Articles

This study investigates whether the Feedback Literacy Scale (FLS) can be developed and validated to measure student teachers’ feedback literacy in teacher education in Myanmar. Based on the Feedback Literacy Scale (FLS) by Yildiz et al. (2020) [1], the Student Feedback Literacy Scale (SFLS) developed by Liao (2021) [2], and the Student Feedback Literacy (SFL) scale by Woitt et al. (2023) [3], the Feedback Literacy Scale was validated. Firstly, the item pool for the feedback literacy scale contained 76 items. The participants of this study were 1550 from 360 first-year, 367 second-year, 378 third-year and 445 fourth-year student teachers. The exploratory factor analysis resulted in a four-factor structure, and the final confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable model fit. The final scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and acceptable validity and reliability for use with Myanmar student teachers in teacher education. Therefore, the Feedback Literacy Scale (FLS) was found to be valid and reliable for measuring feedback literacy of student teachers of the teacher education program in Myanmar. This study indeed helps student teachers, school administrators and education policymakers improve their understanding of feedback and application of feedback in their learning for future professional teaching in the Myanmar teacher education program.

An effective mentor is critical to the success of an online doctoral student. Researchers have found that online doctoral students prefer frequent interactions with their mentor, while faculty prefer mentees to be autonomous. Transformative online doctoral mentoring (ODM) requires the development of a strong collaborative working relationship between the mentee and mentor, who serves as the link between the student and academia, as well as their guide and working partner throughout the dissertation process. In this paper, I argue that the ultimate objective of ODM, the establishment of such a relation-ship between mentor and mentee, increases the likelihood of student success. I support this contention with a set of principles and practices grounded in relevant models and methods of human development, participative leadership, and collaborative change management that provide insights into the what, why, and how of transformative ODM.

<b>Background</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) provides insights into large-scale brain network organization associated with cognitive control, emotion regulation, and attentional processes. The ventral attention network (VAN) is a key salience-driven network that supports attentional re-orienting to behaviorally relevant stimuli. However, little is known about how VAN resting state functional connectivity varies by demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors during early adolescence. <b>Objective</b><b>:</b><b> </b>To examine associations between VAN rsfMRI connectivity and multiple demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Data came from the baseline and early follow-up waves of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The analytic sample included youth with high-quality baseline rsfMRI data and complete socioeconomic and psychosocial measures. The primary outcome was mean resting-state functional connectivity within the VAN across subcortical and cortical regions of interest (ROIs). Bivariate correlations were computed between VAN connectivity and demographic (age, sex, puberty, race/ethnicity), socioeconomic (income, parental education, marital status, neighborhood income), psychosocial (trauma, discrimination, financial difficulty), trait (impulsivity), and behavioral variables (body mass index, depression, suicide, prodromal symptoms, and substance use). Unadjusted bivariate correlations and adjusted logistic regressions were used for data analysis. <b>Results</b><b>:</b><b> </b>VAN connectivity showed small but significant correlations with multiple contextual factors. Higher household income, parental education, and neighborhood affluence were associated with greater connectivity, whereas Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were related to lower connectivity. Youth reporting higher discrimination and financial difficulty exhibited weaker VAN connectivity. Greater VAN connectivity was negatively associated with impulsive reward-driven trait (drive), prodromal symptoms, BMI, and marijuana and alcohol use. Associations between VAN connectivity and suicide, depression, marijuana use, and alcohol use remained significant in age and sex adjusted models. <b>C</b><b>onclusions</b><b>:</b><b> </b>VAN connectivity reflects subtle neural correlates of socioeconomic and psychosocial context in early adolescence. Our results underscore the importance of integrating structural and contextual factors in interpreting brain-behavior associations across diverse populations. These findings are suggestive of stable socioeconomic and psychosocial correlates of network efficiency.

<b>Background:</b> Adolescence is a critical developmental stage for the emergence of major depressive disorder (MDD). Structural and diffusion neuroimaging studies have highlighted the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a key region implicated in emotion regulation, stress reactivity, and mood processing. However, few studies have examined whether microstructural characteristics of the ACC, reflected by mean diffusivity (MD) within gray matter–white matter (GM–WM) contrast regions, are associated with depression in early adolescence. <b>Objective:</b> To examine whether mean diffusivity (MD) within the GM–WM contrast of the left caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is associated with a past diagnosis of MDD among adolescents in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, after accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and adversity-related factors. <b>Methods:</b> Data were drawn from adolescents with diffusion MRI–derived mean diffusivity measures and diagnostics. The independent variable was mean diffusivity (MD) of the GM–WM contrast in the left caudal ACC. The primary outcome was past MDD diagnosis based on structured psychiatric assessments. Covariates included age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Logistic regression models tested the association between ACC MD and past MDD. A secondary model evaluated the relationship between ACC MD and past suicide attempt. <b>Results:</b> Mean diffusivity of the left caudal ACC was associated with the odds of past MDD, independent of age, sex, SES, and adversity exposure. In contrast, ACC mean diffusivity was not associated with a history of suicide attempt. <b>Conclusions:</b> Increased mean diffusivity in the caudal ACC may indicate microstructural alterations associated with depressive vulnerability in adolescence. ACC tissue integrity may serve as a sensitive neural correlate of early-onset depression.

This paper examines the transformation of Yi women’s social status in Daliangshan, Sichuan Province. It analyzes historical practices—including child marriage (<i>wawaqin</i>) and the tradition of high bridal gifts—along with the role of education, economic modernization, and cultural advocacy initiatives. The study situates these developments within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on gender equality, poverty alleviation, and equitable development. Field interviews, observations, and community-based projects inform this analysis, which highlights both progress and persisting challenges for Yi women.

This paper describes the current status of research on disease distress in elderly type 2 diabetic patients at home and abroad, with a view to developing targeted interventions for diabetic patients, improving self-management behavioral ability and quality of life in elderly type 2 diabetic patients, and improving patients' glycemic control.

Simulation-based learning (SBL) is widely recognized as an effective educational approach that bridges theory and practice in nursing education. Despite its global adoption, limited research has examined the experiences of Filipino nursing students with SBL, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This study explored the perspectives of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students from a university in Metro Manila, Philippines, on the impact of SBL on their skills, emotional responses, and challenges encountered. A descriptive qualitative design was employed using purposive sampling of ten students who had participated in at least one SBL activity. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and short written reflections and analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s framework to capture nuanced experiences. Three major themes emerged from the analysis. First, students reported initial anxiety, nervousness, and stress during their early SBL experiences, which gradually transformed into confidence, adaptability, and resilience as they gained familiarity and competence. Second, SBL enhanced technical and cognitive skills such as clinical judgment, decision-making, teamwork, and patient-centered care, supporting students’ readiness for real-world practice. Third, students identified resource limitations, insufficient equipment, and time constraints as significant barriers to optimal learning, though these challenges also fostered creativity and perseverance. The findings demonstrate that SBL fosters technical competence, critical thinking, and professional growth but requires institutional support to address resource constraints and faculty development needs. This study underscores the importance of expanding SBL in Philippine nursing curricula to align with international best practices and to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being), 4 (quality education), and 5 (gender equality).

<b>Background:</b> Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth are at elevated risk for adverse mental health and substance use outcomes. Stressors such as family conflict, discrimination, and trauma have been suggested as possible mediators of these disparities. <b>Aims:</b> This study examined whether family conflict, discrimination, and trauma mediate the associations between SGM identity and adverse outcomes, including suicide attempt, major depressive disorder (MDD), nicotine use, and marijuana use. <b>Methods:</b> Participants were children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. SGM identity was reported at baseline, while outcomes included past MDD and suicide attempts as well as future nicotine and marijuana use. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test both direct and indirect pathways linking SGM identity to mental health and behavioral outcomes. <b>Results:</b> No significant mediation was found through family conflict, discrimination, or trauma. Instead, effects of SGM identity were primarily direct: SGM youth had higher odds of past suicide attempts and MDD, as well as future marijuana use, but not future nicotine use. Stressor variables, however, were independently associated with outcomes. Discrimination predicted all outcomes; trauma was positively associated with suicide, nicotine, and marijuana use but not MDD; and family conflict predicted all outcomes except MDD. <b>Conclusion:</b> Family conflict, discrimination, and trauma did not mediate SGM disparities in mental health and substance use, but each emerged as an independent predictor of risk. These findings highlight the complexity of mechanisms underlying SGM-related disparities and suggest the need for future research to explore additional pathways and contextual influences.

This research is a collaboration involving a university team, a partnering corporation, and a hemodialysis clinic, which is a cross-disciplinary research initiative in the field of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) within the medical informatics domain. The research has two objectives: (1) The development of an <i>Internet of Things (IoT)</i><i>-based</i><i> Information System</i> customized for the hemodialysis machines at the clinic, including transmission bridges, clinical personnel dedicated web/app, and a backend server. The system has been deployed at the clinic and is now officially operational; (2) The research also utilized de-identified, anonymous data (collected by the officially operational system) to train, evaluate, and compare <i>Deep Learning-based Intradialytic Blood Pressure</i><i> (BP)</i><i>/Pulse </i><i>Rate (PR) </i><i>Predictive Models</i>, with subsequent suggestions provided. Both objectives were executed under the supervision of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. The system completed for objective one has introduced three significant services to the clinic, including automated hemodialysis data collection, digitized data storage, and an information-rich human-machine interface as well as graphical data displays, which replaces traditional paper-based clinical administrative operations, thereby enhancing healthcare efficiency. The graphical data presented through web and app interfaces aids in real-time, intuitive comprehension of the patients’ conditions during hemodialysis. Moreover, the data stored in the backend database is available for physicians to conduct relevant analyses, unearth insights into medical practices, and provide precise medical care for individual patients. The training and evaluation of the predictive models for objective two, along with related comparisons, analyses, and recommendations, suggest that in situations with limited computational resources and data, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model with six hidden layers, SELU activation function, and a focus on artery-related features can be employed for hourly intradialytic BP/PR prediction tasks. It is believed that this contributes to the collaborating clinic and relevant research communities.

Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT) is a new and revolutionary concept in addressing healthcare crises worldwide. Its relevance and applications were tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no definite and encompassing research was done to apply it to nursing leadership. Thus, this study examines CLT integration into nursing leadership to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. Through a systematic review of literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, relevant studies were analyzed to determine how complexity leadership theory was defined, conceptualized, and operationalized within nursing leadership context. The findings reveal that traditional hierarchical leadership models are insufficient in a dynamic crisis environment like the pandemic. Instead, CLT’s framework which encompasses adaptive, administrative, and enabling leadership facilitates innovation, resilience, and effective interprofessional collaboration. Nurse leaders employing these strategies are better positioned to manage resources limitation, foster shared decision-making, and implement technological advancements in rapidly changing healthcare settings. Overall, this study underscores the potential of complexity leadership theory to transform nursing leadership practices by promoting continuous learning and empowerment, thereby enhancing crisis response and preparedness for future pandemics.

<b>Background: </b>Maternal nutrition plays a crucial role in fetal brain development, with vitamin B12 being essential for neuronal myelination and cognitive function. The paper by Hrezova et al. entitled “Vitamin B12 Intake During Pregnancy Linked to Child Speech Development and Intelligence Quotient”, examines the association between maternal B12 intake and early childhood neurodevelopment. <b>Methods: </b>Using data from 5,151 mother-child pairs in the ELSPAC-CZ cohort, maternal B12 intake was assessed through dietary questionnaires, and child cognitive outcomes were evaluated at 18 months, 3 years, and 8 years. Multivariate adjustments were applied to control for potential confounders. <b>Results: </b>The research reports that higher maternal B12 intake was positively associated with improved language comprehension at 18 months (B=0.20,95% CI 0.06,0.34) and increased verbal IQ at 8 years (B=1.08,95% CI 0.09,2.08). However, no significant relationship was observed between maternal B12 intake and speech intelligibility at age 3 (OR=1.03,95% CI 0.99,1.07). Findings suggest B12’s role in early cognitive development but highlight gaps in its long-term effects. <b>Conclusions: </b>Ensuring adequate maternal B12 intake is vital for optimizing early neurodevelopment. Public health initiatives should promote B12 supplementation, especially for pregnant women at risk of deficiency. Further research with objective biomarkers is needed to clarify long-term effects.

<b>Background: </b>The sensory-motor network is essential for integrating sensory input with motor function and higher-order cognition. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) within this network undergoes significant developmental changes, and disruptions in these connections have been linked to behavioral and psychiatric outcomes. However, the relationship between sensory-motor connectivity, early-life adversity, and later health behaviors remains understudied. <b>Objective: </b>This study examines the associations between rsFC within the sensory-motor network (mouth and hand regions) and key social, psychological, and behavioral factors, including baseline and past socioeconomic status (SES), trauma exposure, family conflict, impulsivity, major depressive disorder (MDD), and future substance use. <b>Methods: </b>Data were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a national sample of U.S. children. Resting-state fMRI data were used to assess functional connectivity within the sensory-motor network. Bivariate analyses examined associations between rsFC in the sensory-motor mouth and hand regions and baseline SES, past SES, childhood trauma exposure, family conflict, impulsivity, and MDD. Longitudinal analyses assessed whether baseline rsFC predicted future substance use. <b>Results: </b>Greater rsFC between the sensory-motor mouth and hand regions was significantly associated with lower SES, higher trauma exposure, and greater family conflict. Increased connectivity was also correlated with older age and more advanced puberty status. Higher rsFC between the sensory-motor mouth and hand regions was linked to greater impulsivity, lower cognitive function, an increased likelihood of MDD, and future marijuana use. <b>Conclusion: </b>These findings suggest that sensory-motor connectivity is sensitive to socioeconomic and psychosocial stressors, with potential long-term implications for mental health and substance use risk. The results highlight the importance of early-life environmental factors in shaping neurodevelopmental trajectories and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the effects of adversity on brain function and behavior. Future research should further explore the role of sensory-motor network alterations in behavioral health outcomes as a function of environmental stressors.

<b>Background</b><b>:</b><b> </b>The Motivational Theory of Life-Span Development suggests that individual aspirations are shaped by both internal and external resources. Parental education is a key determinant of educational aspirations, yet its effects may vary by geographic location, demonstrating spatial patterns of Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs). <b>Objectives</b><b>:</b><b> </b>This study examines the association between parental education and aspirations for graduate or professional education among non-Latino White adolescents, with a specific focus on urban-suburban versus rural differences. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Using data from the 12th-grade cohort of the Monitoring the Future (MTF) 2024 survey, we conducted multivariate analyses to assess the relationship between parental education and aspirations for graduate or professional education. We further examined whether this association was moderated by geographic location (urban-suburban vs. rural) to identify place-based MDRs. <b>Results</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Higher parental education was associated with greater aspirations for advanced education; however, this effect was weaker in rural areas compared to urban and suburban settings. These findings highlight that even among non-Latino White adolescents, rural residence diminishes the benefits of socioeconomic resources, providing evidence of place-based MDRs. <b>Conclusion</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Rural residents face a dual disadvantage—both lower socioeconomic status and weaker returns on those resources—necessitating targeted interventions beyond resource allocation. To address disparities in educational aspirations in rural areas, policymakers should focus on improving equitable access to educational opportunities and ensuring that these resources translate into comparable outcomes across different social and geographic contexts.

<b>Background: </b>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. <b>Methods: </b>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 substance use. <b>Results: </b>Baseline hippocampal rsFC with the cingulo-parietal network, visual network, sensory-motor network, and DMN showed marginal associations with future tobacco and marijuana use. Additionally, hippocampal rsFC was significantly associated with impulsivity, which, in turn, predicted higher substance use at follow-up. These findings suggest that hippocampal rsFC partially mediates the relationship between impulsivity and substance use behaviors. <b>Conclusions: </b>Hippocampal functional connectivity with brain networks may influence the pathway from impulsivity to future substance use in adolescence. These findings emphasize the importance of hippocampal connectivity in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying risk behaviors and may inform the development of targeted interventions to reduce substance use in this vulnerable population.

</b>Background: </b>The Cingulo-Opercular Network (CON) is a crucial executive control network involved in regulating actions and facilitating higher-order cognitive processes. Resting-state functional connectivity between the CON and the Default Mode Network (DMN) plays a vital role in cognitive regulation, enabling the transition between internally focused and externally directed tasks. This study investigates whether resting-state functional connectivity between the CON and DMN mediates the effects of social determinants, such as educational opportunities and family structure, on cognitive outcomes in youth. <b>Aims: </b>This study aims to explore how CON-DMN connectivity influences the relationship between social gradients and cognition in youth. Specifically, it examines whether resting-state functional connectivity between these networks mediates the effects of educational opportunities and family structure on cognitive outcomes and seeks to uncover the neural mechanisms underlying these social gradients. <b>Methods: </b>Data were derived from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a large longitudinal dataset of over 11,000 children aged 9–10 years. Cognitive outcomes were assessed using standardized NIH toolbox measures: Total Composite, Fluid Reasoning, Picture Vocabulary, Pattern Recognition, and Card Sorting. Social determinants were operationalized using indicators such as parental education, family composition, and neighborhood educational opportunities (COI). Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the CON and DMN was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test whether CON-DMN rsFC mediated the relationship between social determinants and cognitive outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex, and race/ethnicity. <b>Results: </b>Stable family structure and greater educational opportunities were significantly associated with improved cognitive performance. These relationships were mediated by reduced functional connectivity between the CON and DMN. <b>Conclusion: </b>Reduced functional connectivity between the CON and DMN serves as a neural mechanism linking social gradients, such as educational opportunities and family structure, to better cognitive outcomes in youth.

<b>Background:</b> As a central component of the brain's reward system, nucleus accumbens (NAcc) plays a crucial role in reward salience and substance use behaviors. Changes in the NAcc are also relevant to higher rates of substance use of youth and adults from low-income backgrounds. Although resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the NAcc provides valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying reward processing and the propensity for self-reported reward salience and substance use, research exploring the association between NAcc rsFC and brain networks beyond the default mode network (DMN) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) is limited. <b>Objective:</b> To investigate the role of the resting-state functional connectivity of the NAcc with the cingulo-opercular network, sensorimotor mouth network, and sensorimotor hand network in the association between socioeconomic status, self-reported reward salience, and future substance use. <b>Methods:</b> Data were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. NAcc rsFC with the cingulo-opercular network, sensorimotor mouth network, and sensorimotor hand network was assessed at baseline. Socioeconomic status was measured using family income. Self-reported reward salience was assessed using validated psychometric scales. Substance use outcomes were tracked longitudinally over the study period. Structural Equation Modeling was employed to examine the covariances between family income, NAcc rsFC, reward salience, and subsequent substance use. <b>Results:</b> Higher baseline family income was positively associated with baseline NAcc rsFC (B = 0.092, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with baseline reward salience (B = -0.040, p = 0.036) and future substance use (B = -0.081, p < 0.001). Baseline NAcc rsFC was strongly and positively associated with reward salience (B = 0.734, p < 0.001) and future substance use up to age 13 (B = 0.124, p < 0.001). Additionally, baseline reward salience was positively associated with future substance use (Covariance = 0.176, p < 0.001). <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings suggest that NAcc rsFC with brain networks beyond the DMN or PFC may contribute to the links between low parental socioeconomic status, reward salience, and substance use risk. Expanding the understanding of NAcc rsFC provides new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying these associations. These results have important implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at preventing substance use, particularly among low-income youth with heightened reward salience. Further research is needed to explore causal pathways and moderating factors influencing these relationships.

<b>Objective: </b>To examine racial/ethnic differences in the associations of family socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood SES, and inhibitory control with body mass index (BMI) in 9-10-year-old children using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. <b>Methods: </b>This cross-sectional study included a diverse sample of children aged 9-10 years, representing non-Latino White, Black, Latino, Asian, and Other racial/ethnic groups. BMI was the primary outcome. Key predictors were family SES, neighborhood SES, and inhibitory control. Multivariable regression models were stratified by race/ethnicity to identify group-specific associations. <b>Results: </b>Race/ethnic groups differed in<b> </b>psychosocial correlates of childhood BMI at age 9 and 10. Among non-Latino White children, higher family income (B = -0.086, p < 0.001), higher parental education (B = -0.069, p < 0.001), and living in a married household (B = -0.079, p < 0.001) were associated with lower BMI. Additionally, the presence of healthy food options in the zip code (B = -0.030, p = 0.032) was linked to lower BMI, while lack of planning (B = 0.032, p = 0.030) was associated with higher BMI. For non-Latino Black children, positive urgency (B = -0.068, p = 0.022) was negatively associated with BMI, while other factors such as family SES and neighborhood SES did not show significant associations. For Latino children, higher family income (B = -0.093, p = 0.001) and parental education (B = -0.099, p < 0.001) were associated with lower BMI. In this group, male gender (B = 0.043, p = 0.033) was associated with higher BMI. Among Asian children, higher family income (B = -0.199, p = 0.006) and parental education (B = -0.144, p = 0.037) were significantly associated with lower BMI. For children in the "Other" racial/ethnic category, higher family income (B = -0.101, p = 0.023), living in a married household (B = -0.076, p = 0.026), and higher median income in the zip code (B = -0.083, p = 0.013) were associated with lower BMI. In this group, male children had lower BMI compared to females (B = -0.089, p = 0.001). <b>Conclusion: </b>The findings highlight substantial racial/ethnic differences in the psychosocial and socioeconomic correlates of BMI in children. There is a need for tailored interventions that target social determinants of childhood high BMI. One size does not fit all.

<b>Background: </b>Emotional problems have been associated with substance use, yet longitudinal research examining this relationship during childhood and adolescence in large, diverse, community-based samples remains limited.<b> </b><b>Aims: </b>This study investigates the prospective associations between three emotional problems—hopelessness, depression, and suicide attempts—before ages 9–10 and the subsequent initiation of tobacco and marijuana use before ages 14–15, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.<b> </b><b>Methods: </b>Data from the ABCD study were analyzed. Baseline emotional problems, including hopelessness, depression, and suicide attempts, were assessed at ages 9–10 through structured parent interviews. Substance use outcomes (tobacco and marijuana initiation) were tracked from baseline to follow-up at ages 14–15 using structured self-report measures. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the predictive roles of these early-life emotional problems, controlling for potential confounders such as demographic factors and family and neighborhood socioeconomic status.<b> </b><b>Results: </b>Baseline hopelessness, depression, and suicide attempts at ages 9–10 were significant predictors of tobacco and marijuana use initiation at ages 14–15. These associations remained robust after adjusting for confounders, indicating the independent effects of early emotional problems on adolescent substance use initiation.<b> </b><b>Conclusions: </b>Emotional problems in early childhood, including hopelessness, depression, and suicidal behavior, are critical predictors of substance use initiation during adolescence. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and targeted mental health interventions to reduce the risk of substance use among vulnerable youth.

<b>Background: </b>Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-established predictor of cognitive function in children, but the neurobiological pathways through which SES influences cognitive outcomes remain underexplored. This study examines the role of the cingulate gyrus (region of the brain that is involved in emotion regulation, decision-making, error detection, and cognitive control) in mediating the relationship between SES and cognitive performance, with a focus on whether these effects vary by sex. <b>Objective: </b>To investigate the role of the cingulate gyrus in mediating the association between social gradients (family SES) and cognitive function in children and assess potential sex differences in these pathways. <b>Methods:</b> Data were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Cognitive function was assessed using a composite measure of executive function and general cognitive ability. Structural MRI data were used to measure the volume of the cingulate gyrus. Path analysis was conducted to examine the mediating role of the cingulate gyrus in the association between SES and cognitive function. Interaction terms were included to test for sex differences. <b>Results:</b> Higher SES was significantly associated with a larger cingulate gyrus volume and better cognitive function. The volume of the left cingulate gyrus partially mediated the relationship between family and neighborhood SES and cognitive function, explaining a portion of the social gradient in cognitive outcomes. No significant sex differences were found in these mediating effects. <b>Conclusions:</b> The cingulate gyrus partially mediates the link between SES and cognitive function in children. These findings suggest that social disparities in cognitive function may operate, in part, through neurobiological changes such as those in the cingulate gyrus, without significant variation by sex.

<b>Background:</b><b> </b>School characteristics — including poverty levels, teacher experience, graduation rates, and college enrollment — are essential determinants of students’ academic outcomes and long-term success. Families often use their socioeconomic resources, such as parental education and household income, to secure access to high-quality schools with favorable attributes. However, Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory suggests that Black families may not experience the same benefits of high family SES due to structural barriers. This study examines the association between family SES and school characteristics, focusing on racial disparities in access to high-quality educational environments. <b>Objective:</b><b> </b>To investigate the relationship between family SES (parental education and household income) and multiple school characteristics (poverty, teacher experience, graduation rates, and college enrollment), and to assess racial differences in these associations. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>Data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a national sample of US adolescents, was analyzed. We used multivariate regression models to examine associations between family SES and school characteristics and to test for interactions by race, specifically comparing Black and White adolescents. <b>Results:</b><b> </b>Higher family SES was associated with positive school characteristics overall, including lower school poverty, greater teacher experience, and increased graduation and college enrollment rates. However, these positive effects of high family SES on school characteristics were significantly weaker for Black adolescents than for White adolescents. Black adolescents from high-income families were more likely than White adolescents from similar backgrounds to attend schools with higher poverty rates, less experienced teachers, and reduced graduation and college enrollment rates. <b>Conclusion:</b><b> </b>Our findings highlight persistent racial inequities in access to educational opportunities, even among families with comparable socioeconomic resources. The diminished returns of family SES for Black adolescents underscore the role of structural barriers in limiting access to high-quality schools. These findings emphasize the need for policy interventions to address systemic inequalities that hinder Black families from fully leveraging their SES to access favorable educational environments.