UNASSIGNED: Racial discrimination remains a significant issue in the United States, particularly affecting Black individuals. Understanding how beliefs about the persistence of racial discrimination are shaped by race and parental education among college students is crucial for developing strategies to address these inequities.
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to examine the multiplicative effects of race and parental education on beliefs about the persistence of racial discrimination among Black and White college students. We hypothesize that Black students, particularly those with highly educated parents, will exhibit stronger beliefs in the persistence of racial discrimination as a significant issue compared to their White peers.
UNASSIGNED: Data were drawn from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) study, which includes a national sample of Black and White young adults on college campuses across the United States. We conducted statistical analyses to explore the influence of race and parental education on students\' beliefs about racial discrimination.
UNASSIGNED: Black students demonstrated stronger beliefs in the persistence of racial discrimination compared to White students. Additionally, students with higher parental education levels were more likely to recognize racial discrimination as a significant issue than those with lower parental education. The impact of parental education on these beliefs was more pronounced for Black students compared to White students.
UNASSIGNED: Black college students, especially those from higher SES backgrounds, exhibit a heightened awareness of racial discrimination due to their lived experiences and educational exposure. High SES Black individuals often face increased visibility and prejudice in predominantly White environments, further reinforcing their beliefs about the persistence of discrimination. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support Black students in higher education and promote awareness of racial discrimination. Policy solutions should include comprehensive anti-discrimination policies, increased diversity and inclusion efforts, and educational curricula that address systemic racism and social justice. The cross-sectional nature of the data limits causality inference, and self-reported measures may be subject to bias. Despite these limitations, the study\'s large and diverse sample enhances the generalizability of the findings. Race and parental education have multiplicative effects on college students\' beliefs about the persistence of racial discrimination. Black students, particularly those from high SES backgrounds, are more likely to perceive racial discrimination as a continuing problem. Addressing these disparities through targeted policies and interventions is essential for creating equitable and inclusive educational environments.

UNASSIGNED: The unique challenges Black men face within the criminal justice system underscore structural and systemic factors driving widespread inequalities. The long-term effects of these challenges on economic, health, and social outcomes as individuals transition to retirement remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical gap in our knowledge of life trajectories long after justice system involvement.
UNASSIGNED: This study investigated the enduring health impacts of incarceration on Black men, particularly focusing on the transition into retirement. It aimed to explore the influence of race and gender on experiences of incarceration before age 50, and how such experiences affected self-rated health during the retirement transition.
UNASSIGNED: Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study, which followed individuals aged 50-59 for up to thirty years, this research examined the interplay of race, gender, incarceration history, and self-rated health during the retirement transition. Logistic regression and path modeling were employed for data analysis.
UNASSIGNED: Logistic regression results indicated that being Black, male, and having lower educational attainment significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing incarceration before the age of 50 (p < 0.05). This suggests that Black men with lower levels of education are at the greatest risk of incarceration. The path model revealed a correlation between incarceration experiences before age 50 and poorer self-rated health at the time of retirement.
UNASSIGNED: The findings highlighted the disproportionately high risk of incarceration among Black men, especially those with lower educational attainment, and its persistent negative impacts on health decades later, including during the transition into retirement. Addressing structural racism and the mass incarceration of Black men is crucial for achieving racial health equity as individuals retire.

Background Understanding root canal anatomy variations, particularly C-shaped canals, is crucial for successful endodontic treatment. This study used clinical and radiographic methods to assess the prevalence and characteristics of C-shaped canals in mandibular second molars in Western Maharashtra. Materials and methods This prospective study was conducted in the western region of Maharashtra, India. The samples included patients requiring endodontic treatment for mandibular second molars. Clinical evaluation was conducted using a surgical endodontic microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Inclusion and exclusion criteria ensured the selection of a focused and homogeneous sample. Data analysis included assessment of unilateral/bilateral occurrence, canal distribution, and cross-sectional characteristics. Results Out of 200 mandibular second molars, 7.5% exhibited C-shaped root canals, with no significant gender differences. Canal distribution varied across coronal, middle, and apical levels, with prevalent configurations being C1, C2, C3, and C4. No significant differences were observed in canal distribution based on root levels. No significant gender differences were found in the presence of grooves on the root surfaces. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of C-shaped canals in mandibular second molars in Western Maharashtra. Further research into histological and genetic aspects can enhance our understanding, leading to improved treatment strategies for complex root canal anatomy variations.

UNASSIGNED: Culture and eating habits, which vary greatly across different ethnic groups, have a substantial impact on drinking behavior. This study aimed to examine whether the drinking patterns and reasons differ by ethnic groups, and provide useful insights for multi-ethnic areas that seek to cut down alcohol intake.
UNASSIGNED: We recruited excessive drinkers and collected the drinking patterns and motivations by questionnaire in a multi-ethnic society. Multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate the variations in drinking characteristics among different ethnic groups.
UNASSIGNED: We recruited 1287 participants through convenience sampling (a non-probability sampling technique used in research where the researcher selects participants or units for a study based on their accessibility and proximity), among whom 439 excessive drinkers were eligible. The mean age was 38 years for the 439 participants, 92.9% were men, 36.0% were Han, and 64.0% were minorities mainly composed of the Yi. The majority of the participants were married (75.9%) and did physical work (58.1%). Ethnic minorities consumed more alcohol on a single occasion than Han people did (47.3 vs 41.8g/session) while drinking less frequently. For the minority and Han participants, 67% and 42% were not used to drinking with food, respectively. Peer pressure and fostering a good atmosphere were the most common drinking reasons for the minority and Han, respectively.
UNASSIGNED: We found substantial differences in drinking patterns and reasons between ethnic minorities and Han ethnicity, attributable to their culture and customs. Findings highlight the importance of drinking habits and motivations in exploring alcohol control education strategies in the context of ethnic integration and population immigration.

(1) Current literature on ethnic minorities, comorbidities, and COVID-19 tends to investigate these factors separately, leaving gaps in our understanding about their interactions. Our review seeks to identify a relationship between ethnicity, comorbidities, and severe COVID-19 outcomes (ICU admission and mortality). We hope to enhance our understanding of the various factors that exacerbate COVID-19 severity and mortality in ethnic minorities in Canada and the USA. (2) All articles were received from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Ovid EMBASE from November 2020 to June 2022. Included articles contain information regarding comorbidities among ethnic minorities in relation to COVID-19 severity and mortality. (3) A total of 59 articles were included that examined various ethnic groups, including Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic, White/Caucasian, and Indigenous people. We found that the most examined comorbidities were diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. A total of 76.9% of the articles (40 out of 52) found a significant association between different races and COVID-19 mortality, whereas 21.2% of the articles (11 out of 52) did not. (4) COVID-19 ICU admissions and mortality affect various ethnic groups differently, with Black patients generally having the most adverse outcomes. These outcomes may also interact with sex and age, though more research is needed assessing these variables together with ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: Dementia as a neurocognitive disorder is becoming increasingly common worldwide, and minority groups are more vulnerable than the general population. Many factors may contribute to their vulnerability such as misconceptions, language barriers, cultural factors, invalid assessment tools, lack of knowledge, or assigning spiritual beliefs to dementia symptoms. Therefore, this scoping literature review aimed to clarify how empirical studies reflect the meaning of dementia, language, and translation among minority ethnic groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The PRISMA extension for the scoping review protocol was used. Thirty-eight studies published in English were reviewed and analysed. The findings revealed that lack of knowledge about dementia and attributing the disease to the normal ageing process were frequent among minority groups. Furthermore, their cultural-specific perspectives and worldviews of wellness and well-being can impact the way dementia is perceived, consequent help-seeking behaviours, or caregiving. Facilitating educational programs to enhance the knowledge and experiences of ethnic communities might be beneficial. Moreover, language is shown to be an important aspect in dementia assessment and participants\' educational level could significantly impact their functional capacity when responding to cognitive measures. Even though there are some useful screening tests, diagnosis barriers might be eased by assessment tool development, modifications, and accurate translations for ethnic communities.
CONCLUSIONS: A promising pathway to support ethnically diverse communities regarding dementia can be raising awareness, providing ethnic-specific services, developing cultural-specific tools to assess dementia or any cognitive impairment by considering perceptions, language, and culture among ethnic groups. Cultural and spiritual considerations could also encourage engagement during assessment.

Substance use disorder (SUD) among Asian Americans is understudied. Our review of National Institutes of Health-funded projects reveals a striking underrepresentation of research focused on SUD in this population, possibly perpetuated by the pervasive societal myth that Asian Americans are a healthy community. Moreover, the limited availability and disaggregation of data on SUD among Asian Americans further hinder our understanding of prevalence rates, treatment utilization, and associated disparities-thereby limiting opportunities for prevention and intervention. In light of these findings, our review serves as a crucial call to action, emphasizing the urgent need for increased research efforts and resources to address the significant gaps in knowledge and inform effective interventions for addressing SUD among Asian Americans.

Introduction: Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Global Cancer Statistics (GLOBOCAN) reported an age standardized global incidence rate of 9.2 per 100,000 individuals for gastric cancer in 2022, with a mortality rate of 6.1. Despite considerable progress in precision oncology through the efforts of international consortia, understanding the genomic features and their influence on the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatments across diverse ethnic groups remains essential. Methods: Our study aimed to address this need by conducting integrated in silico analyses to identify actionable genomic alterations in gastric cancer driver genes, assess their impact using deleteriousness scores, and determine allele frequencies across nine global populations: European Finnish, European non-Finnish, Latino, East Asian, South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Amish. Furthermore, our goal was to prioritize targeted therapeutic strategies based on pharmacogenomics clinical guidelines, in silico drug prescriptions, and clinical trial data. Results: Our comprehensive analysis examined 275,634 variants within 60 gastric cancer driver genes from 730,947 exome sequences and 76,215 whole-genome sequences from unrelated individuals, identifying 13,542 annotated and predicted oncogenic variants. We prioritized the most prevalent and deleterious oncogenic variants for subsequent pharmacogenomics testing. Additionally, we discovered actionable genomic alterations in the ARID1A, ATM, BCOR, ERBB2, ERBB3, CDKN2A, KIT, PIK3CA, PTEN, NTRK3, TP53, and CDKN2A genes that could enhance the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies, as suggested by in silico drug prescription analyses, reviews of current pharmacogenomics clinical guidelines, and evaluations of phase III and IV clinical trials targeting gastric cancer driver proteins. Discussion: These findings underline the urgency of consolidating efforts to devise effective prevention measures, invest in genomic profiling for underrepresented populations, and ensure the inclusion of ethnic minorities in future clinical trials and cancer research in developed countries.

OBJECTIVE: Biocultural legacy practices are intricately tied to forestry resources, ethnic identity, and social cohesiveness. This study aims to determine the plant cultural values of forest resources and identify plant cultural indicators in each ethnic group, which can aid in long-term natural resource management plans in the current debate on socio-environmental and ecological transitions.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were employed to collect data for a comprehensive and systematic ethnobotanical survey from February 2018 to October 2022.
RESULTS: A total of 330 informants reported 154 plant species from 65 families. Asteraceae was the most prominent botanical family, with herbaceous plant groups outnumbering trees and shrubs. The Gujjar and Pahari groups exhibited the highest level of overlap, followed by significant overlaps between the Gujjar and Kashmiri communities. The close affinity observed between the Gujjar and Pahari groups suggests the horizontal pattern of local plant knowledge between these communities, influenced by their sociocultural interactions and intermarriages. Notably, the Pahari community displayed a rich understanding of medicinal plants and shared unique uses for the reported taxa. This study affirms that both ecological factors and sociocultural influences have played significant roles in shaping local plant knowledge. A total of 31 plant species have been identified as plant cultural markers among all four ethnic groups. We observed a positive correlation between plant cultural values and plant use with the Gujjar and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Artemisia absinthium reported the highest use value of (0.57) with use reports of (189). Adonis aestivalis, Cynoglossum nervosum, Geum elatum, Geranium himalayense, Juncus inflexus, Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum biflorum, and Salvia hians from the Himalayan region are among the plant taxa whose ethnomedicinal applications are described here for the first time.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that local and indigenous forest knowledge and practices could significantly contribute to forest conservation and ecological transition. This may happen if stakeholders generate clear frameworks and biocultural conservation strategies aimed at both dynamically preserve natural habitats and ways of traditional management of local natural resources.

UNASSIGNED: Household income, a prominent socioeconomic status (SES) indicator, is known to mitigate youth engagement in various health risk behaviors, including tobacco use. Nevertheless, the Minorities\' Diminished Returns theory suggests that this protective effect may be less pronounced for racial and ethnic minorities compared to majority groups. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of high household income against tobacco use among youth and explore potential variations across different racial and ethnic groups.
UNASSIGNED: Conducted as a longitudinal analysis, this study utilized data from the initial three years of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study spanning 2016-2022. The cohort consisted of 11,875 American youth aged 9-10 years, tracked over a three-year period. The dependent variable was tobacco initiation, irrespective of the product, while household income served as the independent variable. Covariates included youth age, gender, family education, structure, and employment, with race/ethnicity acting as the moderating variable.
UNASSIGNED: Out of the 8,754 American youth who were non-smokers at baseline, 3.1% (n = 269) initiated tobacco use during the 30-month follow-up, while 96.9% (n = 8,485) remained non-smokers. A family income exceeding $100,000 per year was associated with a lower hazard ratio for tobacco initiation (transitioning to ever-use) over the follow-up period (HR = 0.620, p = 0.022). However, household income of $50-100k exhibited significant interactions with race/ethnicity on tobacco initiation, indicating weaker protective effects for Black (HR for interaction = 7.860, p < 0.001) and Latino (HR for interaction = 3.461, p = 0.001) youth compared to non-Latino White youth.
UNASSIGNED: Within the United States, the racialization and minoritization of youth diminish the protective effects of economic resources, such as high household income, against the transition to tobacco use. Non-Latino White youth, the most socially privileged group, experience greater protection from their elevated household income regarding tobacco initiation compared to Black and Latino youth, who face minoritization and racialization. Policymakers should address not only the SES gap but also the mechanisms contributing to the heightened risk of tobacco use among racialized and minoritized youth from affluent backgrounds.