Hardin–Simmons University

We describe a citizen science asteroid detection system developed by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) and the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii, utilizing data from the Pan-STARRS telescopes. The goals of this project are to (i) educate and engage citizen scientists (mostly high school students) in science and astronomy, (ii) search for new asteroids to extend the limiting magnitudes of existing asteroid surveys, and (iii) find missed Near-Earth Objects (NEOs—objects with perihelia q < 1.3 au) to support planetary defense efforts. Over the past 15 yr, 50,000 citizen scientists from 96 countries around the world have detected ∼12,000 main-belt asteroids and ∼5 NEOs. Citizen scientists use the software Astrometrica during scheduled campaigns to search for and measure asteroid astrometry and photometry, and submit the data to IASC for vetting. Candidate detections not already submitted by Pan-STARRS are then submitted to the Minor Planet Center, and are typically ∼0.30 ± 0.07 mag fainter.

Purpose: To examine pulse pressure (PP), systolic (SBP), and diastolic (DBP) pressure in outpatient physical therapy or maintenance fitness subjects by age (5 age groups) and in those younger than versus those who were 65 years and older. To test for differences in SBP, DBP, and PP in those with and without a hypertension (HTN) diagnosis. Methods: Ninety-eight physical therapy and maintenance fitness subjects in 1 urban outpatient clinic had PP and SBP/DBP measured and classified (ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines) using two different age classifications: (1) 20 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64, 65 to 74, or ≥75 and (2) ≤64 or ≥65. Comparisons were also made in SBP, DBP, and PP based on a known hypertension diagnosis. Results: Forty male and 58 female subjects (height: 65.98 inches [SD = 4.19]; weight: 180.91 pounds [SD = 39.62]; body mass index: 29.11 [SD = 5.86]; age: 64.34 years [SD = 15.92]) participated in this investigation. Systolic blood pressure, DBP, and PP were significantly higher in those older than 65 years. Systolic blood pressure significantly increases across 5 age groups. Systolic blood pressure, DBP, and PP were significantly higher in those older than 65 years. Pulse pressure was significantly greater in those with hypertension. Pulse pressure was abnormal in 36.2% of the sample. Conclusions: Thirty-six percent of subjects receiving physical therapy treatment or participating in maintenance fitness had elevated PP while 78.9% and 47.3% had abnormal SBP and DBP, respectively. Both PP and blood pressure were significantly influenced by age. Therapists should measure resting BP and PP before treatment and refer as needed to achieve improved control.

This study aimed to compare the prevalence and incidence of vocal fold pathologies among undergraduate classical, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial music (CCM) students over two-time points. This study is part of a longitudinal investigation. Videostroboscopic examinations were rated, with consensus among three of four expert blinded raters confirming the presence of pathology. Association between genre of singer and the presence of pathology, interrater reliability, and intra-rater reliability were calculated. Prevalence and incidence of pathologies were compared across genres. During first-year evaluations, 32% of musical theatre, 18% of CCM, and 0% of classical students had vocal pathologies. The prevalence at third-year evaluations showed 22% of classical, 39% of musical theatre, and 27% of CCM participants having vocal fold pathologies. The incidence of pathologies was 67% of musical theatre students compared to 22% of classical students and 27% of CCM students. The four raters demonstrated fair to moderate interrater agreement. Singing Voice Handicap Index-10 scores were normal for CCM singers at both time points but elevated for musical theatre and classical singers. No classical singers were found to have pathology during first-year evaluations, although CCM and musical theatre singers showed evidence of vocal fold pathologies. At third-year evaluations, all three genres had an apparent increase in prevalence of pathologies. Implications of this study suggest that more time in the field and intense voice usage may lead to a greater risk of pathology for all singers, regardless of genre. 2 Laryngoscope, 133:2317-2324, 2023.

Abstract The Texas red beds represent one of the richest series of early Permian deposits in the world. In particular, the Clear Fork Group has produced a diverse assemblage of temnospondyls, early reptiles, and synapsids. However, most of this material has been sourced from the oldest member, the Arroyo Formation, and the understanding of the paleoecosystem of the younger Vale and Choza formations is less well resolved. Here we present a previously undescribed Vale locality, the first vertebrate-bearing locality from the formation to be described in detail in several decades, from near Abilene, Texas with juvenile diplocaulids, captorhinids, abundant material of rare taxa such asVaranopsand diadectids, and the first report of a recumbirostran ‘microsaur’ from the formation. This assemblage is atypical of early Permian deposits in the taxonomic and size distribution of the vertebrate fauna in comparison to other localities from the Vale Formation that preserve a greater abundance of aquatic taxa (e.g., fishes,Trimerorhachis) and synapsids (e.g.,Dimetrodon). Minimal abrasion of the elements, relative articulation and association of the specimen ofVaranops, and the paucity of aquatic taxa suggest an ephemeral pond deposit in which organisms were preserved essentially in situ. Our characterization of the locality also permits a revision and discussion of the vertebrate faunal assemblage of the Vale Formation.

Studies using minority stress theory have focused on the experiences of numerical and social power minorities, though majority individuals may also perceive themselves to be minorities. We explored minority stress theory among a sample of members of a numerically and socially dominant group: Christians in the USA. Perceiving oneself to be a member of a minority as a Christian was associated with stress indirectly via perceived experiences of faith-based discrimination (i.e., harassment due to being Christian). Being more open about one's religion moderated the relationship between experiences of faith-based discrimination and stress, such that those who were open about their faith reported a stronger relationship between experiences of faith-based discrimination and stress. These findings indicate that perceptions of minority status are important to understanding stress and have implications for minority/majority dialogues.

In this study we investigated both the overall student performance and the DFW rates (the number of students receiving a grade of “D”, “F”, or withdrawing from a class) for both males and females in first semester general chemistry courses over a period of five years. Data was collected from a large southwestern university in the for all of the first semester general chemistry courses offered during this period. The data included 12 fall semester sections, 16 spring semester sections and five summer semester sections with a total sample of 5384 students. The results showed that in the traditional fifteen week semesters the female students significantly outperformed the male students in both overall class averages (ANOVA p<0.001), and DFW rates (ANOVA p<0.001). However during the summer sessions a startling reversal occurred and the male students significantly outperformed the female students in both overall class averages (ANOVA p<0.05) and DFW rate (ANOVA p<0.001).

BACKGROUNDThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center introduced the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative in 2011 as 1 strategy to encourage healthcare organizations and clinicians to improve healthcare delivery for patients, both when they are in the hospital and after they are discharged. Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, a large urban academic medical center, engaged in BPCI primarily with a group of medical diagnosis-related groups (DRGs).OBJECTIVESIn this article, we describe our experience creating a system of response for the diverse people and diagnoses that fall into the medical DRG bundles and specifically identify organizational factors for enabling successful implementation of bundled payments.RESULTSOur experience suggests that interprofessional collaboration enabled program success.CONCLUSIONSAlthough still in its early phases, observations from our program’s strategies and tactics may provide potential insights for organizations considering engagement in the BPCI initiative.