A leadership-level culture cycle intervention changes teachers' culturally inclusive beliefs and practices.

Despite an abundance of support for culturally inclusive learning environments, there is little consensus regarding how to change educational contexts to effectively and sustainably foster cultural inclusion. To address this gap, we report findings from a research-practice partnership that leveraged the Culture Cycle Framework (CCF) to expand educators' praxis to include both independent and interdependent models of self. Most U.S. schools validate independent cultural models (i.e., those that prioritize individuality, uniqueness, and personal agency) and overlook interdependent models (i.e., those that prioritize connectedness, relationality, and collective well-being), which are more common among students from marginalized racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Using a quasi-experimental longitudinal design, we trained school leadership to integrate ideas about cultural inclusion (i.e., validating the importance of both independent and interdependent cultural models) into school-wide flagship practices. We assessed downstream indicators of culture change by surveying teachers and students across the district and found that a) leadership-level training enhanced school-wide beliefs about cultural inclusion, b) teachers' endorsement of culturally inclusive beliefs predicted their use of culturally inclusive practices, and c) teachers' use of culturally inclusive practices predicted enhanced psychosocial and academic outcomes among students. This research represents a comprehensive culture change effort using the CCF and illustrates a means of fostering inclusion-focused educational culture change and assessing downstream consequences of culture change initiatives.

Coping Strategies and Workplace Supports for Peers with Substance Use Disorders.

Introduction: Substance use disorder (SUD) peers provide support and navigation through a fragmented treatment system for people who use drugs (PWUD) and those in recovery. While barriers to peers' work are well established, from role ambiguity to stigma surrounding substance use, little research has focused on factors that facilitate peers' work. Methods: We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews (N=20) with peers as part of an evaluation of a larger project related to the opioid crisis in Western New York. Participants were recruited from a regional peer network via flyers, emails, and a brief presentation. Interviews were conducted in person or by phone, audio recorded, and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: Peers emphasized two factors: healthy personal coping strategies and strong workplace supports. Coping strategies included a sense of community, setting appropriate boundaries, and self-care routines. At the workplace, peers valued mental and emotional support, as well as professional relationships and organizational policies that made their work easier and supported self-care. For a few peers, professional relationships included advocating on behalf of PWUD by sharing personal experiences of SUD. Conclusions: Peers valued peer colleagues and peer-led organizations, noting how shared experiences of substance use and recovery enabled a unique support system. For peers who lack such support at work, the authors suggest peer networks as an alternative. We also recommend organizational policies and practices to facilitate peers' work, such as promoting peer input and feedback, but further research is needed to measure effects on peer retention and job satisfaction.

Mental Health Needs of Aging Veterans: Recent Evidence and Clinical Recommendations.

Objectives: Large numbers of older Americans have a history of military service, which may be positively or negatively associated with mental health in late life. We reviewed literature with the aim of better understanding the mental health needs of older Veterans.Methods: Articles included those published in 2009-2018 and focused on prevalence/risk for mental illness and suicide among older Veterans; utilization of mental health services; effectiveness of evidence-based behavioral treatments; and pertinent care delivery models.Results: Older Veterans are generally resilient. A significant minority experience mental health concerns that are associated with poor outcomes including a substantial number of suicides. Most published research is based on the approximately one third of Veterans who use the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for care. Older Veterans with mental health diagnoses are less likely to utilize mental health services compared to younger Veterans, but as likely to benefit once engaged. Integrated care models in primary and geriatric care settings are promising.Conclusions: Aging Veterans are a large subset of Americans whose mental health needs are complex and deserve attention.Clinical Implications: Clinicians should ask about history of military service (i.e., Veteran status) and utilize available resources when providing care for older Veterans.

Expanding the interpretive power of psychological science by attending to culture.

A lack of interpretive power (i.e., the ability to understand individuals' experiences and behaviors in relation to their cultural contexts) undermines psychology's understanding of diverse psychological phenomena. Building interpretive power requires attending to cultural influences in research. We describe three characteristics of research that lacks interpretive power: normalizing and overgeneralizing from behaviors and processes of people in Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) contexts; making non-WEIRD people and processes invisible; and misapplying WEIRD findings in non-WEIRD contexts. We also describe research in which leveraging interpretive power prevented these negative consequences. Finally, using the culture-cycle framework, we outline a vision for creating culture change within psychology by implementing culture-conscious practices to guide the formation of research questions, empirical design, and data analysis and interpretation.

Variations in Risk and Motivations for Substance Use over the Course of Military Service.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data identify risk factors related to substance use among military service members to inform prevention and treatment. Less is known about how motivations and risks for substance use vary over a military service career. The study goal was to explore substance use patterns and motivations among a sample of United States undergraduate student veterans in order to identify periods of risk. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted (n = 31) between December 2018 and April 2019. Transcripts were coded in ATLAS.ti using thematic content analysis. Results: Interviews revealed complex motivations around substance use and identified key periods of risk. 1) Pre-service: Participants reported using alcohol and marijuana, primarily during social activities. 2) During service: Participants described a culture of heavy alcohol and tobacco use in social contexts, but little use of other substances. Post-deployment was a notable exception, when some reported heavier alcohol use and use of other drugs, including opiates, cocaine, and ecstasy. 3) Post-service: Transitioning out of the military was described as difficult; some participants reported heavier use of substances during this period. Some participants quit smoking after military service, or switched to vaping. Others reported use of alcohol and/or marijuana to calm themselves, relieve stress, and enable sleep. Conclusions: These data indicate that the periods immediately following deployment and transition out of the military may be especially high-risk for heavy substance use and use of a broader range of substances. This highlights the need for tailored interventions and messaging at different points of military service, particularly during periods of greatest risk.

Primary care and mental health providers' perceptions of implementation of pharmacogenetics testing for depression prescribing.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacogenetic testing (PGx) has the potential to improve the quality of psychiatric prescribing by considering patients' genetic profile. However, there is limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy or guiding its implementation. The Precision Medicine in Mental Health (PRIME) Care study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a specific commercially-available pharmacogenetic (PGx) test to inform antidepressant prescribing at 22 sites across the U.S. Simultaneous implementation science methods using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) are integrated throughout the trial to identify contextual factors likely to be important in future implementation of PGx. The goal of this study was to understand providers' perceptions of PGx for antidepressant prescribing and implications for future implementation. METHODS: Qualitative focus groups (n = 10) were conducted at the beginning of the trial with Primary Care and Mental Health providers (n = 31) from six PRIME Care sites. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed and data were analyzed using rapid analytic procedures organized by CFIR domains. RESULTS: Analysis revealed themes in the CFIR Intervention Characteristics domain constructs of Evidence, Relative Advantage, Adaptability, Trialability, Complexity, and Design that are important for understanding providers' perceptions of PGx testing. Results indicate: 1) providers had limited experience and knowledge of PGx testing and its evidence base, particularly for psychiatric medications; 2) providers were hopeful that PGx could increase their precision in depression prescribing and improve patient engagement, but were uncertain about how results would influence treatment; 3) providers were concerned about potential misinterpretation of PGx results and how to incorporate testing into their workflow; 4) primary care providers were less familiar and comfortable with application of PGx testing to antidepressant prescribing than psychiatric providers. CONCLUSIONS: Provider perceptions may serve as facilitators or barriers to implementation of PGx for psychiatric prescribing. Incorporating implementation science into the conduct of the RCT adds value by uncovering factors to be addressed in preparing for future implementation, should the practice prove effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03170362 ; Registered 31 May 2017.

Prevalence and Clinical Attributes of Congenital Microcephaly - New York, 2013-2015.

Congenital Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal neurological anomalies (1). To inform microcephaly surveillance efforts and assess ascertainment sources, the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene sought to determine the prevalence of microcephaly in New York during 2013-2015, before known importation of Zika virus infections. Suspected newborn microcephaly diagnoses were identified from 1) reports submitted by birth hospitals in response to a request and 2) queries of a hospital administrative discharge database for newborn microcephaly diagnoses. Anthropometric measurements, maternal demographics, and pregnancy characteristics were abstracted from newborn records from both sources. Diagnoses were classified using microcephaly case definitions developed by CDC and the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) (2). During 2013-2015, 284 newborns in New York met the case definition for severe congenital microcephaly (prevalence = 4.2 per 10,000 live births). Most newborns with severe congenital microcephaly were identified by both sources; 263 (93%) were identified through hospital requests and 256 (90%) were identified through administrative discharge data. The proportions of newborns with severe congenital microcephaly who were black (30%) or Hispanic (31%) were higher than the observed proportions of black (15%) or Hispanic (23%) infants among New York live births. Fifty-eight percent of newborns with severe congenital microcephaly were born to mothers with pregnancy complications or who had in utero or perinatal infections or teratogenic exposures, genetic disorders, or family histories of birth defects.

School-Based Educational Intervention to Improve Children's Oral Health-Related Knowledge.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a brief oral health promotion intervention delivered in schools by a primary care dental practice, aimed at changing oral health care knowledge and oral health-related behaviors in children. DESIGN: Cohort study with pretest-posttest design. SETTING: Three primary schools. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and fifty children (aged 9-12 years). INTERVENTION: Children received a 60-minute theory-driven classroom-based interactive educational session delivered by a dental care professional and received take-home literature on oral health. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All children completed a questionnaire on oral health-related knowledge and self-reported oral health-related behaviors before, immediately after, and 6 weeks following the intervention. RESULTS: Children's dental knowledge significantly improved following the intervention, with improvement evident at immediate follow-up and maintained 6 weeks later. Significantly more children reported using dental floss 6 weeks after the intervention compared with baseline. No significant differences were detected in toothbrushing or dietary behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: School-based preventative oral health education delivered by primary care dental practices can generate short-term improvements in children's knowledge of oral health and some aspects of oral hygiene behavior. Future research should engage parents/carers and include objective clinical and behavioral outcomes in controlled study designs.

Reducing stigma and discrimination to improve child health and survival in low- and middle-income countries: promising approaches and implications for future research.

The social processes of stigmatization and discrimination can have complex and devastating effects on the health and welfare of families and communities, and thus on the environments in which children live and grow. The authors conducted a literature review to identify interventions for reducing the stigma and discrimination that impede child health and well-being in low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on nutrition, HIV/AIDS, neonatal survival and infant health, and early child development. Despite broad consensus on the importance of stigma and discrimination as barriers to access and uptake of health information and services, the authors found a dearth of research and program evaluations directly assessing effective interventions in the area of child health except in the area of reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination. While the literature demonstrates that poverty and social exclusion are often stigma-laden and impede adult access to health information and services, and to education relevant to family planning, child rearing, nutrition, health promotion, and disease prevention, the child health literature does not document direct connections between these known mediators of child health and the stigmatization of either children or their caregivers. The child health field would greatly benefit from more research to understand and address stigma as it relates to child health and well-being. The authors suggest applying a framework, adapted from the HIV stigma field, to direct future research and the adaptation of existing strategies to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination to address social and health-related stigmas affecting children and their families.

Performance and Environmental Assessment of Biochar-Based Membranes Synthesized from Traditional and Eco-Friendly Solvents.

Water contamination resulting from coal spills is one of the largest environmental problems affecting communities in the Appalachia Region of the United States. This coal slurry contains potentially toxic substances, such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and coal cleaning chemicals, and its leakage into water bodies (lakes, rivers, and aquifers) can lead to adverse health effects not only for freshwater bodies and plant life but also for humans. This study focused on two major experiments. The first experiment involved the use of biochar to create a biochar-polysulfone (BC-PSf) flat-sheet multifunctional membrane to remove organic contaminants, and the other major experiment compared eco-friendly (gamma-valerolactone-GVL; Rhodiasolv® PolarClean-PC) and petroleum-derived solvents (i.e., N-methyl-pyrrolidone-NMP) in the fabrication of the biochar-polysulfone membranes. The resulting membranes were tested for their efficiency in removing both positively and negatively charged organic contaminants from the collected water at varying pH values. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) with accompanying uncertainty and sensitivity analyses was carried out to understand the global environmental impacts of incorporating biochar, NMP, GVL, and PC in the synthesis of PSf/NMP, BC-PSf/NMP, PSf/GVL, BC-PSf/GVL, PSf/PC, and BC-PSf/PC membranes at a set surface area of 1000 m2. The results showed that the addition of biochar to the membrane matrix increased the surface area of the membranes and improved both their adsorptive and mechanical properties. The membranes with biochar incorporated in their matrix showed a higher potential for contaminant removal than those without biochar. The environmental impacts normalized to the BC-PSf/GVL membrane showed that the addition of biochar increased global warming impacts, eutrophication, and respiratory impacts by over 100% in all the membrane configurations with biochar. The environmental impacts were highly sensitive to biochar addition (Spearman's coefficient > 0.8). The BC/PSf membrane with Rhodiasolv® PolarClean had the lowest associated global environmental impacts among all the membranes with biochar. Ultimately, this study highlighted potential tradeoffs between functional performance and global environmental impacts regarding choices for membrane fabrication.

A sociocultural approach to understanding collective trauma in Indigenous communities.

Research on the effects of collective trauma tends to take a psychocentric approach, focusing on the impact of being geographically near the traumatic event (physical proximity) or personally knowing a victim (social proximity). We theorize that this approach falls short in describing the effect of collective trauma among interdependent cultural groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, for whom the self and one's group are inextricably tied. Using a concurrent embedded mixed-methods design (N = 545), the current study explores the influence of cultural proximity (having a shared cultural connection to victims) in the wake of a fatal school shooting involving students from both a Native American tribe and a predominantly White city. After controlling for physical and social proximity, student distress behaviors and staff support behaviors, but not staff members' own psychological distress, were significantly higher in schools with higher Native student populations, where a larger proportion of students shared cultural connections with the victims. We discuss implications regarding the importance of providing adequate support for Indigenous Peoples, and interdependent cultural groups in general, following collective trauma.

Absent loading response knee flexion: The impact on gait kinetics and centre of mass motion in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation, and the effect of microprocessor controlled knee provision.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation walk with increased levels of asymmetry, and this is associated with reduced gait efficiency, back pain and overuse of the intact limb. This study investigated the effect of walking with a unilateral absence of loading response knee flexion on the symmetry of anterior-posterior kinetics and centre of mass accelerations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was used, assessing three-dimensional gait data from individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (n = 56). The anterior-posterior gait variables analysed included; peak ground reaction forces, impulse, centre of mass acceleration, as well as rate of vertical ground reaction force increase in early stance. With respect to these variables, this study assessed the symmetry between intact and prosthetic limbs, compared intact limbs against a healthy unimpaired control group, and evaluated effect on symmetry of microprocessor controlled knee provision. FINDINGS: Significant between-limb asymmetries were found between intact and prosthetic limbs across all variables (p < 0.0001). Intact limbs showed excessive loading when compared with control group limbs after speed normalisation across all variables (p < 0.0001). No improvement in kinetic symmetry following microprocessor controlled knee provision was found. INTERPRETATION: The gait asymmetries for individuals with transfemoral amputation identified in this study suggest that more should be done by developers to address the resultant overloading of the intact limb, as this is thought to have negative long-term effects. The provision of microprocessor controlled knees did not appear to improve the asymmetries faced by individuals with transfemoral amputation, and clinicians should be aware of this when managing patient expectations.

Providers' Use of Pharmacogenetic Testing to Inform Antidepressant Prescribing: Results of Qualitative Interviews.

OBJECTIVE: Pharmacogenetic testing (PGx) for patients experiencing depression has been associated with modest improvements in symptoms. However, little is known about providers' use of PGx, including how and for whom providers use the test results in clinical decision making. In this article, results from qualitative interviews on the experience of providers participating in a pragmatic trial of PGx are described; implications of the providers' experiences are highlighted to inform future implementation of PGx. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with providers participating in the trial (N=61) who treated veterans who had depression. Questions were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. A rapid analytic approach was used. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified: perceptions regarding which patients would likely benefit from PGx and approaches to using the test results in prescribing. Providers generally expressed positive experiences with using PGx results. However, the providers varied in application of the test results to clinical decision making regarding medications, were uncertain about how much to rely on the results, and differed in perceptions about which patients would benefit from PGx. CONCLUSIONS: To support future implementation, policies and procedures are needed, as well as mechanisms to support ongoing provider education on PGx.

"I just wanna be another person at school": Disclosing veteran identity on campus and effects on campus engagement.

Objective: To describe how veterans feel about disclosing their military status on campus and impacts on engagement with social and health-related services. Participants: Thirty-one university student veterans who participated in a student veterans' health study. Participants self-identified as White and male (90%) with an average age of 29.5 years and 6.7 years of military service. Methods: Qualitative interviews explored veterans' perceptions of belonging on campus and the impact of veteran identity on educational experiences. Data analysis used an inductive, content-based approach. Results: Themes included: (1) varied feelings around disclosing military service history, with many preferring not to disclose; (2) visibility of resources on campus; and (3) use of resources on campus for social engagement, mental, and physical health. Conclusions: Findings illustrate student veterans' complex experiences, and how feelings about disclosing veteran identity on campus relate to resource use. Campuses should acknowledge and explore this complexity with student veterans' input to ensure that supports meet their needs.

Microcystin-LR Removal from Water via Enzymatic Linearization and Ultrafiltration.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a toxin produced by cyanobacteria that can bloom in freshwater supplies. This study describes a new strategy for remediation of MC-LR that combines linearization of the toxin using microcystinase A, MlrA, enzyme with rejection of linearized byproducts using membrane filtration. The MlrA enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and purified via a His-tag with 95% purity. Additionally, composite membranes made of 95% polysulfone and 5% sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) were fabricated and used to filter a solution containing cyclic and linearized MC-LR. Tests were also performed to measure the adsorption and desorption of MC-LR on polysulfone/SPEEK membranes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to characterize the progress of linearization and removal of MC-LR. Results indicate that the MlrA was successful at linearizing MC-LR. Membrane filtration tests showed rejection of 97% of cyclic MC-LR and virtually all linearized MC-LR, with adsorption to the membranes being the main rejection mechanism. Adsorption/desorption tests indicated that methanol could be used to strip residual MC-LR from membranes to regenerate them. This study demonstrates a novel strategy of remediation of microcystin-tainted water, combining linearization of MC-LR to a low-toxicity byproduct along with removal by membrane filtration.

Diversity Initiatives and White Americans' Perceptions of Racial Victimhood.

Seven experiments explore whether organizational diversity initiatives heighten White Americans' concerns about the respect and value afforded toward their racial group and increase their perceptions of anti-White bias. The presence (vs. absence) of organizational diversity initiatives (i.e., diversity awards, diversity training, diversity mission statements) caused White Americans to perceive Whites as less respected and valued than Blacks and to blame a White man's rejection for a promotion on anti-White bias. Several moderators were tested, including evidence that Whites were clearly advantaged within the organization, that the rejected White candidate was less meritorious than the Black candidate, that promotion opportunities were abundant (vs. scarce), and individual differences related to support for the status hierarchy and identification with Whites. There was little evidence that these moderators reduced Whites' perceptions of diversity initiatives as harmful to their racial group.

Evaluation of gait outcomes for individuals with established unilateral transfemoral amputation following the provision of microprocessor controlled knees in the context of a clinical service.

BACKGROUND: Microprocessor controlled knees (MPKs) have been shown to improve gait outcomes for individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (TFA); however, previous studies have limitations, which may affect their applicability. OBJECTIVES: To compare gait outcomes between non-MPK and MPK conditions within a large and diverse cohort of established TFAs in the pragmatic context of an operational clinical service and to identify any demographic variables that correlate with changes in gait outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Full-body three-dimensional motion capture and a portable breath gas analyser were used to evaluate gait-specific outcomes both pre-MPK and 6 months post-MPK provisions in TFAs (n = 32). The primary outcome measure was gait profile score, along with the following secondary outcome measures: walking velocity, step length, step length symmetry ratio, step time symmetry ratio, vertical ground reaction force symmetry index, base of support, center of mass deviation, and oxygen cost of walking. RESULTS: Data showed statistically significant improvement in gait profile score from 11.2° ± 2.2° to 10.1° ± 2.1° (p < 0.01) between non-MPK and MPK conditions. Other outcomes which showed significant improvement were walking velocity (p < 0.01), step length (p < 0.01), vertical ground reaction force symmetry index (p < 0.01), and center of mass deviation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MPK provision offered significant gait improvements to this cohort of TFAs in an operational clinical setting. There still remains a large gap in gait outcomes between this cohort and those of healthy unimpaired adults. Improvements in socket design, prosthetic foot design, and physiotherapy intervention could further reduce this gap.

Minimal clinically important difference in walking velocity, gait profile score and two minute walk test for individuals with lower limb amputation.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with lower limb amputation are routinely assessed with a variety outcome measures, however there is a lack of published data to indicate minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for many of these outcome measures. Three such important gait-specific outcome measures include walking velocity, gait profile score (GPS) and the two minute walk test (2MWT). RESEARCH QUESTION: Determine the MCIDs for walking velocity, GPS and 2MWT for individuals with lower limb amputation. METHODS: Walking velocity and GPS (n = 60), and 2MWT (n = 119) data for individuals with unilateral transfemoral or knee disarticulation were identified retrospectively from a database held at the study centre. An anchor-based method was used with Medicare functional classification level (MFCL) acting as the impairment-related criterion, and a least-squares linear regression approach was used to calculate the gradient required for a change between MFCL levels. RESULTS: An increase of 0.21 m/s (95 % CI: 0.13,0.29) for walking velocity, a reduction of 1.7° (95 % CI: -2.449,-1.097) for GPS and an increase of 37.2 m (95 % CI: 28.8,45.5) for 2MWT were found to correspond to an increase in MFCL of one level. Walking velocity, GPS and 2MWT correlated with MFCL with R2 values of 0.333, 0.322 and 0.398 respectively (p < 0.00001). The authors propose that 0.21 m/s for walking velocity, 1.7° for GPS and 37.2 m for 2MWT be used as MCID values for individuals with lower limb amputation. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study can be used to help both researchers and clinicians to objectively evaluate if interventions for individuals with lower limb amputation are effective.

#NotAllWhites: Liberal-Leaning White Americans Racially Disidentify and Increase Support for Racial Equity.

Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election largely due to support from White Americans. This win created a new sociopolitical reality in which White Americans as a group became associated with Trump and his anti-egalitarianism. Four studies (N = 3,245) explored how liberal-leaning White Americans negotiate their racial identity to contend with group-image threat arising from the association between their racial ingroup and Trump. Trump-related group-image threat (i.e., White Americans' support for Trump's anti-egalitarianism or his continuation in office) led liberal-leaning White Americans to disidentify from their racial ingroup. In turn, racial disidentification predicted greater signaling of egalitarian beliefs (i.e., expressing intentions to advocate for racial equity and supporting policies designed to benefit racially minoritized groups) and behaviors (i.e., donating money to racial equity-focused organizations). These results suggest that the process of negotiating Trump-related group-image threat has implications for both White Americans' racial identities and ongoing efforts to achieve racial equity.