis: having a Latinx friend, a friend who shared GAT status, and higher emotional closeness were associated with future conversations about PrEP and GAT (p< 0.05). Multilevel model: emotional closeness was associated with future conversations about PrEP and GAT (p=0.02). Conclusion Mental health, legal, employment and housing services are needed to meet BLTW access to PrEP. Social network approaches can identify key individuals in BLTW friendship networks to promote and disseminate information about PrEP and GAT. Future Directions: Future research will determine whether bundled PrEP-GAT, social network support, and telehealth is effective to increase BLTW’s engagement in these services. Disclosures Susanne Doblecki Lewis, MD, MSPH, FIDSA, Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Suppor