The association of perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have investigated ethnic differences in discrimination and depressive symptoms, and the link between them among foreign-born Asian Americans. This study identifies if depressive symptoms and perceived discrimination differ by Asian ethnicity, and if perceived discrimination is associated with depressive symptoms among foreign-born Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. METHODS: This study uses data from the Asian American Liver Cancer Prevention Program (N = 600). Using nonprobability sampling, foreign-born Asian American adults (58% female, Mage = 47.3 years, SD = 11.82) were recruited from the community in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Perceived discrimination was defined using everyday and major discrimination scales; the Centers for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale defined the outcome of depressive symptoms. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to determine if this association exists. RESULTS: A high prevalence of depressive symptoms (one third to one fifth per ethnicity) and ethnic differences between foreign-born Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans were found; increased perceived discrimination was associated with worse depressive symptomology. Those with "high" and "mild discrimination" had greater odds of being depressed than those who had never experienced discrimination; those with "unfair treatment" had greater odds of being depressed than those who had none. Major experiences of discrimination were less common and less likely associated with depressive symptoms than everyday experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Foreign-born Asian Americans experience substantial discrimination and depressive symptoms. Future studies should stratify by Asian ethnicity and examine the differences between minor and major experiences of discrimination to provide appropriate mental health prevention and treatment for this population. (PsycINFO Database Record

Advancing Health Equity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

This article discusses the urgency of focusing on health disparities for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities and lays out three key policy priorities for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to advance health equity for the AA and NHPI communities: Anti-Asian hate and violence, data disaggregation, and language access.

Mercury exposure education provided by women's health clinics in Duval County, Florida.

Duval County (Jacksonville, FL, USA) has a long history of environmental health hazards, especially prevalent within its urban core, referred to as Health Zone 1. In 2009, the Duval County Health Department conducted a survey of awareness of and actual exposure to methylmercury among women in the county. The survey found that women with more education or higher incomes had a higher awareness of potential mercury exposures. Furthermore, women in the urban core were less aware and had higher exposure than those in more affluent areas. This study assesses the mercury-exposure awareness and education by healthcare providers serving women of child-bearing age. We surveyed 28 women's health clinic offices. Sixty-one percent (17/28) indicated that they provide mercury exposure education to female patients, either written or verbal. Of these, only half (8/17) provide written education materials. Ninety-three percent of the providers indicated that a benefit to providing education on mercury exposure, is having "healthier developing fetuses and young children in the community". Two barriers identified by providers to offering information on mercury exposure and risk were (a) a lack of interest among patients, and (b) a lack of clear, understandable educational materials. The long-term goal of our * -8project is to develop and distribute culturally effective, low literacy materials for distribution by health clinics, to document the increased awareness of mercury exposure risks, and to lessen the adverse health outcomes that may result from mercury exposure among vulnerable population groups in Duval County.

Largest molecular clusters in the supertetrahedral Tn series.

Supertetrahedral Tn clusters are exact fragments of cubic ZnS-type lattice and are often formed in situ as building units for the construction of 3-D open-framework chalcogenide materials. Small Tn clusters can also be synthesized in discrete forms, allowing them to exist as soluble species in solution. In addition to their tunable electronic and optical properties, these soluble clusters can be used as precursors for the synthesis of porous semiconducting and optical materials. However, the synthesis of large Tn clusters is a significant challenge, and for several decades prior to this work, the size of the discrete Tn cluster remained at T3, with only 10 metal sites (e.g., [Cd(10)S(4)(SPh)(16)](4-) and [M(5)Sn(5)S(20)](10-), M = Zn, Co). Here we report a family of discrete chalcogenide T4 clusters ([M(x)Ga(18-x)Sn(2)Q(35)](12-), x = 2 or 4; M = Mn, Cu, Zn; Q = S, Se) whose discovery resulted from an unusual phase transformation from a 3-D T4 covalent framework into 0-D T4 molecular clusters. The driving force for such a transformation is the perfect match in both charge density and geometry between chalcogenide clusters and protonated amine, leading to the higher stability of isolated clusters. The perfect match is achieved by using complex quaternary compositions to maximize charge tunability of the cluster. These T4 clusters are the largest molecular Tn clusters known to date and can be made in various compositions showing tunable band structures in both solution and solid state.

There Is No Performance, There Is Just This Moment: The Role of Mindfulness Instruction in Promoting Health and Well-Being Among Students at a Highly-Ranked University in the United States.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to improve health outcomes across populations. We explored the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effects of a pilot MBSR program at a highly-ranked university in the United States. We conducted 23 in-depth interviews with 13 students. Interviews explored stressors and coping mechanisms, experiences with MBSR, and its reported impact and potential future use. Interviews were analyzed using thematic content and narrative analyses. Results indicated that students are exposed to a very high level of constant stress related to the sheer amount of work and activities that they have and the pervasive surrounding university culture of perfectionism. MBSR offered an opportunity to step back and gain perspective on issues of balance and priorities and provided concrete techniques to counter the effects of stressors. We conclude that MBSR and mindfulness programs may contribute to more supportive university learning environments and greater health and well-being among students.