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Writing literacies through the application programming interface
No full textAn application programming interface (API) is both a gateway to and a conduit for data. Every internet session invokes APIs and the software code that support them. Despite (or perhaps because of) their ubiquity, they suffer from what Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin term “immediacy”: being a “medium whose purpose is to disappear” (20). APIs are rich with various configurations of human-computer language and, therefore, are crucial for understanding how meaning is made on computer-mediated platforms (i.e. personal computers, mobile phones, gaming systems). Through an investigation of human and computer languages that move through a particular set of APIs—Stack Exchange’s questions and answers APIs and GitHub’s repository APIs—this project offers the “cyborg episteme” as a theoretical lens to scaffold analyses of literate developments that emerge. The resulting findings suggest that APIs exert greater influence on online communities’ literate behaviors than their apparent lack of presence might suggest
Risk Factors Related to Anastomotic Leak and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Minimally Invasive Transhiatal Esophagectomy
No full textResearch Question: What are the pre-operative risk factors connected with increased incidence of anastomotic leak in minimally invasive transhiatal esophagectomy, and are these risk factors also associated with increased morbidity and mortality?Background and Significance: The amount and number of esophagectomies performed for the treatment of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus has grown substantially largely due to the improvement in modern therapy regimens and surgical operative techniques. Post-operative outcomes in patients with an esophageal cancer diagnosis is pertinent to the process of disease progression as well as related to the outcomes of the surgery itself. Approximately 40% of postoperative mortality after esophagectomy is related to anastomotic leak and this is a significant source of post-operative mortality and morbidity. Additionally, atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with leak in the current literature. The purpose of the present study at our institution was to determine possible risk factors associated with the incidence of post-operative leak after transhiatal esophagectomy (THE).Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institution¿s IRB at Methodist Richardson Medical Center. A retrospective detailed chart review was performed between the years of 2012 and 2020. All patients who underwent robotic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy with perioperative course detailed in the available electronic medical record were included in the detailed retrospective chart review. Patient comorbidities, demographics, operative times, and perioperative outcomes such as anastomotic leak development and atrial fibrillation were confirmed through either computed tomography (CT) or upper gastrointestinal series (UGI). A detailed univariate analysis was then completed between study groups to initially identify possible factors associated with anastomotic leak. Following the univariate analysis a multivariate logistic regression was then undertaken.Results: There was no difference of significance in patient demographics between those who developed a leak and those who did not upon initial analysis of univariance. The patients who did develop an anastomotic leak had a significantly higher rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis (COPD) (p = 0.006) as well as a history of prior gastric surgery (p = 0.002). Additionally, prior gastric surgery (OR = 6.9, p = 0.005) and COPD (OR = 4.9, p = 0.002) continued to remain significantly correlated with development of a leak.Conclusion: Prior gastric surgery and COPD are significantly associated with higher rates of postoperative anastomotic leak development in esophageal cancer patients who undergo transhiatal esophagectomy. Subsequent work should aim to assess reasonable processes of preoperative risk reduction in patients with a history of prior gastric surgery and COPD diagnosis
An examination of the transitional experience of African American males away from athletics and towards undergraduate success at predominantly white institutions
No full textThe purpose of this study was to interpret the transitional experience of male African American former student athletes (AAFSAs) from low-SES backgrounds that choose to attend college at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) as non-athletes.
As the United States grow exponentially more diverse, so does its need to address the troubling trends of widening success, wage, and employment gaps for its African American populations (U.S. Census Bureau, 2022). As this problem persists, the threat of hidden trauma continues to engulf young African Americans exposed to low-SES communities (Burchinal et al., 2011; Conger et al., 2002; McLoyd, 1997; Smith & Parker, 2005). Additionally, young African American athletes who grow up in low-SES environments have a heightened vulnerability to what is known as identity foreclosure (Baillie & Danish, 1992; Good et al., 1993; Lapchick, 2001). In the state of identity foreclosure, an athlete’s desire to realize the dream of becoming a professional athlete (no matter how unlikely) leaves no room for other aspects of who they can be to grow and develop (Good et al., 1993). For those fortunate enough to successfully transition from those developmental challenges, more challenges await.
It is well known that the most common path to class mobility in the United States remains a college degree (Antonio et al, 2004; Chang, 1999; Chang, 2001; Chang et al., 2004; Chang et al., 2006; Gurin et al., 2002; Lundberg et al., 1997; Pike & Kuh, 2006). Yet for African American males, current research points to further problems with retention, belonging, engagement, success, and graduation rates (Bryan, 1993; Cabrera et al., Chavous et al., 2004; 1999; Davis, 1994; Feagin, 1992; Harper & Hurtado, 2007; National Center for Education
Statistics, 2005; Naylor et al., 2015; Noguera, 2003; Pike & Kuh, 2006; Thomas, 2018). For those AAFSAs who choose to attend a PWI, they are also likely to encounter microaggressions, racism, stereotypes, and cultural ignorance. The threat from each of these challenges are all possibilities for AAFSAs from low-SES backgrounds who are attending a PWI as non-athletes. Currently, there is no research on the intersecting influences of the silent trauma of a low-SES upbringing; an unanticipated ending to sport identity; and the need to navigate transitioning as a minority at a PWI. More must be done to understand who these AAFSAs are, how they view their development by their environments, how they leverage resources, and how they convert these aspects to strengthen their chances for a successful transition.
Through a qualitative case study leveraging Nancy Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, I applied a Basic Interpretive Analysis (Castro, 2023) to better understand an AAFSA’s transitional process. Eight undergraduate students who met the necessary characteristics were selected from a private PWI in the southwest region of the United States. They were interviewed virtually, and three critical themes emerged from the analysis process. I found a positive relationship between successful transitions and interpersonal connections; a two-fold animus pertaining to confronting adversity; and an imploration to leverage resources wisely. This study concludes with several suggestions to modify theory and improve practice
Development and External Validation of the Machine Learning Models to Predict In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Country Approach
No full textResearch Question: In Emergency Department (ED) presenting patients within the United States, will our 6 previously internally validated machine-learning (ML) models be able to utilize patient¿s triage data, vitals, chief complain, and demographics to successfully identify those who have had an emergency department-based cardiac arrest (EDCA) event?Background and Significance: Through our initial approach, we were able to identify utility and predictive strength of ML models for patients at risk of emergency department-based cardiac arrest (EDCA) who presented in an ED in Taiwan. Our cross-country study aims to prove the utility, reliability, and predictive strength of the initial ML models in an ED population within the United States. We hope to provide reliability through an external validation of our initial ML models as a clinical tool to predict and respond appropriately to patients at risk of cardiac arrest who present to the emergency department.Materials and Methods: We utilized the same training cohort models developed from the database of adult patients at a tertiary training hospital in Taiwan between Jan. 1, 2009, to December 31, 2015. We retrospectively collected data from the ED of a tertiary teaching hospital in the United States between August 31, 2019, to December 31, 2020, to be utilized for external validation as the testing cohort of our ML models. In addition, we trained 6 different ML models in the training cohort using patient features such as triage information and clinical symptoms. We then employed K-fold cross validation and evaluated the performance of our models based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in the external validation cohort.Results: 237,349 and 49,792 patients were included in the training and testing cohort respectively; 477 (0.2%) and 166 (0.3%) were identified to have had an EDCA. All the ML models performed with excellent discrimination based on AUC. Of the constructed ML models, light gradient-boosting machine (LGBM) achieved the best performance of AUC (0.897, 95%, 95% CL: 0.876-0.916) through utility of 7-fold cross validation. There were no significant differences between the constructed models.Conclusion: Through our study we were able to develop and externally validate our constructed ML models for prediction of EDCA in patients presenting to the ED. Our findings suggest that our ML models have the capabilities to be generalized and applicable as a tool to be used in the ED to predict, prevent, and respond to potential EDCA events based on their discriminatory abilities described in the study
THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION IN THE ERA OF PANDEMIC, WAR, AND SANCTIONS: CRISIS OR OPPORTUNITY?
No full textThe COIVD pandemic and the war in Ukraine have had major implications on trade relations within the Eurasian Economic Union. Due to the recency of both events, previous research has primarily explored the overall benefits and drawbacks that membership within the EaEU has provided its members. Within my research, I develop a gravity model of trade based on the normal period of 2010-2019 to determine a predicted value of trade for each EaEU member country over the years 2020-2022, in which both major international events occur. The predicted values are measured against the actual values to measure the level of integration that occurs within the EaEU during the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Smaller economies within the EaEU experience significant levels of integration, while larger economies are more negatively impacted by COVID pandemic and war in Ukraine
Novel miRNA Profiling as a Biomarker to Predict Ischemic Cholangiopathy and Graft Loss in Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) Liver Transplantation
No full textResearch Question: What differences can be seen amongst donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver graft recipient whom develop ischemic cholangiopathy compared to DCD recipients who do not develop IC and donation after brain death recipients.Background and Significance: The use of donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver grafts has emerged in the effort to address organ shortage through expanding criteria for donor selection. However, DCD liver transplantation has been associated with increased morbidity and graft loss vs. donation after brain death (DBD) liver grafts. Ischemic cholangiopathy (IC) is recognized as a major post-transplant complication that can occur following DCD liver transplantation, leading to graft dysfunction, potential graft loss, and in some cases, re-transplantation. Multiple mechanisms may contribute to cholangiocyte injury during DCD transplant, including ischemia and bile salt toxicity.Materials and Methods: Our study investigated current literature surrounding the development and prevention of IC. Additionally, DCD with IC cohort was developed from the liver transplant recipient database. A cohort of DCD and DBD recipients who do not develop IC was used as controls. Clinical data was analyzed from the cohort groups. Lastly, a cohort of whether a change in RNA expression, including selective expression of circulating messenger RNAs (mRNA), associated with control of inflammatory markers and bile salt composition was evaluated between DCD recipients who develop IC compared with DCD and DBD recipients who did not develop IC.Results: We first performed a literature review on the current knowledge surrounding the proposed mechanisms of cholangiocyte injury associated with IC and the clinical management of IC. We evaluated clinical data from our cohorts and found significant changes in creatinine and ALT levels prior to transplant (p<0.05). Next, we evaluated miRNA from blood samples of recipients at specific time points before and after transplantation within a cohort of DCD recipients with established IC. Blood samples were undergoing evaluation by the time of this writing and will be evaluated in future studies. We anticipated that DCD recipients with IC will demonstrate an miRNA profile characterized by elevated concentrations of inflammatory markers and downregulation of bicarbonate and glucose transporters.Conclusion: Our review paper provided understanding of risk factors contributing to the development of IC may play an important role in optimizing transplant outcomes, including patient and graft selection, preventing the development of IC, improving long-term liver graft function, avoiding re-transplantation, and improving morbidity within DCD liver graft recipients. Additionally, our clinical analysis further supported other current studies and provided understanding for potential biomarkers for detection of development of IC
Faith in a foreign land: acculturation and the religious and spiritual experiences of international students
No full textThe research on the religious experience of international students is limited. This study explored international undergraduate female students’ narratives on the importance of religion and spirituality in their international sojourn. Using a narrative case study, I interviewed six students (three Christian and three Hindu students) to discuss the importance of religion/spirituality in their lives in a new country. I also explored the changes in the student’s religious identity, beliefs, and practices after coming to a new country. Finally, I studied the students’ suggestions on how American universities can support their religious and spiritual needs.
This study adds to the limited research on this topic. The findings will help universities and university counseling centers better serve international students
INVESTIGATING AND CONCEPTUALIZING LARCENY THEFT IN SAN FRANCISCO
No full textLarceny theft is the ?unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another? (FBI, 2018). Crime in San Francisco, specifically larceny theft, has made headlines in both California and the nation. In the past decade, the city has seen more and more businesses leaving the area, the greatest outflow of residents in decades, and a completely changed culture. Despite this, city officials claim that the media has exaggerated this issue of theft in San Francisco. The author gathers and conceptualizes violent and property crime data in recent decades, in both San Francisco and other comparable California cities, to understand the severity of theft in the city, as well as potential factors that may explain these trends (such as changed legislation and changed policing priorities). By examining existing reports and new crime data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the author found unique trends in the data. San Francisco is rather nonviolent compared to other cities, but larceny theft provides a completely different pattern in the data. San Francisco larceny rates began its exponential increase in 2011, as clearance rates for these crimes began to decrease. The data provides support for the deterrence theory, used in the authors discussion, calling direct attention to changed policing priorities. Amidst the San Francisco Police Department staffing crisis, statewide legislation changes, and the changing social realities of San Franciscans, the author attempts to put the pieces together, identifying what is truly going on in the city of San Francisco, and what has caused this larceny phenomenon
Temporal analysis of mercury concentrations in five seabird species of northwest Greenland
No full textAnthropogenic emissions have led to widespread mercury contamination in aquatic ecosystems globally, surpassing pre-industrial levels. This phenomenon extends to Arctic environments, where numerous seabird colonies reside, facing heightened exposure due to their dietary habits and longevity. Our study focused on five seabird species in northwest Greenland, spanning the years 2010 to 2023. By analyzing blood samples for mercury levels alongside carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, we assessed temporal trends in contamination. Results revealed moderate to low risks of mercury toxicity across species, with certain individuals exceeding safe thresholds. Variations in mercury concentrations among species and temporal trends underscore the complexity of Arctic mercury dynamics. These findings contribute vital insights into regional mercury patterns and aid ongoing efforts, such as the Minamata Convention, aimed at mitigating mercury's environmental impact. Understanding these trends is crucial for safeguarding Arctic ecosystems and the species reliant upon them
The Effect of Covid-19 on Length of Stay for Non-Covid-19 Patients: A Single Center Study
No full textResearch Question: How does the number of admitted Covid-19 patients affect the length of stay (LOS) for non-Covid-19 patients in acute care and intensive care units?Background and Significance: Covid-19 had a large impact on healthcare systems and various populations. US hospitals saw reduced admissions during the height of the pandemic that had severe repercussions. More research examining specific populations could be used to guide how to best serve a healthcare system¿s patient population.Materials and Methods: We compiled deidentified patient information from the EMR of a large, single center in North Texas and grouped the information into two timeframes ¿ Pre and Post Covid-19.Results: The number of diagnoses was found to be higher in the 2020-2021 timeframe than the 2019-2020 timeframe (p <0.001). Comparing LOS across quarters, October through December was found to be statistically significant (p=0.0363). A regression model for the 2019-2020 dataset, the number of diagnoses, age, and being of an unknown or declining to list race were statistically significant (p<0.05). The regression for the 2020-2021 dataset had age, being female, having race listed as unknown/ other, African American, or Asian, being Hispanic, number of diagnoses, and Covid-19 census as all statistically significant (p<0.05). Overall, there was not an overall statistically significant difference between the 2019-2020 population and the 2020-2021 non-Covid-19 population LOS (p=0.2837).Conclusion: Our article finds that length of stay for non-Covid-19 patients was not affected by the Covid-19 inpatient census