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Few in-depth reports on cancer epidemiology in New Mexico or the United States-Mexico border region exist. We aim to quantify cancer incidence and survival in New Mexico and the United States-Mexico border region in New Mexico. Incidence and survival were obtained using SEER*Stat 8.3. The data were divided into either New Mexico, or SEER 18 (comprised of the 17 remaining regions) and then further divided by county in New Mexico and by time period. Incidence rates were age-standardized to the 2000 US census. Five-year survival was calculated for each cancer type. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were produced, and significance was determined using log-rank analysis. Analysis demonstrated that cancers in New Mexico are diagnosed at a lower rate with the exception of thyroid, liver, and ovarian. Survival is generally lower in New Mexico with 10 of the 14 cancers having worse survival in New Mexico. Only uterine cancer had improved survival in New Mexico (77.9% vs 74.9%, P < .001). Additionally, breast (82.2%), prostate (83.3%), lung and bronchus (13.7%), colorectal (53.7%), melanoma (80.1%), kidney and renal pelvis (61.2%), uterine (78.5%), and ovarian (41.6%) all had lower survival in the border counties. Comparing New Mexico to the other regions in the SEER 18 database, both cancer incidence and survival are consistently lower; these findings could be explained by lower access to healthcare, which can result in underreporting and delays in diagnosis.
Zachariah Taylor; Kayla Chory; Mark Wright; Anup Amatya; Charlotte Gard; Michael E. Woods. Incidence and Survival for Common Cancers Are Lower in New Mexico and Along the US-Mexico Border Than Elsewhere in the United States. Cureus 2020, 12, 1 .
AMA StyleZachariah Taylor, Kayla Chory, Mark Wright, Anup Amatya, Charlotte Gard, Michael E. Woods. Incidence and Survival for Common Cancers Are Lower in New Mexico and Along the US-Mexico Border Than Elsewhere in the United States. Cureus. 2020; 12 (10):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZachariah Taylor; Kayla Chory; Mark Wright; Anup Amatya; Charlotte Gard; Michael E. Woods. 2020. "Incidence and Survival for Common Cancers Are Lower in New Mexico and Along the US-Mexico Border Than Elsewhere in the United States." Cureus 12, no. 10: 1.
Water scarcity has become a salient problem in southern New Mexico. A combination of drought and a decrease in surface water for irrigation encouraged to search for other sources of water. Desalination of brackish groundwater (BGW) using reverse osmosis (RO) results in a highly salty water or RO concentrate. In this study, impacts of using BGW and RO concentrate for irrigating pecan trees inside a greenhouse were evaluated. The objective was to determine if pecan trees are suitable for irrigation with BGW and RO concentrate, and evaluate the possible effects on pecan growth and physiological parameters. For each of two growing seasons (2017 and 2018), three irrigation treatments of 0.8, 4.0 (BGW), and 8.0 ds/m (RO) were applied every 14 days for 8 months. Four-year-old pecan trees were planted in pots filled with sandy-loam soil. Response variables included plant height and diameter, as well as physiological data including photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, stem water potential, and leaf ions concentrations. Net pecan growth was 2.75 cm less in RO concentrate irrigated pots than control by the end of the second season. Plants irrigated with RO had the lowest chlorophyll content (30.75) and the lowest stem water potential (-17.22 bar). Na+ and Cl− concentrations reached 0.056 and 0.027 meq/l in the leaf samples in RO irrigated pecans. All trees survived the first season but only 75 % of the pecan trees irrigated with BGW and 50 % of those irrigated with RO survived the two seasons of the experiment. This suggested that continuous long-term irrigation with BGW and RO concentrate is not suitable in arid areas and new irrigation scheduling protocols are needed for safe reuse of BGW and RO concentrate.
Akram R. Ben Ali; Manoj K. Shukla; Brian J. Schutte; Charlotte C. Gard. Irrigation with RO concentrate and brackish groundwater impacts pecan tree growth and physiology. Agricultural Water Management 2020, 240, 106328 .
AMA StyleAkram R. Ben Ali, Manoj K. Shukla, Brian J. Schutte, Charlotte C. Gard. Irrigation with RO concentrate and brackish groundwater impacts pecan tree growth and physiology. Agricultural Water Management. 2020; 240 ():106328.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAkram R. Ben Ali; Manoj K. Shukla; Brian J. Schutte; Charlotte C. Gard. 2020. "Irrigation with RO concentrate and brackish groundwater impacts pecan tree growth and physiology." Agricultural Water Management 240, no. : 106328.
This study was conducted within the context of providing an improved understanding of New Mexico’s food, energy, water systems (FEWS) and their behavior under variable climate and socioeconomic conditions. The goal of this paper was to characterize the relationships between production and prices of some forage crops (hay, grain sorghum, and corn) that can be used as feed supplements for beef cattle production and the potential impacts from a changing climate (precipitation, temperature) and energy inputs (crude oil production and prices). The analysis was based on 60 years of data (1958–2017) using generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models. Hay production showed a declining trend since 2000 and in 2017, it dropped by ~33% compared to that of 2000. Crude oil production (R2 = 0.83) and beef cattle population (R2 = 0.85) were negatively correlated with hay production. A moderate declining trend in mean annual hay prices was also observed. Mean annual range conditions (R2 = 0.60) was negatively correlated with mean annual hay prices, whereas mean annual crude oil prices (R2 = 0.48) showed a positive relationship. Grain sorghum production showed a consistent declining trend since 1971 and in 2017, it dropped by ~91% compared to that of 1971. Mean annual temperature (R2 = 0.58) was negatively correlated with grain sorghum production, while beef cattle population (R2 = 0.61) and range conditions (R2 = 0.51) showed positive linear relationships. Mean annual grain sorghum prices decreased since the peak of 1974 and in 2017, they dropped by ~77% compared to those of 1974. Crude oil prices (R2 = 0.72) and beef cattle population (R2 = 0.73) were positively correlated with mean annual grain sorghum prices. Corn production in 2017 dropped by ~61% compared to the peak that occurred in 1999. Crude oil production (R2 = 0.85) and beef cattle population (R2 = 0.86) were negatively correlated with corn production. Mean annual corn prices showed a declining trend since 1974 and in 2017, they dropped by ~75% compared to those of 1974. Mean annual corn prices were positively correlated with mean annual precipitation (R2 = 0.83) and negatively correlated with crude oil production (R2 = 0.84). These finding can particularly help in developing a more holistic model that integrates FEWS components to explain their response to internal (i.e., management practices) and external (i.e., environmental) stressors. Such holistic modeling can further inform the development and adoption of more sustainable production and resource use practices.
Ashraf J. Zaied; Hatim M. E. Geli; Mohammed N. Sawalhah; Jerry L. Holechek; Andres F. Cibils; Charlotte C. Gard. Historical Trends in New Mexico Forage Crop Production in Relation to Climate, Energy, and Rangelands. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2051 .
AMA StyleAshraf J. Zaied, Hatim M. E. Geli, Mohammed N. Sawalhah, Jerry L. Holechek, Andres F. Cibils, Charlotte C. Gard. Historical Trends in New Mexico Forage Crop Production in Relation to Climate, Energy, and Rangelands. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (5):2051.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAshraf J. Zaied; Hatim M. E. Geli; Mohammed N. Sawalhah; Jerry L. Holechek; Andres F. Cibils; Charlotte C. Gard. 2020. "Historical Trends in New Mexico Forage Crop Production in Relation to Climate, Energy, and Rangelands." Sustainability 12, no. 5: 2051.
In support of Food-Energy-Water Systems (FEWS) analysis to enhance its sustainability for New Mexico (NM), this study evaluated observed trends in beef cattle population in response to environmental and economic changes. The specific goal was to provide an improved understanding of the behavior of NM’s beef cattle production systems relative to precipitation, temperature, rangeland conditions, production of hay and crude oil, and prices of hay and crude oil. Historical data of all variables were available for the 1973–2017 period. The analysis was conducted using generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models. The results indicated declining trends in beef cattle population and prices. The most important predictors of beef cattle population variation were hay production, mean annual hay prices, and mean annual temperature, whereas mean annual temperature, cattle feed sold, and crude oil production were the most important predictors for calf population that weigh under 500 lb. Prices of beef cattle showed a strong positive relationship with crude oil production, mean annual hay prices, rangeland conditions, and mean annual precipitation. However, mean annual temperature had a negative relationship with mean annual beef prices. Variation in mean annual calf prices was explained by hay production, mean annual temperature, and crude oil production. This analysis suggested that NM’s beef cattle production systems were affected mainly and directly by mean annual temperature and crude oil production, and to a lesser extent by other factors studied in this research.
Ashraf Zaied; Hatim Geli; Jerry Holechek; Andres Cibils; Mohammed Sawalhah; Charlotte Gard. An Evaluation of Historical Trends in New Mexico Beef Cattle Production in Relation to Climate and Energy. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6840 .
AMA StyleAshraf Zaied, Hatim Geli, Jerry Holechek, Andres Cibils, Mohammed Sawalhah, Charlotte Gard. An Evaluation of Historical Trends in New Mexico Beef Cattle Production in Relation to Climate and Energy. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (23):6840.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAshraf Zaied; Hatim Geli; Jerry Holechek; Andres Cibils; Mohammed Sawalhah; Charlotte Gard. 2019. "An Evaluation of Historical Trends in New Mexico Beef Cattle Production in Relation to Climate and Energy." Sustainability 11, no. 23: 6840.
The hematophagous bug Triatoma rubida is a species of kissing bug that has been marked as a potential vector for the transmission of Chagas disease in the Southern United States and Northern Mexico. However, information on the distribution of T. rubida in these areas is limited. Vector monitoring is crucial to assess disease risk, so effective trapping systems are required. Kissing bugs utilize extrinsic cues to guide host-seeking, aggregation, and dispersal behaviors. These cues have been recognized as high-value targets for exploitation by trapping systems. A modern video-tracking system was used with a four-port olfactometer system to quantitatively assess the behavioral response of T. rubida to cues of known significance. Also, response of T. rubida adults to seven wavelengths of light-emitting diodes (LED) in paired-choice pitfall was evaluated. Behavioral data gathered from these experiments indicate that T. rubida nymphs orient preferentially to airstreams at either 1600 or 3200 ppm carbon dioxide and prefer relative humidity levels of about 30%, while adults are most attracted to 470 nm light. These data may serve to help design an effective trapping system for T. rubida monitoring. Investigations described here also demonstrate the experimental power of combining an olfactometer with a video-tracking system for studying insect behavior.
Andres Indacochea; Charlotte C. Gard; Immo A. Hansen; Jane Pierce; Alvaro Romero. Short-Range Responses of the Kissing Bug Triatoma rubida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to Carbon Dioxide, Moisture, and Artificial Light. Insects 2017, 8, 90 .
AMA StyleAndres Indacochea, Charlotte C. Gard, Immo A. Hansen, Jane Pierce, Alvaro Romero. Short-Range Responses of the Kissing Bug Triatoma rubida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to Carbon Dioxide, Moisture, and Artificial Light. Insects. 2017; 8 (3):90.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndres Indacochea; Charlotte C. Gard; Immo A. Hansen; Jane Pierce; Alvaro Romero. 2017. "Short-Range Responses of the Kissing Bug Triatoma rubida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to Carbon Dioxide, Moisture, and Artificial Light." Insects 8, no. 3: 90.
Different multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques require different levels of computational intensity and may produce different outputs, so selecting an appropriate technique largely determines the quality of the recommended decision and the effort required to obtain that decision. In most real environments, criteria and their constraints are not deterministic and cannot be specified precisely; therefore, those criteria are uncertain or fuzzy. To facilitate the selection of an appropriate MCDM method under a fuzzy environment, this study investigates and statistically compares the performances of ten commonly used MCDM techniques: simple additive weights (SAW), weighted product method (WPM), compromise programming (CP), technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), four types of analytical hierarchy process (AHP), VIKOR (in Serbian: VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje), and ELECTRE (in French: ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalité). These techniques’ performances were compared using fuzzy criteria and constraints, matching the conditions usually found in real applications. To conduct the comparisons, the 10 multi-criteria decision ranking methods were applied to 1250 simulated sets of decision matrices with fuzzy triangular values, and 12,500 sets of ranks were analyzed to compare the ranking methods. SAW and TOPSIS had statistically similar performances. ELECTRE was not preferable in providing full, sorted ranks among the alternatives. VIKOR considering its ranking process, for specific conditions, assigns identical ranks for several alternatives; when full, sorted ranks are required, VIKOR is unfavorable, although it is a powerful technique in introducing the closest alternative to the ideal condition. Types 1 and 3 of AHP and types 2 and 4 of AHP had close performances. Notably, no ranking method was significantly sensitive to uncertainty levels when uncertainty changed symmetrically.
Hamed Zamani-Sabzi; James Phillip King; Charlotte C. Gard; Shalamu Abudu. Statistical and analytical comparison of multi-criteria decision-making techniques under fuzzy environment. Operations Research Perspectives 2016, 3, 92 -117.
AMA StyleHamed Zamani-Sabzi, James Phillip King, Charlotte C. Gard, Shalamu Abudu. Statistical and analytical comparison of multi-criteria decision-making techniques under fuzzy environment. Operations Research Perspectives. 2016; 3 ():92-117.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHamed Zamani-Sabzi; James Phillip King; Charlotte C. Gard; Shalamu Abudu. 2016. "Statistical and analytical comparison of multi-criteria decision-making techniques under fuzzy environment." Operations Research Perspectives 3, no. : 92-117.
USA states have begun legislating mammographic breast density reporting to women, requiring that women undergoing screening mammography who have dense breast tissue (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI‐RADS] density c or d) receive written notification of their breast density; however, the impact that misclassification of breast density will have on this reporting remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess reproducibility of the four‐category BI‐RADS density measure and examine its relationship with a continuous measure of percent density. We enrolled 19 radiologists, experienced in breast imaging, from a single integrated health care system. Radiologists interpreted 341 screening mammograms at two points in time 6 months apart. We assessed intra‐ and interobserver agreement in radiologists'; interpretations of BI‐RADS density and explored whether agreement depended upon radiologist characteristics. We examined the relationship between BI‐RADS density and percent density in a subset of 282 examinations. Intraradiologist agreement was moderate to substantial, with kappa varying across radiologists from 0.50 to 0.81 (mean = 0.69, 95% CI [0.63, 0.73]). Intraradiologist agreement was higher for radiologists with ≥10 years experience interpreting mammograms (difference in mean kappa = 0.10, 95% CI [0.01, 0.24]). Interradiologist agreement varied widely across radiologist pairs from slight to substantial, with kappa ranging from 0.02 to 0.72 (mean = 0.46, 95% CI [0.36, 0.55]). Of 145 examinations interpreted as “nondense” (BI‐RADS density a or b) by the majority of radiologists, 82.8% were interpreted as “dense” (BI‐RADS density c or d) by at least one radiologist. Of 187 examinations interpreted as “dense” by the majority of radiologists, 47.1% were interpreted as “nondense” by at least one radiologist. While the examinations of almost half of the women in our study were interpreted clinically as having BI‐RADS density c or d, only about 10% of examinations had percent density >50%. Our results suggest that breast density reporting based on a single BI‐RADS density interpretation may be misleading due to high interradiologist variability and a lack of correspondence between BI‐RADS density and percent density.
Charlotte C. Gard; Erin J. Aiello Bowles Mph; Diana L. Miglioretti; Stephen H. Taplin; Carolyn M. Rutter. Misclassification of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) Mammographic Density and Implications for Breast Density Reporting Legislation. The Breast Journal 2015, 21, 481 -489.
AMA StyleCharlotte C. Gard, Erin J. Aiello Bowles Mph, Diana L. Miglioretti, Stephen H. Taplin, Carolyn M. Rutter. Misclassification of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) Mammographic Density and Implications for Breast Density Reporting Legislation. The Breast Journal. 2015; 21 (5):481-489.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCharlotte C. Gard; Erin J. Aiello Bowles Mph; Diana L. Miglioretti; Stephen H. Taplin; Carolyn M. Rutter. 2015. "Misclassification of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) Mammographic Density and Implications for Breast Density Reporting Legislation." The Breast Journal 21, no. 5: 481-489.