Publications by authors named "Zea M"

This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of Entre Herman@s, a novel sibling-based intervention designed to engage siblings to increase PrEP utilization among Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM). Siblings were trained in rudimentary motivational interviewing skills to uncover, evoke, and strengthen their brother's motivation to use PrEP, using the constructs of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model for health behavior change. This pilot demonstrated high feasibility, meeting recruitment, retention, and intervention completion targets.

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Electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs) offer an innovative, low-cost, and environmentally friendly approach for real-time diagnostics. In this study, we developed a functional all-inkjet paper-based electrochemical immunosensor using gold (Au) printed ink to detect salivary cortisol. Covalent binding of the cortisol monoclonal antibody onto the printed Au surface was achieved through electrodeposition of 4-carboxymethylaniline (CMA), with ethanolamine passivation to prevent non-specific binding.

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Background: The relative importance of different components of cognitive reserve (CR), as well as their differences by gender, are poorly established.

Objective: To explore several dimensions of CR, their differences by gender, and their effects on cognitive performance and trajectory in a cohort of older people without relevant psychiatric, neurologic, or systemic conditions.

Methods: Twenty-one variables related to the education, occupation, social activities, and life habits of 1,093 home-dwelling and cognitively healthy individuals, between 68 and 86 years old, were explored using factorial analyses to delineate several dimensions of CR.

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Background: Scientific evidence indicates that HIV viral suppression to an undetectable level eliminates sexual transmission risk ("Undetectable=Untransmittable" or "U=U"). However, U=U messaging has been met with skepticism among sexual minority men (SMM) and others. In this survey-based experiment, we manipulated messaging about HIV risk and examined reactions and perceived message accuracy among US SMM.

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Interventions aimed at teaching composite dressing skills assess individuals' current abilities and improve their performance at more independent and fluent levels. The current case study aims to report on the improvements observed when specific component motor skills are targeted for improved performance using frequency building techniques. We extend previous research by including the measure of escape-maintained behaviors during task completion.

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PrEP has been reported to facilitate openness to serodifferent sexual partnerships among sexual minority men (SMM). However, other aspects of a sexual scenario likely come into play, including whether or not condoms are used and whether or not the partner living with HIV has an undetectable viral load. This online survey study evaluated the association between PrEP status and openness to serodifferent partnering, as well as the effects of various sexual scenario variables (condom use and partner's viral load) among 268 HIV-negative SMM in the US.

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The Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U) message and its scientific underpinnings have been widely suggested to reduce HIV stigma. However, misunderstanding and skepticism about U = U may prevent this destigmatizing potential from being fully realized. This cross-sectional study examined associations between U = U belief (belief that someone with a sustained undetectable viral load has zero risk of sexually transmitting HIV) and HIV stigma among US sexual minority men.

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Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected all social systems, but healthcare services were particularly disrupted. The pandemic also had a disproportionate impact on populations made socially vulnerable. In this study, we documented the experiences of Latinx sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals with access to care during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

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We explored whether siblings can be engaged in PrEP promotion. We used the Information-Motivation-Behavior model to develop and conduct surveys and dyadic interviews with Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) and their siblings (n = 31) and three sibling-only focus groups (n = 20). For LMSM, only n = 14 (45%) agreed they would benefit from taking PrEP, yet = 22 (71%) would take PrEP to make their sibling worry less about them, and = 23 (74%) requested a PrEP referral.

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Disparities in HIV incidence and PrEP uptake suggest a need to prioritize Black sexual minority men (SMM) in PrEP social marketing initiatives. However, images linking Black SMM to HIV and PrEP may inadvertently reinforce stigma. We examined HIV-negative/status-unknown Black SMM's responses to targeted PrEP advertisements using mixed methods, including an experiment embedded in a longitudinal online survey (Time 1: n = 96; Time 2 [eight weeks]: n = 73) and four focus groups (n = 18).

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Article Synopsis
  • The text discusses the need to address HIV-related health issues in underrepresented minority populations by integrating mentoring and systemic barriers as part of research efforts.
  • It argues for a coordinated approach that combines research on social-structural factors with mentoring to enhance diversity in the research workforce focused on HIV comorbidities.
  • The authors conclude that while having a diverse research workforce is essential, it is not enough on its own; systemic and structural changes are also needed to improve outcomes and reduce the impact of comorbidities.
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The high incidence of HIV among US Black sexual minority men is a public health crisis that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV can help address. Public health campaigns, which often include pictures of Black sexual minority men alongside PrEP-related messaging, have been developed to encourage PrEP awareness and uptake. However, the acceptability of the messaging within these campaigns among Black sexual minority men is unclear.

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Background: Information on meal patterns (type, number, relative contribution to energy/day (%), time, and location of meals) is limited or nonexistent.

Design: Cross-sectional, nationally representative surveys. Colombia.

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We conducted a mixed-method longitudinal evaluation of an HIV primary care practice transformation project in Washington, D.C. The project aimed to enhance organizational capacity to deliver culturally appropriate and patient-centered care for Latinxs living with HIV.

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Background: There is a lack of knowledge in Colombia about dietary intake and sources of animal protein.

Design: Cross-sectional, nationally representative surveys. .

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Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that can accumulate in soils and negatively impact crop as well as human health. Amendments like biochar have potential to address these challenges by reducing Cd bioavailability in soil, though reliance on post-harvest wet chemical methods to quantify Cd uptake have slowed efforts to identify the most effective amendments. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a novel technology that could overcome this limitation by quantifying symptoms of Cd stress while plants are still growing.

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Introduction: Globally, transgender populations are disproportionally impacted by HIV and effective HIV prevention interventions targeting these populations are critically needed. Such interventions require research focused on the specific needs and experiences of transgender people. This methodological review aims to determine the extent to which HIV prevention research has included transgender participants by subsuming them into non-transgender populations, or by centring them either in comparison with other groups or as the sole focus of research.

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The Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) program was established by the National Institutes of Health in 1988 to catalyze and support high-impact HIV research and to develop the next generation of HIV investigators at academic institutions throughout the United States. In 2014, the Penn CFAR, the Johns Hopkins University CFAR and the District of Columbia CFAR developed a partnership-the Mid-Atlantic CFAR Consortium (MACC)-to promote cross-CFAR scientific collaboration, mentoring, and communication and to address the regional HIV epidemic. Over the past 6 years, the creation of the MACC has resulted in a rich web of interconnectivity, which has fostered through working groups on the black men who have sex with men (MSM) and Latinx regional HIV epidemics, joint peer-reviewed publications, and successful collaborative grant applications on topics ranging from HIV prevention in young MSM, transgender women, implementation science, and clinical epidemiology; supported through the MACC Scholars program, cross-CFAR mentoring, joint symposia, cross-CFAR seminar participation, and keynote speakers; and promoted through advisory committees, best practices consultations, and the social and behavioral science research network.

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pH sensing for healthcare applications requires sensors with mechanically stable materials of high sensitivity and high reproducibility combined with low-cost fabrication technologies. This work proposes a fully printed pH sensor based on a specially formulated conducting polymer deposited on a microelectrode in a flexible substrate. A formulation, which combined polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy) with integrated polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), was specially prepared to be printed by inkjet printing (IJP).

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