Improving the portability of diagnostic medicine is crucial for alleviating global access-to-care deficiencies. This requires not only designing devices that are small and lightweight, but also autonomous and independent of electricity. Here, we present a strategy for conducting automated multistep diagnostic assays using chemically generated, passively regulated heat. Ligation and polymerization reagents for rolling circle amplification of nucleic acids are separated by meltable phase-change partitions, thus replacing precise manual reagent additions with automated partition melting. To actuate these barriers and individually initiate the various steps of the reaction, field ration heaters exothermically generate heat in a thermos, whereas fatty acids embedded in a carbonaceous matrix passively buffer the temperature around their melting points. Achieving multistage temperature profiles extend the capability of instrument-free diagnostic devices and improve the portability of reaction automation systems built around phase-change partitions.

Background Throughout US history, chronic and infectious diseases have severely impacted minority communities due to a lack of accessibility to quality healthcare and accurate information, as well as underlying racism. These fault lines in the care of minority communities in the US have been further exacerbated by the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy by race and ethnicity, particularly among African American and Latinx communities in Eastern Pennsylvania (PA). Methods Survey data was collected in July 2021 in Philadelphia, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton, PA. The 203 participants (38.7% Black, 27.5% Latinx) completed the 28-question survey of COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in either English or Spanish. Result Out of the 203 participants, 181 participants met all the inclusion criteria, including completed surveys; of these participants, over three-fifths (63.5%) were acceptant of the COVID-19 vaccine whereas the remainder (36.5%) were hesitant. Binary logistic regression results showed that age, concern for vaccine efficacy, race, knowledge on the vaccine, and belief that the COVID-19 virus is serious significantly influenced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Minorities were more likely to be hesitant toward vaccination (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.8) than non-Hispanic whites. Those who believed the COVID-19 vaccine was ineffective (OR: 8.3, 95% CI: 3.8, 18.2), and that the virus is not serious (OR: 8.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 61.8) showed the greatest odds of hesitancy. Conclusions Minority status, age less than 45 years, misinformation about seriousness of COVID-19 illness, and concern about vaccine efficacy were contributing factors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, understanding and addressing the barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in minority groups is essential to decreasing transmission and controlling this pandemic, and will provide lessons on how to implement public health measures in future pandemics.

-Improving the portability of diagnostic medicine is crucial to alleviating global access-to-care deficiencies. This requires not only designing devices that are small and lightweight but also autonomous and independent of electricity. Here, we present a strategy for conducting automated multi-step diagnostic assays using chemically generated, passively regulated heat. Ligation and polymerization reagents for Rolling Circle Amplification of nucleic acids are separated by melt-able phase-change partitions, thus replacing precise manual reagent additions with automated partition melting. To actuate these barriers and individually initiate the various steps of the reaction, field ration heaters exothermically generate heat in a thermos while fatty acids embedded in a carbonaceous matrix passively buffer the temperature around their melting points. Achieving multi-stage temperature profiles extends the capability of instrument-free diagnostic devices and improves the portability of reaction automation systems built around phase-change partitions.

Background: It is well documented that racial/ethnic minorities have higher attrition rates from pediatric weight manage programs than their white counterparts. This review aimed to identify barriers facing minority families when seeking to complete weight management programs for their children to develop strategies to keep these families engaged. Maintaining engagement through program completion could improve health outcomes and overall quality of life for minority children. Methods: Eligible studies were identified through searching PubMed, PsychINFO and CENTRAL databases. Articles had to focus on reasons for attrition from pediatric weight management among minority groups to be included. We extracted data on attrition from each study and narratively summarized the results. Results: From the 302 articles screened, five met the inclusion criteria. Four of the five studies predicted attrition factors from attendance or past survey data. Only one study surveyed parents to identify potential barriers. Among these studies, most sociodemographic factors analyzed had no significant effect on early dropout. Program structure, logistical barriers, and parental negative self and child body image were all identified as predictors of attrition. Conclusion: More studies need to directly investigate why minority families discontinue weight management treatments early. Directly interviewing or surveying parents to ascertain their concerns can lead to the development of programs that retain and better meet the needs of these groups.

Background: Throughout US history, chronic and infectious diseases have severely impacted minority communities due to lack of accessibility to quality healthcare, accurate information, and underlying racism. These fault lines in the care of minority communities in the US have been further exposed by the rise of COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among African American and Latinx communities in Eastern Pennsylvania (PA). Methods: Survey data was collected in July 2021 in Philadelphia, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton, PA. The 203 participants (38.7% Black, 27.5% Latinx) completed the 28-question survey of COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in either English or Spanish. Results: Out of a total of 181 participants that met inclusion criteria of completed surveys, results indicate that 63.5% (n=115) were acceptant of the COVID-19 vaccine whereas the remainder 36.5% (n=66) were hesitant. Binary logistic regression results showed that age, concern for vaccine efficacy, race, knowledge on the vaccine, and belief that the COVID-19 virus is serious significantly influenced COVID vaccine hesitancy. Minorities were more likely to be hesitant toward vaccination (OR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.13, 6.79) than non-Hispanic whites. Those who believed the COVID vaccine was ineffective (OR: 8.29, 95% CI: 3.78,18.2), and that the virus is not serious (OR: 8.28, 95% CI: 1.11, 61.8) showed the greatest odds of hesitancy. Conclusions: Contributing factors of vaccine hesitancy in minority communities were age, concern for vaccine efficacy, and education. Understanding and addressing the barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in minority groups is essential to decreasing transmission and controlling this pandemic.