Consumer views of functional electrical stimulation and robotic exoskeleton in SCI rehabilitation: A mini review.

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) and robotic exoskeletons represent emerging technologies with significant potential for restoring critical physical functions such as standing and walking-functions that are most susceptible after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the further development and successful integration of these technologies into clinical practice and daily life require a deep understanding of consumer perspectives.

Objective: This review synthesizes consumer perspectives from a diverse range of technology stakeholders, including medical service providers, researchers, and persons affected by SCI-those living with SCI and their caregivers.

Black women in HIV research: Intersectionality, positionality and our commitment to build a just research enterprise.

Black women in the United States are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and are less likely to be represented among HIV clinical research participants relative to their cumulative HIV burden. Likewise, Black women are underrepresented in large federally funded HIV research portfolios. Extensive research has demonstrated that Black applicants and women applicants are less likely to receive R01 level funding from the National Institutes of Health, among all applicants.

Overcoming Challenges in Small-Molecule Drug Bioavailability: A Review of Key Factors and Approaches.

The bioavailability of small-molecule drugs remains a critical challenge in pharmaceutical development, significantly impacting therapeutic efficacy and commercial viability. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding and overcoming bioavailability limitations, focusing on key physicochemical and biological factors influencing drug absorption and distribution. We examine cutting-edge strategies for enhancing bioavailability, including innovative formulation approaches, rational structural modifications, and the application of artificial intelligence in drug design.

Agent-Based Model of Combined Community- and Jail-Based Take-Home Naloxone Distribution.

Importance: Opioid-related overdose accounts for almost 80 000 deaths annually across the US. People who use drugs leaving jails are at particularly high risk for opioid-related overdose and may benefit from take-home naloxone (THN) distribution.

Objective: To estimate the population impact of THN distribution at jail release to reverse opioid-related overdose among people with opioid use disorders.

Social Epidemiology of Dual Use of Electronic and Combustible Cigarettes Among U.S. Adults: Insights from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Background: The dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes poses significant public health concerns due to the compounded risks associated with the use of both products. Understanding the predictors of dual use can inform targeted interventions and tobacco control strategies aimed at reducing nicotine dependence and health risks among adults.

Objective: This study aims to identify the sociodemographic predictors of dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes among U.

Unequal Returns: Education Fails to Fully Prepare Black and Latino Americans for Retirement.

Background: Retirement is a universal life stage, marking the culmination of an individual's working years. However, many people face financial challenges during retirement due to insufficient financial planning. Retirement preparedness is essential for ensuring economic security and maintaining a high quality of life in later years.

Diminished Returns of Educational Attainment on Body Mass Index Among Latino Populations: Insights from UAS Data.

Background: Educational attainment is a well-established predictor of physical health outcomes, including body mass index (BMI). However, according to the theory of Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs), the health benefits of education tend to be weaker for ethnic minorities compared to non-Latino Whites, due to structural inequalities and social disadvantages.

Objective: This study examines whether the association between educational attainment and BMI is weaker among Latino individuals compared to non-Latino individuals, in line with the MDRs framework.

Formative Evaluation of Post-Opera Live Discussion of the Center Cannot Hold Part 2 and Resilience Workshop.

There are few studies of impacts of arts on recovery in schizophrenia, on audience and cast responses. We developed a formative qualitative evaluation of audience and cast discussions after viewing live performances in a university setting of an opera based on Elyn Saks' journey from psychosis, teaching law and falling in love, coupled with pre-opera workshop on community approaches to resilience. Live discussions were conducted with audience, cast members, and workshop presenters after performance of the opera, with recording and transcription, and reflexive thematic qualitative analysis sequentially conducted by 3 investigators/2 event leaders).

Información es poder (information is power): menopause knowledge, attitudes, and experiences in midlife Hispanic women and Latinas.

Background: Latinas constitute nearly 20% of midlife women in the United States (U.S.), but remain underrepresented in menopause research.

The Cost of Opportunity: Anti-Black Discrimination in High Resource Settings.

Objective: Inequalities exist in children's educational outcomes-including reading proficiency, school discrimination, and school disciplinary actions-across zip codes with different levels of educational childhood opportunity index (COI). This study examines the interaction between race and educational environment on children's educational outcomes. We hypothesize that race, parental education, and their interaction are associated with perceived school discrimination, which in turn reduces their cognitive, academic, and emotional wellbeing.

High Education, Low Returns: Financial Literacy Challenges for African Americans and Hispanics.

Background: Education is widely regarded as a key driver of financial literacy, yet racial and ethnic disparities persist. Even among highly educated individuals, African American and Hispanic populations may face challenges in financial literacy, likely due to structural racism and socioeconomic inequalities that diminish the benefits of education. This study examines the relationship between education and financial literacy among African American and Hispanic individuals compared to their White counterparts, focusing on how structural factors contribute to these disparities.

Substance Misuse Among Medical Students, Resident Physicians, and Fellow Physicians: A Review With Focus on the United States' Population.

Substance misuse among medical trainees is a serious ongoing concern. The goal of this review is to describe the contributing factors leading to substance misuse among medical trainees, the consequences for those with substance misuse issues, and explore potential interventions and policy changes to address the issue. There are demographic characteristics that contribute to a higher likelihood of substance misuse including race, sex, relationship status, and year of training.

Educated but on Social Security Disability Insurance: Minorities' Diminished Returns.

Background: Educational attainment is widely regarded as a key predictor of economic and social outcomes in later life, including the likelihood of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). According to the Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory, however, the benefits of education may be less pronounced for racial and ethnic minorities compared to non-Latino Whites. This study investigates whether the effects of education on the likelihood of receiving SSDI differ by race and ethnicity, focusing on Black and Latino Americans.

When Common Becomes Normal: Weaker Association Between Neighborhood Stress and Body Mass Index Among Black Adolescents Compared to White Adolescents.

Objective: This study explores the relationship between neighborhood stress and Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescents, while also examining whether this association differs between Black and White adolescents.

Methods: Data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study were analyzed using linear regression models to examine the association between neighborhood stress (defined as a composite score based on three items measuring perceived safety and neighborhood fear) and BMI in adolescents, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables. We tested models both with and without interaction terms to assess whether race moderated the association.

Educated but Unhealthy? Examining Minorities' Diminished Returns.

Background: Educational attainment is known to improve self-rated health; however, research suggests that these benefits may be less pronounced for racial and ethnic minority groups. The Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory posits that the protective effects of resources such as education are weaker for marginalized populations, such as Black and Latino individuals, compared to their White counterparts.

Objective: This study aims to investigate racial and ethnic disparities in the association between years of schooling and self-rated health among U.

In-Person versus Virtual CEASE Smoking Cessation Interventions.

Background: Smoking cessation interventions are critical for underserved populations, particularly among low-income individuals who may benefit from tailored support. However, the effectiveness of different intervention formats remains unclear, particularly as virtual and hybrid models gain popularity.

Aims: This study compares the effectiveness of three smoking cessation intervention arms in a quasi-experimental design: Self-help group (Arm 1), In-person group (Arm 2), and Virtual/hybrid group (Arm 3).

Black-White Gap Across Levels of Educational Childhood Opportunities: Findings from the ABCD Study.

Objective: This study examines racial disparities in educational outcomes-including reading proficiency, grade point average (GPA), school discrimination, and school disciplinary actions-across regions with different levels of educational childhood opportunity index (COI). Our aim is to explore how these racial gaps between Black and White students vary in areas with differing educational opportunities. We hypothesize that higher COI is associated with smaller academic achievement gaps but may also correspond with greater racial bias in unfair school treatment.

Social Determinants of Successful Smoking Cessation: An Eight-Year Analysis of Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Data.

Background: Smoking cessation is a crucial public health goal due to its substantial impact on reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with tobacco use. However, significant disparities in smoking cessation success persist across socioeconomic groups in the United States.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine differences in smoking cessation rates among daily smokers based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, spanning waves 1 to 6 (eight years).

Smokers with Multiple Chronic Disease Are More Likely to Quit Cigarette.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the presence of chronic medical conditions and cessation among U.S. adults who use combustible tobacco.

Quantitative Intersectionality Scoring System (QISS): Opportunities for Enhancing Predictive Modeling, Comparative Analysis, Health Needs Assessment, and Policy Evaluation.

Intersectionality has significantly enhanced our understanding of how overlapping social identities-such as race, ethnicity, gender, sex, class, and sexual orientation-interact to shape individual experiences. However, despite its theoretical importance, much of the existing literature has relied on qualitative approaches to define and study intersectionality, limiting its application in predictive modeling, comparative analysis, and policy development. This paper introduces the concept of Quantitative Intersectionality Scoring System (QISS), a novel approach that assigns numerical scores to intersecting identities, thereby enabling a more systematic and data-driven analysis of intersectional effects.

A Qualitative Assessment of South Africa's Central Chronic Medication Dispensing and Distribution Program for Differentiated Antiretroviral Therapy Delivery in Umlazi Township, South Africa: Client Perspectives after 12 Months of Participation.

South Africa's Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program provides community-based medication delivery for clinically stable people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). To evaluate CCMDD implementation, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 PWH enrolled in CCMDD for at least 12 months. In a directed content analysis based on the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) implementation science framework, key themes were compared with qualitative data collected from PWH enrolling in CCMDD at an earlier time-point.

A Pilot Study of a Sibling-Based Online Intervention to Increase PrEP Uptake and Willingness Among Latino MSM.

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.

Underrepresentation of Black Men in Physician Assistant and Associate Training.

Importance: The underrepresentation of Black men in the health care workforce, particularly among physician assistants and associates (PAs), represents a missed opportunity to alleviate shortages of health care professionals and enhance workforce diversity. Increasing the number of Black men in the training pipeline could significantly benefit education, patient care, and overall health outcomes.

Objective: To analyze patterns from 2013 to 2021 among Black men applying to and matriculating into PA programs and compare these figures with the age-specific US population of Black men.