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Background: Immigrant Latinx transgender people often migrate to the United States because of a desire for increased safety and more opportunities. However, after migrating to the United States, immigrant Latinx transgender people often struggle to access basic needs, including health care, jobs, and stable finances. These struggles are exacerbated for undocumented immigrant Latinx transgender people. There is a gap in the literature regarding needed resources for immigrant Latinx transgender community members living in the United States. Aims: Utilizing a critical intersectionality framework, the aim of the present study was to investigate the resource needs of immigrant Latinx transgender community members living in the United States. Methods: A community sample of 18 immigrant Latinx transgender people living in a large metropolitan city in Florida participated in individual semi-structured interviews to explore their community resource needs. Results: Thematic analysis revealed five themes related to resources that participants needed including: 1) Transgender healthcare/resources, 2) Public education, 3) Financial aid resources, 4) Homelessness resources, and 5) Addictions care. Two resource need-related themes were identified that pertain specifically to undocumented immigrant Latinx transgender people, including: 1) Documentation papers for access, and 2) Legal aid. Conclusions: Findings suggest that immigrant Latinx transgender community members in this study provided guidance about broad resources needed to enhance their wellness and safety, and promote liberation of community members. Participants' resource needs suggest the importance of policy and structural level changes from institutions with power that consider and enhance the wellness of immigrant Latinx transgender people. Findings also suggest the need for more tailored interventions and case work to better support immigrant Latinx transgender people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenological study explores the experiences of Chinese international undergraduate students in the United States as they work through the complications of COVID-19 that are potentially intertwined with Sinophobia. By drawing on insights from critical race theory, especially the lens of racial trauma and trauma-informed care, the current study interprets four primary themes: (a) Paradox: Confusions about Racism in Academic Life; (b) Racially-Traumatic Incidences and Risk Factors in Social and Cultural Life; (c) Exodus: Burnout, Homesick, and the Dilemma; and (d) Determined Traumatic Symptoms: Insomnia, Nightmare, and Negative Memories. Noticeably, social justice issues such as isolation, exclusion, threats, and discrimination were present during the 2020 academic year. Therefore, the implications are explored through sociopsychological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaporative fraction (EF) is the ratio of latent heat (LE in W m−2) to available energy at the land surface. It can aid in partitioning the Sun's energy available at the Earth's surface into surface energy fluxes to understand land–atmosphere interactions as well as monitoring Evapotranspiration and terrestrial drought conditions. In this study, the feasibility of estimating instantaneous, diurnal, and daily EF with minimal satellite and meteorological inputs based on the temperature difference-vegetation index framework is explored in South Florida, United States (US). The model performance is assessed against the ground observations collected at three flux stations between 2008 and 2011. It was found that the energy balance closure was improved by 9% at the long hydroperiod marsh site (i.e. US-Elm) and 6% at the short hydroperiod marsh site (i.e. US-Esm) after water heat storage (W) correction was applied on energy fluxes since W is more important than soil heat flux (G) for wetland ecosystems. The results further indicated that the model produced accurate EF estimates and performed the best on diurnal, then instantaneous, and lastly daily periods. Overall, the model can be used to produce spatially continuous EF and ET maps since the flux towers are no longer active. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly growing racially diverse ageing population in the United States presents unique challenges for the country's social, economic, and healthcare systems. Rising health care costs, increased patient cost-sharing, and limited financial resources make this generation of older Americans susceptible to large medical bills or debt, which disproportionally impacts older adults who are from racial/ethnic minority communities. Cost of care (CoC) conversations between patients and healthcare providers is one recommended approach for containing healthcare costs and alleviating patients' financial burden of care. The current study used focus group methods to qualitatively explore the contextual factors that influence CoC conversations in a diverse sample of older adults (N = 27). Three focus groups were held with non-Hispanic White (n = 10), Black/African American (n = 9), and Hispanic (n = 8) participants. Thematic analysis yielded four broad themes. The results suggest that CoC conversations do not occur with physicians. The facilitators of CoC conversations included positive provider affect, rapport/relationship building, and communication. Barriers included lack of physician training, wait time, lack of focus on the patient, language, provider preferences, fear of physicians, and religion. There were significant differences in the facilitators and barriers across racial/ethnic groups. It is critical for physicians to have the tools and training to successfully discuss CoC with older patients. Cultural competency training and provider awareness of patient preferences and expectations may be important when it comes to enhancing rapport and increase the likelihood of these important conversations within racial/ethnic minority communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the United States' reliance on essential workers, or those deemed necessary to continue critical societal functions. Black women remain overrepresented in essential positions and are on the frontlines of two pandemics: COVID-19 and racism. Using a phenomenological research design, we conducted semi-structured interviews to examine the experiences of 22 Black women essential workers navigating these dual pandemics. Salient themes of these experiences included: desire to and fear of protest; navigating extreme emotions; mixed levels of understanding from colleagues; and a rise in blatantly racist confrontations in the workplace. Further reflection is needed to understand the complex dynamics these women faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]