If Not Us Then Who? Exploring the Role of HBCUs in Increasing Black Student Engagement in Study Abroad

Black students are alarmingly underrepresented in participation in study abroad experiences. The reasons for this vary, but are most often consists of barriers, such as financial constraints, lack of support from family, and fear of racial discrimination. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are regarded as sanctuaries for Black students with emphasis on their commitment to providing low-income Black students with positive and nurturing educational experiences. As such, HBCUs are believed to be positioned to assist in overcoming the barriers to participation in study abroad for Black students. However, because they receive significantly less resources, they are limited in their ability to provide adequate programming and initiatives. In this conceptual paper, student engagement and marginality and mattering theories are used to explore strategies and recommendations for ways that HBCUs can both enhance their programs and increase overall engagement of Black students in study abroad

A critical appraisal of "Integration of balance and strength training into daily life activity to reduce rate of falls in older people (the LiFE study): a randomised parallel trial"

Balance and strength training is a common intervention strategy to reduce the fall risk in older adults. However, there are multiple ways to implement this intervention. This study conducted a randomized, three-arm parallel trial to analyze the effect that an integrated approach and a structured approach can have on the fall risk of older adults compared to a control group. This single-blinded, prospective study found that both the integrated approach and structured approach had a statistically significant impact on the fall risk of older adults. However, only the integrated approach had a clinically significant difference in fall risk reduction compared to the control group

The HBCU Effect: An Exploration of HBCU Alumni's Peer Networks and Workforce Outcomes

The HBCU Effect research series seeks to understand, validate and promote the success of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to develop a counter-narrative that fully illustrates the value and competitiveness of our institutions. By uncovering HBCU truth through data and research, the HBCU Effect will illuminate how HBCUs yield a high return on investment by equipping their students, in particular first-generation students, with resources to close education and wealth gaps—transforming generations.HBCUs are top producers of Black STEM graduates, Black medical doctors, veterinarians, and graduate low-income students at higher rates than PWIs (Lee & Keys, 2013; Richards & Awokoya, 2012), while their students also report greater academic and social gains. Yet, limited data exist regarding workforce outcomes for Black HBCU alumni. This mixed-methods study adds to UNCF's ongoing effort to create a counter-narrative through our HBCU Effect research agenda. This brief, consisting of our early quantitative findings, and the collective study adds to our knowledge of the HBCU Effect by addressing gaps in knowledge about workforce outcomes at HBCUs, and how social experiences and networks affect the academic and workforce experiences of Black HBCU alumni

Frequently Asked Questions About the Features of Child Development Accounts in Israel

In November 2015, Israel enacted legislation to create and fund a Child Development Account program. Beginning in 2017, every baby born to an insured Israeli resident will receive a Child Development Account in his or her name. This Fact Sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about the policy, which was developed in collaboration with researchers at the Center for Social Development

(Re)negotiating and (Re)envisioning Our Feminist Journeys: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Five Women of Color Doctoral Students

This study utilizes critical collaborative autoethnography to explore the development, identity, and experiences as a feminist from five Women of Color doctoral students. Given that existing research on the experiences of doctoral women of color remains sparse, the purpose of this study is to expand the knowledge by highlighting and validating the lived experiences of doctoral women of color in the academy from a feminist perspective. Through the use of collaborative autoethnography, the authors explore and interrogate their individual journeys as self-identified or aspiring feminists. The findings present the living reality and complexity involving history, contexts, intersection of identities, conflicts, inter-/intra-racial coalition, and activism through these Women of Color doctoral students

Executive Legislation and the Expansion of Presidential Power

The increased use of executive legislation in the absence of challenges from Congress or the Supreme Court has expanded the power of the president beyond constitutional bounds and poses a serious threat to our democracy. The author concludes that fears of the president becoming some type of dictator are overblown, but the tendency by modern presidents to use executive legislation to expand the scope of their power is especially dangerous considering that neither the Supreme Court nor Congress is very likely to challenge an executive order, rendering the most important check on presidential legislation virtually nonexistent

Assessing Adverse Childhood Experiences during Pregnancy: Evidence toward a Best Practice

Abstract Objective To quantify the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a diverse urban cohort of pregnant women. Study Design The ACE survey was self-administered to 600 women categorized evenly between the waiting room, private examination rooms, and CenteringPregnancy group spaces. The percentage of women willing to complete the survey per location was compared using chi-square tests, and the mean ACE score per arm was compared using Wilcoxon's rank–sum test. Results Of the 660 women approached for participation, 5% declined; 67% reported ≥ 1 ACE exposure and 19% reported an ACE score of ≥ 4. By domain, 59% experienced household dysfunction, 25% abuse, and 25% neglect. Women in the waiting room were more likely to decline participation (p < 0.01), and those participating in the postpartum inpatient arm had a significantly lower proportion affirming 8 of 10 ACE questions, were less likely to report ≥1 ACE, and had a lower mean ACE score when compared with the outpatient arm (p < 0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of ACEs in this diverse pregnant cohort was high. The ideal locations to distribute the survey are the outpatient examination rooms

Table1_Prevalence, sex differences, and implications of pulmonary hypertension in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.docx

IntroductionApical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a subtype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that affects up to 25% of Asian patients and is not as well understood in non-Asian patients. Although ApHCM has been considered a more “benign” variant, it is associated with increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, apical thrombi, stroke, and progressive heart failure. The occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in ApHCM, due to elevated pressures on the left side of the heart, has been documented. However, the exact prevalence of PH in ApHCM and sex differences remain uncertain.MethodsWe sought to evaluate the prevalence, risk associations, and sex differences in elevated pulmonary pressures in the largest cohort of patients with ApHCM at a single tertiary center. A total of 542 patients diagnosed with ApHCM were identified using ICD codes and clinical notes searches, confirmed by cross-referencing with cardiac MRI reports extracted through Natural Language Processing and through manual evaluation of patient charts and imaging records.ResultsIn 414 patients, echocardiogram measurements of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were obtained at the time of diagnosis. The mean age was 59.4 ± 16.6 years, with 181 (44%) being females. The mean PASP was 38 ± 12 mmHg in females vs. 33 ± 9 mmHg in males (p  36 mmHg was present in 140/414 (34%) patients, with a predominance in females [79/181 (44%)] vs. males [61/233 (26%), p  36 mmHg) in multivariable modeling. PH, when present, was independently associated with mortality [hazard ratio 1.63, 95% CI (1.05–2.53), p = 0.028] and symptoms [odds ratio 2.28 (1.40, 3.71), p ConclusionPH was present in 34% of patients with ApHCM at diagnosis, with female sex predominance. PH in ApHCM was associated with symptoms and increased mortality.</p

Table2_Prevalence, sex differences, and implications of pulmonary hypertension in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.docx

IntroductionApical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a subtype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that affects up to 25% of Asian patients and is not as well understood in non-Asian patients. Although ApHCM has been considered a more “benign” variant, it is associated with increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, apical thrombi, stroke, and progressive heart failure. The occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in ApHCM, due to elevated pressures on the left side of the heart, has been documented. However, the exact prevalence of PH in ApHCM and sex differences remain uncertain.MethodsWe sought to evaluate the prevalence, risk associations, and sex differences in elevated pulmonary pressures in the largest cohort of patients with ApHCM at a single tertiary center. A total of 542 patients diagnosed with ApHCM were identified using ICD codes and clinical notes searches, confirmed by cross-referencing with cardiac MRI reports extracted through Natural Language Processing and through manual evaluation of patient charts and imaging records.ResultsIn 414 patients, echocardiogram measurements of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were obtained at the time of diagnosis. The mean age was 59.4 ± 16.6 years, with 181 (44%) being females. The mean PASP was 38 ± 12 mmHg in females vs. 33 ± 9 mmHg in males (p  36 mmHg was present in 140/414 (34%) patients, with a predominance in females [79/181 (44%)] vs. males [61/233 (26%), p  36 mmHg) in multivariable modeling. PH, when present, was independently associated with mortality [hazard ratio 1.63, 95% CI (1.05–2.53), p = 0.028] and symptoms [odds ratio 2.28 (1.40, 3.71), p ConclusionPH was present in 34% of patients with ApHCM at diagnosis, with female sex predominance. PH in ApHCM was associated with symptoms and increased mortality.</p

Image2_Prevalence, sex differences, and implications of pulmonary hypertension in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.tif

IntroductionApical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a subtype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that affects up to 25% of Asian patients and is not as well understood in non-Asian patients. Although ApHCM has been considered a more “benign” variant, it is associated with increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, apical thrombi, stroke, and progressive heart failure. The occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in ApHCM, due to elevated pressures on the left side of the heart, has been documented. However, the exact prevalence of PH in ApHCM and sex differences remain uncertain.MethodsWe sought to evaluate the prevalence, risk associations, and sex differences in elevated pulmonary pressures in the largest cohort of patients with ApHCM at a single tertiary center. A total of 542 patients diagnosed with ApHCM were identified using ICD codes and clinical notes searches, confirmed by cross-referencing with cardiac MRI reports extracted through Natural Language Processing and through manual evaluation of patient charts and imaging records.ResultsIn 414 patients, echocardiogram measurements of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were obtained at the time of diagnosis. The mean age was 59.4 ± 16.6 years, with 181 (44%) being females. The mean PASP was 38 ± 12 mmHg in females vs. 33 ± 9 mmHg in males (p  36 mmHg was present in 140/414 (34%) patients, with a predominance in females [79/181 (44%)] vs. males [61/233 (26%), p  36 mmHg) in multivariable modeling. PH, when present, was independently associated with mortality [hazard ratio 1.63, 95% CI (1.05–2.53), p = 0.028] and symptoms [odds ratio 2.28 (1.40, 3.71), p ConclusionPH was present in 34% of patients with ApHCM at diagnosis, with female sex predominance. PH in ApHCM was associated with symptoms and increased mortality.</p