University Division Research Articles

Development and Implementation of a Hospitalist Faculty Development Program in a University- and Community-Based Multihospital System.

Robust faculty development (FD) is an emerging area of focus within hospital medicine, a relatively new specialty with limited mentorship infrastructure to find and develop a professional niche. There are few descriptions in the literature of establishing and evaluating an FD program with strategies to evaluate success, invite collaboration, and achieve feasible, useful metrics. We created our University Division of Hospital Medicine's FD Program to help community and academic hospitalist faculty fulfill professional goals in (and beyond) quality improvement, leadership, education, and clinical skills. We describe program development, initial implementation, and early evaluation results. We outline program roles and offerings such as professional development awards, lectures, and mentorship structures. Our program was successfully implemented, measured by engagement and participation via preliminary indicators suggesting programmatic effectiveness: faculty who applied for (and continued participation in) mentorship and faculty development awards and faculty who attended our lecture series. Since program implementation, faculty retention has increased, and percentages of faculty reporting they were likely to remain were stable, even during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Scholarly production increased and the number of division associate professors/professors grew from 2 in 2015 to 19 in 2024. Our experience can guide institutions seeking to support and encourage faculty professional development. Lessons learned include the importance of needs assessment and leadership commitment to meeting identified needs; how a steering committee can amplify the effectiveness and relevance of FD efforts; and the utility of multiple recognition strategies-quarterly newsletters, monthly clinical recognition, mentions on social media-to support and encourage faculty.

Expanding Integrated Physiatric Care: A Method to Building Capacity in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Siloed and episodic care delivery is often not equitable, high-quality, or sustainable. Transitioning from separate care settings, with potentially divergent care models, to an integrated care model is not always straightforward. Some experiences in expanding collaborative care between physiatrists and other healthcare providers for a variety of patient populations and care settings within a university physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) division are shared as a means to inspire the uptake of care integration initiatives more broadly within the specialty. After an initial survey of care integration across multiple clinical sites, the university division: highlighted successful integrated care models; discussed integrated care models at every divisional retreat; reached out to clinicians in other specialties to collaboratively explore expansion; developed a "one-pager" on what physiatrists do; and invited collaborative specialists from integrated clinics to PM&R national and/or international meetings. Since 2019, divisional activity in integrated care has grown and evolved substantially. Future work will focus on: further expansion of integrated clinical care; scholarly evaluation of integrated care models; expansion of academic activity resulting from integration; and advocacy to healthcare providers, hospital administrators, and health system funders about the potential value of care integration in improving rehabilitation outcomes.

Caprine whole blood appears sufficiently stable after 21 days in storage to be suitable for transfusion.

The objective of this study was to determine hematologic changes of stored caprine whole blood in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine solution over a 28-day period. Ten 250-mL bags of whole blood were collected from 10 female Boer goats from Louisiana State University's Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine herd. 10 healthy blood donor goats were selected, and 250 mL of whole blood was drawn from each and stored at 2.78 °C. At the time of collection and every 7 days for a total of 28 days, samples were obtained from the blood bags to determine biochemical and hematologic values of collected blood. Only 5 of the 10 donors had baseline blood bag samples obtained for biochemical evaluation on day 0. At the end of 28 days, the remaining blood was submitted for aerobic and anaerobic culture. Blood values remained within suitable limits for transfusion and below 1% hemolysis for up to 21 days in most samples. Packed cell volume did not change significantly from day 0 to day 28. Lactate significantly increased over the 28 days, though not as dramatically as expected on the basis of other blood storage studies. pH decreased due to anticoagulant acidity but did not drop below 7. Cultures were negative on all blood bags. Changes over time are similar to that in other species, and caprine blood appears biochemically and hematologically stable for up to 21 days in storage. In vivo trials are needed for safety and efficacy.

The Quality Issues in Higher Education of Turkey: Insights from the Experiences of Faculty Members and Students at State Universities

The purpose of this study is to determine the quality indicators of higher education in Turkey, with the focus on the perspectives of faculty members and students, and to analyze their views regarding the quality status of state universities. Despite numerous studies addressing quality in higher education, there appears to be a paucity of research employing a mixed methodology that integrates the perspectives of both faculty and students. The aim of the present study is to fill this gap in the literature. This research employs a mixed-methods design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, in an explanatory sequential parallel pattern. Utilizing a stratified random sampling method, our sample comprises 390 faculty members and 450 university students. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 25 program. For the qualitative aspect of the study, interviews were conducted with thirty faculty members employed at state universities in the provinces of Ankara, Istanbul, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, and Yozgat. This qualitative data was then analyzed using a "descriptive analysis" technique via MAXQDA software. The quantitative results revealed diverging expectations and perceptions related to the quality of higher education among faculty members and students. Meanwhile, the qualitative section of the study identified several indicators of higher education quality, including: university capacity, university function, internationalization, academic staff, student experience, differences in quality between universities and disciplines, the impact of region/city/district on higher education, mission differentiation, university division, ideal university concept, sense of belonging, transformation, marketization, and competition categories.

Dysregulation of complement regulator CD55 in the initiation of autoimmunity

Abstract CD21 is a complement receptor involved in B cell tolerance. CD21 low age-associated B cells (ABCs) are an autoimmune-prone population of B cells that are expanded in autoimmunity. B cell receptor (BCR) and toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) co-stimulation poise B cells for this autoimmunity-associated cell fate. We and others have discovered that BCR and TLR9 co-stimulation also causes downregulation of CD55, a complement regulatory protein that dampens complement activation by interfering with the production of complement fragments. We posit that CD55, by controlling the generation of complement fragments, regulates BCR-TLR9-triggered B cell responses in the context of autoimmunity. Congruent with this hypothesis, CD55 deficiency has been shown to cause exaggerated experimental encephalitis and disease in the MRL/lpr mouse model of lupus. Our overarching hypothesis is that CD55 regulates B cell responses in the context of autoimmune disease. For this study, we examined CD86 upregulation, proliferation, and cytokine production in B cells after knocking out CD55. We found that CD55 did not impact the CD86 upregulation or proliferation of B cells, but did induce a proinflammatory cytokine profile with increased IL-6 production. In addition, crossing CD55 deficiency onto anti-insulin B cells, a well-studied anergic model, showed that CD55 deficiency partially abrogated anergy-mediated tolerance, increasing the ability of these B cells to proliferate when stimulated through TLR9. These findings may have implications for the future use of complement inhibitors in the treatment of autoimmune disease. Iris Lee holds a Dean’s Scholars Award from the Washington University Division of Physician-Scientists, which is funded by a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Physician-Scientist Institutional Award. The Kendall lab is supported by VA Merit I01BX002882 and R01 DK084246.

An innovative approach to career development and promotion of diverse faculty.

Women and persons from racial and ethnic populations underrepresented in medicine (URiM) comprise a substantially lower proportion of academic internal medicine faculty, particularly at senior ranks (associate professors and professors). Numerous factors lead to this inequity which has broad implications for medical education and healthcare. The Emory University Division of General Internal Medicine Grady Section (GIMG) formed the Faculty Review Committee (FRC) in 2013 to address low promotion rates to senior ranks as part of a strategy to foster a more inclusive, equitable environment. The FRC systematically and proactively reviews all GIMG faculty years prior to possible promotion to provide tailored recommendations to bolster professional development and with a goal to expedite successful advancement to senior ranks. Deidentified GIMG academic rank data was compared with aggregate data from Emory University School of Medicine and the American Association of Medical Colleges. In 2020, GIMG had significantly more senior faculty compared with pre-FRC intervention (odds ratio [OR]: 3.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-9.42). Subgroup analyses of non-URiM women GIMG senior faculty compared with preintervention (OR: 11.6, 95% CI: 2.52-53.7), showed a significant increase. A trend towardincreased URiM women faculty was also seen. Descriptive analysis suggests that the GIMG group had a higher promotion to senior ranks among women and URiM compared with national and institutional comparators. The FRC is associated with significant increases in the promotion of all faculty and non-URiM women faculty, and an increasing trend of URiM women faculty, effects which help contribute to an equitable academic medicine environment, fostering a more diverse workforce and improved patient outcomes.

Parent's report on oral health-related quality of life of children with cystic fibrosis.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scales are now widely used in children with cystic fibrosis (cwCF) which reflects the course of the disease. In this cross-sectional study, our primary aim was to compare the Pediatric Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (POQL) and Oral Health Score (OHS) between cwCF and healthy group. Our secondary aim was to evaluate the association between Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonization, pulmonary function test, OHS and POQL in cwCF. The study population (age ranging 6-14) included 55 cwCF followed at the Marmara University Division of Pediatric Pulmonology compared with 50 healthy peers. A survey consisted of general questions (age, sex, etc.) and the POQL instrument were filled by parents. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth for both primary (dft) and permanent dentition (DMFT) was detected according to WHO criteria. Data like current body mass index (BMI z score), colonization status with PA, predicted value for forced expiratory volume in 1second (FEV1pp), and any hospitalizations during the previous year were obtained from their medical. Differences between the groups were evaluated using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test with a significance level set at 0.05. There was no significant difference between PA-colonizedcwCF and healthy controls in DMFT(p = 0.916). For all domains of POQL(emotional function, social function, role function), scores of cwCF were significantly better than healthy controls (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between all domains of POQL scores in PA colonized and non-PA colonized cwCF' POQL scores (p > 0.05). Although POQL scores of cwCF were encouraging, dental caries prevention and regular follow-ups should be taken into consideration.

Constructing Your Career Plays

The evolving landscape of job opportunities has led to increased concerns around life-career success of college student-athletes while and after they balance their academic and sport performance. At Kent State University (Division I) located in Kent, Ohio, Tracy Montgomery serves as the student-athlete career advisor liaison between Career Exploration &amp; Development and the Department of Athletics. With more than 10 years of secondary education teaching experience and seven years of career advising/education, Tracy has identified and continues to apply Mark Savickas’s (2012, 2013) Career Construction Interview (CCI) as her most valuable tool in creating conversations around career development. In a sit-down interview with Tracy, she breaks down the life design technique (Savickas, 2015) so career practitioners and other intercollegiate athletic personnel may adopt the approach to support student-athletes to (a) identify what their intentions are toward life-career transitions; (b) realize why they perform their actions and closely hold their beliefs toward making life-career decisions ; and (c) move forward with how they can empower themselves to move in and out of “going pro.”

Metal Transporter SLC39A14/ZIP14-Mediated Zinc Transport Modulates the Gut Microbiome and Host Metabolism

ObjectivesIntestinal permeability, gut dysbiosis, and Zn dyshomeostasis are emerging signatures of inflammatory bowel diseases and metabolic disorders such as type-2-diabetes and obesity. Zn deficiency is a common clinical finding among these diseases. Zinc (Zn) plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis by regulating intestinal epithelial cells, host immune cells, and gut microbiome community composition. Zn transporters maintain Zn homeostasis by facilitating the cellular and subcellular distribution of Zn to and within tissues. Our previous studies revealed that deletion of metal transporter Slc39a14/Zip14 caused spontaneous intestinal permeability with low-grade chronic inflammation, mild hyperinsulinemia, and greater body fat with insulin resistance in adipose, suggesting a role for ZIP14-mediated intestinal metal transport in regulating both intestinal homeostasis and systemic metabolism. Here we present our novel findings on the function of ZIP14-mediated Zn transport in intestinal tissue, microbial profile, and how ZIP14-linked changes in gut microbiome and metabolites modulate host metabolism.MethodsTissue metal concentrations were measured by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometers. Gut microbiome community composition Saccharomyces cerevisiae levels were determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and < qPCR, respectively. To identify the host and microbial-originated metabolites in WT and KO mice serum, we conducted untargeted metabolomics using Gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Lastly, we conducted metabolic phenotyping by using a Comprehensive Laboratory Animal Monitoring System.ResultsDeletion of Zip14 generated Zn-deficient epithelial cells and luminal content in the entire intestinal tract; reduced bacterial diversity and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) overgrowth; altered host metabolome; and shifted host energy metabolism toward glucose utilization.ConclusionsThis work provided evidence for the regulation of gut microbiome composition, host metabolome, and energy metabolism by metal transporter ZIP14.Funding SourcesCornell University Division of Nutritional Sciences Funds.

High Sucrose Diet Induces Intestinal Zinc Dyshomeostasis and Permeability

ObjectivesZinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient that is critical for many physiological processes including glucose metabolism, regulation of inflammation, regulation of intestinal barrier function, and insulin production and secretion. Further, Zn dysregulation is associated with increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases such as type II diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity. However, it remains unclear whether altered Zn status is a symptom or cause of disease onset. Common symptoms of these three inflammatory diseases include the onset of intestinal inflammation and increased intestinal permeability. The specific focus of this work is to investigate how dietary sources of chronic inflammation, such as high sucrose consumption impacts transporter mediated Zn homeostasis and subsequent Zn dependent physiology.MethodsTo study the interactions between high dietary sucrose and Zn homeostasis, we administered 30% sucrose water to mice for 8 weeks. Tissue metal contents were measured by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Zn transport was measured using radioisotope tracing of 65Zn. Intestine permeability was assessed by FITC-dextran (4 kDa) assay. Protein expression of Zn transporters, inflammatory markers, and tight junction proteins was measured by western blot.ResultsSucrose treatment resulted in systemic changes in steady-state Zn distribution, including a significant increase in plasma Zn and significant decreases in Zn in the liver, pancreas, and white adipose tissue. We observed changes in Zn transport protein expression in the intestine. In agreement with altered transporter expression, Zn transport studies revealed significant dysregulation of Zn transport in both the small intestine and colon. Further, sucrose treatment resulted in induction of both P-STAT3 and P-NF-κB, dysregulation of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and CLDN1, and increased intestine permeability.ConclusionsOur work suggests that chronic high sucrose consumption leads to changes in systemic Zn homeostasis. This links diet-induced changes in Zn homeostasis to the onset of precursors of chronic disease, intestinal inflammation and permeability.Funding SourcesThis work was supported by Cornell University Division of Nutritional Sciences funds to T. B. Aydemir.

Student-Athletes', Coaches', and Administrators' Perspectives of Sexual Violence Prevention on Three Campuses with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and II Athletic Programs.

Research has found associations between intercollegiate athletics and risk for sexual violence, and that sexual violence is more pervasive at colleges and universities with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletic programs, relative to NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and no athletic programs. Simultaneously, sports involvement is linked with prosocial values and there are documented developmental benefits of sports participation. College athletic programs hold promise for fostering sexual violence prevention but there is limited knowledge about how student-athletes conceptualize sexual violence and how athletes, coaches, and administrators perceive available prevention and response programs. We conducted seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 21 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with student-athletes, athletic directors, and coaches from public university Division I (n = 2) and Division II (n = 1) campuses. We assessed perceptions of sexual violence, knowledge and opinions of available prevention and response programs, and sought input on how to bridge gaps in campus sexual violence policies. Student-athletes associated sexual violence with alcohol in their relationships with peers and asymmetrical power dynamics in relationships with coaches and faculty. Athletes felt strong connections with teammates and sports programs but isolated from the larger campus. This created barriers to students' use of services and the likelihood of reporting sexual violence. Athletes felt the mandatory sexual violence prevention training, including additional NCAA components, were ineffective and offered to protect the university and its athletic programs from legal complications or cultural ridicule. Athletic staff were aware of policies and programs for reporting and referring sexual violence cases but their knowledge on how these served students was limited. Student-athletes were uncomfortable disclosing information regarding relationships and sexual violence to coaches and preferred peer-led prevention approaches.

Competition between Chiral Energy and Chiral Damping in the Asymmetric Expansion of Magnetic Bubbles

AG gratefully acknowledges the support from Khalifa University, UAE and PSE Division, KAUST, Saudi Arabia. In addition, GD and AG acknowledge the support of the Khalifa University internal funding FSU-2020-08 (8474000233).

The Under-representation of Canadian Women in Gastroenterology from Residency to Leadership.

BackgroundTo determine representation of women in gastroenterology (GI) at residency and leadership levels in Canada.MethodsThe Canadian Resident Matching Service provided data for internal medicine (IM), general surgery (GS), GI and cardiology applicant cycles 2014 to 2018. Z-tests were used to compare proportion of women entering each residency program. An internet search was conducted to calculate percentages of women as GI association presidents, residency program directors, division heads and oral speakers at conferences.ResultsIM residency had on average of 1789 applicants with 487 matched (49.4% versus 49.5% women). GS residency had on average 357 applicants with 90 matched (41% versus 54.4% women). GI residency had on average 46 applicants with 34 matched (37% versus 35.3% women). Cardiology residency had on average 76 applicants with 54 matched (29% versus 27.8% women).The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) has had two out of 47 (4.2%) women presidents. The Ontario Association of Gastroenterology (OAG) has had no women presidents (0/9). The Association des gastro-entérologues du Québec (AGEQ) has had two out of 15 (13%) women presidents. The Alberta Society of Gastroenterology (ASG) has had one out of five (20%) women presidents. From 2018 to 2020, university division heads ranged from 0% to 13.3% women (0 to 2/15). University GI training program directors ranged from 28.6% to 35.7% (4 to 5/14). Women speakers at CAG’s annual conference varied 27% to 42% from 2016 to 2020, averaging 32.7%. Women speakers at OAG’s, AGEQ’s and ASG’s annual conferences averaged 23.3%, 24.1% and 35%, respectively.ConclusionWomen gastroenterologists display low representation at multiple levels along the GI career pathway.

Vascular Behçet's disease: a comparative study from Turkey and France.

Vascular Behçet's disease (VBD) is a systemic vasculitis involving both arterial and venous vessels of all sizes and occurring in up to 40% of patients with BD. VBD is the main cause of mortality in BD. Although commonly seen around the Mediterranean region, comparative studies in VBD are lacking. We aimed to compare the course and therapeutic approaches of VBD in two large cohorts from Turkey and France. We included 291 VBD patients (female/male:63/228, mean age: 41.2±11.3 years) who were followed up in the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France (n=131) and Rheumatology Division of Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey (n=160). All clinical and demographical data were acquired from patient charts retrospectively. Smoking, family history for BD, HLA-B*51 presence and pathergy positivity were significantly higher in Turkish patients (TR), while neurologic involvement was more prominent in the French (FR) group. After a median follow-up of 77 months, 562 vascular events occurred including 440 venous events, 115 arterial events and 7 cardiac thrombi. In 79 (29%) patients, first vascular event developed before BD diagnosis and for 77 (28%) of them, vascular involvement was the presenting sign of the disease. First relapse developed in 130 (44.7%) patients after median 24.5 (1-276) months of follow-up (TR: 46.3% (n=74), FR: 42.7% (n=56), p=0.56). Survival graph revealed that FR cohort has 1.64 times increased recurrent event risk compared to TR cohort (HR=1.64 (1.1-2.44), p=.014) and although did not reach to statistical significance, IS treatment after the first vascular event decreased further vascular events (HR= 0.66 (0.43-1.01, p=.057). Almost half of patients relapsed of VBD within 2 years after the first vascular event. Immunosuppressants decrease VBD relapses.

Loss of SHMT2 and Folate Deficiency Impair Energy Metabolism in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts Cells

ObjectivesSerine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) catalyzes the reversible conversion of tetrahydrofolate (THF) and serine producing THF-conjugated one-carbon units and glycine in the mitochondria. Recently biallelic SHMT2 variants were identified in humans and suggested to alter the protein’s active site, potentially disrupting enzymatic function. Indeed, patient fibroblasts exhibited impaired oxidative capacity, however, with no changes in oxidative phosphorylation protein levels. Furthermore, immortalized cells models of total SHMT2 loss or folate deficiency exhibit decreased oxidative capacity and impaired mitochondrial complex I assembly and protein levels suggesting folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) and the oxidative phosphorylation system are functionally coordinated. We have developed a mouse model of reduced Shmt2 expression that provides an appropriate reference model to further study the deleterious human SHMT2 variants and their connection to folate metabolism. MethodsPrimary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were isolated from a C57Bl/6 dam crossed with a heterozygous Shmt2+/– (HET) male. MEF embryos were genotyped, and Shmt2+/+ (wild type) or Shmt2+/– MEF cells were cultured for 4 doubling in 2 nM (deficient) or 25 nM folate (sufficient) medium. Cells were examined for proliferation, total folate levels, mtDNA content, protein levels of pyruvate kinase and PGC1α, pyruvate kinase enzyme activity, and mitochondrial membrane potential and function. ResultsLoss of Shmt2 and folate deficiency significantly reduced cell proliferation and oxygen consumption rate. Total cellular folate levels and pyruvate kinase enzyme activity and protein levels were reduced with folate deficiency. While there were no changes in mitochondrial DNA content or complex 1 proteins NDUFA9 or ND3, mitochondrial membrane potential was impaired and PGC1α protein levels were elevated in Shmt2+/– MEF cells. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that loss of SHMT2 impairs cellular proliferation and that SHMT2 expression and folate status impact cellular energy metabolism and mitochondrial health. Funding SourcesThis study was financially supported by a President’s Council of Cornell Women Award and Cornell University Division of Nutritional Sciences funds.

The impact of civil liberties, global health security, median age and population size on the spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of civil liberties, global health security, median age and population size on the spread of COVID-19 across the globe.Design/methodology/approachThis study was done by taking data from 166 different countries from the Economist Intelligence Unit, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, World Bank, Johns Hopkins University and United Nations Population Division (UNPD). After conducting all the necessary standard econometric tests, the study was analyzed using the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression.FindingsThe finding of the study indicated that COVID-19 tests per million people (LTT/PM), Population Size (LPOP), Civil Liberty Index (CLI) are statistically significant and positively affect the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases; on the other hand, the Health Security Index (HSI) negatively affects the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.Practical implicationsIn emergency circumstances, the government ought to have a special responsibility to align civil rights with the protection of public health cautiously. However, measures to restrict civil liberties must be proportionate.Originality/valueBesides other variables, the study included and considered civil liberties as a significant factor to affect the spread of COVID-19, which is a new contribution to the existing body of knowledge in the field.

Did appeals court allow student‐athlete's retaliation case to go forward?

A student was recruited to play on scholarship for Kent State University's Division I softball team. During her freshman year, the student became friends with her coach's son, who was also a student at KSU.

Nuck cyst: a rare cause of inguinal swelling in infancy.

BACKGROUND Inguinal and/or inguino-scrotal swellings, such as hernia and hydrocele, are among the commonest anomalies in childhood. Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is an uncommon diagnosis and a rare cause of swelling in women that occurs due to a patent vaginal process. METHODS From January 2001 to January 2016, 353 female patients 1-14 years of age were admitted to our university hospital division for inguinal swelling. We have performed 403 inguinal approaches, and of these, 399 (99%) had inguinal hernias, 3 (0.74%) had a cyst of the canal of Nuck, and 1 (0.24%) had a lipoma. All of the patients with Nuck cysts underwent surgical exploration of the swelling through a right inguinal skin crease incision. RESULTS The patients were between the ages of 1 and 8 years. The cyst sizes varied between 25 and 40 mm. All the patients exhibited right, tender, painless, non-reducible masses. In all patients, ultrasound confirmed the suspected diagnosis. The histological findings revealed fibrous-walled cystic formations with mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate that were covered by mesothelial epithelium. The patients' postoperative follow-ups at 1, 6 and 12 months revealed normally healed incisions with no recurrences. CONCLUSIONS The surgical findings and the histological demonstrations of serous epithelium seemed to validate the hypothesis that the patency of the inguinal canal combined with fluid secretion of the peritoneal serosa participated in the formation of the cysts. Surgery with high ligature of the vaginal process is considered the therapy of choice for this pathology.

New River Light and Power Data: A Data Ecosystem for Electric Power Systems Research (I1.A4)

This article provides data useful for electric power systems research by students, faculty and the community to download or to use in a cloud-based analytics environment with state of the art analytics tools. The work includes carefully cleaning, documenting, preparing and enriching 12+ years of non-personally identifiable substation data for the 5 substations managed by New River Light and Power (NRLP), a non-profit electric utility operated by Appalachian State University's Division of Business Affairs. This data includes bulk summary data for the aggregate 8,000+ meters NRLP manages with a record of the total energy used per substation for each hour of day. This data has been enriched with matching hourly weather and solar radiation data, town daily water and sewer flows to measure town occupancy, a list of university and community events likely to influence power consumption, and a description of each substation region.

Experiential Education Conference at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, 10–11 November 2020

Experiential Education as Pedagogy for Social Justice, Praxis and Practice for Shaping 21st-Century Global Citizen Leaders Stellenbosch University's Division Student Affairs, Centre for Student Leadership, Experiential Education end Citizenship's Co-curriculum Office, presented the Stellenbosch University Experiential Education Conference (SUEEC) from 10 to 11 November 2020. This was Stellenbosch University's first online conference and a first in South Africa and Africa focusing on experiential education and social justice. This two-day virtual highereducation conference was designed with experiential educators in civil society, university student affairs practitioners, and academics from across the world.The conference theme of Experiential education as pedagogy for social justice: praxis and practice for shaping 21st century global citizen leaders' emerged even more pertinent at a time of mass global upheaval, uncertainty and humanitarian crises. The intention of the SUEEC was to spotlight emerging trends and transitions in the higher education experiential learning domain and the intersections thereof with social justice and the formation of the global citizen leader. To accomplish the above entailed inviting world renown keynote speakers and subject matter experts, and to call for abstracts, master classesand exemplars (examples of best practice in experiential education).