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Psoriasis is associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities, including obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. Many studies that established these associations originated from primarily White and/or relatively affluent populations. To evaluate whether there is a differential risk for cardiometabolic comorbidities in racial/ethnic minorities, we performed a cross-sectional analysis comparing cardiometabolic comorbidities between those with and without psoriasis in a racially and ethnically diverse population of 56 987 low-income patients, stratified by race/ethnicity, and assessed whether race/ethnicity acts as an effect modifier for cardiometabolic comorbidities. We found that psoriasis was statistically significantly associated with obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. The association of psoriasis with comorbidities did not differ significantly by race/ethnicity; thus, we did not find evidence of effect modification. However, our diverse, low-income population had an extremely high baseline prevalence of cardiometabolic comorbidities compared with previous populations studied. Our results suggest education and intervention regarding modifiable risk factors are particularly important among vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the concept of land rent and rentier capitalism in economic geography and urban studies. It identifies a lack of critical research on land rent in the "Global South" and "Global East," where significant struggles over land are occurring. The article examines the historical development of land rent theory and rent gaps, which are linked to gentrification and uneven capitalist development. It also addresses questions about the nature of land rent, the role of public policies and state institutions, and the potential for theories from outside the "Global North/West" to enhance understanding of global urban issues. The article concludes by introducing case studies from various regions that offer diverse perspectives on land rent and rent gaps, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of existing theories and the incorporation of Georgist and Marxian perspectives to address housing affordability and labor exploitation. The authors highlight the evolving role of the state in managing and redistributing rent gaps and stress the importance of sustained engagement with the state for achieving equity and justice. [Extracted from the article]

HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal despite proven efficacy. Data suggest misconceptions or lack of knowledge are leading barriers. Our study aimed to develop and pilot a novel interactive education resource designed to educate parents and patients about HPV vaccines. This is a prospective pilot study conducted in an urban teaching hospital pediatric clinic. The Patient Activated Learning System (PALS) intervention included 3 web-based videos with HPV vaccine-related educational content. Participants were parents of adolescent patients, aged 11–17 years, and young adult patients, aged 18–26 years. Enrolled participants completed an HPV vaccine knowledge survey before and after watching PALS; paired scores were evaluated. Acceptability and participant-reported impact of PALS modules were measured via Likert-scale surveys. 132 individuals were approached; 101 (76%) enrolled and completed the study. Participants self-identified as Hispanic (50%), non-Hispanic Black (23%), non-Hispanic White (7%), Asian (6%), American/Alaskan/Hawaiian Native or Pacific Islander (5%). Half reported earning ≤$40,000 annually; 57% had only a high school education. Post-intervention knowledge scores were increased compared to baseline (9.87/27 points vs 17.53/27 points, p < 0.01). PALS modules were reported as enjoyable to use and understandable (89% and 93%, respectively), and improved participants' understanding of the importance of HPV vaccination (90%). Of the 18 patients unvaccinated at baseline, 39% received 1 shot of the HPV vaccine within one month. The PALS HPV vaccine educational intervention was feasible, acceptable, and improved knowledge among a diverse, underserved population. Our intervention may positively influence HPV vaccination rates, with potential to overcome HPV vaccine hesitancy. • HPV vaccine-related educational modules were made for the Patient Activated Learning System (PALS) platform. • Participants reported feeling more comfortable with HPV vaccine for boys and girls after using the PALS modules. • HPV vaccine-related knowledge increased after use of PALS modules in participants recruited at a diverse pediatric clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insomnia is a serious health problem among older adults and, if untreated, is linked to a high morbidity rate and decreased quality of life. There is limited empirical evidence on Insomnia and its treatment-seeking exclusively among older adults (60 plus years) using representative data in India. This study assesses the prevalence and predictors of Insomnia and its treatment-seeking among older adults. Methods: Data gathered through the nationally-representative Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI); Wave 1 (2017-18) was used for the analysis. Specifically, information from older adults aged 60 and above for whom complete information on insomnia was available (n- 31,464) was considered for the analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to check the adjusted effects of insomnia's socio-demographic and economic predictors and its treatment-seeking status. Stata was used for the data analysis with a 5% significance level. Results: 37% of older adults had insomnia. Increasing age, female gender, living without a spouse, illiteracy, chronic health conditions, nutritionally underweight, physically inactive status, lack of exposure to mass media, Hindu religion, non-tribal status, and rural residence were significantly associated with insomnia. 3% of older adults sought treatment for insomnia. Not seeking treatment for insomnia was associated with male gender, exposure to mass media, physical activity, lack of chronic health issues, tribal status, living in a rural area, and being economically disadvantaged. Conclusions: A sizable number of older adults have insomnia, and the prevalence varies by their socioeconomic, demographic, and health status. Many modifiable risk factors like low education, chronic health conditions, smoking, being underweight, physical inactivity, and lack of exposure to mass media are identified. Treatment-seeking for Insomnia is further inadequate, enhancing the older adult's vulnerability to various morbidities. Policy and program intervention to raise awareness about insomnia, including early identification and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, will ensure better health and welfare of older adults. Estimations are based on self-report questionnaires; therefore, the possibility of recall bias and under-reporting cannot be ignored. Moreover, the estimation of insomnia may vary depending on various clinical definitions. However, a large sample size from a recent nationally representative survey with a robust sampling design is the strength of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the leadership dynamics of megachurches in urban centers of the Philippines, examining the doctrinal beliefs, attitudes, and responses of leaders from two prominent megachurches, Christ Commission Fellowship (CCF) and Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF). Topics include the historical formation of CCF and VCF, their growth trajectories, and the methodology used to study their leadership dynamics, including survey instruments and data collection procedures.

This article discusses a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that examines the issue of food insecurity among low-income adults in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study analyzes data from the National Health Interview Survey and compares food insecurity rates in 2019, 2021, and 2022. The findings reveal that food insecurity increased among low-income adults during the pandemic, especially among those with diet-sensitive chronic conditions. The study emphasizes the need to address food insecurity as a driver of health disparities in the country. It also suggests that financial relief and nutritional benefits, such as SNAP, are crucial in reducing food insecurity, but the early termination of SNAP emergency allotments may have contributed to the increase in food insecurity in 2022. The study highlights the importance of considering these factors in future nutritional policies. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction On May 9, 2016, the State of California passed a law to increase the licensing fee for tobacco retailers from a one-time-only fee of $100 to an annual fee of $265, effective on June 9, 2016. This study investigates the association between this fee increase and retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity characteristics. Methods We obtained quarterly data on the number of active tobacco retailer licenses from 2011 to 2020 in every zip code in California from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. These data were then linked to zip code-level income, race/ethnicity, and population measures. We used a single-group segmented interrupted time-series analysis to assess the association between the increase in licensing fees and retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity. Results After the implementation of the annual licensing fees, the retailer density decreased both immediately and gradually. Specifically, the retailer density dropped by 0.47 in the first quarter following the intervention. Compared to the pre-intervention time trend, the retailer density decreased quarterly by 0.05. Furthermore, the impacts of increasing licensing fees were more pronounced in low-income and the majority Black zip codes. Conclusions Given that higher smoking prevalence is associated with greater tobacco outlet density, the licensing fee increase could be an effective policy tool to reduce tobacco use among economically disadvantaged and minority Black communities, thereby addressing tobacco-use disparities. Implications This study used the single-group segmented interrupted time-series analysis to assess the association between the licensing fee increase and tobacco retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity. We found that this licensing fee increase was associated with reduced retailer densities and the total number of active retailers right after the implementation. We further found that the annual licensing fee policy had a continuous effect in reducing tobacco retailer densities in all zip codes. The impacts of increasing licensing fees were more pronounced in low-income and majority of Black zip codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, faith communities across the United States have begun to create affordable housing on church property, inspired by sincerely held religious beliefs. Some are building microhomes behind their houses of worship. Others are converting residences once used by religious ministers--from rectories to abbeys to convents--into units for seniors and low-income families. Still others are repurposing their vacant schools, church parking lots, and undeveloped parcels of land for denser multifamily structures, from townhouses to apartment buildings. Within housing-advocacy circles and among faith communities, these continent-wide efforts to create affordable housing on church property have manifested an affirmative declaration: "Yes, In God's Backyard." Legal scholarship and popular media have extensively documented the affordable-housing crisis. In particular, scholars and commentators have underscored the pernicious role of exclusionary zoning in strangling housing production, ultimately sending regional housing prices skyward. When faith communities create affordable housing on church property, much of which is located in residentially zoned areas, they seek something other than fair market value. Some might call it "charity" (tzedakah) or "discipleship," a commitment to "welcome the stranger" or to "love your neighbor as yourself." Faith communities seek theologically and morally sound uses for their underutilized property, but often struggle to overcome the regulatory and financial hurdles of adaptive reuse. Local governments can incentivize redevelopment that benefits the wider community, growing their affordable housing supply. But their mutual benefit does not exempt faith communities from challenge when they choose to redevelop church property for affordable housing. Neighbors may seek to thwart faith communities from introducing denser, multifamily residential structures in their backyard, relying on land-use restrictions designed to prohibit less costly forms of housing. When they succeed, these challenges from NIMBY ("Not In My Backyard") neighbors can limit both housing supply and the free exercise of religion. This Feature thus proposes a novel response to exclusionary zoning: religious liberty. Where sincerely held religious beliefs inspire faith communities' efforts to create affordable housing, these communities can assert constitutional and statutory free exercise protections against land-use decisions that obstruct denser, less expensive, multifamily developments on church land. This Feature also explores municipal and state legislative reforms that lower the barrier where faith communities struggle to overcome the regulatory and financial hurdles of adaptive reuse and demonstrates the breadth of potential for affordable housing on church property, drawing on public sources and a novel data set to map parcels owned by Roman Catholic dioceses in Chicago, Illinois and Oakland, California across municipal zones. Regardless of how faith communities came to own property within their limits, or why faith communities seek to repurpose property within their limits, most local governments need property within their limits to create affordable housing. And faith communities are willing partners in their endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation often leads to worse economic consequences for women than for men. However, little is known about how economic consequences of separation play out for different groups of women. Women who are younger than their male partner are generally assumed to have lesser agency, but evidence mostly comes from contexts with low gender equality. Here, we examine women's benefit recipiency as a function of the partner age gap of their dissolved union. Using register data from Sweden, we examine whether women from man-older unions suffer greater economic disadvantage after separation, and whether patterns differ for ancestral Swedes and women with migrant background. Results from logistic regression models suggest that, post-separation, the uptake of social and housing benefits increases for nearly all groups of women. However, these data do not show any consistent disadvantages of women from man-older unions. Among ancestral Swedes, patterns differed by benefit type, and among women of African/Middle Eastern origin, benefit recipiency increases were inversely U-shaped to the age gap. Social norms do not appear to explain economic costs of separation, but may explain why the risk of separation itself differed between ancestral Swedish women and women with migrant background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on comparing the perspectives of M. T. Vasudevan Nair and Rabindranath Tagore as passionate nature enthusiasts, exploring their attitudes toward life, humanism, and love of nature in their works. Topics include their individual backgrounds, writing styles, and shared emphasis on human relationships and empathy for the underprivileged, highlighting parallels despite their distinct cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Approximately 30% of students who enter the postsecondary education system do so through 2-year colleges. The majority of these students intend to earn a bachelor's degree, but most leave college before earning a diploma from a 4-year institution. The discrepancy between bachelor's degree aspirations and degree attainment rates of students who enter through 2-year colleges suggests that vertical transfer students—those who transfer from 2- to 4-year colleges—face unique obstacles to academic performance and retention that affect their likelihood of earning a bachelor's degree. Similar barriers exist for economically disadvantaged students, who may be more likely to enter the postsecondary education system through 2-year colleges. This scoping review synthesizes the literature on factors influencing economically disadvantaged vertical transfer students' academic performance in the first year posttransfer and retention between the first and second year posttransfer. Implications for 2- and 4-year institutions and recommendations for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is the Philippine version of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program that measures human development through the provision of conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor. This research determines the health expenditure and utilisation of the poor families in a low-income community under the CCT program. A cross-sectional research design was adopted using mixed methods of data collection from 177 households between May and June 2017. Results reveal that most families under CCT devote the largest portion of household health expenditure for inpatient health seeking. About 40% of the total expenditure is covered by the National Health Insurance Program and the cost for hospitalisation mostly comes from the out-of-pocket source. Moreover, the common problems encountered during health utilisation and spending are poor customer service of healthcare facilities and uncompensated hospital bill by health insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined how lower‐income mothers engage in emotion work in order to feel like good mothers within broader contexts of stigmatization, economic insecurity, and precarity. Background: Despite the pervasiveness of the intensive mothering ideology, research shows that lower‐income mothers in the United States also routinely diverge from the ideology's norms due to structural and cultural factors. In doing so, these mothers simultaneously work to reframe and negotiate what it means to be a good mother. While scholarship reveals how mothers cognitively and behaviorally carry out this work, less attention has been paid to how mothers perform this work on an emotional level. Method: Drawing on in‐depth interviews with 33 lower‐income mothers in the San Francisco Bay Area, this study investigated, through the lens of maternal foodwork, how mothers work on their emotions to feel like good mothers. Data were analyzed abductively. Results: Mothers worked on their emotions as part of an effort to negotiate what good mothering looks like and to feel like good mothers as they performed maternal foodwork. To do so, mothers engaged in the gendered and classed emotion work strategy of downscaling. Downscaling involved working to inhibit negative emotions and evoke positive ones. Downscaling was facilitated by three key approaches: reflecting on harder times, redefining good foodwork, and leveraging social comparison. Conclusion: Downscaling serves as a rational, effective emotion work strategy to help mothers navigate ongoing hardships, cultivate a positive maternal identity, and feel like good mothers within contexts of stigmatization, economic insecurity, and precarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Marketizers: Public Choice and the Origins of the Neoliberal Order" by Jacob Jensen explores the connection between public choice theory and the emergence of the neoliberal order. The book argues that the reinvention of government as a market-like entity would not have been possible without the influence of public choice theorists. Jensen traces the development of this idea from the voluntary exchange theorists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the public choice theorists of the mid-20th century. The book raises questions about the commodification of politics and the role of citizens in a neoliberal society. While the thesis is thought-provoking, it does not fully consider alternative perspectives or the complexity of the relationship between economics and politics. [Extracted from the article]

Class in Australia is a comprehensive book that delves into the topic of class division in contemporary Australia. It explores social theory and debates surrounding class, connecting them to issues like employment instability, conflicts between professionals and managers, and the decline of trade unions. The book also presents empirical research on the everyday experiences of class, education, unemployment, and popular culture. It argues for an Australian understanding of class that acknowledges the unique history of settler colonialism and the displacement of indigenous peoples. The book is divided into five parts, with contributions from scholars at different universities, and covers a wide range of topics related to class in Australia. A review of the book praises its thorough and diverse analysis of class in Australian society, including its examination of workplace regulations, the experiences of the unemployed, language used to discuss class, portrayals of poverty in reality TV, representations of class and gender in rural romance novels, the role of class in education, and the attitudes of white middle-class parents. The review commends the book for its comprehensive exploration of class in Australia and its intersections with race, gender, and colonial history. [Extracted from the article]

Background: We aimed to clarify whether differences in food group intake according to household income have changed over the last decade in Japanese people aged 20 years or older. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on the 2010, 2014, and 2018 National Health and Nutrition Surveys in Japan. Food intake was assessed using a 1-day semi-weighed household dietary record. The participants were categorized into three groups based on their income. The mean of each food intake according to the income group was estimated by adjusting for age, occupation, and number of participants from the same household. The significance of the interaction terms between income and survey year was evaluated to assess the change in income-related differences in food intake over time. Results: Cereal intake was lower in the middle- and the highest-income groups than in the lowest-income group, regardless of sex, and the interaction between income and year was nonsignificant for cereal intake. In the former two surveys, vegetable intake was higher among the highest-income women, while in the 2018 survey, the vegetable intake decreased in the women in the middle- and the highest-income groups. The interaction between income and year was significant for vegetable intake among the women. For other foods, the differences in intake among the income groups did not significantly change over time. Conclusion: The tendency for lower cereal intake in the higher-income groups was consistent over time in both the sexes, and the tendency for higher vegetable intake in the highest income women disappeared over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text examines the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and its themes of disruption, capitalism, nostalgia, wealth, poverty, and the pursuit of money. It draws parallels between the disruptions faced by the characters in the film and real-life events such as the pandemic, protests, and political upheavals. The author shares personal experiences and observations about planning and adapting to change, emphasizing the challenges of anticipating and navigating disruptions. The text suggests that moving forward and adapting to change is necessary, even if it means leaving behind what was once familiar and comfortable. It also explores the complexities of the pursuit of wealth, driven by fear of poverty and the desire for a better future, while acknowledging the anxieties and uncertainties faced by artists and the working class. [Extracted from the article]

Many countries introduced borrower-based instruments to constrain credit to households exceeding a limit on their loan-to-value ratio, their (mortgage) debt-to-income ratio or their debt service-to-income ratio. We evaluate how well borrower-based instruments can target households that would become vulnerable after a shock. We apply the signals approach to derive "optimal" limits that minimize classification errors (either granting credit to financially vulnerable households or constraining credit to households that are not vulnerable). To illustrate, we simulate an adverse scenario using household-level data from Luxembourg. We find that combining several ratios could better target households that would become vulnerable after a shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike traditional firm production, gig economy workers provide their own physical capital. As a consequence, the low‐income households for whom gig economy opportunities are most valuable often borrow to participate. In the context of ride share, difference‐in‐difference analysis reveals increased vehicle purchases, borrowing, utilization, and employment around entry, but financially constrained individuals cannot participate. To assess the equilibrium importance of financing, I build and estimate a structural model of the gig economy. Access to finance proves critical for the gig economy's growth: without finance, equilibrium quantities would be 40% lower and prices 90% higher, and only higher‐income households could participate as drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somalia is one of 20 countries in the world with the highest numbers of zero-dose children. This study aims to identify who and where zero-dose and under-vaccinated children are and what the existing vaccine delivery strategies to reach zero-dose children in Somalia are. This qualitative study was conducted in three geographically diverse regions of Somalia (rural/remote, nomadic/pastoralists, IDPs, and urban poor population), with government officials and NGO staff (n = 17), and with vaccinators and community members (n = 52). The data were analyzed using the GAVI Vaccine Alliance IRMMA framework. Nomadic populations, internally displaced persons, and populations living in remote and Al-shabaab-controlled areas are three vulnerable and neglected populations with a high proportion of zero-dose children. Despite the contextual heterogeneity of these population groups, the lack of targeted, population-specific strategies and meaningful engagement of local communities in the planning and implementation of immunization services is problematic in effectively reaching zero-dose children. This is, to our knowledge, the first study that examines vaccination strategies for zero-dose and under-vaccinated populations in the fragile context of Somalia. Evidence on populations at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and barriers to vital vaccination services remain critical and urgent, especially in a country like Somalia with complex health system challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only one in seven of the world's population have ever migrated, despite the enormous gains in income possible through international and internal movement. I examine the evidence for different explanations given in the economics literature for this lack of movement and their implications for policy. Incorrect information about the gains to migrating, liquidity constraints that prevent poor people paying the costs of moving, and high costs of movement arising from both physical transportation costs and policy barriers all inhibit movement and offer scope for policy efforts to inform, provide credit, and lower moving costs. However, the economics literature has paid less attention to the fears people have when faced with the uncertainty of moving to a new place, and to the reasons behind the tears they shed when moving. While these tears reveal the attachment people have to particular places, this attachment is not fixed, but itself changes with migration experiences. Psychological factors such as a bias toward the status quo and the inability to picture what one is giving up by not migrating can result in people not moving, even when they would benefit from movement and are not constrained by finances or policy barriers from doing so. This suggests new avenues for policy interventions that can help individuals better visualize the opportunity costs of not moving, alleviate their uncertainties, and help shift their default behavior from not migrating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a tropical infectious disease affecting some of the world's most economically disadvantaged and resource-poor regions. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common out of the three clinical types of Leishmaniasis. Since 1904 this disease has been endemic in Sri Lanka. CL is considered a disfiguring stigmatising disease with a higher psychosocial burden. However, there needs to be a more in-depth, holistic understanding of the psychosocial burden of this disease, both locally and internationally. An in-depth understanding of the disease burden beyond morbidity and mortality is required to provide people-centred care. We explored the psychosocial burden of CL in rural Sri Lanka using a complex multimethod qualitative approach with community engagement and involvement. Data collection included participant observation, an auto-ethnographic diary study by community researchers with post-diary interviews, and a Participant Experience Reflection Journal (PERJ) study with post-PERJ interviews with community members with CL. The thematic analysis revealed three major burden-related themes on perceptions and reflections on the disease: wound, treatment, and illness-experience related burden. Fear, disgust, body image concerns, and being subjected to negative societal reactions were wound-related. Treatment interfering with day-to-day life, pain, the time-consuming nature of the treatment, problems due to the ineffectiveness of the treatment, and the burden of attending a government hospital clinic were the treatment-related burdens. Anxiety/worry due to wrongly perceived disease severity and negative emotions due to the nature of the disease made the illness experience more burdensome. Addressing the multifaceted psychosocial burden is paramount to ensure healthcare seeking, treatment compliance, and disease control and prevention. We propose a people-centred healthcare model to understand the contextual nature of the disease and improve patient outcomes. Author summary: In order to enhance the provision of healthcare for individuals afflicted with CL in rural Sri Lanka, it is imperative to delve into the consequences of the disease beyond its physical manifestations. Our research methodology encompassed a diverse array of approaches, including participant observation, diaries maintained by community researchers with subsequent interviews, and a Participant Experience Reflection Journal (PERJ) to gain insights into the experiences of community members affected by CL. After conducting thematic analysis of all the data sets, we identified three categories of burden that were interconnected with individuals' perceptions and encounters with the disease: Wound-related burden, Treatment-related burden and Illness-experience-related burden. People with CL were found to experience fear, disgust, and concerns related to body image stemming from the visible wounds and faced adverse societal reactions due to their disease. The treatment regimen for CL posed various challenges for patients, such as disruption of their daily lives and physical discomfort. The experience of illness became more burdensome due to anxiety/worry concerning the illness's severity, coupled with negative emotions linked to the disease. Prioritising the psychosocial burden associated with CL is essential for healthcare seeking, compliance, and disease control. We propose a context-specific, people-centred model to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated prevention measures affected the mental health and psychological well-being of young people with and without a migratory background. The present study aimed to compare the mental health and psychological well-being of migrant and non-migrant young people before and after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign period in two countries which had different policies to deal with the pandemic. The "Psychological General Well-being" of young people and their experiences during the pandemic were investigated using an anonymous online survey during two pandemic waves before the vaccination campaign and 6 months after its start. A majority of the 6154 participants (aged between 15 and 25 years in all study groups) reported a decrease of mental health from the time period before the vaccination (BV) to after the vaccination (AV) campaign (b = 0.27, p <.001). This association was higher in females (b = 0.04, p = 0.008) and in youth with financial problems (b = 0.13, p <.001). Furthermore, this decrease was more pronounced in people ≤17 years old (40% to 62%) than in those >17 years (59% to 67%). Contrary to expectation, vulnerable groups such as the economically disadvantaged, younger, and female participants did not experience a significant easing of the pandemic's psychological burden AV. Vaccination campaigns should continue emphasizing the beneficial effects of COVID-19 vaccination on general well-being, but with an acknowledgement that the road to recovery is still a long one. Concurrently, free access to psychological treatment and financial support should be offered, especially for vulnerable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor access to modern energy services, or energy poverty, continues to be a significant barrier to socioeconomic progress and well-being. The complicated connections between public investment, incentives, supplier chains, and the financial success of energy poverty alleviation efforts are explored in this paper. This research examines the history of eradicating energy poverty worldwide, particularly in China. It examines how these aspects affect the efficiency and long-term viability of reducing energy poverty initiatives. This research synthesizes the evidence on government expenditure patterns and their impact on initiatives to reduce energy poverty via an extensive literature examination. The development of infrastructure, capacity building, and the deployment of energy technology are all made possible in large part by government spending. Financial and regulatory incentives have also been shown to encourage the energy industry's private sector engagement and innovation. These incentives help expand underprivileged groups' access to electricity by creating an atmosphere conducive to investment. This research also examines supply chains' crucial role in combating energy poverty. For the effective installation and upkeep of energy projects, efficient and resilient supply chains are crucial because they guarantee the availability of vital materials and resources. An integrated supply chain strategy may improve project results, save costs, and eliminate risks related to logistical difficulties. Government funding, incentives, and supply chains all have a connection that affects how well energy poverty alleviation programs function financially. Maintaining projects after their first execution requires sustained financial performance. It explores how supply network interruptions may affect financial performance, highlighting the need for robust supply chain management techniques. As a result, this study adds to a comprehensive knowledge of the complex processes underpinning the reduction of energy poverty. It offers insights into developing efficient policies and strategies by examining how government actions, incentives, supply chains, and financial performance interact. These observations are relevant for practitioners, investors, and academics trying to increase access to sustainable energy sources and reduce poverty in addition to policymakers. This report provides helpful recommendations for boosting the effectiveness and endurance of energy poverty reduction activities as nations work to reach global sustainable development objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, Laos faced a severe economic and fiscal crisis, resulting in high public debt, currency depreciation, and inflation. This crisis had negative impacts on the environment, economic inequality, and labor migration. The government implemented fiscal measures to mitigate the crisis, but their effectiveness remains uncertain. Despite construction projects and a tourism boom in Luang Prabang, there is disillusionment and uncertainty among the population, particularly in rural areas. The Laos-China Railway performed well, but concerns about debt to China and the social and environmental costs of infrastructure construction persist. The government is negotiating with creditors to restructure its debt and is relying on a small group of economists to address macroeconomic deficiencies. Laos also faced social problems, environmental issues, and had diverse relationships with China, Russia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The government's ability to address these challenges and discontent among the population is crucial for the country's future. The document provides a list of sources covering various aspects of Laos in 2023, including the economic crisis, debt levels, relationship with China, renewable energy, tourism, migration, land grabs, drug trade, environmental threats, and more. It also discusses Laos' role in the crisis in Myanmar and the doubts about its ability to make a significant difference. The article presents different perspectives on the matter, highlighting the complexities and challenges involved. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines Indonesia's progress in reducing poverty during President Joko Widodo's tenure. The poverty rate decreased from 17.8% in 2006 to 9.4% in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary increase in poverty rates, particularly among women and young workers. The government implemented social assistance programs to support the poor, but poverty remains a significant challenge. The article discusses key programs and strategies for poverty eradication, as well as challenges in implementing these programs effectively. It concludes by discussing the prospects of Indonesia's goal to eradicate extreme poverty and the need for targeted social protection programs. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the dominant trends in education policy and practice, focusing on the influence of neoliberalism, neoconservatism, and authoritarian populism. It highlights the privatization and hypercompetitiveness in education, which neglect important aspects such as compassion and creativity. The article argues that these trends primarily benefit the affluent and reinforce inequalities in education. It emphasizes the need for a more balanced and inclusive approach to education, advocating for democratic approaches to school management and accountability. The article also explores the challenges faced by teachers and the lack of coherence in the political landscape. [Extracted from the article]

Mental health conditions were seen to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic as individuals lost loved ones due to the pandemic, lost jobs, and in many cases had to care for elderly and other loved ones. For students, the pandemic also brought the additional challenge of having to transition to online learning. In this study, we investigated the depression and anxiety levels of students in a Hispanic-serving institution and the coping strategies they used to deal with the stress during the pandemic, and the relationship of students' depression and anxiety levels to their preference of learning and their other demographic characteristics. A survey was administered online via Qualtrics to the students. The depression and anxiety faced by the students in this study could have been attributed to them being majority Latino and economically disadvantaged, which studies have shown to be more disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Students who have taken online courses before were associated with lower depression levels, which may indicate that those who have not taken online courses may have been experiencing more stress with this transition. Students employed approach-based coping strategies instead of avoidance strategies which are known as more positive forms of coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition plays a critical and crucial role in addressing neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and their complications, as they often contribute to malnutrition, which can worsen the impact of these conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the nutritional status of mycetoma patients, which has not been explored previously. This descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at the Mycetoma Research Center (MRC), University of Khartoum, Sudan. The study included 179 confirmed mycetoma patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched normal controls. The nutritional status of the mycetoma patients was assessed and compared with that of the control group. The majority of the patients were young adults with varying educational levels, predominantly from Central Sudan. The foot was the most commonly affected part; most patients had lesions more than 10 cm in diameter. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated for both study groups, revealing that 43.5% of the patients and 53.6% of controls had a normal BMI. Furthermore, 36% of patients were underweight, contrasting with only 11% in the control group. Correlation analyses indicated no significant associations between BMI and age groups, educational levels, daily meals, food quantity, and appetite in the study population (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were observed in BMI concerning disease duration and affected sites (p = 0.0577). The Kruskal-Wallis test did not reveal significant differences in BMI means among the groups. The study revealed that most participants consumed three meals daily, and the control group showed a more robust appetite and consumed more food than the patient group (p = 0.005). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in the consumption of different food types between the patient and control groups and among different BMI categories (p = 0.025 and 0.040, respectively). Author summary: Mycetoma primarily affects low-income people in limited-resource communities in tropical and subtropical regions. The affected mycetoma are of low socioeconomic and health education status, and their localities' health and medical facilities are frequently inadequate. Hence, they present with massive, complicated disease; thus, the treatment outcome is suboptimal. Mycetoma has many disabilities and psychosocial effects, which may affect the patient nutritional status. Furthermore, most of the mycetoma epidemiological risk factors are indistinct and unclear. With this background, this study was conducted to determine the effect of the disease on the patients' nutritional status and to determine if nutrition has a role in mycetoma susceptibility. The study included 179 patients with confirmed mycetoma and age and sex-matched 179 controls from their communities. The mean patients' height was 160±14.31cm, and for the control was 166.78±10.97 cm. The patients' body weight mean was 56.09±17.67kg; for the control, it was 67.53±16.41kg, and no statistically significant differences existed. The body mass index showed a higher percentage of underweight individuals in the patients group, which was statistically significant. No significant correlations existed between the study population BMI groups and their demographic characteristics. There were many similarities between the studied patients and the control regarding the dietary habits and diet intake. More in-depth studies are needed to determine the causal and effect relationship between mycetoma and the affected population. Nutritional support and education, while encouraging intake of therapeutic/functional locally available food items, should be fundamental in the different mycetoma management activities and measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good quality information is a public utility: the rich and powerful will always have access to what they need to know, but poor people do not. Indeed, increasing inequalities in access to decent information underlie other more obvious inequalities. Bad information does not respect borders and yet democracy depends on informed citizens. The case for public intervention in what used to be called broadcasting, now including digital media—but which needs to be thought of as a public information space—is at a tipping point. This collection of essays sets out these vital challenges and offers some innovative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood behavior problems are associated with reduced labor market participation and lower earnings in adulthood, but little is known about the pathways and mechanisms that explain these associations. Drawing on a 33‐year prospective birth cohort of White males from low‐income backgrounds (n = 1040), we conducted a path analysis linking participants' teacher‐rated behavior problems at age 6 years—that is, inattention, hyperactivity, aggression‐opposition, and low prosociality—to employment earnings at age 35–39 years obtained from tax records. We examined three psychosocial mediators at age 11–12 years (academic, behavioral, social) and two mediators at age 25 years (non‐high school graduation, criminal convictions). Our findings support the notion that multiple psychosocial pathways—especially low education attainment—link kindergarten behavior problems to lower employment earnings decades later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food insecurity (FI) often co-exists with other social risk factors, which makes addressing it particularly challenging. The degree of association between FI and other social risk factors across different levels of income and before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is currently unknown, impeding the ability to design effective interventions for addressing these co-existing social risk factors. Objective: To determine the association between FI and other social risk factors overall and across different levels of income-poverty ratios and before (2019) and during (2020–2021) the pandemic. Design: We used nationally representative data from the 2019–2021 National Health Interview Survey for our cross-sectional analysis. Social risk factors available in NHIS included difficulties paying for medical bills, difficulties paying for medications, receiving income assistance, receiving rental assistance, and "not working last week". Subjects: 93,047 adults (≥18 years old). Key Results: Individuals with other social risk factors (except receiving income assistance) were more likely to report FI, even after adjusting for income and education inequalities. While poverty leads to a higher prevalence of FI, associations between FI and other social risk factors were stronger among people with higher incomes, which may be related to their ineligibility for social safety net programs. Associations were similar before and during the pandemic, perhaps due to the extensive provision of social safety net programs during the pandemic. Conclusions: Future research should explore how access to a variety of social safety net programs may impact the association between social risk factors. With the expiration of most pandemic-related social supports, further research and monitoring are also needed to examine FI in the context of increasing food and housing costs. Our findings may also have implications for the expansion of income-based program eligibility criteria and screening for social risk factors across all patients and not only low-income people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "A Voice from the War of Jenkins' Ear: The Journal of Capt. James Stafford, 1740-1741" discusses the recruitment efforts and experiences of North Carolina colonists during the War of Jenkins' Ear. The British government sought enlistees from its colonies to form an "American" regiment for an expedition against the Spanish West Indies. Capt. James Stafford, a plantation owner, documented his activities and observations during the expedition in a journal. The journal provides detailed accounts of the preparations, voyage, and military operations, as well as insights into eighteenth-century life. The article also mentions the challenges faced by the North Carolina troops, including disputes over pay and issues with desertion. [Extracted from the article]

Research, as well as mainstream culture, may be too quick to label parenting young people of color (which we define as being under or near the age of 20 when having a child) as delinquent and "at risk". Using qualitative data, we offer anti-deficit framing surrounding students of color with children, highlighting the unique achievements of a set of "parent-strivers" despite the natural challenges of unexpectant parenthood. Our findings suggest that the parenting and academic identities of low-income people of color can be mutually beneficial and reinforced through positive schooling influences; we challenge the idea that education becomes a secondary priority after one becomes a parent. This paper answers the call for a better "articulation of agency" within exclusionary institutions. It contributes a rare acknowledgment of positive family outcomes to offset the concept of risk monopolizing the field and leaving us without support-oriented thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Undernutrition remains a serious public health problem in developing countries, including Ethiopia. In particular, street adolescents are more at risk for undernutrition because they are the most underprivileged population. However, there is a paucity of information about undernutrition among street adolescents in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the prevalence of undernutrition (stunting and thinness) and factors associated with undernutrition among street adolescents in Adama town, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia, 2023. Method: A community-based cross sectional study was conducted among 358 street adolescents from January 15–30, 2023. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the required sample size. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from the respondents. The collected data were checked, coded, entered into Epidata 4.6 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Both Bivariable and Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors that are associated with thinness and stunting. P values below 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval were considered indicative of a statistically significant association. Finally, statements, graphs, tables and charts were used for result presentation. Result: This study revealed that, the prevalence of undernutrition was 47.2%. Thinness and stunting accounted for 20.4% and 34.1% respectively and 7.3% both thinness and stuting. Age (adusted odd ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval: 1.17–1.71), skipped one or more meals per day ((adusted odd ratio = 3.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.23–9.94), drinking unprotected water source ((adusted odd ratio = 3.23; 95% confidence interval: 1.49–6.98) and use of mastish ((adusted odd ratio = 2.91; 95% confidence interval: 1.19–7.12) were factors statistically associated with thinness. Being skipped one or more meals per day ((adusted odd ratio = 4.14; 95% confidence interval: 1.87–9.14), washing hands before meals ((adusted odd ratio = 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.26–0.81) and moderate depression ((adusted odd ratio = 2.93; 95% confidence interval: 1.05–8.15) were factors significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion and recommendation: In conculusion, the prevalence of undernutrition (thinness, stunting or both together) was high among street adolescents. To enhance street adolecents' nutritional status, targeted nutritional treatments, providing health services and good hygiene and sanitatios practices are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core‐periphery hypothesis predicts niche cores should be associated with greater survivorship, reproductive output and population performance rates than marginal habitats at niche edges. However, there is very little empirical evidence of whether niche centrality influences population trends in animals. Using the Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) as a model system, we evaluated whether niche centrality is associated with population trends, resource availability and diet across a core‐periphery gradient. Population growth rates and density progressively declined towards niche peripheries. Niche peripheries were resource‐poor and Cape mountain zebra consumed more phylogenetically diverse diets dominated by non‐grass families. In core habitats they consumed grass‐rich diets and female reproductive success was higher. This combination of spatial niche modelling and functional ecology provides a novel evaluation of how bottom‐up resource limitation can shape species distributions, population resilience and range change and can guide conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the protests and dissent that occurred at the University of Valle in Colombia in the early 1970s. Students at the university went on strike to object to funding from local and international elites, criticizing wealth inequality, imperialism, and the limitations of development within a capitalist system. The architecture school at the university played a significant role in organizing and leading the protests. The article discusses the relationship between architecture, international development, and student activism, highlighting the ways in which students contested elite visions and reshaped the physical space of the university. [Extracted from the article]

The Journal of Geographical Systems (JGS) has announced two initiatives to recognize outstanding research published in the journal. The first initiative is the JGS Best Paper Award, which aims to encourage and acknowledge excellent scholarship in the field of GIScience and spatial planning. The second initiative is the Editors' Choice, where the editors select their favorite paper from each issue. The winners of these awards are listed on the journal's website and their papers are made freely accessible for a certain period of time. The 2023 JGS Best Paper Award was given to Luyu Liu, Adam Porr, and Harvey J. Miller for their research on evaluating the reliability of public transit accessibility using real-time data. The paper demonstrates how even small levels of unreliability in transit services can significantly impact accessibility levels, particularly for lower income populations. The paper also promotes open and reproducible research practices. The Editors' Choice for Volume 26(1) is a paper by Chris Jacobs-Crisioni, Ana I. Moreno-Monroy, Mert Kompil, and Lewis Dijkstra, which proposes a sequential approach to estimate school provision, cost, and access using open databases of student counts. The paper provides valuable insights into the balance between cost, access, and residential values in school provision. Both papers are recognized for their significant contributions to the field. [Extracted from the article]

We consider the relationships between multidimensional and monetary poverty indices in international and national poverty profiles, and empirically explore the consequences of identifying poor people relying on a combination of both approaches. Taking first a cross-country perspective, focusing on 90 countries in the developing world, we corroborate that the incidence of poverty by money metrics and the global Multidimensional Poverty Index, a non-monetary measure of poverty, are correlated. Digging deeper, we use microdata from six countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda—to study the joint densities of monetary and multidimensional welfare and the poverty identification mismatches for a comprehensive array of poverty line pairs. Mismatches are important, particularly in the poorer countries. Although mismatches could be avoided by combining both approaches in a dual cutoff-based poverty measure, the choice of the monetary poverty line remains a considerable issue as it changes the nonmonetary composition of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of people all over the world are affected by disability arising out of accident, disease, or congenital. This is a crucial health issue for mankind and needs structured treatment and rehabilitation plans. Prevalence and management capacity of disability have wide cross-cultural and geographical variations. Despite the lack of specific data there are reasons to believe that third-world countries have more disabilities and fewer resources and capacity for rehabilitation. So, there is a strong relationship between poverty and disability. Marginalized populations, disadvantaged or at-risk populations such as women, older people, and people who are poor are inappropriately affected by disability. Children from poverty-stricken families, indigenous populations, and ethnic minority groups are significantly at higher risk of experiencing disability. There is a higher prevalence of disability in lower-income countries than in higher-income countries. Poor people from lowerincome countries are usually involved in high-risk jobs which make them vulnerable to injury and disability. Because of exaggerated life stress, poor health status, and poor living conditions due to poverty, people at low resource outset are more vulnerable to disease and disability. Of inadequate support from affluent persons as well as from the government, they spend their last savings to meet the treatment costs and get poorer. They are also common victims of road traffic accidents when they travel on risky roads and vehicles. There are many other shreds of evidence for a link between disability and poverty in low and middle-income countries and there is an urgent need for further research and policy action to break the cycle. This review article intends to find out the relationship between poverty and disability and reveals how poverty influences suffering disability and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the role of Irene Williams Smith, the sister of country music icon Hank Williams, in shaping and safeguarding his public image after his passing. It explores the difficulties faced by Williams's family in defining his legacy and the conflicting interpretations of his life and work. Irene played a crucial part in promoting a positive perception of her brother and defending his reputation, although her motivations and the accuracy of her claims are intricate and at times hard to ascertain. Overall, Irene Williams Smith emerges as a significant figure in molding Hank Williams's enduring public image. [Extracted from the article]

This study examines whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion (ME) was associated with changes in racial/ethnic disparities in insurance coverage, utilization, and quality of mental health care among low-income adults with probable mental illness using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health with state identifiers. This study employed difference-in-difference models to compare ME states to non-expansion states before (2010–2013) and after (2014–2017) expansion and triple difference models to examine these changes across non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic/Latino racial/ethnic subgroups. Insurance coverage increased significantly for all racial/ethnic groups in expansion states relative to non-expansion states (DD: 9.69; 95% CI: 5.17, 14.21). The proportion low-income adults that received treatment but still had unmet need decreased (DD: −3.06; 95% CI: −5.92, −0.21) and the proportion with unmet need and no mental health treatment increased (DD: 2.38; 95% CI: 0.03, 4.73). ME was not associated with reduced disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given the rapidly changing food environment and proliferation of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in South Africa (SA), this study aimed to critically evaluate dietary quality and adequacy of low-income adults using the Nova classification system and WHO and World Cancer Research Fund dietary guidelines. Design: Secondary household data and 1-d 24-h recalls were analysed from two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2017–2018. Foods consumed were classified according to the Nova classification system. Compliance with WHO dietary guidelines and UPF consumption trends were evaluated. Setting: Three low-income areas (Langa, Khayalitsha and Mount Frere) in SA were included. Participants: In total, 2521 participants (18–50 years) were included in the study. Results: Participants had a mean energy intake of 7762 kJ/d. Most participants were within the acceptable WHO guideline range for saturated fat (80·4 %), total fat (68·1 %), Na (72·7 %) and free sugar (57·3 %). UPF comprised 39·4 % of diets among the average adult participant. Only 7·0 % of all participants met the WHO guideline for fruit and vegetables and 18·8 % met the guideline for fibre. Those within the highest quartile of share of energy from UPF consumed statistically higher amounts of dietary components to limit and were the highest energy consumers overall. Conclusions: Low-income adults living in SA are consuming insufficient protective dietary components, while UPF consumption is prevalent. Higher UPF consumers consume larger amounts of nutrients linked to increased chronic disease risk. Policy measures are urgently needed in SA to protect against the proliferation of harmful UPF and to promote and enable consumption of whole and less UPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Altered interoception plays an important role in chronic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY) intervention for improving emotional distress and psychological discomfort in women living under circumstances of social and gender vulnerability. We assessed the effect of the treatment on the interoceptive mechanisms, and whether the psychological improvements were mediated by the changes in these mechanisms. Methods: The study involved a sample of 62 women who attended public community centres dedicated to supporting women victims of gender-based violence or who were socially and economically disadvantaged because of their gender. Participants underwent a six-week TSY programme. We evaluated dropout rate, adherence, and intervention satisfaction. We measured emotional distress, psychological discomfort, interoceptive mechanisms, and two nonequivalent dependent variables to enhance internal validity. We compared pre–post differences using paired samples t-test and a structural equation model (SEM) analysis was performed to compare the changes in the outcomes with the changes in the nonequivalent dependent variables. Mediation models were adjusted to evaluate the role of changes in interoception on outcome changes. Results: Fourteen (23%) women dropped out, mainly after the first intervention session. Intervention adherence (mean attendance 5.3 over 6 sessions) and acceptability were high (mean satisfaction 3.4 over 4). We observed post-intervention improvements in anxiety, depression, psychological discomfort, body responsiveness, and interoceptive awareness. The changes in the outcomes were larger than the changes in the nonequivalent dependent variables. Additionally, we found that the changes in body responsiveness partially mediated the change in anxiety and psychological discomfort but not in depression. Conclusions: TSY could be an interesting therapeutic approach for women experiencing chronic posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Our findings underscore the role of interoceptive mechanisms in traumatic stress and emphasize the importance of addressing these aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is a valuable treatment for rotator cuff arthropathy (RCA) in developed regions. Socioeconomic issues impact access to specialized care and there is a lack of data on RSA outcomes in developing regions. We present our 24-month follow-up on RSA surgeries to treat RCA in our low-income population. Methods: Prospective evaluation of 26 patients subjected to RSA at Hospital Geral de Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, between January 2018 and December 2020. Literacy [>/≤ 8 school years(SY)] and income were documented. Outcomes considered pain (visual analogue scale; VAS) as well as SSV, SPADI, ASES, and UCLA scoring, and range of motion [forward flexion (FF); external rotation (ER)]. Results: Patients were 68.5 ± 7.6 years-old with 16(61.5%) females; 65% had hypertension and 7 (26.9%) had diabetes. Over 90% declared < 900.00 US$ monthly family earnings and 10 (38.4%) patients declared ≤8 SY with > 80% exerting blue-collar jobs. Pain showed a significant reduction from baseline (8 ± 2) to 24 months (2.1 ± 2.3; p < 0.001). UCLA (10.3 ± 5.6 and 28.6 ± 7.2), ASES (16.7 ± 10.8 and 63.1 ± 28.4), SSV (326 ± 311 and 760 ± 234), and SPADI (98.3 ± 26.5) scores significantly improved from baseline to 24 months, achieving minimal clinically important difference. FF (89.2° ± 51.2° to 140.6 ± 38.3°) and ER (19.2° ± 22.5 to 33.4° ± 20.6°) significantly improved from baseline to 24 months (p = 0.004 and 0.027, respectively). There were 5 non-serious adverse events with one surgical revision. All patients returned to daily life activities. Conclusion: This is the first outcome report 2 years following RSA in a low-income population. Data indicate this procedure is justifiable regardless of socioeconomic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial inclusion is defined as the availability of space and mobility for underprivileged people, as well as the physical closeness of different social groups. This study seeks to uncover the key components of spatial inclusion that increase social inclusion by investigating the links between spatial and social inclusion characteristics in South Korean cities and regions. A micro-dataset on personal health and social life, as well as other publicly available data, such as Census data are examined. The results suggest that increased spatial inclusion improves social inclusion of socially underprivileged people. However, the effects of each component of spatial inclusion are distinct. While housing affordability has mixed effects on different dimensions of social inclusion, an open settlement environment generally has a positive effect on social inclusion. The findings provide important implications for promoting social inclusion in cities and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A novel randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of a technology-assisted case management program in a low income, rural population previously where nurses titrated medication over the phone instead of in a clinic. The primary analysis showed significant improvement in glycemic control at 6 months post-randomization decreasing hemoglobin A1c by 1%. This study aimed to test if the intervention was also effective at decreasing blood pressure without compromising quality of life. Methods: A total of 113 adults with poorly controlled diabetes (hemoglobin A1c ≥ 8%) were randomly assigned to the technology-assisted case management intervention or usual care. Participants received a 2-in-1 telehealth system to monitor glycemic and blood pressure control, which was uploaded daily to a central server. A nurse case manager was trained to titrate medication under physician supervision every 2 weeks based on the readings. Outcomes were blood pressure and quality of life (12-item Short-Form Health Survey) at 6 months. Baseline adjusted mixed models using a random intercept were used to evaluate change at 6 months for the technology-assisted case management intervention group compared to usual care. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in systolic blood pressure, physical component of quality of life, or mental component of quality of life between the technology-assisted case management and control group. However, there was a significant change in diastolic blood pressure over time, with the technology-assisted case management group decreasing at 6 months (p =.05), whereas the control group remained stable. Conclusions: Technology-assisted case management by a nurse with medication titration under physician supervision was efficacious in improving diastolic blood pressure without compromising quality of life in low-income rural adults with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 profoundly and uniquely impacted people with HIV. People with HIV experienced significant psychosocial and socioeconomic impacts, yet a limited amount of research has explored potential differences across gender and racial/ethnic groups of people with HIV. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine psychosocial and socioeconomic stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic among a diverse sample of people with HIV in South Florida and to determine if the types of stressors varied across gender and racial/ethnic groups. Methods: We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey with Miami-Dade County, Ryan White Program recipients. Outcomes included mental health, socioeconomic, drug/alcohol, and care responsibility/social support changes. Weighted descriptive analyses provided an overview of stressors by gender and racial/ethnic group and logistic regressions estimated associations between demographics and stressors. Results: Among 291 participants, 39% were Non-Hispanic Black, 18% were Haitian, and 43% were Hispanic. Adjusting for age, sex, language, and foreign-born status, Hispanics were more likely to report several worsened mental health (i.e. increased loneliness, anxiety) and socioeconomic stressors (i.e. decreased income). Spanish speakers were more likely to report not getting the social support they needed. Women were more likely to report spending more time caring for children. Conclusions: Findings highlight ways in which cultural and gender expectations impacted experiences across people with HIV and suggest strategies to inform interventions and resources during lingering and future public health emergencies. Results suggest that public health emergencies have different impacts on different communities. Without acknowledging and responding to differences, we risk losing strides towards progress in health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we offer an analysis of an important social movement challenging the fantasy of Christian nationalism: the new Poor People's Campaign, and specifically the rhetoric of the Bishop Dr. William J. Barber II. We argue that Barber's rhetoric represents a source of dissent against Christian nationalism through his strategic use of the jeremiad. Barber's progressive jeremiad offers a distinctively moral narrative that recovers the radical Christian legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ultimately, we argue that Barber's jeremiad advances a distinctive narrative of American national redemption through democratic renewal and reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]