Establishing a Community of Practice for Doctoral Studies Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this discussion paper, we describe our experience completing the first year of the doctorate in nursing program at a large urban academic centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlight the current nursing shortage and the importance of supporting all nursing students, including nurses in doctoral programs, towards successful graduation. We describe the development of a virtual community of practice incorporating five key strategies: Building community, fostering collaboration, strengthening connection, enhancing creativity, and promoting consistency. We believe that utilizing these strategies will contribute to our success and may be relevant to nursing leaders seeking to support the development of more doctorally prepared nurses. Participation in a community of practice early on in doctoral education will not only better prepare students for success in their program, but also continued success as they progress through their careers. It is important for students to not only make connections with peers in their area of academic study, but to also reach out to peers in other disciplines to improve both individual and interdisciplinary growth. Program administrators and educators can encourage the formation of community of practice among novice doctoral students. This encouragement can be achieved using a virtual platform, or in-person networking opportunities. Inviting incoming graduate students to connect with each other and with students from previous cohorts also fosters community of practice formation. Résumé Dans ce texte de discussion, nous décrivons notre expérience relative à la première année du doctorat en sciences infirmières dans un grand centre universitaire urbain pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Nous soulignons la pénurie actuelle d’infirmières et l’importance de soutenir toutes les étudiantes en sciences infirmières, y compris les infirmières inscrites à un programme de doctorat, vers la réussite de leurs études. Nous décrivons le développement d’une communauté virtuelle de pratique intégrant cinq stratégies clés : créer une communauté, favoriser la collaboration, renforcer les liens, mettre en valeur la créativité et promouvoir la cohérence. Nous pensons que l’utilisation de ces stratégies contribuera à notre succès et pourrait être pertinente pour les infirmières chefs de file qui cherchent à soutenir le développement d’un plus grand nombre d’infirmières préparées au doctorat. La participation à une communauté de pratique dès le début de la formation doctorale permettra non seulement de mieux préparer les étudiantes à réussir dans leur programme, mais favorisera également leur poursuite d’une carrière fructueuse. Il est important pour les étudiantes d’établir des liens non seulement avec des pairs dans leur domaine d’études universitaires, mais qu’ils entrent également en contact avec des pairs d’autres disciplines pour améliorer à la fois leur croissance individuelle et interdisciplinaire. Les administratrices de programme et les enseignantes peuvent encourager la formation d’une communauté de pratique parmi les doctorantes novices. Cet encouragement peut être réalisé à l’aide d’une plateforme virtuelle ou d’occasions de réseautage en personne. Inviter les étudiantes diplômées à entrer en contact les unes avec les autres et avec les étudiantes des cohortes précédentes favorise également la formation d’une communauté de pratique

The Earth Microbiome Project: Meeting report of the "1 EMP meeting on sample selection and acquisition" at Argonne National Laboratory October 6 2010.

This report details the outcome the first meeting of the Earth Microbiome Project to discuss sample selection and acquisition. The meeting, held at the Argonne National Laboratory on Wednesday October 6(th) 2010, focused on discussion of how to prioritize environmental samples for sequencing and metagenomic analysis as part of the global effort of the EMP to systematically determine the functional and phylogenetic diversity of microbial communities across the world

More Attacks and Analgesic Use in Old Age: Self-Reported Headache Across the Lifespan in a German Sample

Background: Reliable population-based data on the prevalence and characteristics of primary headache across the lifespan are essential. However, robust data are lacking. Methods: We utilized questionnaire data from a random general population sample in Germany, that comprised 2,478 participants aged ≥14 years. A standardized questionnaire addressing headache and headache treatment was filled in during the face-to-face survey. Results: The 6-month prevalence of self-reported headache in the total sample amounted to 39.0% (known diagnosis of migraine 7.2%; tension-type headache 12.4%; another diagnosis or unknown diagnosis 23.4%). Age-specific prevalence rates were 37.9% (14-34 years), 44.6% (35-54 years), 38.5% (55-74 years), and 26.9% (≥75 years). Compared to age group 14-34, participants aged 35-54 were more (OR = 1.29, 95%-CI 1.05-1.60, p = 0.018) and those aged ≥75 were less (OR = 0.55, 95%-CI 0.40-0.76, p 14 days per month. The frequency of headache did not differ significantly between age groups in men [χ2(3, N = 384) = 1.45, p > 0.05], but in women [χ2(3, N = 651) = 21.57, p 14 days per month: 1.8 (14-34 years), 2.5 (35-54 years), 3.2 (55-74 years), and 3.4 (≥75 years), respectively 7.9 (14-34 years), 11.4 (35-54 years), 18.4 (55-74 years), and 22.8 (≥75 years). Conclusions: In general, the prevalence of headache decreases with age. However, older women suffer from more frequent attacks and older participants take analgesics on more days per month than younger participants. This might put them at risk of medication overuse which may lead to medication overuse headache. More research is needed to understand these specifics in headache frequency and treatment behavior in older people

Association of Socioeconomic Status and Brain Injury With Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Very Preterm Children

Importance Studies of socioeconomic status and neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm neonates have not sensitively accounted for brain injury. Objective To determine the association of brain injury and maternal education with motor and cognitive outcomes at age 4.5 years in very preterm neonates. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective cohort study of preterm neonates (24-32 weeks’ gestation) recruited August 16, 2006, to September 9, 2013, at British Columbia Women's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Analysis of 4.5-year outcome was performed in 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures At age 4.5 years, full-scale IQ assessed using the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition, and motor outcome by the percentile score on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition. Results Of 226 survivors, neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed in 170 (80 [47.1%] female). Based on the best model to assess full-scale IQ accounting for gestational age, standardized β coefficients demonstrated the effect size of maternal education (standardized β = 0.21) was similar to that of white matter injury volume (standardized β = 0.23) and intraventricular hemorrhage (standardized β = 0.23). The observed and predicted cognitive scores in preterm children born to mothers with postgraduate education did not differ in those with and without brain injury. The best-performing model to assess for motor outcome accounting for gestational age included being small for gestational age, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, white matter injury volume, and chronic lung disease. Conclusions and Relevance At preschool age, cognitive outcome was comparably associated with maternal education and neonatal brain injury. The association of brain injury with poorer cognition was attenuated in children born to mothers of higher education level, suggesting opportunities to promote optimal outcomes

The Chameleon Team

Project Leaders: Barbara Buffaloe, Katie Grantham Lough, Luke Wesselschmidt, Jacqueline McDermott-Kelty, Rashad Abdul-Majid, Bryan Glass, Heather BensonProposal for the 2008 project: "The Chameleon Team." The University of Missouri?Columbia (MU) and Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) have teamed to develop an exciting energy conservation product. The Chameleon project will produce an artificially intelligent residential energy management system designed to blend into its environment. Upon successful completion of this project, the Chameleon home automation system will enable the average homeowner to conserve energy and save money by simply having the system installed in their home and not changing any of their daily activities. This total budget of the design, development, and implementation of Chameleon�s prototypes is well over the budget for this funding opportunity, this proposal will focus on the educational partnerships required to develop the user interface for the system. This multi?university undergraduate student project incorporates engineering, architectural studies, and interior design students to develop a seamlessly integrated and highly functioning home automation system that requires no technical skills to operate. The underlying technology that enables the project is the IT capabilities of both universities which will enable weekly video?conference design meetings as well as internet accessible energy monitoring data available in real �time. In addition, students on both campuses utilize computer programs specific to their disciplines and learn program associated with other disciplines due to the multidisciplinary efforts required. For example, S&T students use the computer program, Maui Solar, to estimate the size and placement of solar panels for home energy production. MU students often suggest solar energy production on their concept designs but do not know the details of how and where to place the modules. Working together with the computer program, students from both campuses are learning the importance of each disciplines� core software programs. The Chameleon team�s proposal for the Interdisciplinary Innovation Fund meets the requirement from the MU Information Technology Committee. The student led team is working to make the UM system a leader in energy conservation through the use of cutting edge technology and multidisciplinary design efforts that make the technology available to the average homeowner.MU Interdisciplinary Innovations Fun

Risk factors for breast cancer development by tumor characteristics among women with benign breast disease

Abstract Background Among women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, 30% have a prior diagnosis of benign breast disease (BBD). Thus, it is important to identify factors among BBD patients that elevate invasive cancer risk. In the general population, risk factors differ in their associations by clinical pathologic features; however, whether women with BBD show etiologic heterogeneity in the types of breast cancers they develop remains unknown. Methods Using a nested case-control study of BBD and breast cancer risk conducted in a community healthcare plan (Kaiser Permanente Northwest), we assessed relationships of histologic features in BBD biopsies and patient characteristics with subsequent breast cancer risk and tested for heterogeneity of associations by estrogen receptor (ER) status, tumor grade, and size. The study included 514 invasive breast cancer cases (median follow-up of 9 years post-BBD diagnosis) and 514 matched controls, diagnosed with proliferative or non-proliferative BBD between 1971 and 2006, with follow-up through mid-2015. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using multivariable polytomous logistic regression models. Results Breast cancers were predominantly ER-positive (86%), well or moderately differentiated (73%), small (74% < 20 mm), and stage I/II (91%). Compared to patients with non-proliferative BBD, proliferative BBD with atypia conferred increased risk for ER-positive cancer (OR = 5.48, 95% CI = 2.14–14.01) with only one ER-negative case, P-heterogeneity = 0.45. The presence of columnar cell lesions (CCLs) at BBD diagnosis was associated with a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of both ER-positive and ER-negative tumors, with a 2-fold increase (95% CI = 1.21–3.58) observed among postmenopausal women (56%), independent of proliferative BBD status with and without atypia. We did not identify statistically significant differences in risk factor associations by tumor grade or size. Conclusion Most tumors that developed after a BBD diagnosis in this cohort were highly treatable low-stage ER-positive tumors. CCL in BBD biopsies may be associated with moderately increased risk, independent of BBD histology, and irrespective of ER status