Perceptions of Louisiana High School Students Toward Selected University Types: Predominately White Institutions and Historically Black Institutions of Higher Education.

This study examines the perceptions of 11th grade African American and Caucasian American students attending public Louisiana high schools. The students\u27 perceptions are explored in relation to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU\u27s) and Predominately White Institutions (PWI\u27s). Based on a review of current literature, four common areas emerged. The areas of consideration were perception of academic quality, peer relationships, socio-cultural fit, and faculty/student relationships. The sample of students included 177 students enrolled in the Louisiana public school system in parishes where there were pairings of universities (HBCU and PWI). The four parishes where such pairings occurred were Caddo Parish, Orleans Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, and Lincoln Parish. Results of the study indicate that students are divided in their opinions of the universities along the lines of race. Students\u27 perceptions of the universities are rarely influenced by gender. The results of the study suggest that in order to further accomplish the goal of desegregation, universities have to address students\u27 perceptions early. Officials can little afford to ignore racial difference as it pertains to the college choice process

The Effect of Menstruation Duration on the Achilles Tendon Cross-Sectional Area in Female Ballet Dancers

Females are more likely to suffer Achilles tendon injury that consequently leads to more complications including pain or tendon rupture, and experiencing fewer benefits from therapeutic interventions. There is a lack of knowledge on how estrogen, which may limit collagen synthesis, can affect tendon health and growth. PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between menstruation duration and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the Achilles tendon over a 5-month period of intensive dance training. We hypothesize the female dancers who reported a menstruation duration of 1-3 days will have the smallest average tendon CSA in comparison to the groups of 4-7 days and 8-10 days within the same time point. METHODS: A sample of 25 female ballet dancers was selected randomly, and ultrasound imaging sessions were conducted to observe and measure both Achilles tendons. Following each imaging session, surveys were administered to collect information on their injuries and menstruation duration. RESULTS: A consistent pattern was found: individuals with menstrual cycles lasting 1-3 days exhibited the smallest tendon CSA average each month, in contrast to those with cycle durations of 4-6 and 7-10 days. The 4-6 days menstruation group and 7-10 days group varied in size ranks between the months although no within-group change was statistically significant (p\u3e0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that there were no significant differences between groups at any measured time points. Further research is essential to comprehend the implications fully, emphasizing the need for personalized preventive strategies and targeted interventions to optimize tendon health in this demographic

Guidance of sentinel lymph node biopsy decisions in patients with T1-T2 melanoma using gene expression profiling.

AIM: Can gene expression profiling be used to identify patients with T1-T2 melanoma at low risk for sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity? PATIENTS & METHODS: Bioinformatics modeling determined a population in which a 31-gene expression profile test predicted \u3c5% SLN positivity. Multicenter, prospectively-tested (n = 1421) and retrospective (n = 690) cohorts were used for validation and outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Patients 55-64 years and ≥65 years with a class 1A (low-risk) profile had SLN positivity rates of 4.9% and 1.6%. Class 2B (high-risk) patients had SLN positivity rates of 30.8% and 11.9%. Melanoma-specific survival was 99.3% for patients ≥55 years with class 1A, T1-T2 tumors and 55.0% for class 2B, SLN-positive, T1-T2 tumors. CONCLUSION: The 31-gene expression profile test identifies patients who could potentially avoid SLN biopsy

Quantified effect of seawater biogeochemistry on the temperature dependence of sea spray aerosol fluxes

Future change in sea surface temperature may influence climate via various air-sea feedbacks and pathways. In this study, we investigate the influence of surface seawater biogeochemical composition on the temperature dependence of sea spray number emission fluxes. Dependence of sea spray fluxes was investigated in different water masses (i.e. subantarctic, subtropical and frontal bloom) with contrasting biogeochemical properties across a temperature range from ambient (13&ndash;18 &deg;C) to 2 &deg;C, using seawater circulating in a plunging jet sea spray generator. We observed sea spray total concentration to increase significantly at temperatures below 8 &deg;C, with an average 4-fold increase at 2 &deg;C relative to initial concentration at ambient temperatures. This temperature dependence was more pronounced for smaller size sea spray particles (i.e. nucleation and Aitken modes). Moreover, temperature dependence varied with water mass type and so biogeochemical properties. While the sea spray flux at moderate temperatures (8&ndash;11 &deg;C) was highest in frontal bloom waters, the effect of low temperature on the sea spray flux was highest with subtropical seawaters. The temperature dependence of sea spray flux was also inversely proportional to the seawater cell abundance of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus, which facilitated parameterization of temperature dependence of sea spray emission fluxes as a function of Synechococcus for future implementation in modelling exercises.</p

Issues in the estimation and application of latent structure models of choice

Our paper provides a brief review and summary of issues and advances in the use of latent structure and other finite mixture models in the analysis of choice data. Focus is directed to three primary areas: (1) estimation and computational issues, (2) specification and interpretation issues, and (3) future research issues. We comment on what latent structure models have promised, what has been, to date, delivered, and what we should look forward to in the future.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47160/1/11002_2005_Article_BF00999208.pd

Computerised interpretation of fetal heart rate during labour (INFANT): a randomised controlled trial

Background. Continuous electronic fetal heart-rate monitoring is widely used during labour, and computerised interpretation could increase its usefulness. We aimed to establish whether the addition of decision-support software to assist in the interpretation of cardiotocographs affected the number of poor neonatal outcomes. Methods. In this unmasked randomised controlled trial, we recruited women in labour aged 16 years or older having continuous electronic fetal monitoring, with a singleton or twin pregnancy, and at 35 weeks’ gestation or more at 24 maternity units in the UK and Ireland. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to decision support with the INFANT system or no decision support via a computer-generated stratified block randomisation schedule. The primary outcomes were poor neonatal outcome (intrapartum stillbirth or early neonatal death excluding lethal congenital anomalies, or neonatal encephalopathy, admission to the neonatal unit within 24 h for ≥48 h with evidence of feeding difficulties, respiratory illness, or encephalopathy with evidence of compromise at birth), and developmental assessment at age 2 years in a subset of surviving children. Analyses were done by intention to treat. This trial is completed and is registered with the ISRCTN Registry, number 98680152. Findings. Between Jan 6, 2010, and Aug 31, 2013, 47062 women were randomly assigned (23515 in the decision-support group and 23547 in the no-decision-support group) and 46042 were analysed (22987 in the decision-support group and 23055 in the no-decision-support group). We noted no difference in the incidence of poor neonatal outcome between the groups—172 (0·7%) babies in the decision-support group compared with 171 (0·7%) babies in the no-decision-support group (adjusted risk ratio 1·01, 95% CI 0·82–1·25). At 2 years, no significant differences were noted in terms of developmental assessment. Interpretation. Use of computerised interpretation of cardiotocographs in women who have continuous electronic fetal monitoring in labour does not improve clinical outcomes for mothers or babies

Simultaneous multidimensional unfolding and cluster analysis: An investigation of strategic groups

This paper develops a maximum likelihood based methodology for simultaneously performing multidimensional unfolding and cluster analysis on two-way dominance or profile data. This new procedure utilizes mixtures of multivariate conditional normal distributions to estimate a joint space of stimulus coordinates and K ideal points, one for each cluster or group, in a T -dimensional space. The conditional mixture, maximum likelihood methodology is introduced together with an E-M algorithm utilized for parameter estimation. A marketing strategy application is provided with an analysis of PIMS data for a set of firms drawn from the same competitive industry to determine strategic groups, while simultaneously depicting strategy-performance relationships.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47056/1/11002_2004_Article_BF00436033.pd