Category: syn·op·sis beta
Welcome to syn·op·sis beta, the section of the site dedicated to iSci student authors. To get writing, click on the “+New – Post” icon in the upper right. Otherwise, feel free to read, comment, and polish the work of other students.
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Engineering Shakespeare
Have you ever felt lonely after a lackluster party turnout? What about feeling uncomfortable after a quarrel with someone? Much of the English spoken today, from secure to champion to critic and mimic, can be attributed to William Shakespeare, the poet, author, and playwright of English class infamy (Crystal 2008). Historians often credit him with…
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If It’s Not the Plague, It’s Probably Lupus.
The Black Death is known as one of the deadliest plague pandemics in human history. The plague was a combination of bubonic, pneumonic, and septicaemia plague strains, all caused by the same bacterial infection via Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis). These strains are differentiated by the locations they infect: the lymph nodes, lungs, and bloodstream, respectively,…
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The Role of Modern Validations of Historical Insights in Preservation
One of the most ambitious funerary constructions in history occurred more than 2200 years ago: the mausoleum of Qin Shihuang, or “First Emperor of Qin” (Sun 2017, 354; UNESCO 1997). It is located in the ancient capital of China, Chang’an, now known as Xi’an (Jiao 2008). Part of the 56 km2 burial site was rediscovered…
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Skin Pigmentation Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurements
Pulse oximeters have revolutionized modern medicine, enabling continuous, accurate, and non-invasive monitoring of functional oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO₂) (Chan et al. 2013). Taken as a fifth vital sign, the device’s use is routine in emergency care, general ward, intermediate/intensive care unit, the operating room, and in general practices (Bosch et al. 2024). However, with…