Articles

High-quality collaborative discourse is essential for deep learning in Problem-Based Learning (PBL). However, novice facilitators frequently struggle with topic drift, which occurs when discussions deviate from core learning objectives. Grounded in Cognitive Load Theory and instructional scaffolding, this paper analyzes the cognitive mechanisms behind topic drift in PBL. It identifies three typical deviation patterns: "Premature Resolution" (bypassing mechanistic deduction), "Detail Fixation" (over-engagement with peripheral details), and "Social Avoidance" (stemming from dysfunctional group dynamics). To address these patterns, this paper presents a literature-based facilitation guide offering specific intervention strategies and discursive prompts. These include mechanistic backtracking, metacognitive monitoring, and cognitive visualization. The study argues that effective pedagogical intervention relies on the strategic timing of facilitation rather than the immediate correction of factual errors. Ultimately, built on a foundation of relational trust, this process requires educators to shift their role from "epistemic authorities" to "cognitive coaches."

Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) generate vast volumes of user-generated content that provide real-time insights into public sentiment. Despite the widespread use of traditional machine learning methods, their limitations in capturing contextual nuances in noisy social media text remain a challenge. This study leverages the Sentiment140 dataset, comprising 1.6 million labeled tweets, and develops predictive models for binary sentiment classification using Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression, and the transformer-based BERT model. Experiments were conducted on a balanced subset of 12,000 tweets after comprehensive NLP preprocessing. Evaluation using accuracy, F1-score, and confusion matrices revealed that BERT significantly outperforms traditional models, achieving an accuracy of 89.5% and an F1-score of 0.89 by effectively modeling contextual and semantic nuances. In contrast, Naive Bayes and Logistic Regression demonstrated reasonable but consistently lower performance. To support practical deployment, we introduce SentiFeel, an interactive tool enabling real-time sentiment analysis. While resource constraints limited the dataset size and training epochs, future work will explore full corpus utilization and the inclusion of neutral sentiment classes. These findings underscore the potential of transformer models for enhanced public opinion monitoring, marketing analytics, and policy forecasting.

Background:</b> Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among adolescents is a growing public health concern, particularly in low-income and Black communities. However, little is known about how social determinants of health shape e-cigarette perceptions in this population. <b>Aims:</b> This study examined social determinants associated with perceptions of e-cigarette safety among Baltimore high school students. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional survey (CEASE Youth: School Survey) was conducted with 604 Baltimore high school students aged 14–20. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing perceptions of e-cigarette safety, as well as parental education, race/ethnicity, parental employment, household composition, and community tobacco use. <b>Results:</b> Higher parental education was associated with lower perceived e-cigarette safety among students. Students in higher grades also reported lower perceived e-cigarette safety. In contrast, male students—particularly those in upper grades—were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as safe. Race/ethnicity, household composition, parental employment, and community tobacco exposure were not associated with perceived e-cigarette safety. <b>Conclusion:</b> Higher parental education, female gender, and being in higher grades were associated with perceiving e-cigarettes as unsafe. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address vaping perceptions among youth in urban settings.

Eating at home remains very much ingrained in Ghanaian culture but rapid urbanization coupled with busy lifestyle and advancement in technology has greatly changed the way of life of many Ghanaians. These changes have altered the tradition of cooking and eating at home. The study focused on the determinants of consumer patronage of street foods in the Koforidua Metropolis. The target population comprised customers that patronize the street foods in Koforidua Metropolis. From the target population, 197 consumers were selected using convenience. A structured self-administered questionnaire was utilized to gather the required data. The data collected were coded and analyzed with the help of SPSS-23. The findings revealed that food characteristics and social status determines consumers patronage of street food. It became evident that age (r=0.261, p<0.01), age (r=-0.318, P<0.01), educational level (r=0.144, P<0.05) and occupation (r=-0.477, P<0.01) of consumers has a significant influence on the decision and patronage of street food. The study concluded that food characteristics and social factors are major determinants of consumers patronage of street foods. It is recommended that Food and Drug Authority (FDA), other stakeholders, and street food vendors work cooperatively to establish laws that capture the distinctive and diverse foods sold on the street and their various preparation, storage, and sale methods in order to ensure that food preparation and sales are safe and hygienic.

<b>Background: </b>Socioeconomic status (SES) is widely associated with improved health, behavioral, and educational outcomes. However, emerging research suggests that these benefits are not uniformly experienced across populations or contexts. The theory of Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) has primarily focused on racial and ethnic disparities, showing that individuals from racially marginalized groups often experience weaker protective effects of SES. There is a lack of evidence on geography—particularly rural residence—as a moderator of SES effects. <b>Objective:</b> This review explores how place, especially rural contexts in the U.S., shapes the extent to which SES translates into improved outcomes. We extend the MDRs framework to include place-based and geography-based marginalization, arguing that even among non-Hispanic White populations, rural residence can lead to diminished returns on education, income, and other forms of capital. <b>Content:</b> Drawing on theoretical models such as Fundamental Cause Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, and synthesizing empirical findings from studies of academic achievement, substance use, and educational aspirations, this review highlights how structural disadvantages in rural areas weaken the effectiveness of individual and family-level resources. <b>Conclusion: </b>Rural health and educational disparities are not solely due to a lack of resources but may also reflect systemic conditions that erode the value of existing resources. Policy interventions must be place-aware and address the contextual constraints that limit opportunity. Future research should more explicitly test how geography moderates the effects of SES across a range of outcomes and populations.

This article is a comparative analysis of the short stories «Longing» by Anton Chekhov and «Prayer for Happiness» by Lu Xun, exploring the themes of social exclusion, grief and the impossibility of communication in society at the end of the XIX – beginning of the XX century. The article examines how both authors portray the struggle of the main characters to connect with other people in the face of personal tragedy and the indifference of society. The author analyzes the narrative techniques, symbolic images and character development used by Chekhov and Lu Xun to convey universal human experiences of loss, loneliness and the search for meaning in an indifferent world.

This study investigated the pedagogical implications of out-of-field teaching in Social Studies. The Out-of-field Social Studies teachers could encounter several challenges in their preparation and the implementation of the integrated Social Studies curriculum. This study sought the lived experiences of the out-of-field teachers concerning the causes of out-of-field teaching in social studies, problems encountered by the out-of-field teachers and the mechanisms they employ to cope with the teaching of Social Studies. The study chose the qualitative phenomenological research design. Data were collected from all the 17 out-of-field Social Studies teachers through in-depth structured interview. Data were transcribed and analysed, through the inductive thematic analysis approach, unveiling of themes and concepts from the narratives of the research participants. The study revealed that out-of-field teaching in Social Studies occurs as a result of teacher shortage in integrated social studies programme. It is also caused by the perception that any teacher could teach Social Studies irrespective of the teachers’ qualification. Out-of-field teacher encounter problems such as inadequate content and pedagogical knowledge, lack of classroom managerial techniques and inability to deliver lessons through the integrated approach. Engaging in professional development courses, peer coaching, in-service training and workshops were some of the mechanisms employed by out-of-field teachers to cope with the teaching of Social Studies. The pedagogical implications of this phenomenon are that when teaching the Social Studies, the out-of-field teachers place more emphasis on aspects of the Social Studies curriculum where they have much knowledge and skip or put less emphasis on other aspects they lack in-depth knowledge, thus, the integrated approach to teaching Social Studies is not adopted effectively by out-of-field teachers. This waters down the content of Social Studies at the Senior High School level. Addressing the problem of out-of-field teaching in Social Studies requires training and recruiting more teachers who have background training and experience in the integrated approach to the teaching of Social Studies.

<b>Background:</b> Educational attainment is strongly linked to increased employment opportunities, higher income, and greater financial security, making its inverse relationship with reliance on social welfare programs well-documented.<b> </b>However, consistent with the Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory, the protective effects of education may be weaker for racial and ethnic minority groups compared to non-Latino Whites. This study examines whether the impact of educational attainment (measured as years of schooling) on social welfare use differs between Caribbean Black and White adults in the United States, focusing on outcomes since age 18 and in the past year. <b>Objective:</b><b> </b>To investigate the relationship between years of schooling and the likelihood of using social welfare programs, while exploring whether this association varies between Caribbean Black and White adults, in alignment with the MDRs framework. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>Data were derived from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), a nationally representative dataset with a robust sample of Black and White adults in the United States. The study focused on Caribbean Black and White participants aged 18 and older. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationship between years of schooling and social welfare use, adjusting for covariates including age, gender, employment status, and marital status. Interaction terms were used to assess potential differences in the returns of education across racial groups. <b>Results:</b><b> </b>Higher educational attainment was associated with reduced likelihood of using social welfare programs overall. However, consistent with the MDRs framework, the protective effect of education was weaker for Caribbean Black individuals compared to their White counterparts. Caribbean Blacks with similar levels of education as Whites were more likely to report using social welfare programs since age 18 and in the past year, highlighting diminished returns on education for this population. <b>Conclusion:</b><b> </b>This study extends the MDRs framework to Caribbean Black populations, a group rarely studied in the U.S., revealing significant disparities in the economic benefits of education. The findings underscore the need for policies that address systemic barriers limiting the economic returns of education for racial and ethnic minorities, including Caribbean Blacks, to promote greater equity in social and economic outcomes.

The national museum of a country, as a cultural symbol of the nation, plays an important role in cultural communication at home and abroad. This study explores the online brand identity construction of two national museums—the British Museum and the National Museum of China—to inform cultural brands of the discursive strategies to distinguish themselves from others and communicate with their audiences effectively. Informed by multimodal critical discourse analysis, this paper analyzes the websites of the two museums and their social media posts, depicts their brand identity prisms, and evaluates the effectiveness of their online communication. The results show that both museums use multimodal and hypertextual resources to create unique and congruent brand images in website design and social media interaction with their target audiences, fulfilling the institutional functions of museums as the symbol of national culture or world civilization. They express differential personalities and cultural values to reinforce their brand identities in different sociocultural and political contexts. The findings may provide insight into the use of multimodality in online communication for cultural institutions to enhance their brand images and promote cultural exchanges.

<b>Background</b>: Childhood poverty is a critical determinant of developmental, health, and behavioral outcomes. However, racial and ethnic differences in how families experience and navigate poverty suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be an effective approach for alleviating disparities. Understanding baseline demographic, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral characteristics among families in poverty is crucial to designing equitable interventions. <b>Objective</b><b>:</b><b> </b>To examine racial and ethnic differences in baseline demographic, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral characteristics among families living in poverty, using data from the Baby's First Years (BFY:2018-2019) Study. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b><b> </b>This analysis used baseline data from the BFY study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effects of monthly cash assistance on children’s developmental outcomes. The sample included 1,050 children and their families, consisting of mothers and, when available, fathers. Descriptive analyses were conducted to compare demographic, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral outcomes across racial and ethnic groups, focusing on Black, Hispanic, and other mothers. <b>Results</b><b>:</b> Significant racial and ethnic differences were observed. Regarding demographic factors, Hispanic mothers were older than White mothers. In terms of socioeconomic factors, Hispanic mothers had fewer years of education compared to White mothers, while Black mothers were more likely to receive food stamps than mothers from other groups. Regarding health and behaviors, Black mothers reported worse self-rated health but were less likely to plan for breastfeeding compared to White mothers. In contrast, Hispanic mothers reported lower levels of depression and were more likely to plan for breastfeeding. <b>Conclusion</b><b>:</b><b> </b>These findings highlight the heterogeneity of experiences among families living in poverty, with significant differences across racial and ethnic groups. Such disparities underscore the importance of tailoring anti-poverty policies to the unique needs of diverse populations. Future research should explore how the effects of interventions, such as cash assistance or guaranteed income, may differ across racial and ethnic groups to inform equitable and effective policy development.

<b>Background</b><b>:</b><b> </b>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. <b>Objective</b><b>:</b><b> </b>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. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Using a cross-sectional survey of college and university students, we examined the associations between e-cigarette use within different social networks and individual e-cigarette attitudes and use. Multivariate regression models assessed the strength of these associations, adjusting for key demographic and behavioral covariates. <b>Results</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Findings indicate that among college and university students, the strongest influence on both e-cigarette attitudes and use comes from friends who use e-cigarettes. In contrast, parental and sibling e-cigarette use showed weak or non-significant effects. These results suggest that peer influence, rather than family influence, plays a dominant role in shaping e-cigarette-related behaviors and perceptions in young adults. <b>Conclusion</b><b>:</b><b> </b>This study underscores the importance of peer influence in e-cigarette uptake and attitudes among college and university students. Public health interventions aimed at reducing e-cigarette use in this population should consider targeting peer networks rather than focusing solely on family-based influences.

</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> The Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory posits that social determinants of health, such as parental education, exert weaker protective effects on health and educational outcomes in racialized and minoritized populations compared to White populations. <b>Aim: </b>This study examines whether higher maternal education is associated with better high school GPA in Black youth and whether this association aligns with the MDRs framework. <b>Methods:</b> Data were drawn from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study also known as Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) baseline and 22nd year follow-up (1990-2022). This study included 1873 Black or White participants who were followed from birth to age 22. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between maternal education and high school GPA, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Analyses focused on the differential effects of maternal education across racial groups, particularly among Black youth. <b>Results:</b> While maternal education was positively associated with high school GPA, this effect was weaker for Black students compared to their White counterparts. Specifically, each additional year of maternal education corresponded to a lower GPA increase in Black students, consistent with the MDRs hypothesis. <b>Conclusion:</b> Findings support the MDRs theory, indicating that maternal education has a reduced protective effect on high school GPA among Black youth. These results underscore the need for policies that address structural factors beyond education to promote equitable academic achievement.

<b>Background:</b> Parental education is a key determinant of academic performance, yet its protective effects may differ by race and ethnicity. The concept of Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) highlights the weaker association between socioeconomic resources and outcomes for marginalized populations, including Black and Latino youth. <b>Objective:</b><b> </b>To investigate whether the positive association between parental education and school performance (letter grades) is weaker for Black and Latino youth compared to non-Latino White youth. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>Data were drawn from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) 2023 study. The sample included Black, Latino, and non-Latino White youth. The outcome was a nine-level continuous measure of academic performance based on self-reported letter grades, with higher scores indicating better performance. Multivariate regression models tested interactions between parental education and race/ethnicity in predicting grades, adjusting for confounders such as family income, gender, and school characteristics. <b>Results:</b><b> </b>A total number of<b> </b>7584 12<SUP>th</SUP> graders entered the study.<b> </b>Parental education was positively associated with school performance across all groups, but the magnitude of this association was significantly smaller for Black and Latino youth compared to non-Latino White youth. Even after controlling for socioeconomic and contextual factors, the racial and ethnic differences in the strength of this association persisted. <b>Conclusions:</b><b> </b>Our findings provide evidence of Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) in the academic domain, with Black and Latino youth experiencing weaker benefits of parental education on school performance. These disparities suggest that structural barriers and systemic inequities undermine the translation of parental educational attainment into academic success for marginalized groups. Policy interventions must address these structural barriers to promote equity in educational outcomes.

<b>Background:</b><b> </b>Educational attainment is generally associated with reduced reliance on Social Security and disability benefits; however, the Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory suggests that the socioeconomic benefits of education are weaker for minoritized populations. This study investigates the relationship between educational attainment and welfare receipt among American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) and White adults in the United States. <b>Objective:</b><b> </b>Using the MDRs framework, we analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2023 to examine how educational attainment impacts welfare receipt among AIAN and White adults. <b>Methods:</b><b> </b>We analyzed a nationally representative sample of AIAN and White adults from the NHIS 2023 dataset. Welfare receipt was assessed as the receipt of any public assistance or welfare payments from state or local welfare offices. Educational attainment was categorized into three levels: less than high school (reference), high school diploma to some college, and college degree or higher. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between educational attainment and welfare receipt, with separate analyses for AIAN and White adults to evaluate differential effects. <b>Results:</b> Higher educational attainment (high school diploma to some college and college degree or higher) was associated with lower odds of welfare receipt across both groups. However, the protective effect of a college degree was significantly weaker for AIAN adults compared to White adults. Consequently, AIAN adults remain at a higher risk of welfare reliance even with higher education, consistent with the Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) framework. <b>Conclusions:</b> Although educational attainment generally reduces welfare reliance, this protection is less pronounced for AIAN adults than for White adults. This discrepancy suggests that structural factors, segregation, and social stratification may undermine the economic and health benefits of education for racialized groups in the U.S. Addressing these disparities requires policy interventions that extend beyond education, emphasizing quality job opportunities, healthcare access, and reduced labor market discrimination for individuals with advanced educational credentials, regardless of race.

<b>Background</b>: While educational attainment is generally associated with reduced reliance on Social Security and disability benefits, Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory suggests that the socioeconomic benefits of educational attainment are not equally distributed across racial groups and are weaker for minoritized populations. This study explores the association between educational attainment and reliance on Social Security and disability benefits among Black and White adults in the United States. <b>Objective</b>: Building on the MDRs framework, we analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2023 to examine how educational attainment impacts reliance on Social Security disability income, disability benefits, and public assistance for Black and White adults. <b>Methods</b>: We used a nationally representative sample of Black and White adults from the NHIS 2023 dataset. The outcomes assessed were reliance on three income sources: (1) Social Security disability income, (2) disability benefit income, and (3) public assistance disability income. Educational attainment was classified into three levels: less than high school (reference), high school diploma to some college, and college graduate or more. Logistic regression models assessed the relationship between educational attainment and reliance on each income source, with separate analyses for Black and White adults to evaluate differential effects. <b>Results</b>: Higher levels of educational attainment (high school diploma to some college and college graduate or more) were associated with lower odds of relying on Social Security disability, disability benefits, and public assistance. However, the protective effects of educational attainment were notably stronger for White adults than for Black adults. Among Black adults, even high educational attainment showed limited effectiveness in reducing reliance on these income sources, underscoring the Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) phenomenon. <b>Conclusions</b>: Although educational attainment reduces reliance on Social Security and disability-related income sources, these protective effects are less pronounced for Black adults compared to White adults. The findings reveal persistent racial disparities in the economic returns of education, suggesting that structural factors may undermine the socioeconomic and health benefits of educational achievement for Black Americans. Targeted policy interventions may be needed to improve economic stability for Black adults, including those with higher educational credentials.

<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>Parental employment is a significant social determinant of children's developmental outcomes, shaping their cognitive and behavioral trajectories. However, the effects of parental employment may not be equally protective across racial groups. The Minority Diminished Returns (MDRs) framework suggests that socioeconomic status (SES) factors, such as employment, yield fewer protective benefits for Black families compared to White families. <b>Objective: </b>This study investigates the diminished returns of parental employment on trauma and associated neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes in children, with a focus on racial variation in these effects. <b>Methods: </b>Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a large and diverse sample of children was analyzed. We applied MDRs theory and social determinants of health frameworks to examine the association between parental employment, trauma, and children's cognitive and behavioral outcomes. The analysis controlled for family SES, neighborhood factors, and racial group differences. <b>Results: </b>Preliminary findings suggest that while parental employment is generally protective against trauma, the strength of this association is diminished for Black children. Black families with employed parents experience higher levels of trauma and stress compared to their White counterparts, which may contribute to racial disparities in cognitive and behavioral outcomes. <b>Conclusion: </b>Parental employment may not equally buffer against trauma-related risks for Black children, reflecting the broader pattern of diminished returns for racially disadvantaged groups. These findings highlight the need for policies addressing the unequal benefits of SES across racial groups.

<b>Background: </b>Research on Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) consistently reveals that social determinants of health, especially educational attainment, do not yield equal health benefits across racial and ethnic groups in the United States. MDRs suggest that social stratification, segregation, lower education quality, and labor market discrimination contribute to diminished health returns of education among minoritized groups. However, few studies have tested the relevance of MDRs in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations compared to non-Hispanic White adults. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to examine the strength of the inverse association between educational attainment and hypertension prevalence, hypothesizing that the protective effect of education on hypertension risk is reduced among AIAN adults relative to non-Hispanic Whites. <b>Methods:</b> Using data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we analyzed a nationally representative sample of adults aged 18 and older. Logistic regression models examined the association between educational attainment and self-reported hypertension diagnosis, stratified by racial/ethnic group (AIAN vs. non-Hispanic White). Models were adjusted for key covariates, including age, gender, income, and insurance status. <b>Results:</b> Higher educational attainment was associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension in the combined sample of AIAN and non-Hispanic White adults. However, this protective association was significantly weaker among AIAN adults compared to non-Hispanic White adults, as evidenced by a significant interaction between race and education. <b>Conclusion:</b> AIAN adults exhibit a higher prevalence of hypertension even at higher levels of educational attainment compared to non-Hispanic White adults, supporting the relevance of MDRs for AIAN populations. This finding underscores the need for public health interventions that address structural barriers and contextual factors unique to AIAN populations. Policies focused solely on educational access may be insufficient to reduce hypertension risk among AIAN adults without addressing broader social and structural inequities.

<b>Background: </b>The dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes poses significant public health concerns due to the compounded risks associated with the use of both products. Understanding the predictors of dual use can inform targeted interventions and tobacco control strategies aimed at reducing nicotine dependence and health risks among adults.<b> </b><b>Objective: </b>This study aims to identify the sociodemographic predictors of dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes among U.S. adults using baseline data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.<b> </b><b>Methods: </b>We analyzed baseline data from the PATH Study, focusing on adult participants who reported the use of both e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes. Logistic regression models were used to identify the associations between dual use and key sociodemographic variables, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education level.<b> </b><b>Results: </b>The analysis revealed that dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes was predominantly observed among young, female, non-Latino, White, and highly educated adults. Younger adults were more likely to engage in dual use compared to older age groups. Females showed higher rates of dual use compared to males. Non-Latino White individuals were more likely to be dual users than individuals from other racial/ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, higher educational attainment was associated with increased dual use, contrary to traditional smoking patterns.<b> </b><b>Conclusion: </b>The findings highlight specific demographic groups that are at higher risk of dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes, particularly younger, highly educated, non-Latino White females. These insights suggest the need for tailored public health interventions that address the unique needs and behaviors of these populations. Future research should explore the underlying motivations and contextual factors contributing to dual use to enhance the effectiveness of tobacco control policies and cessation programs.