Turning the Cup: Thematic Balance in the Greek Symposium

The concept of “nothing in excess” was an important one in ancient Greek life. The guiding principle of moderation and/or balance appears in poetry from the 7th to the 5th centuries BCE and has been extensively explored by scholars. My research project adds to this scholarly work by considering for the first time the relationship between moderation and the visual. That is, I explore whether and how this key Greek notion was expressed in the images that appear on pottery of the time period. More specifically, I focus on pottery used in thesymposium, a politically-charged aristocratic male drinking party, and examine objects from the University of Arkansas ancient Greek pottery collection. Using these sympotic containers, I intend to demonstrate that the same critical themes of balance and moderation are expressed as visual counterparts to the poetic tropes. In this project, I examine how ancient painters used contrasting themes on opposite sides of a vessel to express the importance of choosing a moderate path. These contrasts included male/female, civilized/barbarian, and upper/lower class comparisons. In this grouping I also consider bilingual vases, so called for their similar scenes on either side, with one red-figure and the other black-figure. These pots reflect a balance in the artistic style itself through the use of opposite methods. This relationship is similar to the communication of the importance of physical balance found in other containers

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE (UGV) DOCKING, CONNECTION, AND CABLING FOR ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSMISSION IN AUTONOMOUS MOBILE MICROGRIDS

Autonomous Mobile Microgrids provide electrical power to loads in environments where humans either can not, or would prefer not to, perform the task of positioning and connecting the power grid equipment. The contributions of this work compose an architecture for electrical power transmission by Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV). Purpose-specific UGV docking and cable deployment software algorithms, and hardware for electrical connection and cable management, has been deployed on Clearpath Husky robots. Software development leverages Robot Operating System (ROS) tools for navigation and rendezvous of the autonomous UGV robots, with task-specific visual feedback controllers for docking validated in Monte-Carlo outdoor trials with a 73% docking rate, and application to wireless power transmission demonstrated in an outdoor environment. An “Adjustable Cable Management Mechanism” (ACMM) was designed to meet low cost, compact-platform constraints for powered deployment and retraction by a UGV of electrical cable subject to disturbance, with feed rates up to 1 m/s. A probe-and-funnel AC/DC electrical connector system was de- veloped for deployment on UGVs, which does not substantially increase the cost or complexity of the UGV, while providing a repeatable and secure method of coupling electrical contacts subject to a docking miss-alignment of up to +/-2 cm laterally and +/-15 degrees axially. Cabled power transmission is accomplished by a feed-forward/feedback control method, which utilizes visual estimation of the cable state to deploy electrical cable without tension, in the obstacle-free track of the UGV as it transverses to connect power grid nodes. Cabling control response to step-input UGV chassis velocities in the forward, reverse, and zero-point-turn maneuvers are presented, as well as outdoor cable deployment. This power transmission capability is relevant to diverse domains including military Forward-Operating-Bases, disaster response, robotic persistent operation, underwater mining, or planetary exploration

Activity and Rhythms in Roman Fora in the Republican and Early Imperial Periods

Piazzas have long been places of community, interaction, and conflict within urban environments. This was certainly the case in Roman Italy, where the forum was the economic, political, and social center of most towns. Nevertheless, when fora are discussed in current scholarship, the focus is almost always on the political messaging and identity-forming elements within these spaces. This emphasis results in reconstructions nearly void of personal engagement or activity, particularly for anyone not claiming an elite male identity. My dissertation aims to create a new framework for how we examine open public spaces in Roman society (4th century BCE – 1st century CE) and the variety of lived experiences possible within them, an objective accomplished through an interdisciplinary approach combining textual, archaeological, and ethnographic evidence. After exploring possible reasons why scholars of Roman urbanism have overlooked the subject of piazza spaces in Chapter 1, in Chapter 2 I review a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative theories which have been applied to the open public spaces of the Roman world and discuss how each has affected my own approach. Central to my framework is a mixture of a form of A. Rapoport’s architectural-communication approach with H. Lefebvre’s concept of rhythmanalysis. Lefebvre’s consideration of rhythm introduces the notions of cyclical and linear time as important elements for understanding the nature of spatial environments; meanwhile, Rapoport’s division of urban features into different types allows a categorical separation based on permanence and spatial influence that lends itself to an archaeological consideration. Importantly, to Rapoport’s division I add the concept of transitory-feature elements, which includes aspects of the urban environment that may appear and disappear within a rhythmic cycle. Chapter 3 delves into the primary ancient sources discussing activities and interactions in piazza spaces, including military functionality, information gathering, and daily life events involving taverns, banks, auctions, markets, bookshops, gambling, slave auctions, brothels, games, punishments, protest, omens, and general leisure. The collection of these activities provides an initial framework and catalog of concrete actions which may then be combined with what may be understood from the specific built environments of these spaces themselves. These physical environments are the subject of Chapter 4, where I outline different examples of framing-feature, local-feature, and transitory-feature elements from archaeological and textual sources and suggest future avenues for expanded research. The next two chapters explore how we might use the concept of rhythm to expand how we research and explore piazza spaces and the events which take place within them. These are by necessity experimental, and each takes a different approach to interpreting lived experiences. Chapter 5 explores the possibilities available for further research into a subject well-studied both textually and archaeologically: the Roman triumph. In moving away from a purely elite viewpoint, I address the triumph in terms of its rhythmic qualities over time. This new approach both affects how we view the triumphal event and allows us to shift our consideration to the differential spaces and, most importantly, people who engaged with the procession over the course of their lives. Chapter 6, meanwhile, takes an archaeological approach to considering the rhythms of an open public space at the site of Gabii outside Rome, with a focus on how its rhythms reflect the larger cultural changes taking place in Roman Italy.PHDClassical Art & ArchaeologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163077/1/mnaglak_1.pd

Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement Issues - A Provider\u27s Perspective

In 1965, Congress took its first historical step towards the ideal of universally accessible health care services with the enactment of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These programs are federally subsidized health insurance programs administered by the Health Care Financing Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services. Under the Medicare statute, the federal government reimburses providers of medical services for care rendered to elderly or disabled patients, subject to guidelines and limitations. The Medicare Act establishes the costs allowed for reimbursement for services and authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations that further interpret the costs. Medicaid, on the other hand, provides health care for the indigent and is funded by both federal and state governments. States which elect to participate in the Medicaid program use federal funds in combination with state funds to reimburse providers for their medical services. The programs may vary from state to state. While each program is designed to meet the needs of the state, it must comply with federal guidelines. Low income Medicare recipients may also qualify for Medicaid, in which case Medicaid will pay the Medicare premium, copayment and deductible. The Secretary of HHS contracts with fiscal intermediaries as agents to assist in the administration of the programs. The intermediaries assist providers in recording and reporting program costs and determining allowable costs, and then distribute funds to the provider to cover the costs. The intermediary is the first line of administrative authority for the resolution of any type of Medicare dispute

The Weekend Effect : Weekday versus Weekend comparison of patients admitted with NSTEMI in terms of length of hospital stay, door to balloon time and left ventricular function

The primary objective of our study was to determine the difference in the outcome, if any, between patients presenting with NSTEMI on weekends versus weekdays. We also looked for the difference in clinical outcomes between these two groups of patients. Poster presented at annual House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Posters.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/patientsafetyposters/1020/thumbnail.jp

Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with cannabis abuse presenting to the emergency room

Introduction: Cannabis is a common recreational drug among young adults that is used to induce euphoria, promote relaxation and enhance appetite. There is a recognized correlation between cannabis abuse and cyclic episodes of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain (cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). However, the contribution of such symptoms to emergency room visits and hospital admissions is not known. Methods: A one-year, retrospective study was conducted on patients who presented to the emergency department and were later admitted at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health with confirmed cannabis use (positive urine drug screen). Aim/Goal: Our primary outcome was to understand the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in this patient population. We also studied other indices including other recreational drug use, the level of care, and comorbid psychological illnesses. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study, 60% were male, 30.3% were admitted with a primary diagnosis of gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain or cannabinoid hyperemesis), 26.3% with neurological symptoms (i.e., altered mental status, loss of consciousness (LOC) and/or seizures), 23.2% with trauma (i.e., fall or car accident), and 6.1% with cardiac issues. 34% of our patients had no past medical history. Over 50% had at least one psychiatric illness and 38.7% were taking at least one or more antipsychotic medications. Subgroup analysis of our population admitted with GI symptoms (n=30) revealed 47% males, 36% active smokers (vs 34% in total population), 33% admit to alcohol use (vs 40% in total), 10% positive for opiates (vs 18% in total), 6.7% positive for cocaine (vs 8% in total), and 16% are on prescribed narcotics (vs 20.2% total). 27 % of these patients were placed on GMF with tele or higher level of care such as MICU, SICU, or PCU (vs 51% total) and 13.3% received echocardiogram (vs 21.2% total). Interesting results were observed when stratifying patients based on age and type of controlled substance abuse. Marijuana, opiates, and benzodiazepines or barbiturates users were more prevalent in patients 27-36 yrs. of age, with 30%, 33%, and 50%, respectively. While, cocaine, hallucinogens, and amphetamines or methamphetamines users were more prevalent in those aged 26 yrs. or younger, with 37.5%, 100%, and 66%, respectively. Conclusion: GI symptoms represent an important presenting feature in patients with cannabis abuse likely more than any other presenting features. However, patients with predominant GI symptoms might require lower level of care and less cardiac workup. Additional studies are required to elucidate the significance of GI symptoms in this population of patients further

Sustainable Publishing for Digital Scholarship in the Humanities

This is a link to a webinar recording of a Charleston Conference webinar titled Sustainable Publishing for Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, sponsored by University of Michigan Press and hosted by the Charleston Conference. It was originally broadcast on the internet on October 2, 2019. ==== From the Charleston Conference website: Session Description: Scholarly authors are increasingly using digital tools. They want to produce enhanced ebooks and interactive scholarly works, but these tend not to fit into existing publisher and librarian workflows. Fulcrum is a platform developed at the University of Michigan which supports authors who want to push the boundaries of the book. The University of Michigan Press Ebook Collection (UMP EBC) includes an increasing number of enhanced titles and takes full advantage of the rich features on the Fulcrum platform. Thanks to the support of purchasing libraries, UMP EBC is able to sustain the publication of new forms of scholarship, including open access titles, and sustain the open source, community-based scholarly infrastructure. In this webinar attendees will learn about this new form of scholarship, including how it is being sustained by the community via UMP EBC and Fulcrum, and walk away inspired to sustain this burgeoning community. Presenters: Lanell White, Director of Sales, Marketing, and Outreach (Michigan Publishing) Sara Cohen, Editor for American Studies, University of Michigan Press Andrée J. Rathemacher, Head, Acquisitions, University of Rhode Island (Librarian) Professor Anne Ruggles Gere, editor of Developing Writers in Higher Education: A Longitudinal Study Professors Abigail De Kosnik and Keith P. Feldman, Editors, #identity: Hashtagging Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Nation Doctoral Candidate and Rackham Public Engagement Fellow, Matthew Naglak, Researcher, A Mid-Republican House From Gabii ==== Included as supplemental files are: PDF printout of Charleston Conference website page advertising the webinar PDF printout of a 9/26/2019 email to the Charleston Library Conference mailing list advertising the webinar PDF printout of a 9/26/2019 email to the LYROFFERS mailing list advertising the webinar Andrée Rathemacher\u27s webinar speaking notes in PDF format Included as supplemental files (suppressed from public view) are: Webinar video recording in MP4 format Webinar video recording in WMV format Slides for webinar presentation in PDF format Slides with notes for webinar presentation in PDF format Results of attendee polls taken during webinar in PDF format Andrée Rathemacher\u27s webinar planning notes in PDF format Approximately 75 people attended the webinar; approximately 150 registered and received a link to the recording

Is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) cost-effective? a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Out-of-pocket expenditures of over $34 billion per year in the US are an apparent testament to a widely held belief that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies have benefits that outweigh their costs. However, regardless of public opinion, there is often little more than anecdotal evidence on the health and economic implications of CAM therapies. The objectives of this study are to present an overview of economic evaluation and to expand upon a previous review to examine the current scope and quality of CAM economic evaluations. METHODS: The data sources used were Medline, AMED, Alt-HealthWatch, and the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Citation Index; January 1999 to October 2004. Papers that reported original data on specific CAM therapies from any form of standard economic analysis were included. Full economic evaluations were subjected to two types of quality review. The first was a 35-item checklist for reporting quality, and the second was a set of four criteria for study quality (randomization, prospective collection of economic data, comparison to usual care, and no blinding). RESULTS: A total of 56 economic evaluations (39 full evaluations) of CAM were found covering a range of therapies applied to a variety of conditions. The reporting quality of the full evaluations was poor for certain items, but was comparable to the quality found by systematic reviews of economic evaluations in conventional medicine. Regarding study quality, 14 (36%) studies were found to meet all four criteria. These exemplary studies indicate CAM therapies that may be considered cost-effective compared to usual care for various conditions: acupuncture for migraine, manual therapy for neck pain, spa therapy for Parkinson's, self-administered stress management for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, pre- and post-operative oral nutritional supplementation for lower gastrointestinal tract surgery, biofeedback for patients with "functional" disorders (eg, irritable bowel syndrome), and guided imagery, relaxation therapy, and potassium-rich diet for cardiac patients. CONCLUSION: Whereas the number and quality of economic evaluations of CAM have increased in recent years and more CAM therapies have been shown to be of good value, the majority of CAM therapies still remain to be evaluated

Effects of total fat intake on body fatness in adults

Background: The ideal proportion of energy from fat in our food and its relation to body weight is not clear. In order to prevent overweight and obesity in the general population, we need to understand the relationship between the proportion of energy from fat and resulting weight and body fatness in the general population. Objectives: To assess the effects of proportion of energy intake from fat on measures of body fatness (including body weight, waist circumference, percentage body fat and body mass index) in people not aiming to lose weight, using all appropriate randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of at least six months duration. Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) to October 2019. We did not limit the search by language. Selection criteria: Trials fulfilled the following criteria: 1) randomised intervention trial, 2) included adults aged at least 18 years, 3) randomised to a lower fat versus higher fat diet, without the intention to reduce weight in any participants, 4) not multifactorial and 5) assessed a measure of weight or body fatness after at least six months. We duplicated inclusion decisions and resolved disagreement by discussion or referral to a third party. Data collection and analysis: We extracted data on the population, intervention, control and outcome measures in duplicate. We extracted measures of body fatness (body weight, BMI, percentage body fat and waist circumference) independently in duplicate at all available time points. We performed random-effects meta-analyses, meta-regression, subgrouping, sensitivity, funnel plot analyses and GRADE assessment. Main results: We included 37 RCTs (57,079 participants). There is consistent high-quality evidence from RCTs that reducing total fat intake results in small reductions in body fatness; this was seen in almost all included studies and was highly resistant to sensitivity analyses (GRADE high-consistency evidence, not downgraded). The effect of eating less fat (compared with higher fat intake) is a mean body weight reduction of 1.4 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.7 to -1.1 kg, in 53,875 participants from 26 RCTs, I2 = 75%). The heterogeneity was explained in subgrouping and meta-regression. These suggested that greater weight loss results from greater fat reductions in people with lower fat intake at baseline, and people with higher body mass index (BMI) at baseline. The size of the effect on weight does not alter over time and is mirrored by reductions in BMI (MD -0.5 kg/m2, 95% CI -0.6 to -0.3, 46,539 participants in 14 trials, I2 = 21%), waist circumference (MD -0.5 cm, 95% CI -0.7 to -0.2, 16,620 participants in 3 trials; I2 = 21%), and percentage body fat (MD -0.3% body fat, 95% CI -0.6 to 0.00, P = 0.05, in 2350 participants in 2 trials; I2 = 0%). There was no suggestion of harms associated with low fat diets that might mitigate any benefits on body fatness. The reduction in body weight was reflected in small reductions in LDL (-0.13 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.05), and total cholesterol (-0.23 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.14), with little or no effect on HDL cholesterol (-0.02 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.00), triglycerides (0.01 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.07), systolic (-0.75 mmHg, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.07) or diastolic blood pressure(-0.52 mmHg, 95% CI -0.95 to -0.09), all GRADE high-consistency evidence or quality of life (0.04, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.07, on a scale of 0 to 10, GRADE low-consistency evidence). Authors' conclusions: Trials where participants were randomised to a lower fat intake versus a higher fat intake, but with no intention to reduce weight, showed a consistent, stable but small effect of low fat intake on body fatness: slightly lower weight, BMI, waist circumference and percentage body fat compared with higher fat arms. Greater fat reduction, lower baseline fat intake and higher baseline BMI were all associated with greater reductions in weight. There was no evidence of harm to serum lipids, blood pressure or quality of life, but rather of small benefits or no effect