Strategic Insight on Gaining Admittance to Graduate Study

Applying to graduate school involves strategic planning and preparation. There is an array of considerations and factors that can influence the decision to pursue masters- level education and beyond. A brief synopsis of the graduate school application process is provided so that individuals pursuing a higher level of academia can gain insight on how to optimize their chance of attaining acceptance into programs of choice

Visual Communication: A Preparatory Guide for Using Posters as a Medium for Scientific Dialogue

Abstract Poster presentations are an effective method of conveying scientific information in an interactive and nonthreatening format. They are also a means of increasing authors' visibility and recognition in their field. The authors have presented a preparatory guide to minimize stress and increase poster presentation savvy at professional conferences for either the novice or seasoned professional. © 2005 Californian Journal of Health Promotion. All rights reserved. Keywords: Poster, professional presentation, visual communication, scientific dialogue A professional conference is a venue for the exchange of scholarly ideas that are of valued importance to the sponsoring organization and its members Abstract Development When writing an abstract for conference submission, one of the first issues is to determine the purpose of the potential presentation. What precisely do you want the audience to know as a result of your presentation? Inevitably, having this in mind will guide your writing and preliminary ideas about poster construction. Next, before even putting words to paper, consider the word limit or word count. Many abstracts have a limit of no more than 250 words and it is imperative that authors adhere to these specifications. Often there are guidelines concerning the content and composition of the abstract. These include a background, methods, results, and conclusion section. Even if there is no specific requirement of including these headings, they remind the author of the structural elements that should be included in a thorough, yet concise abstract. Other issues related to abstract acceptance, although not directly related to the actual writing of the work, include data sharing and author notification. As a courtesy, if you are not the originator of the work (i.e., someone else is the principal investigator or was provided the funding to conduct the research) it is a professional gesture to ensure that you have permission to potentially publish an abstract 6

Responding to the Call: Building a Training Program to Diversify the Academy in Alzheimer’s Disease Research

Alzheimer\u27s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are at the forefront of the United States (US) public health agenda due to their tremendous human and financial burden. Further, disproportionately high ADRD rates among racial/ethnic minorities require incorporating the unique perspectives of racially and ethnically diverse scientists, which will necessitate diversifying the scientific workforce that investigates disparities in aging. The purpose of this paper is to describe the training and mentorship initiatives of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Carolina Center on Alzheimer\u27s Disease and Minority Research, emphasizing lessons learned from our engagement with underrepresented minority and minoritized (URM) Scientists. We highlight three aims of the Center\u27s training and mentorship component: (1) Fund pilot projects for URM Scientists conducting research on sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence ADRD-related health disparities; (2) Provide mentorship to build the research capacity of Center Scientists; and (3) Offer research education in Health Disparities and Minority Aging Research to Center Scientists and interested researchers at all partner institutions. Our experience may be a practical resource for others developing interdisciplinary training programs to increase the pipeline of URM Scientists conducting ADRD research

Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring in Pregnancy: Examining Feasibility in a Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Raised blood pressure (BP) affects approximately 10% of pregnancies worldwide, and a high proportion of affected women develop pre-eclampsia. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of self-monitoring of BP in pregnancy in women at higher risk of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: This prospective cohort study of self-monitoring BP in pregnancy was carried out in two hospital trusts in Birmingham and Oxford and thirteen primary care practices in Oxfordshire. Eligible women were those defined by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines as at higher risk of pre-eclampsia. A total of 201 participants were recruited between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy and were asked to take two BP readings twice daily three times a week through their pregnancy. Primary outcomes were recruitment, retention and persistence of self-monitoring. Study recruitment and retention were analysed with descriptive statistics. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the persistence of self-monitoring and the performance of self-monitoring in the early detection of gestational hypertension, compared to clinic BP monitoring. Secondary outcomes were the mean clinic and self-monitored BP readings and the performance of self-monitoring in the detection of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia compared to clinic BP. RESULTS: Of 201 women recruited, 161 (80%) remained in the study at 36 weeks or to the end of their pregnancy, 162 (81%) provided any home readings suitable for analysis, 148 (74%) continued to self-monitor at 20 weeks and 107 (66%) at 36 weeks. Self-monitored readings were similar in value to contemporaneous matched clinic readings for both systolic and diastolic BP. Of the 23 who developed gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia and self-monitored, 9 (39%) had a raised home BP prior to a raised clinic BP. CONCLUSIONS: Self-monitoring of BP in pregnancy is feasible and has potential to be useful in the early detection of gestational hypertensive disorders but maintaining self-monitoring throughout pregnancy requires support and probably enhanced training