http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/rgpo_rw/rss Recent eScholarship items from Research Grants Program Office (RGPO) Funded Publications Fri, 15 May 2026 12:56:02 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jk2j49r Preliminary Evidence that Combination Oral Contraceptive Use in Young Adult Women Is Associated with the Endocrine Stress Response to High-Dose Alcohol https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jk2j49r Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Anthenelli, Robert M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6612-1126 Momper, Jeremiah Pharm.D Suhandynata, Raymond Henrickson, Cassandra A McKenna, Benjamin S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5607-6376 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/47b4m2bp BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded pilot trial to compare the impact of two electroacupuncture (EA) regimens on co-occurring neuropsychiatric symptoms among breast cancer survivors (BCS). METHODS: BCS who self-reported cognitive impairment, fatigue, insomnia, or psychological distress were randomized (1:1) to receive ten weekly EA to target either neuropsychiatric-specific (nEA) or non-neuropsychiatric-specific (sEA) acupoints. Primary endpoints were the within-group pre-post effect sizes (Glass's Δ) in symptom severities, adjusted for multiple comparisons (p-adjusted). Outcomes were assessed using neurocognitive tests (CANTAB®), PROs (FACT-Cog, MFSI-SF, EORTC QLQ-C30), plasma biomarkers, and neuroimaging. Responders were defined by reliable change index (for objective cognition) or MCID (for PROs). RESULTS: Thirty-five were recruited, with 30 (86%) completing all sessions. The mean (±SD) age was 58.2 (±12.2) years, and 86% reported co-occurring symptoms. Following... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/47b4m2bp Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ng, Ding Quan Heshmatipour, Matthew Trudeau, Julia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3250-1876 Sridhar, Apeksha Pluimer, Brock Drayson, Olivia GG Lavasani, Sayeh M Parajuli, Ritesh Lee, Sanghoon Agrawal, Anshu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4898-9615 Acharya, Munjal M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7767-5642 Limoli, Charles L Harris, Richard E Xie, Lifang Malik, Shaista Chan, Alexandre https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4391-4219 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1377z8n0 The legalization of cannabis is exposing more people to secondhand smoke (SHS) generated during cannabis use. Given the serious health effects caused by tobacco SHS, there is a need to assess the potential health effects of exposure to cannabis SHS. As a step toward this, we measured the concentrations of cannabinoids, nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air samples collected in public places where cannabis was being consumed. These were compared with concentrations in exhaled aerosols from cannabis smoking and vaping, and in tobacco SHS. Tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations were 22 to 255 µg/m3 in field samples, below the threshold for psychoactive effects. Nicotine concentrations in field samples did not exceed 1 µg/m3. The total PAH concentrations in field samples were from 3.2 to 80.5 ng/m3, depending on location type. By contrast, PAH levels averaged 72 ng/m3 in tobacco SHS and 220 ng/m3 in the more concentrated, exhaled cannabis aerosols. A total of 22... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1377z8n0 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Tang, Xiaochen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4168-9871 Huang, Abel S Russell, Marion L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7723-6746 St. Helen, Gideon Jacob, Peyton Destaillats, Hugo Schick, Suzaynn F https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7101-3077 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8543b5m8 The rapid rise of e-cigarette (vape) use over the past decade has raised significant public health and environmental concerns. While marketed as safer alternatives to combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes generate complex aerosols that expose both users and nonusers to potentially harmful compounds. Vaping produces aerosols containing active ingredients (such as nicotine or cannabinoids), flavoring agents, metals, carbonyls, reactive oxygen species, and ultrafine particles that can deposit throughout the respiratory tract. Beyond direct inhalation, nonusers are also subject to secondhand and thirdhand exposure through inhalation of exhaled aerosols and contact with surface-deposited residues. These aerosols undergo dynamic physicochemical transformations, including gas-particle partitioning, oxidation, and aging processes, that may enhance their toxicity by increasing the abundance of reactive and oxygenated species. Emerging evidence suggests that passive exposure may pose disproportionate... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8543b5m8 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Woo, Wonsik Tran, Lillian N Tian, Linhui https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2147-1518 Canchola, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8285-4795 Lin, Ying-Hsuan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8904-1287 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7f34g16q Recent work has shown that the atmospheric aging of vaping emissions in indoor environments produces organic hydroperoxides via the ozonolysis of terpene flavoring chemicals. These peroxide species decompose to form radicals upon aqueous dissolution. While the mechanism responsible for producing these radicals has yet to be fully elucidated, one prevailing hypothesis to support this phenomenon is Fenton-like reactions between redox-active metals and peroxides. Vaping emits various redox-active metals, which may play an important role in mediating these types of aqueous reactions. Here, we observed that the production of radicals resulting from the aqueous decomposition of aged e-cigarette aerosols was found to be highly dependent on the presence of redox-active metals, indicating the reliance of Fenton-like reactions on mediating the formation of radicals. Additionally, we observed that peroxides and metals are enriched within the ultrafine particles (UFPs) of aged vaping emissions,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7f34g16q Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Woo, Wonsik Tian, Linhui https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2147-1518 Diamond, Charles Lum, Michael Lyons, Timothy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8674-6775 Lin, Ying-Hsuan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8904-1287 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69j389hv The following report chronicles the professional project completed in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This professional project spanned fifteen months and was conducted with the support of the Sustainable Land Initiative under the supervision of Professor Nicholas Babin. Two educational workshops resulted from the endeavor, thus contributing to the Central Coast’s agriculture community through increased knowledge access and professional networks. Additionally, a two-year road map was developed for future Sustainable Land Initiative events. This plan was intended to be used as a reference point as the organization continues to develop and uplift regenerative farming practices within the region. This report provides the context of the development of the workshops through a literature review, whereas the future outreach plan was informed by survey results... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69j389hv Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Knight, Audrey https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5mg3f214 The United States agriculture sector needs to adapt to and mitigate its contributions to climate change, especially with adverse impacts such as intense and frequent drought, flooding, wildfire, and extreme heat that affect crop yields, livestock health, farm infrastructure, and farmer incomes. Recently, federal and state governments have introduced new ‘climate-smart agriculture’ (CSA) policies and programs to help farmers mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from farming operations. However, farmers face persistent barriers to accessing government resources, which necessitates an understanding of power dynamics among CSA program actors and existing institutions and structures in the agricultural sector. I used the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) CSA incentive programs to investigate these dynamics. I examined how farmer access to CSA programs and the broader program goal of GHG mitigation are enabled or constrained by program actors involved in program... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5mg3f214 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Radulski, Brennan Grace https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8x05c26s Between 1995 and 2014, California wine production increased by 79%. While the industry has made significant efforts to improve environmental performance, existing data on water consumption and $CO_2$ emissions often rely on studies from foreign regions, which may not accurately reflect California's specific production schemes. Because environmental profiles vary widely based on life-cycle factors, this study utilizes Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess the impact of red wine produced on the Central Coast of California under various production scenarios.The cradle-to-gate analysis examined variables including bottle weight reduction, transportation distances, and varying ratios of machine versus hand-harvesting. Results revealed that the bottling process contributes the most significant environmental impacts, accounting for 82.6% of total global warming potential (GWP) and 65.4% of eutrophication potential. Furthermore, transportation and bottle weight are critical factors, contributing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8x05c26s Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Chiu, Yiwen Sanft, Ashley Peterson, Jean Dodson https://escholarship.org/uc/item/810664nm The hop industry is culturally and economically significant in the United States due to its central role in beer production, yet its environmental impacts remain understudied. To address this gap, this study conducts a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of aroma hop production, beginning with seedling propagation via tissue culture and ending with packaged hop pellets ready for shipment. Results show that producing 1 kg of aroma hop pellets generates 5.19 kg CO₂-equivalent (kgCO₂e) of potential global warming impact (GWP) and eutrophication (EP) of 15.61 g N-equivalent (gNeq). Farm cultivation represents the largest contributor, accounting for nearly 60% of GWP and over 63% of EP. Scenario analysis indicates that shifting irrigation methods can reduce EP by 17–34% and GWP by 11–20% relative to the baseline. Air drying of hops can further reduce GWP by 24%, while complete reliance on solar energy decreases EP and GWP by 13% and 5%, respectively. The substantial contribution... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/810664nm Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Bristol, Carson Bowen, Luke Chiu, Yiwen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/65d7m70v Pyridines and nitrogen containing heterocycles comprise a large portion of pharmaceutical compounds and have many practical applications. Herein, we describe a straightforward, enantioselective method for direct alkylation of fused bicyclic pyridines, using chiral lithium amides as traceless auxiliaries. This method is tolerant of a variety of activated electrophiles which can allow for further functionalization. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/65d7m70v Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Chambers, Erika E Lu, Leroy Zakarian, Armen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4ng6d87w This paper investigates the persistence of agricultural practices funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (CDFA OEFI). The central inquiry revolves around determining the most effective behavior model for analyzing persistence, comparing the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), Comprehensive Action Determination Model (CADM), and CADM augmented with structural variables. The study's methodology integrates literature review, analysis of OEFI-funded practices, and statistical modeling to assess persistence levels. Contrary to existing literature, our findings reveal significantly higher levels of persistence than anticipated. Moreover, through model comparison, CADM augmented with political economic variables emerges as the superior model for analyzing and predicting persistence in agricultural practices funded by CDFA OEFI. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of behavioral determinants in sustainable agricultural... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4ng6d87w Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Tan, Jet Jian-Hui https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1x9208qr This is a case study of City Farm SLO. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1x9208qr Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Tunnell, Carver https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6gk6f7js Thirdhand smoke (THS) is linked to adverse health effects, but the effect of genetic variations on behavioral outcomes is poorly understood. To investigate this, we assessed anxiety- and memory-related behaviors in 820 mice from 21 strains of the genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse that were exposed to THS from 4 through 10 weeks of age. Anxiety was evaluated with a light/dark box assay with a previously established risk score system. Females were generally more sensitive: THS reduced anxiety risk in strains CC013, CC019, and CC051, but increased risk in CC036 and CC061, while males showed no significant effects. Memory was tested using passive avoidance: impairments were observed in both sexes in CC016 and CC019, with sex-dependent effects in CC002 and CC051. A genome-wide association study identified 2,347 SNPs associated with anxiety and 1,568 SNPs with memory, with 32 and 85 SNPs, respectively, interacting with THS exposure. Enrichment analyses revealed distinct... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6gk6f7js Mon, 6 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Yao, Yiyan Wang, Dawei Wang, Pin Ton, Ethan Schick, Suzaynn F https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7101-3077 Jacob, Peyton Tang, Xiaochen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4168-9871 Destaillats, Hugo Hang, Bo Snijders, Antoine M Mao, Jian-Hua https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9320-6021 Inman, Jamie L Chang, Hang https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7w3830d2 INTRODUCTION: Prior research indicates that social class is strongly associated with academic outcomes such as GPA. However, little work explores the role that social discrimination plays in this relation. This study examined the link between social class discrimination and academic outcomes among high school students. METHOD: Participants were 956 working class adolescents (ages 13-18; 55% boys, 65% Latine) in the western United States. Using latent profile analysis, we identified four patterns of discrimination from five sources (teachers, classmates, friends, other teenagers, and community members). We also assessed socio-emotional academic outcomes (school isolation, impulsivity) and academic self-reported achievement outcomes (GPA, grades). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Two profiles showed high discrimination from either in-school or out-of-school sources, one showed frequent discrimination from all sources, and one reported low levels overall. Adolescents in profiles experiencing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7w3830d2 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Starr, Christine R Veenendall, Anna P Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5ck4s41z This paper analyzes the “Hmong Story” YouTube channel as a site of care and activism where Hmong women address violence in their communities through neej neeg storytelling. Situating “Hmong Story” within the genealogy of Hmong oral traditions, the paper reimagines storytelling and listening as a form of Hmong feminist practice that enacts anti-violence work rooted in cultural knowledge and community care. “Hmong Story,” through the storytelling practices of the host and her community of listeners, creates space for Hmong women to creatively counter and transform conditions of violence through culturally grounded feminist care practices. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5ck4s41z Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Yang, April https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4gn4n6rn Despite research consistently showing that social class is associated with academic achievement, there has been limited attention to adolescents’ experiences with social class discrimination and its links to academic achievement. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 1558 adolescents (40.18% cisgender girls; aged 13–18 years, Mage = 16.17). Two measures of social class discrimination were included: an adapted scale and a measure that addressed multiple sources of social class discrimination. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that both measures of social class discrimination were negatively associated with academic achievement, even after controlling for social class. Multiple sources of social class discrimination, including teachers, classmates, teenagers, friends, and community members were associated with academic achievement. Teacher-based social class discrimination had the largest effect. Age and gender moderated these associations... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4gn4n6rn Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 Kakar, Vani Hennigan, Sean M Suri, Adam Abundis-Morales, Manuel Dogru, Busra Espinoza, Jay Michael Garcia, Christopher https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1jk8n94h Adolescents who are disadvantaged in social class are twice as likely to use tobacco than their counterparts. Despite extensive research showing how social class is associated with using tobacco products, there is limited knowledge about the association between the discrimination that adolescents experience because they are disadvantaged in social class and their use of tobacco products. To provide new knowledge, this cross-sectional study examined the association between social class discrimination and tobacco use among 1,678 adolescents at two public high schools in California. Social class discrimination was measured by assessing adolescents' experiences based on their social class. Tobacco use was measured with lifetime and past month use of combustible tobacco and nicotine vaping products, categorized into groups: no use, combustible tobacco use only, nicotine vaping use only, and dual use of combustible tobacco and nicotine vaping products. Multinomial logistic regression... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1jk8n94h Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 Kakar, Vani Jaramillo, Jamie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1895t0qb Despite widespread research on tobacco use and social class, there have been limited studies examining how social class discrimination relates to tobacco use. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 956 adolescents. Participants were disadvantaged in social class. Tobacco use included lifetime and past month use of combustible tobacco and nicotine vaping. Social class discrimination included multiple sources, such as teachers, classmates, teenagers, friends, and community members. Latent profile analyses revealed four subgroups of adolescents with experiences of social class discrimination: Frequent, Infrequent, Out-of-School, and In-School. Adolescents in the Frequent and Out-of-School subgroups used the most tobacco products, whereas adolescents in the In-School and Infrequent subgroups used the least tobacco products. Race/ethnicity and gender were associated with subgroup membership. Findings highlight the need for social class discrimination... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1895t0qb Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 Starr, Christine R Kakar, Vani Suri, Adam Abundis-Morales, Manuel Dogru, Busra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0q30c34d Abstract This article introduces a new conceptual model for examining classism among adolescents and families. Classism refers to the discrimination that individuals experience because of their social class. For adolescents, social class refers to their family's social class and includes income, education, occupation, and position in society. Despite extensive research that has shown how social class is associated with adolescent development, there remains a gap in the knowledge about how classism might explain this association. To advance scholarship about classism among adolescents and families, I present a new model. This model integrates theories on (a) classism among adults, (b) discrimination among adolescents, (c) family science, (d) social class, and (e) intersectionality. I include hypotheses about the associations between classism and adolescent developmental outcomes and conclude with directions for future research. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0q30c34d Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0fk8t0pf Economic inequality impacts development across the lifespan, influencing access to resources, suitable housing, and quality schooling. However, we lack an understanding of how differences in income shape interpersonal interactions, such as social class discrimination. Adolescence is a key developmental period to examine this construct, given identity formation and cognitive advances. We conducted semi-structured interviews with adolescents ( n = 33; 18 cisgender girls and 15 cisgender boys) and adults ( n = 8; five teachers and three parents; seven cisgender women and one trans-male). Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, incorporating both structured and reflexive coding. Findings indicated three themes. First, Social Class Discrimination Occurs in a Variety of Ways captured experiences ranging from overt acts to subtle biases. Targets included the adolescent (direct) and via other individuals (indirect). Sources of discrimination were teachers, adolescents, adults... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0fk8t0pf Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 Kakar, Vani Suri, Adam Abundis-Morales, Manuel Dogru, Busra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4t26k7fb The essay discusses the pro-policing agendas of anti-Asian hate political frameworks. Abolition feminist theory and community advocacy practices have shown that policy solutions today primarily rely on policing to save women from gender and sexual violence. These political approaches are largely embraced by white feminist carceral agendas, but end up criminalizing survivors of color and their communities. Drawing on these insights, the essay centers its critique around the discursive production of the “hate-crime-victim” in Asian American political responses to incidences of harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4t26k7fb Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Wang, Lee Ann S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cw3w35x OBJECTIVE: To compare head and neck cancer (HNC) stage at diagnosis and survival outcomes between South Asian, Other Asian, and non-Hispanic white individuals in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: Data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Research Plus 17 database. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with squamous HNC from 2006 to 2020 were categorized as South Asian, Other Asian, and non-Hispanic white. Logistic regression assessed the association between race/ethnicity and advanced-stage disease (stage III/IV vs I/II). Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. RESULTS: Among 92,664 patients (1066 South Asian, 3260 Other Asian, and 88,338 non-Hispanic white individuals), adjusted logistic regression showed South Asian individuals had a higher risk of advanced stage at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cw3w35x Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Huynh, Jeffrey D Halagur, Akash S Polkampally, Srinidhi Moon, Peter K Ma, Yifei Megwalu, Uchechukwu C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5132-8864 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3850b3x0 Responding to the problematic of anti-Asian violence at this tumultuous historical juncture, this special issue highlights underexplored and multifaceted genealogies and trajectories of anti-Asian violence. Our contributors map how the concepts of anti-Asian violence and “Asian hate” have been mobilized, problematize the construction of hate, consider how anti-Asian violence has been documented, and think through reconstructive approaches to anti-Asian violence. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3850b3x0 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Kang, Laura Min, Susette Volpp, Leti https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cw238ts Background/Objectives: Effective screening for oral cancer (OC) remains challenging. Inaccuracies contribute to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes. Tobacco-related changes in oral mucosa may compromise the accuracy of oral screening approaches, and, in emerging “smart” screening modalities, they may overshadow the influence of other predictive variables. The objective of this study was to evaluate the screening accuracy of an imaging- and risk factor-based OC screening platform in individuals practicing different types of tobacco usage. Methods: 318 subjects who had previously screened positive for increased OC risk were recruited and sorted into “tobacco smoker”, “tobacco vaper”, “tobacco chewer”, “hookah user”, “multiple tobacco usage”, or “tobacco non-user” groups. Next, demographic information, risk factors, outcome of clinical examination, as well as AFI and pWLI were recorded using a prototype OC screening platform. The OC risk assessment outcome from the OC screening platform... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cw238ts Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Kanagandram, Elyse Alp, Aksel Takesh, Thair Wink, Cherie Yang, Susan Davis, Amber Hurlbutt, Michelle Block, Jerica Wilder-Smith, Petra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7580-2409 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/09b6d85w Oral non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions have similar clinical manifestations, increasing the risk of inaccurate screening decisions that adversely affect oral cancer (OC) outcomes. Tobacco-use-related changes in the oral soft tissues may affect the accuracy of “smart” oral screening modalities. Because smoking is such a strong predictor of OC risk, it may overwhelm the impact of other variables on algorithm performance. The objective was to evaluate the screening accuracy in tobacco users vs. non-users of a previously developed prototype smartphone and machine-learning algorithm-based oral health screening modality. 318 subjects with healthy mucosa or oral lesions were allocated into either a “tobacco smoker” group or a “tobacco non-smoker” group. Next, intraoral autofluorescence (AFI) and polarized white light images (pWLI), risk factors as well as clinical signs and symptoms were recorded using the prototype screening platform. OC risk status as determined by the algorithm... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/09b6d85w Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Yang, Susan Meishan Song, Bofan Wink, Cherie Abouakl, Mary Takesh, Thair Hurlbutt, Michelle Dinica, Dana Davis, Amber Liang, Rongguang Wilder-Smith, Petra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7580-2409 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7mq7538c INTRODUCTION: Tobacco control policies aim to limit access, reduce initiation, and mitigate tobacco-related harms, particularly among youth. However, the effectiveness of these policies relies on consistent enforcement to ensure widespread compliance and achieve their intended public health impacts. Socioeconomic vulnerability and neighborhood characteristics have been shown to influence retailer compliance, although existing studies often primarily focus on compliance violations instead of inspections. This study uses Los Angeles (LA) County, California to explore the associations between compliance inspections, violations, and neighborhood social vulnerability. METHODS: We identified inspection and violation data from the FDA Tobacco Compliance Check Outcomes database for Los Angeles County, CA (January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023) and linked these data to census tract level data from the 2022 CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). All analyses were conducted at the census-tract... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7mq7538c Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Herrera, Ana L Payán, Denise D https://escholarship.org/uc/item/08k7x5np INTRODUCTION: State and local jurisdictions in the United States (U.S.) are increasingly adopting flavored tobacco sales restrictions (FTSRs) to mitigate tobacco initiation and use. Policy implementation is highly understudied yet can impact policy effectiveness. This review examines existing literature on state and local FTSR policy design and implementation in the U.S. METHODS: We systematically searched for PubMed articles published by 12/31/2024 which were: original research articles in English focused on a U.S. state or local FTSR that reported at least one policy implementation outcome measure. We excluded articles that were systematic reviews or reported on federal or non-FTSR policy. Guided by policy and implementation science frameworks, we developed a data extraction template to report: policy design elements, study characteristics, and implementation measures (i.e., inputs, activities, outcomes). RESULTS: Of 1,595 articles identified, 30 were retained for review. Most... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/08k7x5np Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Payán, Denise D Herrera, Ana L Chan-Golston, Alec M Yacoub, Hannah L Song, Anna V Timberlake, David S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4450-0862 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7452d8j1 Technological advances over the last decade are changing the face of behavioral neuroscience research. Here we review recent work on the use of one such transformative tool in behavioral neuroscience research, chemogenetics (or Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs, DREADDS). As transformative technologies such as DREADDs are introduced, applied, and refined, their utility in addressing complex questions about behavior and cognition becomes clear and exciting. In the behavioral neuroscience field, remarkable new findings now regularly appear as a result of the ability to monitor and intervene in neural processes with high anatomical precision as animals behave in complex task environments. As these new tools are applied to behavioral questions, individualized procedures for their use find their way into diverse labs. Thus, "tips of the trade" become important for wide dissemination not only for laboratories that are using the tools but also for those who are... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7452d8j1 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Smith, Kyle S Bucci, David J Luikart, Bryan W Mahler, Stephen V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8698-0905 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6ns130v7 The development of automated experimental facilities and the digitization of experimental data have introduced numerous opportunities to radically advance chemical laboratories. As many laboratory tasks involve predicting and understanding previously unknown chemical relationships, machine learning (ML) approaches trained on experimental data can substantially accelerate the conventional design-build-test-learn process. This outlook article aims to help chemists understand and begin to adopt ML predictive models for a variety of laboratory tasks, including experimental design, synthesis optimization, and materials characterization. Furthermore, this article introduces how artificial intelligence (AI) agents based on large language models can help researchers acquire background knowledge in chemical or data science and accelerate various aspects of the discovery process. We present three case studies in distinct areas to illustrate how ML models and AI agents can be leveraged to... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6ns130v7 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Oh, Saejin Fang, Xinyi Lin, I-Hsin Dee, Paris Dunham, Christopher S Copp, Stacy M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1788-1778 Doyle, Abigail G https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6641-0833 de Alaniz, Javier Read Gu, Mengyang https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5b2328xc Background and objectivesAdolescent receptivity to tobacco advertising has been linked to increased tobacco initiation in longitudinal studies. However, not all ever users progress to daily use. We examined whether receptivity to tobacco advertising among adolescents was associated with product-specific use, including daily use, as an adult, and whether receptivity to one product had a cross-over effect and predicted use of a different product at follow-up.MethodsIn the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, 74.6% of adolescent never-tobacco-users at baseline (2013-14) reported receptivity to tobacco advertising (for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco) and were surveyed on current tobacco use (every day, some days in past 30 days) an median of 7 years later (n = 7506). Multivariable logistic regression analyses included 8 common covariates.ResultsAt follow-up, 20.1% were current tobacco users (15.4% e-cigarettes) and 8.4% were daily users... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5b2328xc Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Trinidad, Dennis R https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1608-6005 Pierce, John P https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0075-7471 Dang, Brian Strong, David R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5383-9032 Stone, Matthew D McMenamin, Sara B Khin, Thet Nwe Myo Messer, Karen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jx5q9cx Abstract. Extreme weather events like heatwaves and stagnation are increasing with climate change. While their effects on ozone levels have been extensively studied, how extreme weather alters O3-NOx-VOC sensitivity and optimal mitigation strategies is less explored. Here, we apply the CMAQ adjoint model over central California to quantify ozone sensitivity to spatiotemporally resolved precursor emissions under three meteorological scenarios (baseline, high-T, and stagnation) and three emission years (2000, 2012, and 2022). Results show that meteorology-induced changes in sensitivity are comparable in magnitude to those from decadal emission reductions. Higher temperature (+5 °C) amplifies ozone sensitivity to both NOx and VOC, with the largest relative increase in biogenic VOC sources. High-T conditions shift ozone chemistry toward NOx limitation under a VOC-limited emission scenario, but increase the relative importance of VOC control for a NOx-limited scenario. Stagnation consistently... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jx5q9cx Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Wang, Yuhan Bastien, Lucas AJ Wang, Yuan Jin, Ling Harley, Robert A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4fr7609h In January 2025, a series of fast-moving wildland-urban-interface (WUI) fires swept through the Los Angeles (LA) metropolitan area, causing severe air pollution. While the impacts of WUI fires on outdoor air quality have been extensively studied, indoor exposure remains less understood, despite most people sheltering indoors during WUI fires. This study investigates the spatial and temporal patterns of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations across the South Coast Air Basin, with a focus on LA County during the LA fires. Using high-resolution data from co-located indoor and outdoor PurpleAir (PA) sensors, we analyze hourly PM2.5 levels and indoor/outdoor ratios. Outdoor PM2.5 concentrations spiked sharply during the fires, reaching unhealthy levels exceeding 130 μg/m3, compared to the mean concentration (12 μg/m3) during non-fire hours. Indoor concentrations also increased, though to a lesser extent, peaking around 60 μg/m3 compared to a mean of 7 μg/m3 during non-fire hours.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4fr7609h Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Lu, Yan Zhang, Xinyi Neyestani, Soroush Esmaeili Jin, Ling Zhang, Lu Habre, Rima Zhang, Jiachen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/02t9q8d8 Enhanced weathering (EW) through the application of ground rock is a competitive carbon removal strategy. Adoption of this technology at a meaningful scale requires a systematic assessment of its long-term feasibility, especially with regard to soil quality from the application of rock amendments that contain varying levels of heavy metal (loid)s (HM) such as Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, and Pb. The potential accumulation of these metal (loid)s could be an unintended consequence of repeated large-scale EW applications, necessitating careful evaluation for use in croplands. This study explores the idea of using phytoremediation as a natural, low-cost means of remediating rock-amended soils. Specifically, we examined the ability of Nerium oleander and Salix alba species to remove HM from rock-amended soils in their tissues (i.e., leaves, stems, and roots). In this study, the relative abundance of HM accumulation in hyperaccumulator plants followed the order: Si &gt; Rb &gt; Cu &gt; Sn &gt; Cr... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/02t9q8d8 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ibrahim, Naira Smith, Zavier Zhang, Huimin Roy, Subrata Chandra Islam, Saiful M Arora, Bhavna https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sb2g751 BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption is associated with numerous negative social and health outcomes. These associations may be direct consequences of drinking, or they may reflect common genetic factors that influence both alcohol consumption and other outcomes. METHODS: We performed exploratory phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) of three of the best studied protective single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding ethanol metabolising enzymes (ADH1B: rs1229984-T, rs2066702-A; ADH1C: rs698-T) using up to 1109 health outcomes across 28 phenotypic categories (e.g., substance-use, mental health, sleep, immune, cardiovascular, metabolic) from a diverse 23andMe cohort, including European (N&nbsp;≤&nbsp;2,619,939), Latin American (N&nbsp;≤&nbsp;446,646) and African American (N&nbsp;≤&nbsp;146,776) populations to uncover new and perhaps unexpected associations. These SNPs have been consistently implicated by both candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sb2g751 Tue, 6 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Jennings, Mariela V Martínez-Magaña, José Jaime Courchesne-Krak, Natasia S Cupertino, Renata B Vilar-Ribó, Laura Bianchi, Sevim B Hatoum, Alexander S Atkinson, Elizabeth G Giusti-Rodriguez, Paola Montalvo-Ortiz, Janitza L Gelernter, Joel Artigas, María Soler 23andMe, Inc Research Team Aslibekyan, Stella Auton, Adam Babalola, Elizabeth Bell, Robert K Bielenberg, Jessica Bryc, Katarzyna Bullis, Emily Coker, Daniella Partida, Gabriel Cuellar Dhamija, Devika Das, Sayantan Elson, Sarah L Eriksson, Nicholas Filshtein, Teresa Fitch, Alison Fletez-Brant, Kipper Fontanillas, Pierre Freyman, Will Granka, Julie M Heilbron, Karl Hernandez, Alejandro Hicks, Barry Hinds, David A Jewett, Ethan M Jiang, Yunxuan Kukar, Katelyn Kwong, Alan Lin, Keng-Han Llamas, Bianca A Lowe, Maya McCreight, Jey C McIntyre, Matthew H Micheletti, Steven J Moreno, Meghan E Nandakumar, Priyanka Nguyen, Dominique T Noblin, Elizabeth S O'Connell, Jared Petrakovitz, Aaron A Poznik, G David Reynoso, Alexandra Schumacher, Morgan Shastri, Anjali J Shelton, Janie F Shi, Jingchunzi Shringarpure, Suyash Su, Qiaojuan Jane Tat, Susana A Tchakouté, Christophe Toukam Tran, Vinh Tung, Joyce Y Wang, Xin Wang, Wei Weldon, Catherine H Wilton, Peter Wong, Corinna D Elson, Sarah L Edenberg, Howard J Fontanillas, Pierre Palmer, Abraham A Sanchez-Roige, Sandra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/20v9s33w Background Sex differences in alcohol use-related behaviors are well established: males typically engage in heavier drinking and exhibit externalizing behaviors, while females transition more rapidly to dependence and present more internalizing symptoms. However, the underlying biological mechanisms that underpin these differences remain relatively unknown. Methods We investigated the sex-specific genetic architecture across a spectrum of alcohol use phenotypes by leveraging published sex-stratified genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for 10 alcohol use behaviors from UK Biobank, problematic alcohol use (PAU), and a new sex-stratified GWAS of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) total (N = 40,335 - 613,148). We calculated genetic correlations (rg) with 120 alcohol-related traits (e.g., externalizing, internalizing and socioeconomic traits), and estimated polygenic scores (PGS) associations with ∼1,817 medical comorbidities via phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS)... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/20v9s33w Tue, 6 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ribó, Laura Vilar Jennings, Mariela Sallah, Aisha Jinwala, Zeal Thorpe, Hayley HA Courchesne-Krak, Natasia Hatoum, Alexander Niarchou, Maria Davis, Lea Zhou, Hang Mallard, Travis Palmer, Abraham Savage, Jeanne Kember, Rachel Sanchez-Roige, Sandra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0qw0z03r Background Adolescent nicotine and cannabis use pose major public health risks, increasing vulnerability to long-term mental and physical health issues, including substance use disorders (SUD). Externalizing (EXT) refers to heritable traits and disorders characterized by impulsivity and behavioral disinhibition, including SUD. This study tests whether polygenic scores (PGS) for EXT predict early onset and increased likelihood of smoking behaviors during adolescence across diverse ancestry groups. Methods We analyzed youth- and parent-reported data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (Release 5.1; N=10,977). Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models assessed associations between EXT PGS and the onset of nicotine and cannabis use from ages 9–10 (baseline) through 14–15 years (year 3 follow-up; N=9,574). Models adjusted for key sociodemographic and prenatal confounders. Analyses were stratified by genetic ancestry: European (EUR;... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0qw0z03r Tue, 6 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Courchesne-Krak, Natasia Johnson, Kate Meredith, John Williams, Camille Poore, Holly Choi, Maia Aliev, Fazil Brislin, Sarah Barr, Peter Linnér, Richard Karlsson Harden, K Paige Palmer, Abraham Dick, Danielle Mallard, Travis Sanchez-Roige, Sandra https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7149410d Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are carcinogenic compounds that can form during chemical aging of thirdhand smoke (THS) on indoor surfaces, increasing health risks over time for smokers and nonsmokers. This study presents a sensitive and effective method for detecting and quantifying nicotine and TSNAs from THS on various indoor surfaces using protonated ethanol-based thermal desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry (TD-CIMS). This analytical method demonstrates a detection limit on the order of 10 pg for nicotine and TSNAs. Three common TSNAs in textile samples from laboratory chamber experiments and smokers’ homes are successfully identified and quantified, including N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), and 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)­butanal (NNA). The results show that textile indoor surfaces can retain up to 58 mg m–2 nicotine and 11.7 mg m–2 TSNAs long after tobacco use has ceased. We also report that... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7149410d Sat, 3 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Zhang, Wen Tang, Xiaochen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4168-9871 Liu, Xiaoyang Leong, Timothy Destaillats, Hugo Zhang, Haofei https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7936-4493 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6x49c6mh INTRODUCTION: Smoking-concordant, same-sex couples face multilevel contextual challenges in their cessation attempts. Cross-sectional studies have documented positive association between perceived discrimination (PD) and smoking to explain the differences between heterosexual/cisgender and LGBTQ&nbsp;+&nbsp;groups. However, acute effects of PD or intersectional PD on cessation outcomes are rarely studied, especially in the context of romantic couples who share concordant smoking status. In this study, we focused on cessation-related outcomes among same-sex/same-gender, smoking concordant couples during an unaided quit attempt and examined the acute and vicarious effects of PD and intersectional PD captured via 4-week daily assessments. METHODS: In 2021-2023, same-sex/same-gender couples (N&nbsp;=&nbsp;103 dyads, aged 21-68, 48.5&nbsp;% female couples) responded to daily assessments on smartphone at the end of the day during a 4-week smoking quit attempt. Participants reported... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6x49c6mh Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Huh, Jimi Schuler, Lucy Lee, Ryan Pang, Raina D Kirkpatrick, Matthew https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xp1s1n9 ABSTRACT Coastal wetlands, some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, provide critical ecosystem services, including support of biodiversity, carbon sequestration and flood protection. In recent decades, these ecosystems have experienced extensive coastal wetland loss. Coastal wetland restoration provides a beacon of hope, offering a chance to reclaim these important habitats. However, even with billions of dollars invested worldwide in restoring coastal wetlands, we still lack comprehensive knowledge about the effectiveness of these restoration efforts in recovering wetland ecosystem functions and how future climate change may affect these efforts. The ability to evaluate how these ecosystems will function in the future is vital for examining current investments and developing future protection and management plans. We selected Elkhorn Slough, a tidal estuary, in California, to investigate the impact of wetland restoration and sea level rise (SLR) on coastal hydrology using... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xp1s1n9 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Xu, Yi Zhang, Yu Moulton, J David Brereton, Ashley Mekonnen, Zelalem A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2647-0671 Arora, Bhavna Endris, Charlie Haskins, John Paytan, Adina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8360-4712 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5gx8p7kc Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer therapy; however, their efficacy remains limited in certain tumor subtypes, including those deficient in methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP). MTAP-deficient cancers are characterized by immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs) and poor T cell infiltration, as suggested by large-scale transcriptomic analyses. Yet, the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities remain poorly defined. Methods: We employed murine tumor models and transcriptomic profiling to investigate the immunosuppressive features of MTAP-deficient tumors. To identify actionable vulnerabilities, we conducted a high-throughput screen using the LOPAC1280 compound library. Functional assays were performed to evaluate the effects of candidate compounds on tumor growth and immune signaling. Results: MTAP-deficient tumors exhibited significantly reduced CD45+ immune cell infiltration and resistance to ICI therapy. Transcriptomic... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5gx8p7kc Fri, 5 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chang, Wen-Hsin Zhang, Jun Hong, Qi-Sheng Chen, Ching-Hsien https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4211-9988 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97p1008b Wildland and wildland-urban interface (W/WUI) fires are increasing in frequency and intensity, increasing concerns about firefighters' exposure to hazardous smoke and the need for respiratory protection. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of California fire service personnel on the use of respiratory protective devices (RPDs), particularly powered air-purifying respirators, and a potential Cal/OSHA regulation mandating their use in W/WUI firefighting. Participants were experienced in W/WUI firefighting and had some role in their fire department related to respiratory protection or other aspect of firefighter safety. While all participants recognized the health risks associated with smoke exposure, including cancer and acute respiratory symptoms, and that RPDs would reduce their exposures, participants had concerns that RPDs would negatively affect fatigue, comfort, communication, mobility, and situational awareness. Some concerns specifically relate to the design... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/97p1008b Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Dawit, Eden Naeem, Shafaq Vinegar, Sophia Styles, Laura Jones, Rachael M https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1611-7900 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7x83x8vx Somatic genome editing in mouse models has increased our understanding of the in vivo effects of genetic alterations. However, existing models have a limited ability to create multiple targeted edits, hindering our understanding of complex genetic interactions. Here we generate transgenic mice with Cre-regulated and constitutive expression of enhanced Acidaminococcus sp. Cas12a (enAsCas12a), which robustly generates compound genotypes, including diverse cancers driven by inactivation of trios of tumour suppressor genes or an oncogenic translocation. We integrate these modular CRISPR RNA (crRNA) arrays with clonal barcoding to quantify the size and number of tumours with each array, as well as the impact of varying the guide number and position within a four-guide array. Finally, we generate tumours with inactivation of all combinations of nine tumour suppressor genes and find that the fitness of triple-knockout genotypes is largely explainable by one- and two-gene effects. These... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7x83x8vx Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Hebert, Jess D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8778-5941 Xu, Haiqing https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9124-3192 Tang, Yuning J Ruiz, Paloma A Detrick, Colin R Wang, Jing Hughes, Nicholas W Donosa, Oscar Siah, Vicky P Andrejka, Laura Karmakar, Saswati Aboiralor, Irenosen Tang, Rui Sotillo, Rocio Sage, Julien https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8928-9968 Cong, Le Petrov, Dmitri A Winslow, Monte M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6fh708bw Epigenomic dysregulation is widespread in cancer. However, the specific epigenomic regulators and the processes they control to drive cancer phenotypes are poorly understood. We used a novel high-throughput in vivo method to perform iterative functional screens of &gt;250 epigenomic regulators within autochthonous oncogenic Kras-driven lung tumors. We identified many previously unappreciated epigenomic tumor suppressor and tumor dependency genes. We show that a specific HBO1 complex and MLL1 complex are robust tumor suppressors in lung adenocarcinoma. Histone modifications generated by the HBO1 complex are frequently reduced in human lung adenocarcinomas and are associated with worse clinical features. HBO1 and MLL1 complexes co-occupy shared genomic regions, affect chromatin accessibility, and control the expression of canonical tumor suppressor genes and lineage fidelity. The HBO1 complex is epistatic with the MLL1 complex and other tumor suppressor genes in lung adenocarcinoma... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6fh708bw Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Tang, Yuning J Xu, Haiqing https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9124-3192 Hughes, Nicholas W Ruiz, Paloma Kim, Samuel H Shuldiner, Emily G https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5018-0500 Lopez, Steven S Hebert, Jess D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8778-5941 Karmakar, Saswati Andrejka, Laura Dolcen, Deniz Nesli Boross, Gabor Chu, Pauline Kunder, Christian A Detrick, Colin Pierce, Sarah E Ashkin, Emily L Greenleaf, William J Voss, Anne K Thomas, Tim van de Rijn, Matt Petrov, Dmitri A Winslow, Monte M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5279r7j9 Most cancers are diagnosed in people over 60 years of age, but little is known about how age impacts tumorigenesis. While aging is accompanied by mutation accumulation (widely understood to contribute to cancer risk) it is associated with numerous other cellular and molecular changes likely to impact tumorigenesis. Moreover, cancer incidence decreases in the oldest part of the population, suggesting that very old age may reduce carcinogenesis. Here we show that aging represses oncogenic KRAS-driven tumor initiation and growth in genetically engineered mouse models of human lung cancer. Moreover, aging dampens the impact of inactivating many tumor suppressor genes with the impact of inactivating PTEN, a negative regulator of the PI3K–AKT pathway, weakened disproportionately. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that neoplastic cells in aged mice retain age-related transcriptomic changes, showing that the impact of age persists through oncogenic transformation. Furthermore,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5279r7j9 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Shuldiner, Emily G Karmakar, Saswati Tsai, Min K Hebert, Jess D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8778-5941 Tang, Yuning J Andrejka, Laura Robertson, Maggie R Wang, Minwei Detrick, Colin R Cai, Hongchen Tang, Rui Kunder, Christian A Feldser, David M Petrov, Dmitri A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3664-9130 Winslow, Monte M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1z53c1hw BACKGROUND: Children may be involuntarily exposed to chemical residue from thirdhand tobacco smoke (THS) in environments where tobacco has previously been used. Factors contributing to this exposure among children of nonsmokers with no known secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure are currently unknown. OBJECTIVE: To understand the contribution of THS residue to the overall tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) among children of nonsmokers and smokers. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of parents and their children (≤11 years; N=1013) at a children's hospital in the US. Hand nicotine (HN) and saliva cotinine (SC) were markers of THS pollution and TSE, respectively. Children were considered protected from tobacco smoke if there were no household smokers or vapers, strict household smoking bans, and no SHS exposure during the past week. Cluster-adjusted regression models were used to test hypotheses about HN and SC levels. RESULTS: Overall, 94.5% and 98.9% of protected... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1z53c1hw Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mahabee-Gittens, E Melinda Merianos, Ashley L Lopez-Galvez, Nicolas Quintana, Penelope JE https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0318-3714 Hoh, Eunha Dodder, Nathan G Stone, Lara Wullenweber, Chase A Matt, Georg E https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5604-4609 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9t9313mz Unlabelled: Using social media recruitment for public health research presents both opportunities and challenges. Despite its increased use, few studies have detailed the practical issues, challenges encountered, and alternative strategies available for social media recruitment. This paper explores strategies for recruiting Indigenous and Native American populations in California for a study on COVID-19 vaccination and social networks. We describe different recruitment approaches, challenges faced, and pros and cons of strategies used to enhance data quality and efficiency, including survey design considerations, Facebook targeting versus use of research panels, quality assurance checks, and decisions around participant incentives. Our local setting involved recruiting Native American and Mesoamerican Indigenous individuals living in California through social media platforms. We highlight key adaptations to survey design, recruitment strategies, and data cleaning processes, noting... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9t9313mz Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Diamond-Smith, Nadia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8711-3029 Comfort, Alison Epperson, Anna Riley, Alicia R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3341-6892 Beylin, Natalie Garcia, Mary Francis, Sarah Miguel, Lucía Abascal https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wk6m02r The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer has made major strides with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors; however, there remains a significant need for therapies that can overcome immunotherapy resistance. Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines have been proposed as a therapy that can potentially enhance the antitumor immune response. We have embarked on a phase I clinical trial of a vaccine consisting of monocyte-derived DCs (moDC) modified to express the chemokine C-C motif chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21-DC) given in combination with pembrolizumab. In this study, we report a comprehensive characterization of this CCL21-DC vaccine and interrogate the effects of multiple factors in the manufacturing process. We show that the cellular makeup of the CCL21-DC vaccine is heterogeneous because of the presence of passenger lymphocytes at a proportion that is highly variable among patients. Single-cell RNA sequencing of vaccines revealed further heterogeneity within the moDC compartment, with... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wk6m02r Sun, 9 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Oh, Michael S Dumitras, Camelia Salehi-Rad, Ramin Tran, Linh M Krysan, Kostyantyn https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0250-1346 Lim, Raymond J Jing, Zhe Tappuni, Shahed Lisberg, Aaron Garon, Edward B Dubinett, Steven M Liu, Bin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39s2d1w5 <b>Introduction:</b> Smoking is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for excess morbidity and mortality in adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Many smokers with SMI are reportedly motivated to quit, however success rates among these smokers remain low and evidence-based treatment targeting this vulnerable group is limited. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a qualitative inquiry of participants. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a pilot two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting adults with SMI. Our smoking cessation intervention included: (a) group-based physical activity (PA) game intervention (50&nbsp;minutes, 3X/week for 12&nbsp;weeks), (b) pharmacotherapy (bupropion or nicotine replacement therapy), and (c) smoking cessation counseling. Upon completion of the program, participants in the active and control groups completed a qualitative semi-structured interview in order to determine how the program impacted their smoking cessation.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39s2d1w5 Fri, 7 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Leutwyler, Heather https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2823-1823 Hubbard, Erin Humfleet, Gary Souza, Richard Balestra, Dennys Wallhagen, Margaret https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73s0b51w Metformin administration has recently emerged as a candidate strategy for the prevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the intricate relationship between genetic alterations in HNSCC and metformin sensitivity is still poorly understood, which prevents the stratification of patients, harboring oral premalignant lesions that may benefit from the chemopreventive activity of metformin. In this study, we investigate the impact of prevalent mutations in HNSCC on response to metformin. Notably, we found that the expression of oncogenic HRAS mutants confers resistance to metformin in isogenic HNSCC cell systems, and that HNSCC cells harboring endogenous HRAS mutations display limited sensitivity to metformin. Remarkably, we found that metformin fails to reduce activation of the mTOR pathway in HRAS oncogene-expressing HNSCC cells in vitro and in vivo, correlating with reduced tumor suppressive activity. Mechanistically, we found that this process depends on... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73s0b51w Mon, 3 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Wu, Xingyu Adame-Garcia, Sendi Rafael Koshizuka, Keiichi Vo, Pham Thuy Tien Hoang, Thomas S Sato, Kuniaki https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6014-1911 Izumi, Hiroki Goto, Yusuke Allevato, Michael M Wood, Kris C Lippman, Scott M Gutkind, Jorge Silvio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5150-4482 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/33j9m098 INTRODUCTION: Cigarettes and cannabis are commonly co-used, but little research has examined how cannabis use relates to cigarette price responsiveness. This study compares the price elasticity of cigarette demand between U.S. adults who currently use cannabis and those who do not. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2004-2019; annual mean unweighted n = 50 000 adults aged 18+). A two-part econometric model of cigarette demand was estimated separately for adults who currently use cannabis and those who do not, including a multivariable logistic regression for smoking participation and a multivariable linear regression for smoking intensity. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2019, smoking prevalence declined from 24.5% to 16.6%, while cannabis use increased from 5.8% to 11.6%, and co-use rose from 3.6% to 4.5%. Among cannabis users, price elasticity was statistically significant at -0.20 for smoking participation, -0.27 for smoking intensity,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/33j9m098 Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Yao, Tingting Sung, Hai-Yen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5563-7477 Chu, Lela Spetz, Joanne https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3112-5511 Max, Wendy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9mt638hs BACKGROUND: Adolescent tobacco and nicotine use is a major public health concern, with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents showing disproportionately high use compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Research suggests factors such as socialization, stress, mood, and craving exacerbate tobacco and nicotine use. However, there is a dearth of knowledge of how these factors influence tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis use among LGBTQ+ adolescents in general and particularly on a momentary basis. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess real-time predictors of tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis product use among LGBTQ+ adolescents. METHODS: The Puff Break protocol was adapted from existing EMA protocols, key informant recommendations, LGBTQ+ adolescent perspectives, and insights from community members. Recruitment occurred through multiple channels, with high recruitment... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9mt638hs Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Salgin, Linda Kellogg, Daniel Helm, Jonathan Blashill, Aaron J Myers, Mark https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4044-2914 Jun, Hee-Jin Lim, Andy C Calzo, Jerel P https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4vw80369 Little is known about how various housing situations among adolescents may be associated with differential patterns of smoking and vaping-information with practical relevance for tobacco prevention and control efforts. We analyzed disparities by housing status in past 30-day smoking, vaping, and dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes/vape products among adolescents participating in the population-based California Healthy Kids Survey (N&nbsp;=&nbsp;931,355; 2017-2019). Generalized linear mixed models for a categorical outcome quantified differences in prevalence and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of smoking only, vaping only, and dual use among adolescents in various housing situations relative to their peers living in a home with one or more parents/guardians or other relatives. Our findings suggest adolescents living in a friend's home; adolescents living in a hotel, motel, shelter, car, campground, or other transitional or temporary housing; and adolescents living in a foster... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4vw80369 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Felner, Jennifer K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9915-4637 Calzo, Jerel P https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9v23835d Motivation: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) released by dying cells from damaged or diseased tissues can lead to elevated tissue-specific DNA, which is traceable and quantifiable through unique DNA methylation patterns. Therefore, tracing cfDNA origins by analyzing its methylation profiles holds great potential for detecting and monitoring a range of diseases, including cancers. However, deconvolving tissue-specific cfDNA remains challenging for broader applications and research due to the scarcity of specialized, user-friendly bioinformatics tools. Results: To address this, we developed cfTools, an R package that streamlines cfDNA tissue-of-origin analysis for disease detection and monitoring. Integrating advanced cfDNA tissue deconvolution algorithms with R/Bioconductor compatibility, cfTools offers data preparation and analysis functions with flexible parameters for user-friendliness. By identifying abnormal cfDNA compositions, cfTools can infer the presence of underlying pathological... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9v23835d Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Hu, Ran Li, Shuo Stackpole, Mary L Li, Qingjiao Zhou, Xianghong Jasmine Li, Wenyuan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9gz4q08t Contact with dense collagen I (Col1) can induce collective invasion of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and transcriptional signatures linked to poor patient prognosis. However, this response is heterogeneous and not well understood. Using phenotype-guided sequencing analysis of invasive vs. noninvasive subpopulations, we show that these two phenotypes represent opposite sides of the iron response protein 1 (IRP1)-mediated response to cytoplasmic labile iron pool (cLIP) levels. Invasive cells upregulate iron uptake and utilization machinery characteristic of a low cLIP response, which includes contractility regulating genes that drive migration. Non-invasive cells upregulate iron sequestration machinery characteristic of a high cLIP response, which is accompanied by upregulation of actin sequestration genes. These divergent IRP1 responses result from Col1-induced transient expression of heme oxygenase I (HO-1), which cleaves heme and releases iron. These findings lend... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9gz4q08t Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Leineweber, William D Rowell, Maya Z Ranamukhaarachchi, Sural K Walker, Alyssa Li, Yajuan Villazon, Jorge Mestre-Farrera, Aida Hu, Zhimin Yang, Jing Shi, Lingyan Fraley, Stephanie I https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0f72p8rw The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine and threonine kinases, consisting of three distinctly regulated subfamilies, has been established as critical for various cellular functions. However, how PKC enzymes are regulated at different subcellular locations, particularly at emerging signaling hubs, is unclear. Here we present a sensitive excitation ratiometric C kinase activity reporter (ExRai-CKAR2) that enables the detection of minute changes (equivalent to 0.2% of maximum stimulation) in subcellular PKC activity. Using ExRai-CKAR2 with an enhanced diacylglycerol (DAG) biosensor, we uncover that G-protein-coupled receptor stimulation triggers sustained PKC activity at the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes, differentially mediated by Ca2+-sensitive conventional PKC and DAG-sensitive novel PKC, respectively. The high sensitivity of ExRai-CKAR2, targeted to either the cytosol or partitioning defective complexes, further enabled us to detect previously inaccessible endogenous... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0f72p8rw Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Su, Qi Zhang, Jing Lin, Wei Zhang, Jin-Fan Newton, Alexandra C Mehta, Sohum https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4764-8579 Yang, Jing Zhang, Jin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7st899b8 BackgroundTriple-negative type of breast cancer (TNBC) has limited therapeutic options and frequently metastasizes, leading to low survival rates. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a driver of TNBC metastasis, but the signaling underlying this metabolic change is poorly understood.MethodsWe performed metabolic assays and assessed migratory and&nbsp;metastatic potential in cells with manipulated CDCP1/mitochondrial Src signaling.ResultsWe show that the pro-metastatic cell surface protein CUB-domain containing protein 1 (CDCP1) activates Src kinase localized in mitochondria, which potently induces OXPHOS and TNBC migration. Genetic targeting of either CDCP1 or mitochondrial Src, as well as pharmacological inhibition of Src reduce OXPHOS in vitro. We further show that mitochondrial Src increases OXPHOS by stimulating Complex I activity in the electron transport chain. Importantly, rescuing Complex I activity in cells devoid of CDCP1/mitochondrial Src signaling restores both OXPHOS... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7st899b8 Wed, 1 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Woytash, Jordan A Lefebvre, Austin EYT Zhang, Ziang Xu, Binzhi Harchenko, Stephanie A Le, Hoa T McColloch, Andrew R Shi, Xiaoyu Digman, Michelle A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4611-7100 Razorenova, Olga V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9442-6170 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8737x5zf Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by cells under various conditions and can contribute to the disease progression in tissues. Here, we present a protocol to separate small and large EVs from mouse hearts and cardiac tissues collected from patients. We describe steps for utilizing enzymatic digestion for release of EVs from interstitial space followed by differential centrifugation and immunoaffinity purification. The isolated EVs can be used for various experiments to gain insight into their in&nbsp;vivo functions. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liang et&nbsp;al. (2023).¹. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8737x5zf Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Liang, Wenjing Najor, Rita H Gustafsson, Åsa B https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1676z83d Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles that are important for many different cellular processes, including energy production and biosynthesis of fatty acids, haem and iron–sulfur clusters. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to a disruption in these processes, the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species, and the activation of inflammatory and cell death pathways. The consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction are particularly harmful in energy-demanding organs such as the heart. Loss of terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes leads to cardiac remodelling and a reduced ability to sustain contraction. Therefore, cardiomyocytes rely on multilayered mitochondrial quality control mechanisms to maintain a healthy population of mitochondria. Mitochondrial chaperones protect against protein misfolding and aggregation, and resident proteases eliminate damaged proteins through proteolysis. Irreparably damaged mitochondria can also be degraded through mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy)... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1676z83d Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ravindran, Rishith Gustafsson, Åsa B https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2gw11711 BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Therapeutic strategies for Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF1) that correct the underlying pathogenic <i>NF1</i> variant hold promise for restoring neurofibromin function, reducing tumor burden, and improving patient outcomes by addressing the root cause of the disease rather than its symptoms. Beyond gene editing, transcript reprogramming via RNA trans-splicing has gained attention, particularly with the recent FDA approval of two trans-splicing-based drugs for IND phase 1/2a trials. This study tests whether trans-splicing group I intron ribozymes from <i>Tetrahymena thermophila</i> can be used to repair pathogenic variants of <i>NF1</i> (pre-)mRNA by 3'-tail replacement. METHODS: Splice sites on the <i>NF1</i> mRNA were identified computationally and validated biochemically, and an efficiency-enhancing Extended Guide Sequence (EGS) of the corresponding ribozyme was identified in a combinatorial experiment. RESULTS: The correct trans-splicing product of this... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2gw11711 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Leier, André Han, Xu Aghzadi, Jehanne Westin, Erik Liu, Jian Lago, Tatiana T Marquez Kesterson, Robert A Korf, Bruce R Wallis, Deeann Müller, Ulrich F https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0j74v98t Repurposing flavopiridol as an inhaled therapeutic for pulmonary fibrosis https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0j74v98t Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chen, Ching-Hsien https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4211-9988 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/05g7x9hj BACKGROUND: Smoking is a well-established risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the molecular pathways underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify circulating protein mediators that may explain the association between smoking and AAA. METHODS: We conducted a network Mendelian randomization study using summary-level data from the largest available genome-wide association studies. Our primary smoking exposure was the lifetime smoking index, with smoking initiation and cigarettes per day included as supplementary traits. The AAA data set comprised 39 221 cases and 1 086 107 controls. Protein data were sourced from 2 large cohorts: UKB-PPP (the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project), where proteins were measured using the Olink platform in 54 219 individuals, and deCODE, where proteins were measured using the SomaScan platform in 35 559 individuals. Two-sample Mendelian randomization was used to estimate the association between... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/05g7x9hj Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Yuan, Shuai Khodursky, Samuel Geng, Jiawei Sharma, Pranav Spin, Joshua M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4256-9161 Tsao, Philip S Levin, Michael G Damrauer, Scott M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cp5327g Objective: This study investigates how local policy stakeholders viewed and used research evidence, data, and (mis)information in county policy discussions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We employed document and exploratory content analysis methods to examine Board of Supervisor materials (<i>N</i>&nbsp;=&nbsp;534 policy documents) from general and special/emergency meetings (March 2020 - December 2022). We purposefully selected three jurisdictions from California, USA with varying socio-demographic, political, and health care characteristics as case studies. Results: Many residents who commented during local policy discussions contested the: 1) validity of health data provided (i.e., mortality rates), and 2) efficacy of proposed preventive measures like mask wearing and vaccine receipt. While government officials and healthcare personnel referenced research evidence and data as justification for these measures, several stakeholders expressed skepticism about the information... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6cp5327g Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Murillo, Joshua Pulido, Tessa R Loyd, Aerika Brittian Subica, Andrew M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6424-7668 Yen, Irene H Payán, Denise D https://escholarship.org/uc/item/70x528xg OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the mediation effects of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), insurance status, and quality of care on racial disparities in HNC survival. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of data from the California Cancer Registry dataset linked with discharge records and hospital characteristics from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. The study cohort included adult patients with HNC diagnosed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Mediators included insurance status, SES, hospital quality, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline-compliant care. RESULTS: Black patients (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.24) had worse OS compared with White patients after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and treatment factors. SES accounted for 49.0% (95% CI 13.1%-84.8%) of the disparity. Health insurance (commercial: 21.9% (95% CI 12.3%-38.4%), Medicaid: 19.7% (95% CI 10.1%-45.4%)), hospital quality (high-quality:... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/70x528xg Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Megwalu, Uchechukwu C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5132-8864 Ma, Yifei Divi, Vasu Tian, Lu https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8k72n367 PURPOSE: Patient-centered outcomes (PCOs) are pivotal in cancer treatment, as they directly reflect patients' quality of life. Although multiple studies suggest that factors affecting breast cancer-related morbidity and survival are influenced by treatment side effects and adherence to long-term treatment, such data are generally only available on a smaller scale or from a single center. The primary challenge with collecting these data is that the outcomes are captured as free text in clinical narratives written by clinicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Given the complexity of PCO documentation in these narratives, computerized methods are necessary to unlock the wealth of information buried in unstructured text notes that often document PCOs. Inspired by the success of large language models (LLMs), we examined the adaptability of three LLMs, GPT-2, BioGPT, and PMC-LLaMA, on PCO tasks across three institutions, Mayo Clinic, Emory University Hospital, and Stanford University. We developed... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8k72n367 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Luo, Man Trivedi, Shubham Kurian, Allison W Ward, Kevin Keegan, Theresa HM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-4008 Rubin, Daniel Banerjee, Imon https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1c34v60p An intense femtosecond-laser excitation of a solid induces highly nonthermal conditions. In materials like silicon, laser-induced bond-softening leads to a highly incoherent ionic motion and eventually nonthermal melting. But is this outcome an inevitable consequence, or can it be controlled? Here, we performed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of crystalline silicon after timed multiple femtosecond-laser pulse excitations with fluence above the nonthermal melting threshold. Our results demonstrate an excitation mechanism that pauses nonthermal melting and creates a metastable state instead, with an electronic structure similar to the ground state. This mechanism can be generalized to other materials, potentially enabling structural and/or electronic transitions to metastable phases in the high-excitation regime. In addition, our approach could be used to switch off nonthermal contributions in experiments, allowing reliable electron-phonon coupling constants to be obtained... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1c34v60p Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Zier, Tobias Zijlstra, Eeuwe S Garcia, Martin E Strubbe, David A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2426-5532 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0cj352d2 Adherence to the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines is associated with reductions in overall cancer incidence and mortality, including site-specific cancers such as colorectal cancer. We examined the relationship between baseline adherence to the ACS guidelines and (1) baseline adenoma characteristics and (2) odds of recurrent colorectal adenomas over 3 years of follow-up. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses with a pooled sample of participants from the Wheat Bran Fiber (<i>n</i> = 503) and Ursodeoxycholic Acid (<i>n</i> = 854) trials were performed. A cumulative adherence score was constructed using baseline self-reported data regarding body size, diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated significantly reduced odds of having three or more adenomas at baseline for moderately adherent (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.46⁻0.99) and highly adherent... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0cj352d2 Fri, 5 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kohler, Lindsay N Harris, Robin B Oren, Eyal Roe, Denise J Lance, Peter Jacobs, Elizabeth T https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7th679kd Extreme temperatures associated with climate change are expected to impact the physiology and fertility of a variety of insects, including honey bees. Most previous work on this topic has focused on female honey bees (workers and queens), and comparatively little research has investigated how heat exposure affects males (drones). To address this gap, we tested body mass, viral infections, and population origin as predictors of drone survival and sperm viability in a series of heat challenge assays. We found that individual body mass was highly influential, with heavier drones being more likely to survive a heat challenge (4 h at 42°C) than smaller drones. In a separate experiment, we compared the survival of Northern California and Southern California drones in response to the same heat challenge (4 h at 42°C), and found that Southern Californian drones - which are enriched for African ancestry - were more likely to survive a heat challenge than drones originating from Northern... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7th679kd Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 McAfee, Alison Metz, Bradley N Connor, Patrick Du, Keana Allen, Christopher W Frausto, Luis A Swenson, Mark P Phillips, Kylah S Julien, Madison Rempel, Zoe Currie, Robert W Baer, Boris https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1136-5967 Tarpy, David R Foster, Leonard J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1624g6q2 Honey bee colonies adapt their foraging behaviours to the availability of floral resources to meet their nutritional needs. However, it is unknown if the nutritional quality of stored or supplemented pollen can influence the floral choices of bees during commercial crop pollination. The foraging behaviour of bees from 40 colonies was studied during avocado pollination in southern Western Australia. A pollen database of the orchard was built and used to assess the floral preference of the bees. Pollen collectors and nectar foragers showed different foraging behaviour as indicated by their Dominance Candidate Index (DCI). The foraging choices were partially affected by the type of supplemented pollen that consisted of agricultural and forest species. Aside from nutritional cues, floral source abundance and attractiveness played a role in influencing the foraging behaviour for pollen and nectar. Both pollen and nectar foragers chose a sub-set of flowers available at the avocado orchard.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1624g6q2 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kratz, Madlen Manning, Robert Milne, Lynne Dods, Kenneth Baer, Boris https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1136-5967 Blache, Dominique https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4tc6k14c INTRODUCTION: High prevalence of commercial tobacco product (CTP) use among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth is a public health crisis. A multi-level Tribal-community-based participatory research project under Tribal public health authority implemented a retailer-focused intervention to reduce AI/AN youth CTP use. AIMS AND METHODS: We sought resolutions in support of a retailer-focused CTP intervention from Tribal Nations organized by a Tribally directed research program. We identified tobacco retail outlets operating on and within five miles of nine Tribal reservations, and CTP products sold at these outlets. We conducted a four-wave Reward and Reminder intervention with apparent minor buyers. Clerks who complied with the law received a modest reward and commendation in social media posts to the local Tribal communities, while clerks who sold without age verification were reminded of the laws. RESULTS: Of 18 retail outlets selling CTP, eight sold e-cigarettes,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4tc6k14c Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kornacki, Chase Rodriguez, Joseph Rodriguez, Justin Calac, Alec J Calac, Daniel Lee, Juliet P Moore, Roland S https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1072-2755 Brucks, Lisa Jacques, Isabella Yang, Maxine Almodovar, Veronica Berber, Samantha-Starr https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4pd3d55h American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth have the highest commercial tobacco smoking rate of any group in the United States. Unified by the aim to reduce AI/AN youth commercial tobacco use, six separately funded tobacco prevention programs serving Southern California tribes formed the Southern California Tribal Tobacco Coalition (SCTTC). Since joining forces, the SCTTC has hosted various activities and events that encourage community involvement, youth leadership, and commitment to tradition. The SCTTC's pinnacle event, the annual Inter-Tribal Tobacco Prevention Youth Summit, is an inspiring example of the organization's collaborative efforts, as it features youth- and elder-led activities and presentations by local tribal members. These community events have grown in participation from year to year and are widely supported by the surrounding AI/AN communities. This paper includes narratives from several coalition members, including youth activity organizers, that showcase... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4pd3d55h Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kornacki, Chase Rodriguez, Justin Rodriguez, Joseph Hurtado, Anthony Lee, Juliet P Moore, Roland S https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1072-2755 Brucks, Lisa Geisler, Jennifer Boyle, Valerie Martinez, Diana Admire, Ami Hanson, Monah Reif, Rachel Nielson, Michelle Henry-Walford, Camille Calac, Daniel J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81g337g1 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: California's Central Valley has high rates of tobacco product use and low rates of access to primary care providers. In 2016, California sought to increase access to cessation treatment by allowing pharmacists to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We sought to identify the extent to which this prescribing authority has been integrated into practice. METHODS: From December 2023 to May 2024, we surveyed adult California participants (n = 271) who smoke about their smoking patterns, perceptions towards NRT, experiences with receiving tobacco cessation resources in pharmacies. Participants were recruited via email and in person. We analyzed participants' smoking and quitting history, perceptions of NRT, and experiences with tobacco cessation, comparing residents of California's Central Valley (n = 52) to other regions of the state (n = 219). RESULTS: Smoking rates were comparable for respondents in the Central Valley and those residing in other... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81g337g1 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Schneider, Sara Durazo, Arturo Rodriguez, Sarina https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9981-7768 Chan-Golston, Alec M Wakefield, Tanner Halliday, Deanna M Tracy, Darrin Song, Anna V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1874-3326 Apollonio, Dorie E https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4694-0826 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8683j692 Hormonal growth promotants (HGPs) are a class of pharmaceutical agents commonly administered to cattle in the United States to improve growth rates of the animal, alter behavior, or to improve the desired characteristics of retail cuts of meat. There is a concern that low residual concentrations of HGPs may remain in tissue after slaughter, and consumption of tissues containing these compounds may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes, including cancer. Sensitive and selective methods are necessary to assess exposure of HGPs by populations that consume meat products from animals that may have been administered HGPs. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to detect the low-level presence of HGPs including estradiol, testosterone, estradiol benzoate, melengestrol, melengestrol acetate, progesterone, testosterone propionate, trenbolone, trenbolone acetate, and α-zearalanol in retail cuts of meat following a liquid-liquid extraction... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8683j692 Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mosburg, Mary Li, Yajing Helmes, Emily Falt, Tara D Trott, Josephine F https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4506-7685 Solomon, Gina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6004-0387 Hovey, Russell C Moeller, Benjamin C https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2945-3620 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/627740xz BackgroundEndogenous and exogenous hormones may be present in beef. Human consumption of hormones has been linked to adverse health effects.ObjectiveTo estimate daily intake of hormonal growth promotants (HGP) from beef consumed by the US population.MethodsWe combined self-reported beef consumption information from a nationally-representative survey with concentrations of 12 HGP measured in 397 samples of retail beef/fat purchased in California. We defined typical, high, and maximum intake scenarios assuming self-reported consumed beef contained the mean, 95th percentile, and maximum concentrations of each HGP, respectively. We estimated distributions of usual (i.e., long-term) daily intake and short-term daily intake (µg/kg/day). We calculated the hazard quotient (HQ), or ratio of estimated intake to the World Health Organization’s acceptable daily intake (ADI) for the HGP.ResultsThe highest estimated HQs were found for melengestrol acetate (MGA). For usual daily intake under... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/627740xz Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Thilakaratne, Ruwan Castorina, Rosemary Solomon, Gina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6004-0387 Mosburg, Mary M Moeller, Benjamin C https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2945-3620 Trott, Josephine F https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4506-7685 Falt, Tara D Villegas-Gomez, Ariadne Dodd, Kevin W Thomsen, Catherine English, Paul Yang, Xiang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7259-1311 Khan, Annika Bradman, Asa Hovey, Russell C https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58v6t02h Clearing the Air: Conflicts of Interest and the Tobacco Industry’s Impact on Indigenous Peoples https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58v6t02h Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Maddox, Raglan Kennedy, Michelle Waa, Andrew Drummond, Ali Hardy, Billie-Jo Soto, Claradina Tautolo, El-Shadan Colonna, Emily Gifford, Heather Clark, Hershel Lee, Juliet P Henderson, Patricia Nez Upton, Penney Bradbrook, Shane Kawenata Wells, Shavaun Martinez, Sydney A Calma, Tom https://escholarship.org/uc/item/42k3h4rp Ethical publishing practices are vital to tobacco control research practice, particularly research involving Indigenous (<i>Indigenous peoples</i>: For the purposes of this Special Communication, we use the term Indigenous people(s) to include self-identified individuals and communities who frequently have historical continuity with precolonial/presettler societies; are strongly linked to the land on which they or their societies reside; and often maintain their own distinct language(s), belief and social-political systems, economies and sciences. The authors humbly acknowledge, respect and value that Indigenous peoples are diverse and constitute many nations, cultures and language groups. Many Indigenous peoples also exist as governments in treaty relations with settler-colonial societies, and all Indigenous peoples have inherent rights under international law. The language and terminology used should reflect the local context(s) and could include, but are not limited to, terms... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/42k3h4rp Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Maddox, Raglan Drummond, Ali Kennedy, Michelle Martinez, Sydney A Waa, Andrew Henderson, Patricia Nez Clark, Hershel Upton, Penney Lee, Juliet P Hardy, Billie-Jo Tautolo, El-Shadan Bradbrook, Shane Calma, Tom Whop, Lisa J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3v7979km Arab Americans are at risk for disproportionately high use of commercial tobacco products, including among women, for whom waterpipe (shisha) smoking is increasingly normative. Culturally- and gender-responsive interventions, however, are scarce. We developed and tested Commit to Quit (CtQ), a novel community-driven tobacco intervention designed for Arab American women in Northern California. The program mobilized Arab American community women to support tobacco cessation and prevention within their community. Immigrant Arab American women participated in biweekly virtual sessions conducted in Arabicto learn about tobacco risks, cultural smoking norms, and prevention and cessation strategies and then support friends and relatives to quit through a peer-to-peer brief intervention. Pre- and post-program assessments measured changes in tobacco use behaviors, self-efficacy, and community engagement. Compared to a comparison group (n = 190), CtQ participants (n = 28) were significantly... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3v7979km Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Salam, Lina Lee, Juliet Abdelhalim, Gamila Paschall, Mallie J Inoue-Terris, Vera Mohrez, Hanan Alnahari, Sarah https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2993445f Over the last 75 years, we have learned that commercial tobacco use causes widespread disease and death. However, the commercial Tobacco and Nicotine Industry continues to promote, market, and sell tobacco and nicotine products to protect and expand profit. This reflects their legal obligation to act in shareholders' best interests. While the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry heavily promotes alternative products such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches, for now, these represent a relatively small share of profits compared with combustible cigarette sales. The continued reliance on and expansion of these markets generates addiction, dependence, and a range of harms. These actions represent a modern manifestation of colonization-reproducing control and exploitation that affects people at all levels, particularly Indigenous peoples, whose lands, knowledges, and well-being have long been commodified and targeted. The Tobacco and Nicotine Industry and their collaborators employ... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2993445f Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Maddox, Raglan Heris, Christina Waa, Andrew Teddy, Lani Upton, Penney Henderson, Patricia Nez Kornacki, Chase Rodriguez, Joseph Lee, Juliet Tautolo, El-Shadan Martinez, Sydney A Bradbrook, Shane Kawenata Kennedy, Michelle https://escholarship.org/uc/item/70p4g7ng HIV disproportionately impacts minoritized individuals, particularly those of intersectional minoritized identities. Incarceration disproportionately impacts minoritized individuals as well, and increases HIV risk, in part due to its disruption to people’s lives, social networks, and access to care. We developed MEPS, a 6-month intervention designed to holistically support HIV prevention in men who have sex with men and transgender women leaving incarceration. We tested MEPS in a 1:1 randomized controlled trial with 208 individuals. All participants received a needs assessment and personalized wellness plan, followed by either standard of care or the MEPS intervention. MEPS integrated support from a Peer Mentor, incentives for engagement in social and health services, and a mobile app. Participants completed baseline assessments and follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 9 months. We tested for changes in PrEP use using a group-based trajectory model, for changes in HIV and STI testing,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/70p4g7ng Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Schrode, Katrina M Edwards, Gabriel G https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1083-0919 Moghanian, Brandon Weiss, Robert E https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3648-8522 Reback, Cathy J McWells, Charles Hilliard, Charles L Harawa, Nina T https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7486-8393 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/30g0n932 Emissions from cannabis vaping degrade indoor air quality and expose non-users to secondhand pollutants. We investigated how the vaping mixture composition affects indoor aerosol characteristics and exposures. Simulated cannabis vaping aerosol was produced by flash evaporation in a 20 m³ chamber of mixtures containing terpenoids, cannabinoids, cannabis extract constituents, and the adulterant vitamin E acetate (VEA). Aerosol time- and size-resolved concentrations (8 nm-2.5 μm at 1 Hz) were measured, and a dosimetry model was used to evaluate the intake of secondhand aerosols. The results showed peak particle number (PN) concentrations between 0.7 × 10⁶ and 13 × 10⁶ cm^-3 and peak mass concentration (PM_1.0) between 65 and 1191 μg m^-3 at <i>t</i> = 5 min after emission. Concentrations decreased to 21-57% of peak PN and 33-69% of peak PM_1.0 at <i>t</i> = 60 min. The PM_1.0 yield was 0.06 for a terpenoid-only... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/30g0n932 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Tang, Xiaochen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4168-9871 Rapp, Vi H Chen, Sharon Russell, Marion L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7723-6746 Destaillats, Hugo https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7t30h3wr Purpose of ReviewNicotine addiction is the result of repeated tobacco use and subsequently promotes continued consumption, potentially acting as both cause and consequence of tobacco use. This scoping review aims to describe the literature and catalogue existing measures regarding perceptions of nicotine addiction with special attention to scales that recognize its multidimensionality.Recent FindingsFollowing a comprehensive review of 923 empirical articles, we found 252 articles that assessed perceptions of nicotine addiction, five of which utilized a validated measure. Single item assessments were categorized into affective concern, knowledge that tobacco is addictive, personal perceptions of addiction, other people’s addiction, and comparative addictiveness. Scaled measures of perceptions of nicotine addiction largely assessed perceived susceptibility and severity.SummaryDespite decades of research demonstrating the importance of perceptions of risk and expectancies in risk-behavior... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7t30h3wr Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Temourian, Allison A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3994-6648 Halliday, Deanna M Song, Anna V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1874-3326 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58z3c6m0 Background: Concurrent use of cigarettes with e-cigarette or cannabis (co-use) is common. It is unclear whether people who want to quit smoking cigarettes would also be interested in quitting using e-cigarettes/cannabis (co-cessation). Methods: In a survey of 391 Californian adults, participants reported past 30-day use of and intentions to quit cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cannabis, and reasons for using e-cigarettes and/or cannabis. Using cross-tabulation tables, we examined the relationship between cigarette, e-cigarette, and cannabis cessation intentions. We subsequently examined how the reasons for using e-cigarettes and cannabis related to e-cigarette and cannabis use frequency, while controlling for cigarette use and demographic characteristics. Results: Of those who used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes and planned to quit smoking within the next 30&nbsp;days, 68.9&nbsp;% also planned to quit using e-cigarettes. Of those who used both cigarettes and cannabis and intended... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/58z3c6m0 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Halliday, Deanna M Song, Anna V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1874-3326 Nguyen, Nhung https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8661-9597 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9dc3049b We examined the association between gender discrimination and tobacco use among 725 adolescent girls in the United States. Gender discrimination referred to the interpersonal prejudice individuals experienced because of their gender and included multiple forms (overt, subtle) and sources (teenagers, school personnel, and other important adults). Gender discrimination was measured with five subscales: overt gender discrimination from teenagers, overt gender discrimination from school personnel, overt gender discrimination from other important adults, subtle denial of gender discrimination, and subtle negative treatment. Tobacco use included four groups: no use, combustible tobacco use only, nicotine vaping use only, and dual use of these products. Multinomial logistic regression showed that overt and subtle forms of gender discrimination were positively associated with lifetime dual use compared to non-tobacco use. Overt discrimination from school personnel was positively associated... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9dc3049b Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 Kakar, Vani Eytcheson, Kara https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2rd634qt INTRODUCTION: Economic inequality is rising around the globe. Social class includes income, education, and occupation, and is strongly tied to academic achievement. However, we do not yet know how the discrimination that adolescents experience because of their social class is associated with academic achievement. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the association between social class discrimination and academic achievement among adolescents. METHODS: Social class discrimination was measured with an adapted scale that was validated. The scale addressed overt and subtle forms and multiple sources, such as peers, school personnel, and store clerks. Data were collected in 2022. Participants included 1678 adolescents (42.61% cisgender girls) aged 13-18 years (M_age = 15.97) in the United States. Social class was measured with maternal education, a common indicator for adolescents. The sample included 49.2% whose mothers had earned less than a college degree. RESULTS:... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2rd634qt Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mello, Zena R https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8218-9801 Kakar, Vani Hennigan, Sean M Dogru, Busra Suri, Adam Abundis‐Morales, Manuel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4cc7d4mr Purpose: To define the normal range of central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and the effects of age, body weight, sex, and intraocular pressure (IOP) on these parameters. Methods: Ophthalmic examinations were performed on 144 rhesus macaques without anterior segment pathology. The CCT was measured via ultrasound pachymetry (USP) and specular microscopy, and the ECD was semiautomatically and manually counted using specular microscopy. Rebound tonometry was used to measure IOP. Linear regression and mixed-effects linear regression models were used to evaluate the effects of age, body weight, sex, and IOP on CCT and ECD. Results: We included 98 females and 46 males with an age range of 0.2 to 29.4 years. The mean CCT by USP and specular microscopy were 483 ± 39 and 463 ± 33 µm, respectively, and were statistically different (P &lt; 0.001). The ECDs were 2717 ± 423 and 2747 ± 438 cells/mm2 by semiautomated and... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4cc7d4mr Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Casanova, M Isabel Young, Laura J Park, Sangwan Kim, Soohyun https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8247-1062 Roszak, Karolina Leonard, Brian C Blandino, Andrew https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0672-9594 Motta, Monica J Yiu, Glenn https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3061-3310 Li, Jennifer Y Moshiri, Ala Thomasy, Sara M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5617-9677 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1zw0t3qw Chitin is a key component of fungal cell walls and a potent inducer of innate immune responses. Consequently, fungi may secrete chitin-binding lectins, such as the Cf-Avr4 effector protein from the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum, to shield chitin from host-derived chitinases during infection. Homologs of Cf-Avr4 are found throughout Dothideomycetes, and despite their modest primary sequence identity, many are perceived by the cognate tomato immune receptor Cf-4. Here, we determined the x-ray crystal structure of Pf-Avr4 from the tomato pathogen Pseudocercospora fuligena, thus providing a three-dimensional model of an Avr4 effector protein. In addition, we explored structural, biochemical, and functional aspects of Pf-Avr4 and Cf-Avr4 to further define the biology of core effector proteins and outline a conceptual framework for their pleiotropic recognition by single immune receptors. We show that Cf-Avr4 and Pf-Avr4 share functional specificity in binding (GlcNAc)6 and in... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1zw0t3qw Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kohler, Amanda C Chen, Li-Hung Hurlburt, Nicholas Salvucci, Anthony Schwessinger, Benjamin Fisher, Andrew J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3488-6594 Stergiopoulos, Ioannis https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2368-6119 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7614f6fd <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The low-resource, minority and underserved populations (LRMU) that carry the highest risk of oral cancer (OC) experience many barriers to early detection and treatment, resulting in disproportionately poor outcomes. One major barrier to better outcomes is poor compliance with specialist referral for diagnosis and treatment. The goal of this prospective study was to compare specialist referral compliance for Telehealth vs. in-person visits in LRMU individuals screening positive for increased OC risk. <b>Methods</b>: Forty subjects who had screened positive for oral potentially malignant lesions (OPMLs) were recruited from community clinics. The subjects indicated whether they would prefer an in-person or Telehealth specialist visit. They were offered assistance with all aspects of the visit, and then tracked over 3 months for referral compliance. A novel, very low-cost, simple Telehealth platform located within the community clinic was used for the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7614f6fd Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Alp, Aksel Doud, Winston Doud, Christian Takesh, Thair Wink, Cherie Miranda-Hoover, Annachristine Foote, Joseph Liang, Rongguang Messadi, Diana V Le, Anh Wilder-Smith, Petra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7580-2409 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69x577nf Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasingly prevalent among youth and young adults, particularly college and university students. This is a population for whom e-cigarette use is not recommended due to potential health risks, including nicotine addiction and long-term respiratory effects. Social networks play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward e-cigarettes and influencing use behaviors. However, the relative influence of different social ties-parents, siblings, and friends-on e-cigarette attitudes and use remains unclear. Objective: This study utilizes data from the SMOKES study to compare the influence of e-cigarette use within different social network sections-parents, friends, and siblings-on personal e-cigarette attitudes and use among college and university students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey of college and university students, we examined the associations between e-cigarette use within different social networks and individual... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69x577nf Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Assari, Shervin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5054-6250 Mohammadi, Mohammad Pashmchi, Mohammad Aghaeimeybodi, Fatemeh Pallera, John Ashley https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5qj7f3wt Background: The hippocampus plays a critical role in memory and decision-making processes, with its resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) linked to various behavioral outcomes. This study investigates whether baseline brain-wide rsFC of the hippocampus mediates the relationship between impulsivity and subsequent substance use, specifically tobacco and marijuana use, in adolescents. Methods: Data were drawn from the baseline wave of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Resting-state fMRI data were used to evaluate the functional connectivity of the hippocampus with key brain networks, including the cingulo-parietal network, visual network, sensory-motor network, and default mode network (DMN). Impulsivity was assessed using validated self-report measures, and substance use (tobacco and marijuana) was evaluated at follow-up. Mediation models were conducted to examine the extent to which hippocampal rsFC explains the association between impulsivity and... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5qj7f3wt Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Assari, Shervin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5054-6250 Donovan, Alexandra Najand, Babak Akhlaghipour, Golnoush Mendez, Mario F https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2ns8b6qh Background: Nicotine pouches, gummies, and candies have emerged as popular alternatives to traditional tobacco products among U.S. adolescents. While parental educational attainment is generally associated with youth substance use, marginalization-related diminished returns (MDRs) suggest that this effect may be weaker in marginalized populations, including non-Latino White communities. In particular, place-based marginalization-such as neighborhood economic disadvantage and school-level poverty-may attenuate the benefits of parental education. This study examines MDRs in the relationship between parental educational attainment and nicotine pouch/gummy/candy use among non-Latino White 12th graders in the 2024 Monitoring the Future (MTF) study. Methods: This study analyzed nationally representative data from the 2024 MTF study, focusing on non-Latino White 12th graders who reported parental education levels and adolescents' use of nicotine pouch/gummy/candy. Structural equation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2ns8b6qh Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Assari, Shervin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5054-6250 Assari, Gandom Zare, Hossein https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8xx9740x Coronary artery vasospasm (CAV) is characterized by transient constriction of epicardial coronary arteries leading to angina. Its disease mechanisms are multifactorial but has centered mostly on endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle hyperreactivity. To facilitate the investigation of these mechanisms in cell culture, we generated and characterized three induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from patients with CAV. These lines demonstrated normal morphology and karyotypes, robust expression of pluripotency markers, and ability for tri-lineage differentiation. Further differentiation of these cell lines into endothelial and smooth muscle cells will allow mechanistic investigation of their relative contributions to CAV in cell culture. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8xx9740x Fri, 6 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Tacco, Ines Ross Olshausen, Joseph Chan, Tse Yuan Turbes, Naima Hung, Ming-Yow Yeh, Chi-Tai Nguyen, Patricia K Sallam, Karim Sayed, Nazish Chen, Ian Y https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2zh8031w BACKGROUND: Marijuana leaf vaporizers, which heat plant material and sublimate Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol without combustion, are popular alternatives to smoking cannabis that are generally perceived to be less harmful. We have shown that smoke from tobacco and marijuana, as well as aerosol from e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, impair vascular endothelial function in rats measured as arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We exposed 8 rats per group to aerosol generated by 2 vaporizer systems (Volcano and handheld Yocan) using marijuana with varying Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol levels, in a single pulsatile exposure session of 2 s/min over 5 minutes, and measured changes in FMD. To model secondhand exposure, we exposed rats for 1 minute to diluted aerosol approximating release of uninhaled Volcano aerosol into typical residential rooms. Exposure to aerosol from marijuana with and without cannabinoids impaired FMD by ≈50%. FMD was similarly impaired by aerosols... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2zh8031w Mon, 2 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Liu, Jiangtao Nabavizadeh, Pooneh Rao, Poonam Derakhshandeh, Ronak Han, Daniel D Guo, Raymond Murphy, Morgan B Cheng, Jing Schick, Suzaynn F https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7101-3077 Springer, Matthew L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6689-8234 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5180n112 INTRODUCTION: Postthyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism is common and usually managed as an outpatient. A better understanding of patients at risk for an emergency department (ED) visit can improve health-care utilization and patient care. METHODS: The California Cancer Registry and Health Care Access and Information Databases were linked to identify patients who underwent a thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer 2005-2018 and had an ED visit for hypoparathyroidism within 2 y of surgery. Cumulative incidence and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify factors associated with an ED visit. RESULTS: Among 41,502 thyroidectomy patients, 588 (1.42%) presented to the ED for hypoparathyroidism, with a median time between thyroidectomy and first ED visit of 4 ds. Two-year cumulative incidence was highest for women (1.56%), Hispanic patients (2.04%), younger adults aged 18-40 y (1.97%), higher Charlson comorbidity index score (2.43%), lowest neighborhood socioeconomic... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5180n112 Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Woods, Alexis L Li, Yueju Keegan, Theresa H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-4008 Nuño, Miriam Graves, Claire E https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1974-2384 Campbell, Michael J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5927-7360 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9dh426t6 These data show the differentially expressed genes (DEG) from HCC38 breast cancer cell line chronically exposed to nicotine versus vehicle control. Additional data is also provided from dynamic trajectory analysis, identifying the most dynamic genes due to chronic nicotine treatment. To produce this dataset, we first performed single cell RNA sequencing from HCC38 cells chronically treated with vehicle or nicotine, followed by scanpy analysis to yield 6 discrete cell clusters at conservative resolution. We then evaluated differential gene expression between chronic nicotine and control cells for each individual cluster or in the whole sample using PyDESeq2. For dynamic trajectory analysis, Velocyto (0.6) was used to estimate the spliced and unspliced counts for each gene between chronic nicotine-treated cells and vehicle, allowing computation of gene velocities. These data are useful for analysing the expression of individual genes or gene velocities either in the whole sample... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9dh426t6 Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mugisha, Samson Labhsetwar, Shreyas Dave, Devam Klemke, Richard https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8230-2915 Desgrosellier, Jay S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8097-0143 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/19k5n75w INTRODUCTION: Physical activity (PA) is prospectively inversely associated with dementia risk, but few studies examined accelerometer measures of PA and sitting with rigorously-adjudicated mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia risk. METHODS: We examined the associations of accelerometer measures (PA and sitting) with incident MCI/probable dementia in the Women's Health Initiative (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;1277; mean age&nbsp;=&nbsp;82&nbsp;±&nbsp;6 years) RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 267 MCI/probable dementia cases were identified. Adjusted Cox regression HRs (95% CI) across moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) min/d quartiles were 1.00 (reference), 1.28 (0.90 to 1.81), 0.79 (0.53 to 1.17), and 0.69 (0.45 to 1.06); P-trend&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.01. Adjusted HRs (95% CI) across steps/d quartiles were 1.00 (reference), 0.73 (0.51 to 1.03), 0.64 (0.43 to 0.94), and 0.38 (0.23 to 0.61); P-trend&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.001. The HR (95% CI) for each 1-SD increment in MVPA (31 min/d) and steps/d... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/19k5n75w Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Nguyen, Steve LaCroix, Andrea Z Hayden, Kathleen M Di, Chongzhi Palta, Priya Stefanick, Marcia L Manson, JoAnn E Rapp, Stephen R LaMonte, Michael J Bellettiere, John https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7167-3048 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wf9s9dd Bioengineering and regenerative medicine strategies are promising for the treatment of vascular diseases. However, current limitations inhibit the ability of these approaches to be translated to clinical practice. Here we summarize some of the big bottlenecks that inhibit vascular regeneration in the disease applications of aortic aneurysms, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. We also describe the bottlenecks preventing three-dimensional bioprinting of vascular networks for tissue engineering applications. Finally, we describe emerging technologies and opportunities to overcome these challenges to advance vascular regeneration. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wf9s9dd Wed, 7 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Fantini, Dalia A Yang, Guang Khanna, Astha Subramanian, Divya Phillippi, Julie A Huang, Ngan F https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2298-6790 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0bc7n3d1 The Cover Feature shows plasticware for biomarker measurement, which constitutes a notable portion of the plastic waste stream from medical consumables. We have developed a portable vortex fluidic device (P‐VFD) with a membrane array to initiate fast reaction, detection and analysis of a clinically relevant protein biomarker, p75ECD. It shows significant potential to replace traditional assay plates with a membrane, providing a greener and more sustainable alternative in biofluid biomarker measurement. More information can be found in the Research Article by X. Luo, M.‐L. Rogers, C. L. Raston and co‐workers. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0bc7n3d1 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Luo, Xuan Heydari, Amir Renfrey, Danielle Gardner, Zoe He, Shan Tang, Youhong Weiss, Gregory A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0296-9846 Rogers, Mary‐Louise Raston, Colin L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9ph7h24r Tissue homeostasis relies on the timely renewal of cells that have been damaged or have surpassed their biological age. Nonetheless, the underlying molecular mechanism coordinating tissue renewal is unknown. The planarian <i>Schmidtea mediterranea</i> harbors a large population of stem cells that continuously divide to support the restoration of tissues throughout the body. Here, we identify that TNF Receptor Associated Factors (TRAFs) play critical roles in cellular survival during tissue repair in <i>S</i>. <i>mediterranea</i>. Disruption with RNA-interference of TRAF signaling results in rapid morphological defects and lethality within 2&nbsp;weeks. The TRAF phenotype is accompanied by an increased number of mitoses and cell death. Our results also reveal TRAF signaling is required for proper regeneration of the nervous system. Taken together, we find functional conservation of TRAF-like proteins in <i>S</i>. <i>mediterranea</i> as they act as crucial regulators of cellular... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9ph7h24r Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ziman, Benjamin Barghouth, Paul G Maciel, Eli Isael Oviedo, Néstor J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0213-9781 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/71h963gp We explored ancestry-related differences in the genetic architecture of whole-blood gene expression using whole-genome and RNA sequencing data from 2,733 African Americans, Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans. We found that heritability of gene expression significantly increased with greater proportions of African genetic ancestry and decreased with higher proportions of Indigenous American ancestry, reflecting the relationship between heterozygosity and genetic variance. Among heritable protein-coding genes, the prevalence of ancestry-specific expression quantitative trait loci (anc-eQTLs) was 30% in African ancestry and 8% for Indigenous American ancestry segments. Most anc-eQTLs (89%) were driven by population differences in allele frequency. Transcriptome-wide association analyses of multi-ancestry summary statistics for 28 traits identified 79% more gene–trait associations using transcriptome prediction models trained in our admixed population than models trained using data... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/71h963gp Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kachuri, Linda Mak, Angel CY Hu, Donglei Eng, Celeste Huntsman, Scott Elhawary, Jennifer R Gupta, Namrata Gabriel, Stacey Xiao, Shujie Keys, Kevin L Oni-Orisan, Akinyemi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5897-5543 Rodríguez-Santana, José R LeNoir, Michael A Borrell, Luisa N Zaitlen, Noah A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3553-3670 Williams, L Keoki Gignoux, Christopher R Burchard, Esteban González Ziv, Elad https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9t61d6mm Changes in the density and organization of fibrous biological tissues often accompany the progression of serious diseases ranging from fibrosis to neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and cancer. However, challenges in cost, complexity, or precision faced by existing imaging methodologies and materials pose barriers to elucidating the role of tissue microstructure in disease. Here, we leverage the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the Morpho butterfly wing and introduce Morpho-Enhanced Polarized Light Microscopy (MorE-PoL), a stain- and contact-free imaging platform that enhances and quantifies the birefringent material properties of fibrous biological tissues. We develop a mathematical model, based on Jones calculus, which describes fibrous tissue density and organization. As a representative example, we analyzed collagen-dense and collagen-sparse human breast cancer tissue sections and leverage our technique to assess the microstructural properties of distinct regions of... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9t61d6mm Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kirya, Paula Mestre‐Farrera, Aida Yang, Jing Poulikakos, Lisa V https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6897v7sx Abstract Airway epithelial cells (AECs), dendritic cells (DCs) and alveolar macrophages are the primary cells involved in respiratory immunity and tolerance. Since DCs and macrophages exist in close proximity to AECs, the function of both these cells is influenced by AECs. Using a 2D model to study the interaction of human primary bronchial epithelial cells (representative of AECs) with DCs we have recently demonstrated that AECs enhance the immune surveillance capacity of myeloid DCs (mDCs) from the circulation at homeostasis. Culture of mDCs with AECs resulted in the upregulation of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and downstream signaling molecules which were reflected in the enhanced inflammatory cytokine responses to Klebsiella pneumoniae LPS. In contrast to circulatory mDCs, culture of macrophages with AECs led to a significant inhibition of LPS induced proinflammatory responses. More importantly, AECs induced the secretion of TGF-β and IL-10 from macrophages even in... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6897v7sx Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Agrawal, Anshu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4898-9615 Agrawal, Sudhanshu Monteiro, Clarice Mohammadi, Reza