Does School Race/Ethnic Composition Impact Mental Health Outcomes?

This dissertation evaluated what is known from the existing literature regarding the effect of race and ethnic composition in schools on adolescent mental health outcomes as well as provided new data in this area of research. The first dissertation Chapter presents the results of a systematic literature review of the current evidence to date regarding the effect of school race/ethnic composition on mental health outcomes in school-aged youth from Kindergarten through High School. Two empirical chapters that follow the first Chapter implemented new data that filled in knowledge gaps in the current evidence base. One empirical chapter, Chapter 2, tested if the main effect of school race/ethnic composition, measured as race/ethnic density and diversity, varied by student race/ethnicity. Chapter 2 also examined the point of convergence in rates of mental health symptom for youth of different race/ethnic groups as the race and ethnic distribution in the school changed. To examine this point, the predicted counts of depressive-anxious symptoms for each race/ethnic group across changes in school race/ethnic composition were plotted and discussed. Chapter 3, the second empirical chapter, examined if the impact of school race/ethnic composition on mental health outcomes varied by acculturative stress among youth identifying as Mexican/Chicano. Both empirical analyses were informed by the knowledge gaps that were identified in the systematic literature review in Chapter 1. Public health and policy implications of this dissertation research, including its literature review and empirical findings, are discussed. The dissertation format first consists of a publishable systematic literature review of Specific Aim #1, presented as Chapter 1, that justifies the purpose for Specific Aim #2 and #3. Following Chapter 1, the dissertation presents two publishable research articles reflecting Specific Aim #2 and #3, presented as Chapters 2 and 3, respectively. Therefore, the specific aims are to: 1. Conduct a systematic literature review of school race/ethnic composition effects on mental health outcomes; 2. Controlling for school and student covariates, test school race/ethnic composition (e.g. race/ethnic density and diversity) on student mental health outcomes; a. Test the interaction between school race/ethnic composition variables and student self-reported race/ethnicity; 3. Test for within Mexican/Chicano group differences of school race/ethnic composition (e.g. race/ethnic density and diversity) on student mental health outcomes by acculturative stress, controlling for school- and student-level covariates

Adolescent relationship violence and acculturation among NYC Latinos

Acculturation has been shown to positively and negatively affect Latino health. Little research investigates the overlap between acculturation and the different types of relationship violence among Latino youth and most research in this area predominantly involves Mexican-American samples. The current study examined associations between indices of acculturation (language use at home, chosen survey language, and nativity) and relationship physical violence and sexual coercion, both received and delivered, among predominantly Dominican and Puerto Rican adolescents from New York City. From 2006 to 2007, 1,454 adolescents aged 13-21 years in New York City completed an anonymous survey that included the Conflict in Adolescent Relationships Inventory which estimates experiences of physical violence and sexual coercion, both received and delivered, in the previous year. This analysis includes bivariate and multivariate methods to test the associations between language use at home, chosen survey language, and nativity with the different types of relationship violence. Among females, there is a significant association between language use at home and overall level of acculturation with delivering and receiving relationship physical violence; however, we did not find this association in delivering and receiving relationship sexual coercion. We found no association between acculturation and any type of relationship violence among males. Among Latina females, language spoken at home is an indicator of other protective factors of physical relationship violence. Future research in this area should explore the potential protective factors surrounding relationship violence among Latina females of various subgroups using comprehensive measures of acculturation, household composition and family engagement

Clinical practice guidelines on the evidenceâ based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment

Answer questions and earn CME/CNEPatients with breast cancer commonly use complementary and integrative therapies as supportive care during cancer treatment and to manage treatmentâ related side effects. However, evidence supporting the use of such therapies in the oncology setting is limited. This report provides updated clinical practice guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology on the use of integrative therapies for specific clinical indications during and after breast cancer treatment, including anxiety/stress, depression/mood disorders, fatigue, quality of life/physical functioning, chemotherapyâ induced nausea and vomiting, lymphedema, chemotherapyâ induced peripheral neuropathy, pain, and sleep disturbance. Clinical practice guidelines are based on a systematic literature review from 1990 through 2015. Music therapy, meditation, stress management, and yoga are recommended for anxiety/stress reduction. Meditation, relaxation, yoga, massage, and music therapy are recommended for depression/mood disorders. Meditation and yoga are recommended to improve quality of life. Acupressure and acupuncture are recommended for reducing chemotherapyâ induced nausea and vomiting. Acetylâ Lâ carnitine is not recommended to prevent chemotherapyâ induced peripheral neuropathy due to a possibility of harm. No strong evidence supports the use of ingested dietary supplements to manage breast cancer treatmentâ related side effects. In summary, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of integrative therapies, especially mindâ body therapies, as effective supportive care strategies during breast cancer treatment. Many integrative practices, however, remain understudied, with insufficient evidence to be definitively recommended or avoided. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:194â 232. © 2017 American Cancer Society.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136746/1/caac21397_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136746/2/caac21397.pd

MUSiC : a model-unspecific search for new physics in proton-proton collisions at root s=13TeV

Results of the Model Unspecific Search in CMS (MUSiC), using proton-proton collision data recorded at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1), are presented. The MUSiC analysis searches for anomalies that could be signatures of physics beyond the standard model. The analysis is based on the comparison of observed data with the standard model prediction, as determined from simulation, in several hundred final states and multiple kinematic distributions. Events containing at least one electron or muon are classified based on their final state topology, and an automated search algorithm surveys the observed data for deviations from the prediction. The sensitivity of the search is validated using multiple methods. No significant deviations from the predictions have been observed. For a wide range of final state topologies, agreement is found between the data and the standard model simulation. This analysis complements dedicated search analyses by significantly expanding the range of final states covered using a model independent approach with the largest data set to date to probe phase space regions beyond the reach of previous general searches.Peer reviewe

Search for new particles in events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A search is presented for new particles produced at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, using events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb(-1), collected in 2017-2018 with the CMS detector. Machine learning techniques are used to define separate categories for events with narrow jets from initial-state radiation and events with large-radius jets consistent with a hadronic decay of a W or Z boson. A statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data sample of 36 fb(-1), collected in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model background expectation determined from control samples in data. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the branching fraction of an invisible decay of the Higgs boson, as well as constraints on simplified models of dark matter, on first-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to quarks and neutrinos, and on models with large extra dimensions. Several of the new limits, specifically for spin-1 dark matter mediators, pseudoscalar mediators, colored mediators, and leptoquarks, are the most restrictive to date.Peer reviewe

Measurement of prompt open-charm production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The production cross sections for prompt open-charm mesons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV are reported. The measurement is performed using a data sample collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 29 nb(-1). The differential production cross sections of the D*(+/-), D-+/-, and D-0 ((D) over bar (0)) mesons are presented in ranges of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity 4 < p(T) < 100 GeV and vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.1, respectively. The results are compared to several theoretical calculations and to previous measurements.Peer reviewe

Combined searches for the production of supersymmetric top quark partners in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A combination of searches for top squark pair production using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment, is presented. Signatures with at least 2 jets and large missing transverse momentum are categorized into events with 0, 1, or 2 leptons. New results for regions of parameter space where the kinematical properties of top squark pair production and top quark pair production are very similar are presented. Depending on themodel, the combined result excludes a top squarkmass up to 1325 GeV for amassless neutralino, and a neutralinomass up to 700 GeV for a top squarkmass of 1150 GeV. Top squarks with masses from 145 to 295 GeV, for neutralino masses from 0 to 100 GeV, with a mass difference between the top squark and the neutralino in a window of 30 GeV around the mass of the top quark, are excluded for the first time with CMS data. The results of theses searches are also interpreted in an alternative signal model of dark matter production via a spin-0 mediator in association with a top quark pair. Upper limits are set on the cross section for mediator particle masses of up to 420 GeV

Probing effective field theory operators in the associated production of top quarks with a Z boson in multilepton final states at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe

Measurement of B-c(2S)(+) and B-c*(2S)(+) cross section ratios in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe