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With their increasing popularity, there is a need for more research clarifying the potential strengths and weaknesses of the comic format for education. The panelled comic format may be particularly effective for educating adults on the scientific aspects of processes (sequences of events, occurring over time, in a series of discrete steps). We tested change in performance in adults (n = 879) in correctly ordering the stages in four processes before and after being exposed to educational material about these processes. The material was presented in a random selection of one of seven experimentally manipulated formats based on characteristics of comic books. Overall, participant performance improved after seeing the educational material. There were significant differences in learning between the processes, suggesting that the benefits, or detriments, of the comic format may be subject-specific. Performance was significantly better when images were subdivided into panels, and worse when an explanatory agent (character) was included, though these differences in performance did not survive adjustment for multiple comparisons. This study presents some evidence that the panelled nature of the comic format supports learning about scientific processes in adults. Given results differed notably between the specific topics to be learned, there is substantial scope for further investigation.

Purpose: This study identifies gendered disparities among women students participating in work-integrated learning and explores the effects of the disparities on their perceptions on perceived opportunities, competencies, sense of belonging, and professional identity. Design/methodology/approach: A series of semi-structured focus groups were run with 59 participants at six higher education institutions in four countries (Australia, Canada, Sweden, United Kingdom). All focus groups were designed with the same questions and formatting. Findings: Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed two overarching themes, namely perceptions of self and interactions with others in work placements. Theme categories included awareness of self-presentation, sense of autonomy, perceived Allies, emotional labour, barriers to opportunity, sense of belonging, intersections of identity, and validation value. Originality/value: This study fills an important gap in the international literature about gendered experiences in WIL and highlights inequalities that women experience while on work placements.

Background: Pubic hair removal (PHR) is common among women in the United States, and understanding current practices is important for public health efforts. The most recent national study focusing on U.S. women's PHR habits and their correlates was conducted over a decade ago. Objectives: The current study aims to provide an updated understanding of PHR practices among U.S. women, examining prevalence, methods, frequency, and motivations. We also examine characteristics of women who choose to remove their pubic hair. Design: A cross-sectional, nationally representative survey administered in Spring 2023 via Ipsos KnowledgePanel. Methods: Women (N = 522, ages 18–85 years) responded to items inquiring about their demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, and social media use, as well as methods, prevalence, and motivations associated with PHR. We examine various demographic and behavioral correlates of lifetime and recent PHR among women. Results: Findings reveal that the majority of U.S. women have removed their pubic hair at some point in their lifetime, and almost half have done so within the past month. Frequency and preferred styles of PHR varied among women, indicating a wide range of individual preferences. Among top motivating factors for PHR were perceived cleanliness, comfort, and wanting to look good in a bikini. Race, age, and history of sexual activity were all statistically significant predictors of lifetime and recent PHR. Conclusions: Findings from the current study may assist skincare professionals in better addressing patient/client PHR needs and concerns while promoting health. Studies should continue examining trends in PHR over time, its relation to societal perceptions of beauty, and its implications for health and well-being. Plain language summary: Pubic hair removal practices among U.S. women Pubic hair removal (PHR) is a common practice among women in the United States, and it's important for public health experts to understand current habits. Since the last national study on this topic was conducted a decade ago, the goal of this research was to update our knowledge of how and why U.S. women remove their pubic hair, along with examining which personal characteristics are related to a higher likelihood of women's PHR. We surveyed 522 women aged 18 to 85 across the U.S. in Spring 2023 using Ipsos KnowledgePanel. We asked about their backgrounds, sexual behaviors, social media use, and their methods, frequency, and reasons for PHR. Our findings show that a majority of U.S. women have removed their pubic hair at some point, and nearly half have done so within the past month. Frequency and preferred styles vary, reflecting individual preferences. Most common reasons for PHR included feeling cleaner, more comfortable, and wanting to look good in swimsuit. We found that race, age, and sexual history significantly influenced women's likelihood of PHR in their lifetime and in the past month. Understanding these practices can help skincare professionals better meet the needs of their patients and clients, promoting women's overall health. Moving forward, it is important for studies to continue monitoring PHR trends among women, exploring its connection to evolving societal beauty norms and examining its impacts on health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adaptive behaviour refers to the practical skills necessary for independence and is considered a high‐priority intervention target for children with neurogenetic conditions associated with intellectual disability, like Down syndrome (DS). Daily living skills (DLS) are a critical aspect of adaptive behaviour, but they have received little intervention attention, possibly because they involve a wide variety of skills across many settings. The present study aimed to advance DLS intervention science by examining the concurrent and longitudinal association between DLS performances and a cognitive skillset hypothesised to support DLS skill acquisition, executive function (EF). Methods: Participants were 71 children with DS between the ages of 2.5 and 8.7 years (M = 5.23 years; standard deviation = 1.65) who completed a battery of adapted EF tasks and a primary caregiver who completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 3rd Edition Parent/Caregiver Comprehensive Report Form. A subset of caregivers also provided 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up adaptive behaviour information. Results: Results demonstrated a positive association between EF task performance and DLS standard scores and v‐scores both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusions: The findings have implications for potential future intervention approaches that aim to strengthen DLS performances by advancing EF skills in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between race, disability and criminality is complex and poorly understood. Scant information, and lack of action, exists on how to best keep Indigenous people with disability out of the justice system, and support this cohort while in the system. This systematic scoping review collates grey and peer-reviewed literature in Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), the United States and Canada, to gain insight into the current practices in place for justice-involved Indigenous people with disability, and list promising principles which may inform future practice. We identified 1,301 sources, and 19 of these met the inclusion criteria. Across these sources, nine key principles emerged: need for Indigenous designed, led and owned approaches; appropriately identify and respond to disability/needs; appropriate court models; appropriate diversionary options; therapeutic, trauma-informed, strengths-based and agency-building responses; facilitate connection to family, community and support networks; break down communication barriers; protect human rights; and provide post-release support. Points of interest: Internationally, Indigenous people with disability are over-repre.sented in criminal justice systems. The reasons for this are complex and not well understood. Existing evidence suggests that long-lasting effects of colonisation; discrimination on the basis of race and disability; problems identifying and reporting disability; and lack of proper services contribute to this issue. Often, criminal justice systems do not recognise or support a person's disability until they reach crisis point. There is a critical need for culturally-appropriate and disability-appropriate interventions, such as diagnostic tools; training programs for police, correctional officers and other service providers; community court models; and more accessible communication. There is some evidence that Indigenous-led programs – involving country, culture, art, social connection and holistic healing – help prevent Indigenous people with disability from entering and re-entering justice systems. More research and evaluation is needed to determine how to better support Indigenous people with disability in contact with the justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Individuals with aphasia identify discourse-level communication (i.e., language in use) as a high priority for treatment. The central premise of most aphasia treatments is that restoring language at the phoneme, word, and/or sentence level will generalize to discourse. However, treatment-related changes in discourse-level communication are modest, are poorly understood, and vary greatly among individuals with aphasia. In response, this study consisted of a multilevel discourse analysis of archival, monologic discourse outcomes across two high-intensity Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) clinical trials. Aim 1 evaluated changes in theoretically motivated discourse outcomes representing lexical-semantic processing, lexical diversity, grammatical complexity, and discourse informativeness. Aim 2 explored the potential moderating role of nonlanguage cognitive factors (semantic memory, divided attention, and executive function) on discourse outcomes. Method: This study was a retrospective analysis of archival monologic discourse outcomes after intensive SFA for n = 60 (Aim 1) and a subset n = 44 (Aim 2). Outcome measures included lexical-semantic processing (% semantic errors), lexical diversity (moving average type-token ratio), grammatical complexity (mean utterance length), and discourse informativeness (% correct information units). Bayesian generalized mixed-effects models were used to examine changes across four study time points: enrollment, entry, exit, and 1-month follow-up. Results: The present study found no evidence for meaningful or statistically reliable improvements in monologue discourse performance after SFA when measured using standard, general-topic discourse stimuli. There was weak and inconsistent evidence that nonlanguage cognitive factors may play a role in moderating treatment response. Conclusions: These findings indicate a clear need to pair theoretically informed treatments designed to facilitate generalization to discourse with intentional measurement paradigms designed to capture it. Furthermore, there is a clear need to examine how established treatments, restorative or compensatory, can better facilitate generalization to discourse-level communication. These priorities are critical for meaningfully improving everyday communication and reducing the profound communication and psychosocial consequences of aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender representation trends at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Annual Meetings and the effect of the 2018 'We R SAGES' initiatives are unknown. We assessed gender trends in oral presentations at the SAGES Annual Meeting between 2012 and 2022 with a focus on assessing the impact of the 2018 initiatives. Methods: Abstracts selected for oral presentations from 2012 to 2022 were reviewed for presenter and first, second, and senior author gender. Gender was categorized as woman, man, or unknown using public professional profiles. Subsequent publications were identified using search engines. The primary outcome was the temporal trend of proportion of women in each role using interrupted time series analysis. Secondary outcomes included publication rates based on first and senior author genders in 2012–2018 versus 2019–2022. Results: 1605 abstracts were reviewed. The proportion of women increased linearly in all categories: presenter (2.4%/year, R2 = 0.91), first author (2.4%/year, R2 = 0.90), senior author (2%/year, R2 = 0.65), and overall (2.2%, R2 = 0.91), (p < 0.01 for all). Prior to 2018, the proportion of women increased annually for presenters (coefficient: 0.026, 95% CI [0.016, 0.037], p = 0.002) and first authors (coefficient: 0.026, 95% CI [0.016, 0.037], p = 0.002), but there was no significant increase after 2018 (p > 0.05). Female second author proportion increased annually prior to 2018 (coefficient: 0.012, 95% CI [0.003, 0.021], p = 0.042) and increased by 0.139 (95% CI [0.070, 0.208], p = 0.006) in 2018. Annual female senior author proportion did not significantly change after 2018 (p > 0.05). 1198 (75.2%) abstracts led to publications. Women were as likely as men to be first (79% vs 77%, p = 0.284) or senior author (79% vs 77%, p = 0.702) in abstracts culminating in publications. There was no difference in woman first author publication rate before and after 2018 (80% vs 79%, p = 1.000), but woman senior author publication rate increased after 2018 (71% vs 83%, p = 0.032). Conclusion: There was an upward trend in women surgeons' presentations and associated publications in the SAGES Annual Meetings over the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been rapid growth of chiropractors pursuing career opportunities in both public and private hospitals and other integrated care settings. Chiropractors that prosper in integrated care settings deliver patient-centered care, focus on the institutional mission, understand and adhere to organizational rules, and are proficient in navigating complex systems. The Council on Chiropractic Education Accreditation Standards do not outline specific meta-competencies for integrated care clinical training. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop preliminary integrated health care competencies for DC programs to guide the advancement of clinical chiropractic education. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed. Articles were screened for eligibility and extracted in duplicate. Domains and seed statements were generated from this literature, piloted at a conference workshop, and evaluated via a modified Delphi consensus process. Of 42 invited, 36 chiropractors participated as panelists. Public comment period yielded 20 comments, none resulting in substantive changes to the competencies. Results: Of 1718 citations, 23 articles met eligibility criteria. After 2 modified Delphi rounds, consensus was reached on all competency statements. A total of 78 competency statements were agreed upon, which encompassed 4 domains and 11 subdomains. The 4 domains were: 1) Collaboration, (2) Clinical Excellence, (3) Communication, and (4) Systems Administration. Conclusion: We identified 78 preliminary competencies appropriate for preparing DC students and early career chiropractors for clinical practice in integrated healthcare settings. Educational programs may consider these competencies for curricular design and reform to strengthen DC program graduates for integrated practice, advanced training, and employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US affordable housing crisis has exploded since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring increased interest in low-income housing subsidies (Section 8). However, potential Section 8 beneficiaries can lose eligibility, or their spot in line, when family size changes, especially if they do not provide the appropriate paperwork to the public housing authority. We identify two external concerns for Section 8: the disparity between programme demand, available vouchers, and housing stock, and the challenges domestic violence victims face in securing housing assistance. These challenges compound for poor families fleeing violence, and more so since the Dobbs decision. In many states, abortion trigger bans severely limit household family planning, creating a triple-bind for poor families seeking housing and women fleeing violence. We identify several policy recommendations to address these concerns in both the short- and long-run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study aimed to assess prevalence of back pain among older people living with HIV (PLH) in rural areas of the United States (US); compare the presence of comorbidities, socioeconomic factors, and sociodemographic factors among older PLH in rural areas of the US with and without back pain; and examine the associations between back pain, depression, and QOL among older PLH in rural areas of the US.Cross-sectional data was collected among US rural dwelling PLH of at least 50 years of age. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the association between back pain and depression. Multiple linear regression was performed to assess the association between back pain and QOL.A total of 38.8% (n = 164) of participants self-reported back pain. PLH with back pain were more likely to have depression (60.87%, n = 98). PLH with back pain had lower mean QOL scores (53.01 ± 18.39). Back pain was associated with greater odds of having depression (OR 1.61 [CI 0.99–2.61], p = .054) and was significantly associated with lower QOL (p < .001).Prevention strategies to reduce back pain and poor HIV outcomes among PLH living in rural areas of the US are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black sexual minority men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States are at disparate risk for contracting HIV infection, but pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use is suboptimal. Social network methods were used to recruit a community sample of racial minority MSM and transgender women (TGW) in two Midwestern US cities. 250 PrEP-eligible (HIV-negative) participants completed measures assessing current and intended PrEP use; demographic characteristics; PrEP knowledge, attitudes, norms, stigma, and self-efficacy; and structural barriers to PrEP. Multivariate analyses established predictors of current and intended PrEP use. Only 12% of participants reported currently using PrEP, which was associated with greater PrEP knowledge and not having a main partner, with trends for greater PrEP use by younger participants and those with partners living with HIV. Among participants not currently on PrEP, strength of PrEP use intentions was associated with higher PrEP knowledge, PrEP descriptive social norms, and PrEP use self-efficacy. This study is among few to directly compare Black who have adopted PrEP with those who have not. Its findings underscore the potential benefits of employing social network approaches for strengthening PrEP use peer norms, increasing PrEP knowledge and self-efficacy, and optimizing PrEP uptake among racial minority MSM and TGW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U.S. journalists embedded in rural and agricultural communities could adversely affect the health of residents if they avoid alerting and engaging their readers – farmers, ranchers, and community members – on environmental and health issues. We expected reporters would maintain community status quo and inaction by framing local water pollution and quality issues neutrally deemphasizing threats and solutions to maintain their own credibility as unbiased informational sources. In a content analysis of local water quality newspaper articles from five farming and cattle ranching states in the west central U.S. Midwest, we employed seven variables to investigate whether journalists practiced neutral, detached forms of journalism (i.e. dissemination versus interpretative role enactment, government-frame) as well as whether they deemphasized water pollution as a concerning issue (i.e. problem, threat), water pollution solutions, and readers' efficaciousness. The results showed these journalists relied heavily on government-driven narratives presenting water quality issues from an impartial, straight reporting lens in which they primarily followed the journalistic dissemination role enactment, while neglecting to provide readers with interpretative, threat, efficacy, or solution's information. The study seeks to help communicators understand the information diet people living in this part of the country likely receive on environmental and health risks in the context of water pollution. Communicators seeking to reach and affect audiences in this region should understand local information practices to navigate how to craft culturally specific public health messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the years following the COVID‐19 pandemic, issues such as high job demands, burnout, and turnover continue to influence the nursing workforce, with heavier impacts to marginalized groups. Understanding the work and life contexts of nurses of color can help guide strategies for workplace equity and meaningful support. This qualitative study explored the experiences of nurses of color in the United States during the pandemic, focusing on feelings about the profession and job decisions. The overarching theme was "answering the call," with subthemes of "COVID shone a light," "being consumed by COVID," and "is it worth it?" Participants shared how their racial identities shaped their perceptions and job decisions in positive and negative ways, noting how racism impacted many facets of their work and added to the stressors felt in the workplace and the community. Findings provide insight into the underrepresented perspectives of nurses of color and suggest strategies to eliminate racism in nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education policies regarding COVID-19 had sweeping implications for campuses and their surrounding communities. This study explored the role of relevant health and health policy expertise in shaping campus responses to COVID-19 using data from 1,983 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. The primary outcomes of interest were the various COVID-19 policies that postsecondary institutions adopted during the 2020-2021 academic year, including instructional modality and testing and vaccine requirements. Overall, after controlling for state-level politics and other factors, the presence of faculty expertise in health administration, public health, or medicine had a statistically significant influence on the COVID policies adopted by colleges and universities. Public health faculty in conjunction with health administration faculty influenced changes in instruction modality between semesters. Public health faculty in conjunction with medical faculty influenced changes in testing policies between semesters. Going forward, health faculty should explore ways to collaborate across disciplines to better leverage their collective expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journalists who cover rural areas in the United States say they are afraid to report on hate groups, and this fear is exacerbated by close community ties and limited resources among rural journalists. We examine the concept of "hate speech" as a boundary object, analyzing in-depth interviews with U.S. journalists reporting in rural communities (n = 33) to better understand how rural journalists report on hate. We find that rural journalists articulate a clear definition for hate speech but struggle to apply that definition to events within their communities, even as they articulate numerous forms of hate. Journalists often dismissed acts of hate using the residual category of "not hate, but ... " to signal something that they felt was out of place or unsuitable but did not rise to the legal definition of hate speech and thus was not worth reporting on. This approach ends up challenging journalists' normative commitments to their communities and exemplifies their desire to avoid an objectivity trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Coronavirus disease pandemic, many U.S. veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced increased symptomology and worsened mental health and well-being due in part to social isolation and loneliness. The Mission Alliance project explored these ramifications and prioritized critical issues expressed by U.S. veterans and stakeholders (N = 182) during virtual regional meetings (N = 32). Field notes created specifically for this project were recorded and thematically analyzed. Emerging themes included: (1) social isolation: missed opportunities, collapsed social circles, work-life balance, fostering relationships, and evolving health care delivery; (2) loneliness: deteriorated mental health, suffered with PTSD together but alone, looked out for each other, ambivalence toward technology, and strained and broken systems; (3) mental health: sense of chaos, increased demand and decreased access, aggravation, implementation of tools, innovative solutions, fear and loss, and availability of resources; (4) wellbeing: sense of purpose, holistic perspective on well-being, recognition of balance, persisting stigma, redefined pressures, freedom to direct treatment, and reconnection and disconnection. A PTSD-related patient centered outcomes research (PCOR)/comparative effectiveness research (CER) agenda was developed from these themes. Establishment of a veteran and stakeholder network is suggested to support, facilitate, and promote the PTSD-related PCOR/CER agenda. Furthermore, enhancement of opportunities for veterans with PTSD and stakeholders to partner in PCOR/CER is required to develop and conduct projects that lead to PTSD-related comprehensive care of veterans affected by traumatic events with the potential to translate findings to other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soil constitutes a major source of childhood lead exposure, disproportionately affecting communities of color. Mulching offers a low-cost interim control. Objectives: A community–academic partnership was established for lead poisoning prevention, with a three-fold aim: (1) control soil lead hazards by applying mulch, (2) identify home lead hazards with screening kits, and (3) connect residents to resources to address lead hazards. Methods: Student volunteers canvassed neighborhoods one month prior to the annual event. They requested consent for mulching, distributed lead screening kits, and screened residents for grant eligibility. Soil samples were collected from each home before mulching. According to principles of community-based participatory research, materials and plans were iterative, guided and adjusted by neighborhood association feedback, and detailed reports about home lead results were shared with each participating resident. Composite neighborhood data and survey results were shared with volunteers and community partners. Results: The project was evaluated in the third (41 homes) and fourth (48 homes) years of implementation. Before mulching, the median soil lead level was over 400 ppm, and after mulching, it was less than 20 ppm. Lead screening kits identified widespread lead hazards in paint, soil, and dust, but not water. Challenges remain in (a) increasing child blood lead testing and (b) increasing submissions for city grant funding for lead abatement. Evaluation surveys indicate a sense of ownership in the project among community partners and high levels of engagement among students. Conclusions: Community–academic partnerships are an effective tool for lead poisoning prevention, generating evidence for public health action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome (pCMS) can occur following resection of a posterior fossa tumor and, although some symptoms are transient, many result in long-lasting neurological deficits. A multi-disciplinary rehabilitation approach is often used in cases of pCMS; however, there have been no clinical trials to determine gold standards in rehabilitation practice in this population, which remains a research priority. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare intervention practices used in pCMS throughout the disciplines of occupational and physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and neuropsychology across geographic regions. METHODS: A 55-question e-survey was created by an international multidisciplinary research group made up of members of the Posterior Fossa Society and sent to rehabilitation professionals in pediatric neuro-oncology centers in the US, Canada, and Europe. RESULTS: Although some differences in the type of intervention used in pCMS were identified within each discipline, many of the targeted interventions including dose, frequency, and intensity were similar within disciplines across geographic regions. In addition, there were common themes identified across disciplines regarding challenges in the rehabilitation of this population. CONCLUSION: These results provide a foundation of current practices on which to build future intervention-based clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees are the most important managed insect pollinators in the US and Canadian crop systems. However, the annual mortality of colonies in the past 15 years has been consistently higher than historical records. Because they are eusocial generalist pollinators and amenable to management, honey bees provide a unique opportunity to investigate a wide range of questions at molecular, organismal, and ecological scales. Here, the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) and the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) created 2 collections of articles featuring investigations on micro and macro aspects of honey bee health, sociobiology, and management showcasing new applied research from diverse groups studying honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the United States and Canada. Research presented in this special issue includes examinations of abiotic and biotic stressors of honey bees, and evaluations and introductions of various stress mitigation measures that may be valuable to both scientists and the beekeeping community. These investigations from throughout the United States and Canada showcase the wide breadth of current work done and point out areas that need further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the experience of food insecurity among students at higher education institutions. Most of the literature has focused on undergraduates in the eastern and midwestern regions of the United States. This cross-sectional study of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at a Minority Institution in the southwestern United States is the first of its kind to explore food insecurity among diverse students that also includes data on gender identity and sexual orientation. When holding other factors constant, food-insecure students were far more likely to fail or withdraw from a course or to drop out entirely. We explore the role that higher education can play in ensuring students' basic needs and implications for educational equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transgender individuals are known to be at a higher risk for certain chronic conditions compared to cisgender individuals. Similarly, research also shows justice-involved individuals have a higher risk of chronic conditions compared to non-justice-involved individuals.Aim: This study aims to investigate the differences in chronic disease diagnoses between transgender and cisgender individuals who either utilized healthcare services provided by a US county health system or who were incarcerated in the same county’s jail. Method: We leveraged electronic health record data from a United States county health system, including data from the local jail, to evaluate the difference in diagnosis of certain chronic conditions among transgender and cisgender individuals. We also compared individuals who experienced incarceration and those who did not. Results: We found transgender individuals experiencing recent incarceration were more likely to be diagnosed with substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis C than cisgender individuals. Transgender individuals not experiencing recent incarceration were more likely to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, seizure disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder than cisgender individuals. Conclusion: These results highlight how transgender individuals may be disproportionately impacted by certain diseases within and outside carceral settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: Cognitive aging is a lifelong process with implications for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. This study aims to fill major gaps in research on the natural history of and social disparities in aging-related cognitive decline over the life span. Methods: We conducted integrative data analysis of four large U.S. population-based longitudinal studies of individuals aged 12 to 105 followed over two decades and modeled age trajectories of cognitive function in multiple domains. Results: We found evidence for the onset of cognitive decline in the 4th decade of life, varying gender differences with age, and persistent disadvantage among non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and those without college education. We further found improvement in cognitive function across 20th century birth cohorts but widening social inequalities in more recent cohorts. Discussion: These findings advance an understanding of early life origins of dementia risk and invite future research on strategies for promoting cognitive health for all Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small‐diameter nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology optimized for use with direct push (DP) and cone penetrometer test (CPT) drilling has been developed. The DP NMR tool can be deployed through 2.25‐in. diameter DP and CPT drilling rods allowing high‐resolution NMR logging measurements to be acquired during retraction of drill rods. DP NMR technology runs from a person‐portable battery‐powered control unit and provides significantly higher resolution in both the spatial (vertical) dimension and in the time domain of the NMR measurement than previously available NMR technology. In this study, we summarize the development of two different DP NMR tools and demonstrate their application at different sites within the United States. We believe that this technology can provide a leap forward in adoption of NMR technology for high‐resolution hydrological and geophysical investigations in groundwater resources and environmental remediation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An evidence synthesis was conducted on purposeful rounding (PR). PR remains poorly defined and may increase staff workload. PR may improve patient satisfaction and falls. There is no conclusive evidence that PR significantly improves patient safety or quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Opioid overdose deaths remain a major health issue in the United States (US). As future physicians, medical students must receive comprehensive training to recognize and manage opioid overdoses. This study aimed to highlight training gaps at the medical student level and understand students' attitudes toward patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS: We assessed baseline knowledge of and attitudes toward the management of opioid overdoses and naloxone administration among medical students in the US. Two validated survey tools (Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale and Opioid Overdose Attitude Scale) were administered to medical students training at accredited institutions along with supplemental questions measuring knowledge and attitudes towards opioid overdose management, naloxone administration, and prior training. RESULTS: The final sample had N = 73 participants from US medical schools with a mean age of 25.3 (range of 22–37): 72.6% of respondents were female. Although most respondents reported personal/professional experience with OUD before medical school, they expressed interest in additional training. Knowledge surrounding opioid overdoses increased insignificantly over the 4 years of medical school. However, there was a significant increase in both perceived competence in overdose recognition/management and in concerns about intervening from the first to fourth year of medical school. Female respondents had significantly lower perceived competence and readiness to intervene sub-scores than male counterparts; however, there was no significant difference in overall attitude and knowledge scores when stratified by sex. Incorporating opioid overdose prevention training (OOPT) into early medical education was favorable among respondents, who expressed an overwhelming interest in learning and supporting patients with OUD. CONCLUSIONS: Given the ongoing opioid crisis, medical students are ideally placed to identify and manage opioid overdoses. Medical students are ready to receive this training, thus strengthening the argument for OOPT integration into early medical student curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inequitable uptake of novel therapies (NT) in non-cancer settings are known for patients with lower socioeconomic status (SES), People of Color (POC), and older adults. NT uptake equity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not well known. We performed a retrospective cohort study (1/2014-8/2022) of the United States nationwide Flatiron HealthTM electronic health record-derived, de-identified database. We estimated sociodemographic associations with AML NT receipt using incidence rate ratios (IRR). Odds ratios (OR) assessed differences in venetoclax (the most common NT) receipt at community sites and between site characteristics and NT adoption. Of 8081 patients (139 sites), 3102 (38%) received a NT. NT use increased annually (IRR 1.14, 95% confidence interval [1.07, 1.22]). NT receipt was similar between Non-Hispanic-Whites and POC (IRR 1.03, [0.91, 1.17]) and as age increased (IRR 1.02 [0.97, 1.07]). At community sites, Non-Hispanic-Whites were less likely to receive venetoclax (OR 0.77 [0.66, 0.91]); older age (OR 1.05 [1.04, 1.05]) and higher area-level SES were associated with venetoclax receipt (OR 1.23 [1.05, 1.43]). Early NT adopting sites had more prescribing physicians (OR 1.25 [1.13, 1.43]) and higher SES strata patients (OR 2.81 [1.08, 7.66]). Inequities in AML NT uptake were seen by SES; for venetoclax, differential uptake reflects its label indication for older adults and those with comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines ways to address issues in trademark infringement litigation in the U.S. It discusses the background and state of digital marketing in the country, the elements required for an infringement claim, and the occurrence of irregular and unfair litigation as a result of the Federal Circuits' old tests and the disorder of new initial interest confusion doctrine. Suggestions to address these issues include standardization of the initial interest confusion doctrine.

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845), is an invasive species in the United States. This pest causes damage to vineyards and has the potential to negatively affect other crops and industries. Information describing the seasonal timing of life stages can improve its management. In 2019 and 2020, spotted lanternfly seasonal activity was followed weekly from spring egg hatch to the first hard freeze. Weighted mean timing of activity for each nymphal instar, early adults, late adults, total adults, and egg mass deposition are presented for 2019 and 2020 on Acer rubrum and 2020 on Ailanthus altissima. Logistic equations describing the percentage completion of each activity period on these hosts were fitted using a start date of 1 January to calculate accumulated degree days (ADD). For the adult and egg mass deposition periods, we additionally used a biofix of the date adults were first observed to calculate ADD. ADD from 1 January adequately estimated the timing of nymphal instars but ADD from observation of the first adult better estimated the timing of adult activity and egg mass deposition. Late adult activity and egg mass deposition periods appeared to be influenced by another environmental cue, such as day length. Maps of season-long ADD show that spotted lanternflies are unlikely to reach adulthood in colder regions of the northeast United States, and therefore may not establish there. We also report a strong seasonal trend in sex ratio on A. rubrum, where the population shifted from over 80% male to over 80% female in October. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaplains frequently serve as first responders for United States military personnel experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The Chaplains-CARE Program, a self-paced, e-learning course grounded in suicide-focused cognitive behavioral therapy principles, was tailored for United States military chaplains to enhance their suicide intervention skills. A pilot program evaluation gathered 76 Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and international military chaplain learners' responses. Most learners indicated that the course was helpful, easy to use, relevant, applicable, and that they were likely to recommend it to other chaplains. Based on open-ended responses, one-quarter (25.0%) of learners indicated that all content was useful, and over one-quarter (26.3%) of learners highlighted the usefulness of the self-care module. One-third (30.3%) of learners reported the usefulness of the interactive e-learning features, while others (26.3%) highlighted the usefulness of chaplains' role play demonstrations, which portrayed counseling scenarios with service members. Suggested areas of improvement include specific course adaptation for VA chaplains and further incorporation of experiential learning and spiritual care principles. The pilot findings suggest that Chaplains-CARE Online was perceived as a useful suicide intervention training for chaplains. Future training can be enhanced by providing experiential, simulation-based practice of suicide intervention skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study investigated the use of concepts related to families, parents, and the home in 51 state-level early learning and development standards documents. Guidelines from six national family involvement, engagement, and school-partnership models were used to create the Family Involvement Models Analysis Chart (FIMAC), which served as this study's analysis tool. Results showed that the vast majority of units examined did not align with family involvement guidelines from the six national models. In addition, the small percentage of units that aligned with national models--as well as the units related to family concepts that were not aligned with these models--tended to incorporate family concepts in the contextual narrative of the standards documents and not within the letter of the standards in their strict sense (the statements describing what students are supposed to know and be able to do). States desiring to implement early learning and development standards congruent with research-based practices should integrate families into standards documentation.

Objectives: To quantify the number and type of students failing to secure basic needs. Participants: Students attending 22 postsecondary schools in the United States in Fall 2019. Methods: The Adult Food Security Module and part of the #RealCollege Survey were used to measure food and housing insecurity, respectively. Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between selected factors and basic needs insecurities. Results: Participants (n = 22,153) were classified as 44.1% and 52.3% food insecure and housing insecure, respectively. Homeless students or those who experienced childhood food insecurity were at the greatest odds of college food insecurity. Year in school was the largest contributor to being housing insecure, with PhD or EdD students being 1,157% more likely to experience housing insecurity compared to freshmen. Conclusions: High prevalence of basic needs insecurities remain. Current campus initiatives may be insufficient, calling for a more holistic approach at the campus, state, and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the invasive spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) [Hemiptera: Fulgoridae], continues to expand its range in the United States, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the economic threat that this pest presents to forest ecosystems and production nurseries. L. delicatula uses several common hardwood trees as hosts and a previous study found that short-term feeding can reduce growth of young maple saplings. Herein, long-term feeding over 4 consecutive seasons significantly reduced diameter growth and below-ground starch storage in roots of young silver maples (Acer saccharinum L.), weeping willows (Salix babylonica L.), river birches (Betula nigra L.), and trees of heaven (Ailanthus altissima [Mill.] Swingle) in response to L. delicatula feeding pressure in a density-dependent manner. In Year 3 when feeding pressure was the lowest, silver maple and willow recovered with greater diameter growth than in Year 2. Nutrients essential for photosynthesis and growth (iron, sulfur, and phosphorus) were reduced in leaves of all tree species compared to controls in the second year. This 4-yr study represents a worst-case scenario in which L. delicatula fed on the same trees for 4 consecutive growing seasons. In the wild, population numbers can vary greatly from year to year on individual trees and they move frequently among hosts (until autumn when they settle on A. altissima or other late-season hosts that have not yet senesced). Thus, we would not expect negative impacts of unconfined L. delicatula in natural settings on forest or ornamental trees to be as marked as reported here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) in male couples is a public health concern, but the reliability of self-reported IPV data from gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) is understudied. Research in heterosexual couples finds IPV-underreporting can be differential between victims/perpetrators and by gender; it is unknown if GBMSM-data has similar limitations. Methods: This study assessed interpartner agreement (percent agreement; kappa statistics) between self- and partner-reported IPV, and compared agreement between 2 recall periods (1-year; 3-month), 3 granularities (any IPV; IPV domain; IPV behaviors), and across 3 surveys (BL; Wave 1 (W1); Wave 2 (W2)) in a sample of 404 male couples in the U.S. (2016–2017). Longitudinal dyadic concordance-trends were assessed to determine if couples had consistently reliable data over time. Results: Past-year IPV-victimization prevalence was 66.41% and perpetration, 64.42%; past 3-month IPV-victimization prevalence was 47.30% (W1) and 52.57% (W2), and perpetration, 46.30% (W1) and 46.30% (W2). Interpartner agreement was consistently low across recall periods and granularities. Observed agreement was higher for those who did not report IPV, compared to those who reported experiencing IPV. At an individual-level, interpartner agreement on any given survey was not significantly predictive of subsequent data reliability. Conclusion: Researchers should be cognizant of the potential for unpredictable and unreliable IPV reports from GBMSM. Further research on IPV data quality in male couples is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : This study aims to characterize current use, knowledge, and attitude toward ERAS protocols by academic craniofacial surgeons. Design : Craniofacial surgeons were provided with electronic surveys. Setting : Electronic survey; Institutional tertiary surgeons. Participants : 102 cleft palate surgeons surveyed and 31 completed the survey (30.4%). Interventions : None. Main Outcome Measures : Respondents rated their knowledge, use, and willingness to implement perioperative interventions modeled after adult ERAS protocols. Results : Majority (67.7%) rated they were knowledgeable about ERAS. However, 61.3% "never use" a standardized protocol for cleft palate surgery. Only 3 ERAS elements are currently implemented by a majority of cleft surgeons: avoiding prolonged perioperative fasting (67.7%), using hypothermia prevention measures (74.2%), and minimizing use of opioids (62.5%). A large majority of respondents noted they never administer bolus (71.0%) or infusion (80.6%) dosing of tranexamic acid; most of these surgeons also indicated that administering tranexamic acid "would not be a valuable addition" (67.7% and 71.0%, respectively). Short-acting sedatives are used by 12.9% and by 16.1% of surgeons in all patients during extubation and postoperative recovery, respectively. By contrast, 22.6% never use such agents during extubation and 48.4% never use it during postoperative recovery. Overall, 67.7% of respondents replied that they would be willing to implement an ERAS protocol for cleft palate repair. Conclusions : Many respondents report using interventions compatible with an ERAS approach and the majority are willing to implement an ERAS protocol for cleft palate repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Botanical careers are more important than ever, given that environmental challenges such as climate change and deforestation threaten plants daily and because plants contribute to solutions to these problems. Plants act as our sources of food, medicine, textiles, and oxygen, which means finding ways to mitigate these environmental challenges is crucial. Despite this, little is known about what career opportunities exist for botanists outside of academia and how well academia is training graduate students for these careers. This study centers on the current state of academic botanical careers and how well students completing post‐baccalaureate degrees (herein referred to as graduate students) are being prepared to fill careers within the botanical workforce. Summary: Plant science plays a crucial role in our society and in ongoing efforts to address many global challenges, including food insecurity and climate change. Despite a predicted increase in botanical career opportunities, little is known about how well academia is training graduate students for careers outside of academia.To further our understanding of the current state of academic training for botanical careers, we surveyed 85 faculty and 40 graduate students working in academia in the plant sciences in the United States.We found that the top challenges to university professors in academia are lack of support staff and funding, whereas students completing their post‐baccalaureate degrees cited finances and lack of supportive mentoring as their top challenges. Despite the fact that most graduate students surveyed wanted a career at a research‐intensive university, many botanists in academia are retiring without being replaced by more botanists. Faculty expertise is also misaligned with needs from industry and government employers, causing challenges to training graduate students for these careers outside of academia. Although our data point to a lack of career opportunities within academia, we also note that current graduate student education still emphasizes such careers and is not properly preparing graduate students for the careers they are more likely to obtain within the private and government sectors.We discuss the implications of these findings and present several recommendations for preparing future generations of plant scientists for more realistic career trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Humans are dependent upon plants for oxygen, food, textiles, and medicines. Climate change and deforestation represent serious threats to our planet, causing significant disruptions to our ability to access and utilize these plant resources; this makes a botanically literate workforce and plant science careers more important than ever. Unfortunately, the current state of botanical career opportunities and training programs in the United States remains unclear. This study focuses on the current employment trends of government and private sector botanists and what skills future plant scientists will need to be successful in these careers. Summary: Plant science plays a crucial role in our society and in ongoing efforts to address many global challenges, including food insecurity and climate change. Yet, despite a predicted increase in plant science career opportunities in the United States, the botanical career landscape outside of academia is not well understood.To further our understanding of the training required for non‐academic botanical careers, the botanical sub‐disciplines used on the job, and career challenges faced by plant scientists, we surveyed 61 scientists working in government and 59 scientists working in the private sector in the United States.In both career sectors, > 80% of survey participants reported recent hires at the bachelor's degree level. New personnel with master's degrees were more commonly reported in the government sector (95%) than in the private sector (69%). Most plant scientists working in government reported a focus on plant ecology and resource management. By contrast, most industry/non‐profit work involved horticulture and biotechnology, with some specific skills spanning both sectors. Notably, one prediction made nearly a decade ago appears to be manifesting: plant scientists seem to be retiring more quickly than they are being replaced. Survey respondents reported that attempts to hire full‐time staff are met with obstacles, including insufficient funding. Plant science professionals in both career sectors emphasized their routine use of botanical skills developed as students, highlighting the need for effective training at the undergraduate level.We discuss the implications of these findings and present several recommendations for preparing future generations of plant scientists and increasing the scientific community's botanical capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There remains a need to synthesize linkages between social determinants of health (SDOH) and cancer screening to reduce persistent inequities contributing to the US cancer burden. The authors conducted a systematic review of US‐based breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer screening intervention studies to summarize how SDOH have been considered in interventions and relationships between SDOH and screening. Five databases were searched for peer‐reviewed research articles published in English between 2010 and 2021. The Covidence software platform was used to screen articles and extract data using a standardized template. Data items included study and intervention characteristics, SDOH intervention components and measures, and screening outcomes. The findings were summarized using descriptive statistics and narratives. The review included 144 studies among diverse population groups. SDOH interventions increased screening rates overall by a median of 8.4 percentage points (interquartile interval, 1.8–18.8 percentage points). The objective of most interventions was to increase community demand (90.3%) and access (84.0%) to screening. SDOH interventions related to health care access and quality were most prevalent (227 unique intervention components). Other SDOH, including educational, social/community, environmental, and economic factors, were less common (90, 52, 21, and zero intervention components, respectively). Studies that included analyses of health policy, access to care, and lower costs yielded the largest proportions of favorable associations with screening outcomes. SDOH were predominantly measured at the individual level. This review describes how SDOH have been considered in the design and evaluation of cancer screening interventions and effect sizes for SDOH interventions. Findings may guide future intervention and implementation research aiming to reduce US screening inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is the process of engaging in negatively valenced and habitual thought patterns. RNT is strongly associated with mental health conditions and often affects quality of life. This study explored RNT in older school-age children and adolescents who stutter to quantify the relationship between RNT and self-reported anxiety characteristics. An additional aim was to describe how individual differences in an adolescent's goal when speaking influences the frequency they engage in RNT. Method: Ninety-nine children and adolescents who stutter aged 9-18 years completed a measurement of the frequency/severity of RNT, a screener of anxiety characteristics, and a measure of adverse impact related to stuttering. Children aged 10 years and above also answered questions about their goal when speaking. Results: Individual differences in RNT significantly predicted Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES) Total Scores more so than a child or adolescent's age. Higher generalized or social anxiety scores were significantly correlated with more frequent RNT and higher OASES Total Scores. Individual differences in goal when speaking (i.e., whether or not to stutter openly) were found to predict RNT. Finally, 22 children and adolescents (22.2%) also screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder and 32 (32.3%) screened positive for social anxiety disorder. Discussion: These data provide strong evidence that (a) many children and adolescents who stutter engage in RNT; (b) children and adolescents who engage more frequently in RNT or who have higher OASES Total Scores may be at increased risk for more characteristics of generalized or social anxiety; and (c) individual differences in goal when speaking can predict the degree to which an adolescent engages in RNT. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23713296 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Antifungal prophylaxis can prevent invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) in high-risk, immunocompromised patients. This study assessed the real-world use of mold-active triazoles (MATs) for the prevention of IFDs. Methods This subgroup analysis of a multicenter, observational, prospective registry in the United States from March 2017 to April 2020 included patients who received MATs for prophylaxis (isavuconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole) at study index/enrollment. The primary objective was to describe patient characteristics and patterns of MAT use. Exploratory assessments included the frequency of breakthrough IFDs and MAT-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results A total of 1177 patients (256 isavuconazole, 397 posaconazole, 272 voriconazole, and 252 multiple/sequenced MATs at/after index/enrollment) were included in the prophylaxis subgroup analysis. Patient characteristics were similar across MAT groups, but risk factors varied. Hematological malignancy predominated (76.5%) across all groups. Breakthrough IFDs occurred in 7.1% (73/1030) of patients with an investigator's assessment (5.0% [11/221] isavuconazole; 5.3% [20/374] posaconazole; 4.0% [9/226] voriconazole; and 15.8% [33/209] multiple/sequenced MATs). Aspergillus (29.5% [18/61]) and Candida (36.1% [22/61]) species were the most common breakthrough pathogens recovered. ADRs were reported in 14.1% of patients, and discontinuation of MATs due to ADRs was reported in 11.1% of patients (2.0% [5/245] isavuconazole; 8.2% [30/368] posaconazole; and 10.1% [27/267] voriconazole). Conclusions Breakthrough IFDs were uncommon in patients who received MATs for prophylaxis. Candida and Aspergillus species were the most commonly reported breakthrough pathogens. The discontinuation of MATs due to ADRs was infrequent. These findings support prophylactic strategies with isavuconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole in high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]