The meaning of breast cancer risk for African American women.

PURPOSE: To describe African American women\u27s experience of being at high risk for breast cancer. DESIGN: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to guide in-depth interviews and analysis. Methods to ensure trustworthiness and rigor were included. METHODS: Open interviews were conducted with 20 African American women who were at high risk for breast cancer (family history, personal history, genetic mutation). They were recruited from a cancer risk clinic and community-based settings. Data were transcribed verbatim, and themes were labeled among and between all interviews. FINDINGS: Five themes were identified: (a) life-changing experience; (b) relationships: fears, support, and concerns; (c) the healthcare experience; (d) raising awareness; and (e) strong faith. CONCLUSIONS: Young women at high risk for breast cancer have unique emotional and support needs that are shaped by stage in life, relationships with significant others, their faith, and interactions with the healthcare delivery system. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Breast cancer does occur in young women. This highlights the need for timely and sensitive approaches to care when young women present with breast health concerns or abnormal breast findings

A Refined Neuronal Population Measure of Visual Attention

Neurophysiological studies of cognitive mechanisms such as visual attention typically ignore trial-by-trial variability and instead report mean differences averaged across many trials. Advances in electrophysiology allow for the simultaneous recording of small populations of neurons, which may obviate the need for averaging activity over trials. We recently introduced a method called the attention axis that uses multi-electrode recordings to provide estimates of attentional state of behaving monkeys on individual trials. Here, we refine this method to eliminate problems that can cause bias in estimates of attentional state in certain scenarios. We demonstrate the sources of these problems using simulations and propose an amendment to the previous formulation that provides superior performance in trial-by-trial assessments of attentional state

The micromorphology of the glands of the infra-orbital cutaneous sinus of the steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)

The infra-orbital cutaneous sinus produces a black secretion which is the combined secretion of melanaceous, branched, alveolar, sebaceous and enlarged, coiled apocrine glands. The micromorphology of these glands is described with special emphasis on the sebaceous glands and melanin transfer. The secretion, which may be used for unintentional territorial demarcation, is possibly produced as small black granules and is most likely important for short range communication.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Counterintelligence Technologies: An Exploratory Case Study of Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System in the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces

The preliminary credibility assessment screening system (PCASS) is a US-based program, which is currently being implemented by intelligence units of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to make the initial screening of individuals suspected of infiltrating the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Sensors have been instrumental in the PCASS, leading to organizational change. The aim of this research is to describe how the ANDSF adapted to the implementation of PCASS, as well as implemented changes since the beginning of the program. To do so, we have conducted a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive case study that allows one to understand, through the use of a series of data collection sources, a real-life phenomenon of which little is known. The results suggest that the sensors used in PCASS empower security forces with reliable technologies to identify and neutralize internal threats. It then becomes evident that the technological leadership that PCASS provides allows the developing of a relatively stable and consistent organizational change, fulfilling the objectives of the NATO and the ANDSF.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The micromorphology of the apocrine glands of the intermandibular region of the steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)

The histological structure of the newly-discovered intermandibular glandular region in male and female steenbok is described. This region consists of enlarged sebaceous and apocrine glands which secrete a substance used for demarcating grazing territories and for marking females. Migratory lymphoid cells in the epithelium of the apocrine glands resemble Langerhans cells of the epidermis and forestomach epithelium but do not contain Langerhans cell granules. Cells, which are probably of lymphoid origin and resemble sebaceous gland cells, sometimes occur in the apocrine glands.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Time Management Strategies for Research Productivity

Researchers function in a complex environment and carry multiple role responsibilities. This environment is prone to various distractions that can derail productivity and decrease efficiency. Effective time management allows researchers to maintain focus on their work, contributing to research productivity. Thus, improving time management skills is essential to developing and sustaining a successful program of research. This article presents time management strategies addressing behaviors surrounding time assessment, planning, and monitoring. Herein, the Western Journal of Nursing Research editorial board recommends strategies to enhance time management, including setting realistic goals, prioritizing, and optimizing planning. Involving a team, problem-solving barriers, and early management of potential distractions can facilitate maintaining focus on a research program. Continually evaluating the effectiveness of time management strategies allows researchers to identify areas of improvement and recognize progress

Hosts of the immature stages of the rhinoceros tick, Dermacentor rhinocerinus (Acari, Ixodidae)

The collection of the immature stages of Dermacentor rhinocerinus from host animals is described for the first time. These are the bushveld gerbil ( Tatera leucogaster), from which larvae and nymphs were collected, the red veld rat ( Aethomys crysophilus), from which a larva was collected, and the Natal multimammate rat ( Mastomys natalensis), from which a nymph was collected. The rodents were examined in a nature reserve in which there are white rhinoceroses ( Ceratotherium simum).The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat v.9 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Bayer Animal Health. University of Pretoria.mn201

More-persistent weak stratospheric polar vortex states linked to cold extremes

The extratropical stratosphere in boreal winter is characterized by a strong circumpolar westerly jet, confining the coldest temperatures at high latitudes. The jet, referred to as the stratospheric polar vortex, is predominantly zonal and centered around the pole; however, it does exhibit large variability in wind speed and location. Previous studies showed that a weak stratospheric polar vortex can lead to cold-air outbreaks in the midlatitudes, but the exact relationships and mechanisms are unclear. Particularly, it is unclear whether stratospheric variability has contributed to the observed anomalous cooling trends in midlatitude Eurasia. Using hierarchical clustering, we show that over the last 37 years, the frequency of weak vortex states in mid- to late winter (January and February) has increased, which was accompanied by subsequent cold extremes in midlatitude Eurasia. For this region, 60% of the observed cooling in the era of Arctic amplification, that is, since 1990, can be explained by the increased frequency of weak stratospheric polar vortex states, a number that increases to almost 80% when El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability is included as well

Behavioral/Cognitive Global Cognitive Factors Modulate Correlated Response Variability between V4 Neurons

. The question of how global cognitive factors affect correlated response variability is important because these factors likely vary both across and within all psychophysical and physiological studies. Furthermore, global cognitive factors might provide a convenient platform for studying the neuronal mechanisms underlying how cognitive factors affect correlated variability because they can be manipulated easily without training complex perceptual tasks. We recorded simultaneously from groups of neurons in visual area V4 while rhesus monkeys performed a contrast discrimination task whose difficulty changed in blocks of trials. We found that correlated variability decreased when the task was more difficult, even when the visual stimuli were far outside the receptive fields of the recorded neurons. Our results suggest that studying global cognitive factors might provide a general framework for studying how cognitive factors affect the responses of neurons throughout sensory cortex

Universal school meals and associations with student participation, attendance, academic performance, diet quality, food security, and Body Mass Index: A systematic review

The school environment plays an important role in children\u27s diets and overall health, and policies for universal free school meals have the potential to contribute to positive child health outcomes. This systematic review evaluates studies examining the association between universal free school meals and students\u27 school meal participation rates, diets, attendance, academic performance, and Body Mass Index (BMI), as well as school finances. The search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A search for studies published in economically developed countries published through December 2020 was performed in PubMed, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Thomson Reuters\u27 Web of Science, and Academic Search Ultimate, followed by examining the references in the resultant literature. A total of 47 studies were identified and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to assess bias. Nearly all studies examining universal free school meals found positive associations with school meal participation. Most studies examining universal free school meals that included free lunch found positive associations with diet quality, food security, and academic performance; however, the findings of studies examining only universal free breakfast were mixed. Research findings were similarly mixed when examining attendance as an outcome. Concerns about adverse outcomes on student BMI were not supported by the literature; in fact, several studies detected a potentially protective effect of universal free school meals on BMI. Research examining the impact of universal free meals on school finances was limited, but suggest that lower-income school districts in the U.S. may have positive financial outcomes from participation in universal free school meal provisions. Additionally, providing free meals to students may be associated with improved household incomes, particularly among lower-income families with children. Further research is needed to examine the financial implications of universal free meals for both school districts and families. Overall, universal free school meals may have multiple benefits for students and countries should consider universal free school meal provisions with strong nutrition guidelines. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020221782)