Multiband acquisition, also called simultaneous multislice, has become a popular technique in resting-state functional connectivity studies. Multiband (MB) acceleration leads to a higher temporal resolution but also leads to spatially heterogeneous noise amplification, suggesting the costs may be greater in areas such as the subcortex. We evaluate MB factors of 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 12 with 2 mm isotropic voxels, and additionally 2 mm and 3.3 mm single-band acquisitions, on a 32-channel head coil. Noise amplification was greater in deeper brain regions, including subcortical regions. Correlations were attenuated by noise amplification, which resulted in spatially varying biases that were more severe at higher MB factors. Temporal filtering decreased spatial biases in correlations due to noise amplification, but also tended to decrease effect sizes. In seed-based correlation maps, left-right putamen connectivity and thalamo-motor connectivity were highest in the single-band 3.3 mm protocol. In correlation matrices, MB 4, 6, and 8 had a greater number of significant correlations than the other acquisitions (both with and without temporal filtering). We recommend single-band 3.3 mm for seed-based subcortical analyses, and MB 4 provides a reasonable balance for studies analyzing both seed-based correlation maps and connectivity matrices. In multiband studies including secondary analyses of large-scale datasets, we recommend reporting effect sizes or test statistics instead of correlations. If correlations are reported, temporal filtering (or another method for thermal noise removal) should be used. The Emory Multiband Dataset is available on OpenNeuro.

Informed by Black feminist thought and intersectionality, Superwoman Schema (SWS) is a construct that captures a collective response of Black women to racial and gender marginalization by highlighting expectations that they exude strength, suppress emotions, resist vulnerability, succeed despite limitations, and help others to their own self-neglect. Using a sample of Black women (N = 390) in early-midlife (between 30 and 46 years old; M = 37.54 years; SD = 4.29), this study integrates the intersectionality framework and the stress process model to examine the independent and interactive effects of SWS endorsement as well as socioeconomic status (SES) and financial strain on Black women’s mental health. Study results reveal that SWS dimensions “emotion suppression” and “obligation to help others” are associated with elevated depressive symptoms. In addition, net worth and financial strain, but not traditional measures of socioeconomic status such as education and income, moderate the association between SWS endorsement and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the association between SWS and depressive symptoms is strongest among Black women reporting negative net worth or high financial strain (e.g., not being able to make ends meet). Broader implications and future research directions are discussed.

Joint and Individual Variation Explained (JIVE) is a model that decomposes multiple datasets obtained on the same subjects into shared structure, structure unique to each dataset, and noise. JIVE is an important tool for multimodal data integration in neuroimaging. The two most common algorithms are R.JIVE, an iterative approach, and AJIVE, which uses principal angle analysis. The joint structure in JIVE is defined by shared subspaces, but interpreting these subspaces can be challenging. In this paper, we reinterpret AJIVE as a canonical correlation analysis of principal component scores. This reformulation, which we call CJIVE, (1) provides an intuitive view of AJIVE; (2) uses a permutation test for the number of joint components; (3) can be used to predict subject scores for out-of-sample observations; and (4) is computationally fast. We conduct simulation studies that show CJIVE and AJIVE are accurate when the total signal ranks are correctly specified but, generally inaccurate when the total ranks are too large. CJIVE and AJIVE can still extract joint signal even when the joint signal variance is relatively small. JIVE methods are applied to integrate functional connectivity (resting-state fMRI) and structural connectivity (diffusion MRI) from the Human Connectome Project. Surprisingly, the edges with largest loadings in the joint component in functional connectivity do not coincide with the same edges in the structural connectivity, indicating more complex patterns than assumed in spatial priors. Using these loadings, we accurately predict joint subject scores in new participants. We also find joint scores are associated with fluid intelligence, highlighting the potential for JIVE to reveal important shared structure.

Background: African American women bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular diseases, potentially due to altered central hemodynamics. Racism and sexism often lead to African American women taking on numerous caretaking roles and overall increases their use of the Strong Black Woman (ie, Superwoman) mindset, which may have negative health consequences. We hypothesized that endorsing the Superwoman role and its Obligation to Help Others dimension would be associated with a deleterious central hemodynamics profile in African American women. Methods and Results: Using cross‐sectional data, we examined central systolic blood pressure (mm Hg; n=408), augmentation index (percentage, adjusted for height and heart rate; n=408), and pulse wave velocity (m/s; n=368) in African American women aged 30 to 46 years. The Giscombe Superwoman Schema (SWS) questionnaire assessed endorsement of Overall SWS (range, 0–105) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (range, 0–3). Multiple linear regression modeled associations between Overall SWS (10‐unit increments) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (1‐unit increments) and central hemodynamics while adjusting for pertinent sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. In fully adjusted models, central systolic blood pressure was significantly associated with Overall SWS (β=0.83 [95% CI, 0.19–1.47]) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (β=2.03 [95% CI, 0.39–3.67]). Augmentation index was associated with Overall SWS (β=0.66 [95% CI, 0.02–1.30]) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (β=2.21 [95% CI, 0.58–3.84]). Significant associations were not observed between pulse wave velocity and SWS. Conclusions: Greater endorsement of the Superwoman role and prioritizing caregiving over self‐care were associated with higher central systolic blood pressure and augmentation index, which may contribute to adverse cardiovascular health among African American women.

This study assessed predictors of stable HIV viral suppression in a racially diverse sample of persons living with HIV (PWH) in the southern US. A total of 700 PWH were recruited from one of four HIV clinics in Metro Atlanta, GA. Data were collected from September 2012 to July 2017, and HIV viral loads were retrieved from EMR for 18 months. The baseline visits and EMR data were used for current analyses. Durable viral suppression was categorized as 1. Remain suppressed, 2. Remain unsuppressed, and 3. Unstable suppression. The number of antiretroviral medications and age were significantly associated with durable viral suppression. Older age, fewer ART medications and availability of social support were positively associated with durable viral suppression over the 18-month observation period. Findings suggest that regimen complexity is potentially a better predictor of viral suppression than self-reported medication adherence. The need for consensus on the definition of durable viral suppression is also urged.