Annabelle

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/1006/thumbnail.jp

Just A Night For Meditation

Photograph of Charles Ray; Illustration of grass, river, trees, and moon at nighthttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/7846/thumbnail.jp

BaYaka education: From the forest to the ORA (Observer, Réflechir, Agir) classroom

Schooling is part of a global effort to help Indigenous peoples adapt to their changing social and ecological worlds and assert their human rights. There is ongoing discussion among anthropologists and educational researchers as to whether schooling meets these goals. Here, we examine the harms and benefits of ORA (Observer, Réflechir, Agir), a school system developed to educate BaYaka children from the northern Republic of the Congo. Many BaYaka have become more sedentary in recent years, spend more time working for their farmer neighbours or in towns, and have lost control of their traditional forest areas due to logging. ORA aims to provide a pre-schooling structure free from discrimination to 1) encourage the retention of Indigenous traditions, 2) reduce vulnerability and marginalisation of Indigenous populations, and 3) integrate children into the national public schooling system. Here, we contrast BaYaka pedagogy, social relationships, health education, experiences of discrimination, foraging activities, and cultural and spiritual beliefs with ORA. We argue that ORA’s curriculum structure and the cultural values transmitted in the classroom are at odds with BaYaka children’s forest learning and lifeways. Especially, while ORA explicitly seeks to provide BaYaka children with educational experiences free from discrimination from their farmer neighbours, a lack of BaYaka teachers and mother-tongue instruction may in fact disempower and disenfranchise BaYaka students. We end by discussing alternative approaches to education that can benefit BaYaka children, and outline areas for future research. A short ethnographic film on ORA curriculum and classroom life by Romain Duda is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB8VH0txKZM

Formulation and performance of variational integrators for rotating bodies

Variational integrators are obtained for two mechanical systems whose configuration spaces are, respectively, the rotation group and the unit sphere. In the first case, an integration algorithm is presented for Euler’s equations of the free rigid body, following the ideas of Marsden et al. (Nonlinearity 12:1647–1662, 1999). In the second example, a variational time integrator is formulated for the rigid dumbbell. Both methods are formulated directly on their nonlinear configuration spaces, without using Lagrange multipliers. They are one-step, second order methods which show exact conservation of a discrete angular momentum which is identified in each case. Numerical examples illustrate their properties and compare them with existing integrators of the literature

Social cognition in children with epilepsy in mainstream education

AIM To establish whether deficits in social cognition are present in children with generalised or focal epilepsy in mainstream education, and whether any relation exists between social cognition, communication, and behaviour measures. METHOD In a cross-sectional study, children with an epilepsy-only diagnoses in mainstream education (n=20 with generalized epilepsy; eight males, 12 females; mean age 11y 6mo, SD 2y 6mo; and n=27 with focal epilepsy; 12 males, 15 females; mean age 11y 8mo, SD 2y 2mo) and comparison participants (n=57; 28 males, 29 females; mean age 11y 2mo, SD 2y 4mo) were administered the Strange Stories task and the Mind in the Eyes task, as well as an IQ assessment. Parents completed the Children’s Communication Checklist-2 and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS Both groups of children with epilepsy performed more poorly than control children on the Mental Stories component of the Strange Stories task, F(2,101)=3.2, p<0.001. Performance on Mental Stories was related to pragmatic communication, but only in the generalized epilepsy group (r=0.51, p=0.03, 95% CI=0.2–0.8). There were no differences between epilepsy groups or control participants in the Mind in the Eyes task, F(2,101)=0.4, p=0.4. INTERPRETATION Children with ‘epilepsy only’ are at risk of deficits in social cognition and may require appropriate support

L’éducation des BaYaka: De la forêt aux écoles ORA (Observer, Réflechir, Agir)

La scolarisation fait partie d’un effort global visant à aider les peuples autochtones à s’adapter aux changements rapides de leur monde social et écologique et à affirmer leurs droits. La question de savoir si la scolarisation répond à ces objectifs fait l’objet d’un débat permanent parmi les anthropologues et les chercheurs en sciences de l’éducation. Nous examinons dans cet article les avantages et les inconvénients de la pédagogie ORA (Observer, Réflechir, Agir), un système scolaire développé pour éduquer les enfants BaYaka du nord de la République du Congo. Nombreux sont les BaYaka qui dans ces dernières années sont devenus plus sédentaires, passant plus de temps à travailler pour leurs voisins agriculteurs ou dans les villes, et ayant perdu le contrôle de leurs territoires forestiers en raison de l’exploitation forestière. Le système ORA vise à fournir une structure préscolaire exempte de discrimination afin (1) d’encourager le maintien des traditions autochtones, (2) de réduire la vulnérabilité et la marginalisation des populations autochtones et (3) de faciliter l’intégration des enfants dans le système scolaire public national. Dans ce contexte, nous comparons la pédagogie traditionnelle des BaYaka, les relations sociales, l’éducation à la santé, les expériences de discrimination, les activités de subsistance et les pratiques culturelles et rituelles avec ce qui est transmis dans les écoles ORA. Nous soutenons que la structure du programme scolaire ORA et les valeurs transmises en classe sont en contradiction avec l’apprentissage en forêt et le mode de vie des enfants baYaka. En particulier, alors que le système ORA cherche explicitement à offrir aux enfants baYaka des expériences éducatives exemptes de discrimination de la part de leurs voisins agriculteurs, le manque d’enseignants baYaka et d’enseignement en langue maternelle peut en fait les priver de leur autonomie et de leurs droits. Nous terminons l’article en discutant des approches éducatives alternatives qui peuvent bénéficier aux enfants baYaka, et en soulignant les domaines de recherche future. [Un court film ethnographique sur le programme ORA et la vie en classe, réalisé par Romain Duda, est disponible sur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB8VH0txKZM]

Incidence of emergency department visits for electric rental scooters using detailed ridership data

INTRODUCTION: Electric scooter (e-scooter) rental usage has increased exponentially around the country, expanding to more than 120 cities by the end of 2018. Early attempts to capture the safety effects of widespread adoption of this technology have been hampered by lack of accurate ridership data. Here we describe a 17-month evolution of ridership characteristics in St. Louis, Missouri, and the frequency of e-scooter rental-related injuries serious enough to require an emergency department (ED) visit over this time frame; we also provide estimates of incidence rates of injuries based on company ridership data. METHODS: We performed a combination retrospective chart review and prospective questionnaire-based analysis of adult e-scooter rental-related ED visits in both downtown St. Louis Level 1 trauma centers during the first 17 months of e-scooter rental usage (August 2018-December 2019). The retrospective portion focused on demographics, alcohol use, helmet use, disposition, operative repair, and temporal and severity markers. The prospective portion focused on more detailed crash and rider data. Finally, we used ridership data from both e-scooter rental companies in St. Louis to estimate incidence and temporal trends. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients had e-scooter rental-related ED visits. The median age of our population was 31 years with 58.8% male and 53.8% White. There were no deaths. Ninety-two patients were found to have fractures with 38% requiring surgery. Of the 21 patients diagnosed with head injury, five had an intracranial bleed. Overall incidence of ED visits related to e-scooters was 2.1 per 10,000 trips and 2.2 per 10,000 miles with the number of ED visits by month closely correlated with the number of rides per month (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.95). CONCLUSION: The number of e-scooter rental-related injuries seen in St. Louis trauma centers was relatively low and correlated closely with overall number of rides. The number of injuries decreased and were less severe from 2018 to 2019 with infrequent intracranial injuries and a large percentage of fractures requiring operative repair

Designing tools to predict and mitigate impacts on water quality following the Australian 2019/2020 wildfires: Insights from Sydney's largest water supply catchment

The 2019/20 Australian bushfires (or wildfires) burned the largest forested area in Australia's recorded history, with major socio‐economic and environmental consequences. Among the largest fires was the 280,000 ha Green Wattle Creek Fire which burned large forested areas of the Warragamba catchment. This protected catchment provides critical ecosystem services for Lake Burragorang, one of Australia's largest urban supply reservoirs delivering ~85 % of the water used in Greater Sydney. WaterNSW is the utility responsible for managing water quality in Lake Burragorang. Its postfire risk assessment, carried out in collaboration with researchers in Australia, the UK and USA, involved i) identifying pyrogenic contaminants in ash and soil; ii) quantifying ash loads and contaminant concentrations across the burned area; and iii) estimating the probability and quantity of soil, ash and associated contaminants entrainment for different rainfall scenarios. The work included refining the capabilities of the new WEPPcloud‐WATAR‐AU model (Water Erosion Prediction Project cloud‐Wildfire Ash Transport And Risk‐Australia) for predicting sediment, ash and contaminants transport, aided by outcomes from previous collaborative post‐fire research in the catchment. Approximately two weeks after the Green Wattle Creek Fire was contained, an extreme rainfall event (~276 mm in 72 h), caused extensive ash and sediment delivery into the reservoir. The risk assessment informed on‐ground monitoring and operational mitigation measures (deployment of debris‐catching booms and adjustment of the water supply system configuration), ensuring the continuity of safe water supply to Sydney. WEPPcloud‐WATAR‐AU outputs can prioritize recovery interventions for managing water quality risks by quantifying contaminants on the hillslopes, anticipating water contamination risk, and identifying areas with high susceptibility to ash and sediment transport. This collaborative interaction among scientists and water managers, aimed also at refining model capabilities and outputs to meet managers’ needs, exemplifies the successful outcomes that can be achieved at the interface of industry and science

Racial Differences in Cardiovascular Biomarkers in the General Population

Background-The incidence and clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) differ between blacks and whites. Biomarkers that reflect important pathophysiological pathways may provide a window to allow deeper understanding of racial differences in CVD. Methods and Results-The study included 2635 white and black participants from the Dallas Heart Study who were free from existing CVD. Cross-sectional associations between race and 32 biomarkers were evaluated using multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, traditional CVD risk factors, imaging measures of body composition, renal function, insulin resistance, left ventricular mass, and socioeconomic factors. In fully adjusted models, black women had higher lipoprotein(a), leptin, D-dimer, osteoprotegerin, antinuclear antibody, homoarginine, suppression of tumorigenicity-2, and urinary microalbumin, and lower adiponectin, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide versus white women. Black men had higher lipoprotein(a), leptin, D-dimer, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, antinuclear antibody, symmetrical dimethylarginine, homoarginine, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, suppression of tumorigenicity-2, and lower adiponectin, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide versus white men. Adjustment for biomarkers that were associated with higher CVD risk, and that differed between blacks and whites, attenuated the risk for CVD events in black women (unadjusted hazard ratio 2.05, 95% CI 1.32, 3.17 and adjusted hazard ratio 1.15, 95% CI 0.69, 1.92) and black men (unadjusted hazard ratio 2.39, 95% CI 1.64, 3.46, and adjusted hazard ratio 1.21, 95% CI 0.76, 1.95). Conclusions-Significant racial differences were seen in biomarkers reflecting lipids, adipokines, and biomarkers of endothelial function, inflammation, myocyte injury, and neurohormonal stress, which may contribute to racial differences in the development and complications of CVD

Designing tools to predict and mitigate impacts on water quality following the Australian 2019/2020 wildfires: Insights from Sydney's largest water supply catchment

The 2019/2020 Australian bushfires (or wildfires) burned the largest forested area in Australia's recorded history, with major socio-economic and environmental consequences. Among the largest fires was the 280 000 ha Green Wattle Creek Fire, which burned large forested areas of the Warragamba catchment. This protected catchment provides critical ecosystem services for Lake Burragorang, one of Australia's largest urban supply reservoirs delivering ~85% of the water used in Greater Sydney. Water New South Wales (WaterNSW) is the utility responsible for managing water quality in Lake Burragorang. Its postfire risk assessment, done in collaboration with researchers in Australia, the UK, and United States, involved (i) identifying pyrogenic contaminants in ash and soil; (ii) quantifying ash loads and contaminant concentrations across the burned area; and (iii) estimating the probability and quantity of soil, ash, and associated contaminant entrainment for different rainfall scenarios. The work included refining the capabilities of the new WEPPcloud-WATAR-AU model (Water Erosion Prediction Project cloud-Wildfire Ash Transport And Risk-Australia) for predicting sediment, ash, and contaminant transport, aided by outcomes from previous collaborative postfire research in the catchment. Approximately two weeks after the Green Wattle Creek Fire was contained, an extreme rainfall event (~276 mm in 72 h) caused extensive ash and sediment delivery into the reservoir. The risk assessment informed on-ground monitoring and operational mitigation measures (deployment of debris-catching booms and adjustment of the water supply system configuration), ensuring the continuity of safe water supply to Sydney. WEPPcloud-WATAR-AU outputs can prioritize recovery interventions for managing water quality risks by quantifying contaminants on the hillslopes, anticipating water contamination risk, and identifying areas with high susceptibility to ash and sediment transport. This collaborative interaction among scientists and water managers, aimed also at refining model capabilities and outputs to meet managers' needs, exemplifies the successful outcomes that can be achieved at the interface of industry and science. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:1151–1161. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).During manuscript preparation J. Neris, C. Santin, R. Lew, and S.H. Doerr were supported by a Natural Environment Research Council grant (NE/R011125/1)