Cell Maps for Artificial Intelligence: AI-Ready Maps of Human Cell Architecture from Disease-Relevant Cell Lines.

This article describes the Cell Maps for Artificial Intelligence (CM4AI) project and its goals, methods, standards, current datasets, software tools , status, and future directions. CM4AI is the in the U.S.

Church Leaders Share and Implement Solution-Focused Health Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Alabama.

Bridging the healthcare access gap and addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among rural-dwelling Black American adults residing in the Deep South require involvement of faith-based leaders in the community. This study explored perceived barriers and resources to meeting community needs, including vaccination, during the COVID-19 pandemic as reported by 17 Black American church leaders in the rural West Alabama Black Belt geographic region in May 2022. The main themes that emerged included (1) attending to community impact of COVID-19 illness and death; (2) maximizing health literacy and diminishing vaccine hesitancy through engaging in preventive health practices and sharing public health information; (3) addressing challenges created or exacerbated by COVID-19, including reduction in in-person attendance (particularly among adolescents and young adults), limited access to and literacy with technology, and political perceptions influencing engagement in preventive health behaviors; (4) maximizing technological solutions to increase attendance in the church; and (5) engaging in solution-focused and innovative initiatives to meet the identified needs in the congregation and community.

Increased dietary fiber is associated with weight loss among Full Plate Living program participants.

Introduction: Prior studies have demonstrated that an intake of foods rich in dietary fiber is associated with a favorable impact on health status and body weight. However, the association between fiber intake and weight loss has not been well-studied in employer settings. This research aimed to assess the relationship between dietary fiber and weight loss among individuals participating in the Full Plate Living (FPL) program.

The health of rural Black communities during COVID: Some affirmations, some surprises.

Background And Objective: There are overwhelming health disparities in the Deep South. It is important to include the voice of communities affected by these disparities when developing interventions. The goal of the current study was to develop an academic community engaged partnership to strengthen the ability to address priority health concerns of rural African American communities with a focus on health literacy and health advocacy.

HIV Knowledge among African Americans Living with HIV in the Rural South: Implications for Improving HIV Prevention and Care Outcomes.

Purpose: This study examines the HIV knowledge of people living with HIV (PLWH) and its implications for improved healthcare outcomes.

Methods: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study, and a total of 41 PLWH were recruited from a larger faith-based anti-stigma study. Data was collected using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SAS.

Telehealth uptake among middle-aged and older Americans during COVID-19: chronic conditions, social media communication, and race/ethnicity.

Objectives: This study investigated whether and to what extent constructs of the protection motivation theory of health (PMT)-threat appraisal (perceived vulnerability/severity) and coping appraisal (response efficacy and self-efficacy)-are related to telehealth engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these associations differ by race/ethnicity among middle-aged and older Americans.

Methods: Data were from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study. Multivariable ordinary least-squares regression analyses were computed adjusting for health and sociodemographic factors.

Health Benefits of a 16-Week Whole Food, High Fiber, Plant Predominant Diet among U.S. Employees.

Purpose: To assess improvements in eating behaviors and health measures among adults participating in a whole food plant predominant diet, Full Plate Living (FPL) program.

Design: Retrospective, post hoc analysis of self-reported 16-week pre-post participant data obtained over a 3 year program period (2017-19).

Setting: Wellness offering for employees in Southwest U.

Influence of Spirituality, HIV Stigma and Education on HIV Knowledge in Rural African American Congregants in the Deep South: Additional Findings from Project FAITHH.

HIV incidence has shifted racially and geographically in the United States and now represents higher proportions of African Americans living in the Rural South. Lower levels of HIV knowledge may be the culprit behind the increasing HIV rates observed in the Rural South. The purpose of this study was to investigate the individual and joint correlates of HIV knowledge in a sample of rural African Americans.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on HIV Stigma in Healthcare Settings in Underserved Areas of the US South: A Mixed Methods Study.

Stigma experienced in healthcare settings is a barrier to ending the HIV epidemic. Using a convergent parallel mixed methods approach, we collected qualitative data from 14 focus groups with People with HIV (PWH) and Healthcare workers (HCW) and quantitative survey data (N = 762 PWH and N = 192 HCW) from seven HIV healthcare clinics outside of major urban areas in the southeastern US. Four key themes emerged: (1) HIV-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings; (2) experiences of intersectional stigma; (3) disclosure concerns in healthcare settings; and (4) impact of stigma on HIV-related health behavior.

Nature-Based Therapies for Sleep Disorders in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Following diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), getting adequate sleep may be the farthest thing from the mind of patients or providers. Even further from mind are the potential benefits on both sleep and HIV from nature-based therapy. In developing and developed countries, access to high-quality natural spaces has the potential to support physical and mental health.

Integrating Workforce Health Into Employer Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts.

Our collective experience with COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter has heightened awareness of deeply embedded racial and socioeconomic disparities in American businesses. This time, perhaps, sustained change is within reach. As organizations advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, an often overlooked focus of is the health status of employees and their families, where equitable access to high-value health benefits offerings should be available to all.

Vital Voices: HIV Prevention and Care Interventions Developed for Disproportionately Affected Communities by Historically Underrepresented, Early-Career Scientists.

Background: HIV prevention interventions which support engagement in care and increased awareness of biomedical options, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), are highly desired for disproportionately affected Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) populations in the United States (US). However, in almost 40 years of HIV research, few interventions have been developed directly by and for these priority populations in domestic counties most at risk. We submit that interventions developed by early-career scientists who identify with and work directly with affected subgroups, and which include social and structural determinants of health, are vital as culturally tailored HIV prevention and care tools.

Racial Anxiety among Medical Residents: Institutional Implications of Social Accountability.

As the U.S. population becomes more racially diverse, physicians need to have cultural skills for optimal health outcomes; however, the literature is sparse for cultural skill application of medical trainees.

A Qualitative Study to Determine Barriers for Prostate Cancer Screening in Rural African-American Men.

Introduction: African-American men have higher rates of prostate cancer and more advanced cancer when diagnosed than men of other ethnicities.

Purpose: To explore the perspectives and shared experiences of rural African-American men when it comes to interactions with healthcare providers, shared decision-making, and information on prostate cancer and screening.

Methods: A convenience sample of African-American men in four rural counties in the southeastern United States agreed to participate.

Engagement of African Americans with Rapid HIV Testing and HIV Care.

Introduction/background: African Americans and Blacks experience the greatest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden of any racial group in the US and globally. A number of challenges contribute to the higher rates of HIV infection among African Americans, including a lack of awareness of HIV status. African Americans account for nearly 50% of the newly estimated HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnoses, with the majority being tested only after developing symptoms of AIDS.

Physician Trust and Home Remedy Use Among Low-Income Blacks and Whites with Hypertension: Findings from the TRUST Study.

Introduction: Home remedies are used for the treatment of hypertension despite unsubstantiated claims of their effectiveness. Home remedy use is often attributed to mistrust towards healthcare providers. Few studies examine the relationship between home remedy use and physician trust.

Preparation and Planning for Future Care in the Deep South: Adapting a Validated Tool for Cultural Sensitivity.

Background And Objectives: This study describes the adaptation and validation of Sörensen et al. (2017)'s preparation for future care (PFC) scale with diverse samples including rural dwelling African Americans and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and subsequent psychometric development.

Research Design And Methods: Responses to the five-subscale PFC survey from 33 rural African American men across 12 months and cognitive interviews with a subset of 12 of these men are described.

A pilot study of prostate cancer knowledge among African American men and their health care advocates: implications for screening decisions.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. men [American Cancer Society (ACS)], most often affecting men age 50 and older.

Developing FAITHH: Methods to Develop a Faith-Based HIV Stigma-Reduction Intervention in the Rural South.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disproportionately affects Blacks/African Americans, particularly those residing in the southern United States. HIV-related stigma adversely affects strategies to successfully engage people in HIV education, prevention, and care. Interventions targeting stigma reduction are vital as additional tools to move toward improved outcomes with HIV prevention and care, consistent with national goals.

Testing our FAITHH: HIV stigma and knowledge after a faith-based HIV stigma reduction intervention in the Rural South.

Eliminating racial/ethnic HIV disparities requires HIV-related stigma reduction. African-American churches have a history of addressing community concerns, including health issues, but may also contribute to stigma. We developed and pilot tested a faith-based, anti-stigma intervention with 12 African-American churches in rural Alabama.

HIV Knowledge, Perceived Risk and Gender as Modulators of Salivary HIV Rapid Testing in African Americans.

Background: Of more than 1.2 million people in the United States (US) living with HIV infection, almost 1 in 8 (12.8%) are unaware of their infection.

Community-Based Participatory Research-Speed Dating: An Innovative Model for Fostering Collaborations Between Community Leaders and Academic Researchers.

Developing meaningful community-based participatory relationships between researchers and the community can be challenging. The overall success of a community-based participatory relationship should be predicated on commitment and respect from empowered stakeholders. Prior to developing the technique discussed in this article, we hypothesized that the process of fostering relationships between researchers and the community was much like a social relationship: It has to develop organically and cannot be forced.

Reverse Migration, the Black Church and Sexual Health: Implications for Building HIV/AIDS Prevention Capacity in the Deep South.

The Black Church has long been purported as being strongly influential in the lives of Blacks in America. Recent U.S.