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Get up to 10 free meals and free breakfast for life from HelloFresh with my code HF-0449 https://www.filify.co/SHBn0 If you've been feeling like January was just the warm-up… you're not wrong.In this episode, I'm breaking down why spring is the real new year — astrologically, energetically, and spiritually — and how to use this season to finally get everything you want.We're talking about:✨Manifestation vs. delusion✨Law of attraction + discipline (the real combo)✨Getting out of your comfort zone✨Trusting your intuition (even the “mystical” vibes)✨Speaking what you want into existence✨Feminine energy + masculine drive✨Why presence and mindfulness change everything✨And yes… my thoughts on Love Story on Hulu and what it reveals about relationships, ego, and standardsThis is your reminder that you are powerful. Spring is about blooming, stepping into your confidence, and raising your standards — in your goals, your habits, and your relationships.If you're ready for a glow up that's actually grounded and aligned, this one's for you.Don't forget to subscribe and share with a baddie who's leveling up this season
CardioNerds (Dr. Jenna Skowronski [Heart Failure Council Chair], Dr. Shazli Khan, and Dr. Josh Longinow) are joined by renowned leaders in the field of AHFTC (Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology) and mechanical circulatory support, Dr. Jeff Teuteberg and Dr. Mani Daneshmand to continue the discussion of advanced heart failure therapies by taking a deep dive into the world of durable LVADs (Left Ventricular Assist Devices). In this episode, we will review the history of ventricular assist devices, the basics of LVAD function, selection criteria for LVAD therapy, and surgical nuances of LVAD implantation. Audio Editing by CardioNerds intern, Joshua Khorsandi. Enjoy this Circulation 2022 Paths to Discovery article to learn about the CardioNerds story, mission, and values. CardioNerds Heart Success Series PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls There have been significant advances in the field of MCS/LVAD therapy since the first implanted LVAD in the 1960s, to the first FDA approved device in the early 2000's, to now the HM3 LVAD, with the most important change being a centrifugal flow/magnetically levitated design that led to minimized hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAE's) (MOMENTUM 3 trial comparing HM2 and HM3). The REMATCH trial in 2001 was a pivotal trial for LVAD therapy, demonstrating that in a population of patients with advanced HF (70% IV inotrope dependent), LVAD therapy significantly improved survival at both 1 and 2 years as compared to medical therapy alone. MOMENTUM 3 trial was a landmark trial for the HM3 device, showing that in a population of end stage HF patients (86% inotrope dependent, 32% INTERMACS 1-2, and 60% DT strategy), 5-year survival with HM3 was 58% and HM3 had lower HRAE's compared with HM2. There are both patient-specific factors and surgical considerations when it comes to candidacy for LVAD therapy. RV function prior to LVAD is a key determinant for success post-LVAD Many patients being considered for LVAD may not have robust RV function, however, predicting RV failure after LVAD is exceedingly difficult. In general, it doesn’t matter how bad the RV may look on imaging; we care more about the pre-LVAD hemodynamics (look at the PAPi and RA/wedge ratio). What happens in the OR may be the most important determinant of how the RV will do with the LVAD! Notes Notes drafted by Dr. Josh Longinow. 1. Historical background of heart pumps and LVADs LVAD Evolution FDA approval year 2001 2008 2012 2017 Pump HeartMate XVE HeartMate II Heartware HVAD HeartMate III Flow/Design Features Pulsatile Technology Continuous flow Axial design Continuous flow Centrifugal design Continuous flow Full MagLev + Centrifugal design The 1960's ushered in the first ‘LVADs', when the first air-powered ‘LVAD' was implanted. It kept the patient alive for four days before the patient expired. The first generation of LVADs were pulsatile pumps The first nationally recognized, FDA approved LVAD was the HeartMate XVE (late 1990s to early 2000s, REMATCH trial). The XVE pump used compressed air (pneumatically driven) to power the pump. Prior to the XVE, OHT was the standard of care for patients with advanced, end-stage heart failure. The second and third generations of LVADs were non-pulsatile, continuous flow devices and included the HVAD, HM2, and HM3 devices. MOMENTUM 3 was a landmark trial for the HM3 device, showing that in a population of sick patients with end stage HF (86% inotrope dependent, 32% INTERMACS 1-2, and 60% DT strategy), 5-year survival with HM3 was 58% and HM3 had lower HRAE's compared with HM2. The only pump that is currently FDA approved for implant is the HM3, although other pumps are in clinical trials (BrioVAD system, INNOVATE Trial). 2. What are LVADs, and how do they work? In simplest terms, the LVAD is a heart pump comprised of several key mechanistic components: Inflow cannula Mechanical pump Outflow cannula Driveline Controller/Power source The HM3 differs from its predecessors (HM2 and HVAD) in several key ways; HM3 is placed intrapericardial whereas the HM2 was placed pre-peritoneal. Perhaps most importantly, the HM3 is a fully magnetically levitated, centrifugal flow pump, whereas the HM2 is an axial flow device. Axial flow pumps are not magnetically levitated, leading to more friction produced between the ruby bearing's contact with the pump rotors, and higher rates of hemocompatibility related adverse events (HRAEs, i.e. pump thrombosis) and the HM2 was ultimately discontinued in favor of the HM3 (MOMENTUM 3 trial). 3. What do the terms ‘Destination Therapy' (DT) or ‘Bridge to Transplant' (BTT) mean when it comes to LVADs? When LVADs first came on the stage, EVERYONE was a BTT; these early pumps weren't designed for long term use (I.e. REMATCH Trial, Heartmate XVE) Destination therapy means the LVAD was placed in leu of transplant because there are contraindications to transplant REMATCH trial brought about the concept of “Destination therapy”, comparing outcomes in patients (with contraindications for transplant) who received an LVAD vs optimal medical therapy Bridge to transplant means we are placing the LVAD in a patient who may not be a transplant candidate at this moment in time (is too sick, or conversely, not sick enough), but may be down the line Bridge to recovery is another term used when the LVAD is being placed for a patient we think may have a recoverable cardiomyopathy 4. What are some factors we should consider when assessing a patient’s candidacy for LVAD, in general, and from a surgical perspective? Patient factors Older age might push us towards thinking LVAD rather than transplant In general, age > 70 is the cutoff for transplant, but this is not a hard cut off and varies institution to institution In general, think about things that help predict recovery after a major surgery; Frailty and Nutritional status are important, we try to optimize these prior to LVAD implant Right ventricular function remains the Achilles heel of LV support We know that needing temporary RV support post LVAD puts you on a different survival curve than patients who don’t need RVAD support Studies have not been able to successfully predict who will develop RV failure after LVAD implantation What happens in the time between when the patient goes to the OR and when they get back to the ICU is an important determinant who might develop RV failure post LVAD Surgical techniques such as implanting the HM3 in the intra-thoracic cavity, rather than intra-pericardial may help maintain LV/RV geometry to help optimize the RV post LVAD Surgical considerations for LVAD candidacy Small, hypertrophied LV: HM3 inflow cannula is small, but small hypertrophied ventricles tend towards chamber collapse during systole causing suction, needing to run slower with lower flow rates Chest size/diameter: pumps have gotten so small now, that for adults, these have become less of a consideration BMI: low BMI used to be more of a concern with the older pumps due to where they were placed, and the relative size of the pump itself, not so much now with the smaller HM 3 pumps Calcified LV apex: would increase risk of stroke, bleeding Driveline tunneling becomes a concern in the super obese population, higher risk for driveline infections (might tunnel these driveline's shorter, and to a less fatty region of the abdomen, could even tunnel out the thoracic cavity in the super obese to limit skin motion) 5. Is there a role for MCS (i.e. temporary LVAD such as Impella) in pre-habilitation of patients prior to LVAD surgery? The theory of being able to improve systemic perfusion, decongest the organs, and make the patient feel better prior to surgery makes sense, but becomes problematic due to the lack of a hard end point/time for prehabilitation which might risk delays in surgery More likely that it can lead to delay in the surgery, with less-than-optimal benefit; you don't want to prolong the wait for surgery and increase the risk for complications prior to surgery An Impella 5.5 is currently FDA approved for 2 weeks of support, not 2 months so timing is important to keep in mind It’s unlikely that you will take a patient and convert them from a malnourished, cachectic person in 2 weeks’ time 6. Is there a role for LVAD therapy in the younger patient population? Should we be thinking of LVAD up front for these patients, with the goal of transplanting down the line? Recovery may be more likely in certain populations, particularly younger females with smaller LV's; in those populations, perhaps bridge to recovery should be the focus, optimizing them on GDMT etc. The replacement of transplant, with MCS (LVAD) in young patients has become a topic of discussion, because these pumps have become better and better, with the thinking that an LVAD could bridge a patient for 10 years or so, and they could get a transplant later It is still a big unknown, but several concerns exist Patients who get LVADs might end up with complications that become contraindication to transplant down the line (stroke, sensitization etc) Patients and providers are more hesitant because of the more recent iteration for the UNOS criteria for OHT listing which no longer gives patients with an uncomplicated LVAD higher priority, and therefore they could end up waiting a longer time for a heart after undergoing LVAD References Rose EA, Gelijns AC, Moskowitz AJ, et al. Long-term use of a left ventricular assist device for end-stage heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2001;345(20):1435-1443. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa012175 Mehra MR, Uriel N, Naka Y, et al. A Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device – Final Report. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(17):1618-1627. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1900486 Mancini D, Colombo PC. Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Rapidly Evolving Alternative to Transplant. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;65(23):2542-2555. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2015.04.039 Mehra MR, Goldstein DJ, Cleveland JC, et al. Five-Year Outcomes in Patients With Fully Magnetically Levitated vs Axial-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices in the MOMENTUM 3 Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2022;328(12):1233-1242. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.16197 Rose EA, Moskowitz AJ, Packer M, et al. The REMATCH trial: rationale, design, and end points. Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;67(3):723-730. doi:10.1016/s0003-4975(99)00042-9 Kittleson MM, Shah P, Lala A, et al. INTERMACS profiles and outcomes of ambulatory advanced heart failure patients: A report from the REVIVAL Registry. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020;39(1):16-26. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2019.08.017 Mehra MR, Netuka I, Uriel N, et al. Aspirin and Hemocompatibility Events With a Left Ventricular Assist Device in Advanced Heart Failure: The ARIES-HM3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023;330(22):2171-2181. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.23204 Mehra MR, Nayak A, Morris AA, et al. Prediction of Survival After Implantation of a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device. JACC Heart Fail. 2022;10(12):948-959. doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2022.08.002 Bhardwaj A, Salas de Armas IA, Bergeron A, et al. Prehabilitation Maximizing Functional Mobility in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Supported on Axillary Impella. ASAIO J. 2024;70(8):661-666. doi:10.1097/MAT.0000000000002170
Get up to 10 free meals & free breakfast for lifeee from HelloFresh with my code HF-0449 https://www.filify.co/SHBn0 !!!The winter arc was cute… but it's almosttt officially step our swag up spring.In this episode, I'm breaking down what “swag” actually means (hint: it's confidence, clarity, and being solution-oriented) and why so many of us feel stuck, bored, or low-energy when we're not actively working toward something meaningful.We talk about:✨why confidence comes from having a mission✨how your comfort zone is secretly holding you back✨what elite athletes understand about mindset and perseverance✨why most people live in a victim mindset (and how to shift out of it)✨being solution-oriented instead of reactive✨mindfulness, discipline, and leveling up your daily habits✨spring cleaning your space (and your energy)I share lessons from reading Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson, watching The Last Dance, and diving into that relentless, high-performance mindset, but applying it to real life, self-growth, and becoming your most confident self.This is your reminder that:every day mattersevery moment is an opportunityand swag is built through small daily decisions fr frLet's step our swag up this spring yallEnjoy & dont forget to tweet/ig story me a screenshot of you listening!Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson https://amzn.to/3MZRhPURelentless by Tim Grover https://amzn.to/4azkTg4W1nner by Tim Grover https://amzn.to/4azkTg4MY NEW WEBSITE!! Shop merch, sign up for my newsletter, book a coffee chat, & more: http://stellaraeherself.comGet $1000 off the health coach certification program I'm doing with promo code STELLACOACHING https://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=1281553&m=96296&u=1030263I edit using Riverside! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=stella-holtshop my new glo up merch!! https://stellarae.myspreadshop.com/instagram http://instagram.com/stellaraepodcastlisten to and/or support the podcast: https://anchor.fm/stella-raetiktok: http://tiktok.com/@stellaraeherselftwitter: http://twitter.com/stellaraegoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10449999-stella-raemy fav books/products/health: https://www.amazon.com/shop/stellaraemy current filming set up:camera: https://amzn.to/4cEQiLOmicrophone: https://amzn.to/3Z2A5gctripod: https://amzn.to/3AEmxgKring light: https://amzn.to/3XxZrShbox lights: https://amzn.to/4e1Q1Ubportable light for phone: https://amzn.to/3XxZspjjoin my patreon for ad-free episodes, early access, merch discounts, behind the scenes, & more! https://www.patreon.com/stellaraepodlisten on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DMbeh7EqiqgROIjvW0sI9listen on apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stella-rae-podcast/id1255618182#StellaRaePodcast
Esta semana en CQ en Frecuencia hablamos de dos temas que han marcado la actualidad reciente en el mundo de la radioafición. Crónica desde dentro del ARRL International DX Contest en CW Viajamos hasta la sede de la Asociación de Radioaficionados de Molins de Rei para conocer cómo vivieron el concurso de telegrafía más importante del calendario internacional. Operadores noveles y experimentados compartiendo estación, estrategias de RUN y búsqueda, técnicas avanzadas como el 2BSIQ y un objetivo común: cruzar el Atlántico durante 48 horas de alta intensidad. 500 contactos y 163.000 puntos después, analizamos no solo los números, sino también el valor formativo y humano de los concursos. FT2: el “terremoto” digital de la semana Damos mi opinión personal sobre la irrupción del nuevo modo digital FT2. Un sistema que reduce los ciclos de transmisión a 3,8 segundos, pero que lo hace sacrificando sensibilidad y ancho de banda respecto a FT8. ¿Es una evolución lógica? ¿Es el “TikTok” de los modos digitales? ¿Estamos ganando velocidad a costa de perder señales débiles y QRP? Reflexión técnica y personal sobre lo que supone realmente este nuevo modo para quienes disfrutamos del DX en HF. Rincón Diexista – Informe de Radioescucha de la AER Cerramos el episodio con el tradicional informe de la Asociación Española de Radioescucha, con las últimas novedades para los amantes de la onda corta y la escucha internacional. Un episodio que mezcla concurso, tecnología digital y radioescucha… con opinión, análisis y pasión por la radio. ¿Nos apoyas para que podamos seguir haciendo este podcast? Puedes apoyarnos en QRP con 1,99€ al mes o un poco más de potencia en QRO, con 5,99€ al mes aquí: https://cqenfrecuencia.com/apoyar/ NOTAS DEL EPISODIO - ARRL https://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar - Características del FT2 y enlaces de descarga https://hampass.com/ft2 - Web de la AER https://aer.org.es/ Envía tus preguntas, propuestas de temas o lo que quieras: https://cqenfrecuencia.com/contacto/ O en nuestro canal de Telegram: https://t.me/cqenfrecuencia Y no olvidéis visitar nuestra web: https://cqenfrecuencia.com
durée : 00:00:48 - En Dordogne, un spécialiste de la pose de clôtures et un menuisier poseur sont recrutés - En Dordogne, plusieurs postes H/F sont à pourvoir, on recrute un spécialiste de la pose de clôtures et France Travail recherche un menuisier poseur. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
durée : 00:00:37 - Le château d'Hautefort recrute un chef de partie H/F pour son restaurant - En Dordogne, le château d'Hautefort recrute plusieurs profils de poste H/F dont un chef de partie pour son restaurant ainsi qu'un guide conférencier Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
Hello and Welcome to the DX Corner for yourweekly Dose of DX. I'm Bill, AJ8B.The following DX information comes from Bernie, W3UR, editor of the DailyDX, the WeeklyDX, and the How's DX column in QST. If you would like a free 2-week trial of the DailyDX, your only source of real-time DX information, just drop me a note at thedxmentor@gmail.com5X - Uganda – Richard, HB9FHV,is currently in Uganda for a brief visit with basic radio equipment until February 28, 2026. He plans limited activity as 5X4TA almost daily on the 10, 15, and 20 meter bands between 1500Z and 1600Z. TZ - Mali - Ulmar, DK1CE, should be QRV as TZ1CE until March 1. He will be doing mostly FT8 and SSB and says when he's on FT8 he gives stations outside Europe precedent at alltimes. He plans special attention to 160M FT8, 80M FT8 and 6M and will update daily on Club Log, the LoTW log will be after the operation. FJ - St. Barthelemy – On February 12, Andreas, DK6AS, began his February/March 2026 FJ/DK6AS operation from St. Barts. He'll be QRV on CW, FT4 and CT8 on 3.5 through 50 MHz, including participation in the ARRL International DX CW Contest. QSL via DK6AS either direct or via the bureau.VP5 - Turks and Caicos Islands - The Russell family (WD5JR, N5VOF and KJ5CMP) are in the Turks and Caicos Islands until February 23. They have an IC-7300 and KX2 running 5 to 100 watts into a 17 foot whip with coil and EFHW. They are active as VP5/HC on 7 through 50 MHz on SSB and CW. They areuploading videos to their YouTube channel Radio Roamers and Facebook page Radio Roamers. QSL via their home calls with SASE. J5 - Guinea-Bissau - The J51A DXpedition team, heading for Bijagos Archipelago (AF-020) in the February-March time frame giving the following update. "J51A on QO-100: We were asked to be active on QO-100 satellite, too. We learnt that J5 has NEVER been active on QO-100 before.So, we decided to give it a try for a lot of ATNO contacts on SSB, CW and FT8. However, none of us has operated over satellite before. Please bear with us if we do something stupid or unexpected. Just let us know by E-Mail ( j51a@gmx.de ) and we'llfix any misbehavior A.S.A.P. Technically; we will use 50 MHz as the IF band. It means that we cannot do 50 MHz when on QO-100, and vice versa. QO-100 operation will start a couple of days after the other bands. Please watch the "News" sectionon www.qrz.com/db/J51A for more info." OX – Greenland - From February 17th to March 9th, 2026, Bo, OZ1DJJ, will be active as OX3LX from Aasiaat City/Island (GP38NQ, NA-134) during this period. Please note, this is nota DXpedition but rather a business trip, so activity may be limited. 8Q - Maldives – Alex, OE5AUH, is planning a holiday operation as 8Q7AH from Rasdhoo Atoll March 1-10. RI1F - Franz Jozef Land - The Russian DX Team is preparing a major DXpedition to Franz Josef Land (RI1FJL), The Arctic Ocean archipelago, ranked 44th globally and 26th in North America. The operation will feature at least five high-power radio stations running continuously on all HF bands for 15 days in September 2026, aiming to contact as many stations as possible, including those in distant areas.The total budget for this trip is close to $80,000, making it their most expensive expedition yet, and financial support from DX clubs and individuals is crucial for its success. Donations are encouraged and can be made through the team's website - https://www.rudxt.org/ri1fjl or directlyvia PayPal un7jid@mail.ru. In addition to the previously mentioned KP5/NP3VI interview, the DX Mentor podcast will be with Hal, W8HC. Hal will bediscussing the 9U1RU DXpedition that logged almost 180,000 QSOs. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Hello and welcome to episode 87 of The DX Mentor – A discussion about the 9U1RU DXpedition to Burundi. If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog covering many aspects of DX in both podcast and YouTube format. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe to always be notified about upcoming episodes!If you have a comment or a question, please drop me a note at thedxmentor@gmail.comFrom the press 9U1RU release: "An international team of 9 operators will run a DXpedition from the Republic of Burundi as 9U1RU during October 31 to November 17, 2025. QRV with at least 7 high-power stations 24/7 on all HF bands during 20 days. Their goal is to work as many stations as possible, paying attention to distant regions and low-pistols. They have found a good location with a clear take-off to all most common directions. "Below are the links that we alluded to:Indexa Newsletter: https://indexa.org/documents/newsletters/Newsletter-Issue-147-Winter2025.pdf9U1RU Website: https://www.rudxt.org/9u1ruAj8b@arrl.netWhatsApp - +5135039901Website: www.aj8b.comYoutube & Podcast TheDXMentorReal Time DX Info (DailyDX https://www.dailydx.com/Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/IC-7760 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7760IC-PW2 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-PW2IC-7300 MK2 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300MK2/IC-9700 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/IC-905 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/IC-R8600 Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-R8600/IC-52A Plus Product Page: https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/ID-52APLUS/
Hey, it's Alex, let me catch you up! Since last week, OpenAI convinced OpenClaw founder Peter Steinberger to join them, while keeping OpenClaw.. well... open. Anthropic dropped Sonnet 4.6 which nearly outperforms the previous Opus and is much cheaper, Qwen released 3.5 on Chinese New Year's Eve, while DeepSeek was silent and Elon and XAI folks deployed Grok 4.20 without any benchmarks, and it's 4 500B models in a trenchcoat? Also, Anthropic updated rules state that it's breaking ToS to use their plans for anything except Claude Code & Claude SDK (and then clarified that it's OK? we're not sure) Then Google decided to drop their Gemini 3.1 Pro preview right at the start of our show, and it's very nearly the best LLM folks can use right now (though it didn't pass Nisten's vibe checks) Also, Google released Lyria 3 for music gen (though only 30 seconds?) and our own Ryan Carson blew up on X again with over 1M views for his Code Factory article, Wolfram did a deep dive into Terminal Bench and .. we have a brand new website: https://thursdai.news
Welcome to QNEWS for week 8 of 2026. I'm John VK4JPM, secretary of the Darling Downs Radio Club, with our contribution. One of the real charms of a club is when it can provide some social activity between birds of a feather, and the Darling Downs Radio Club does that on the even months of the year. So here it is February and today at lunchtime (if you're listening on Sunday 22nd, of course) you can come and join us. You don't have to be a member of the club, and it doesn't matter if you don't know anyone because we're really friendly. We'll be hard to miss, because we're in the club shirts with our names in bright yellow letters and club caps. Very hard to miss. The February lunch is a very social barbeque starting from 1130 or so, at Peacehaven Botanic Park on Kuhls Road just south of Highfields. Stan Kuhl - that's K U H L was a dairy farmer who used to own most of the land in the area, and in 2005 he donated 4.7 hectares of land to be developed into a botanic park. The council has even expanded it a bit since then, with a plant sales area that will be open from 0900 on the day. We're going to be at the barbeques on the western side... plenty of parking on-street close to the BBQ area, or actually off Kuhls Road which is slightly a bit more of a walk but good exercise and very pretty. And there's tons of seating and undercover tables so you only need to bring what you plan to eat and drink. The location is good for HF and VHF so bring a radio if you feel like it. We'll be listening on VK4RTQ repeater and 146.500 simplex in case you get lost, and we'll answer to VK4WID. All the details are on the website at DDRCi.org.au. You don't have to register, but we'd love to get an email to lunch at ddrci.org.au to let us know you're coming. Next: More good news on the licence front. Club member Perry decided that it was time to do the Foundation Assessment and sailed through the theory and prac exams. By the time you hear this he might even have his call. Well done Per. We'd love to help you get started or do an upgrade, and there's no charge for that. Just drop a line to education@ddrci.org.au and let's have a chat about how to make your ham aspirations a reality. This is week 8 of 2026, and if you're following the international ham radio challenge at hamchallenge.org you'll find that the week 8 challenge is to do some experimenting with APRS. That's the Amateur Radio Packet Reporting system, and there's a pretty good Wikipedia article that explains what APRS is all about. If you haven't ever played with APRS, it's not too hard to get started and there are plenty of resources available to help. Even looking up the history on the web is interesting, and there's a VK APRS site hidden in there with some useful local tips - helpful, given that APRS is designed as a real time protocol for local material. Let us know how you go. And finally: lock in the date of 9 March for our next club meeting. We'll tell you more about that next week. Wrapping up: the bi-monthly is Sunday 22 February (most likely that's today) and all the details are on the club website at DDRCi.org.au. Turn up a bit early if you'd like to buy some plants at the nursery, and it's a BYO everything event. As always we're listening, so if you have an idea for a meeting or activity, want to check any of the info I've just provided, or just make contact, drop an email to secretary@ddrci.org.au and as Perry will tell you: we respond very quickly. I'm John VK4JPM secretary of the Darling Downs Radio Club. Our 2m weekly net follows at the top of the hour on VK4RDD. Till next week, 73 and good packeting!
GB2RS News Sunday the 22nd of February The news headlines: RSGB 2026 Elections – Nominated Director candidates announced A year in numbers 2025 – a celebration of RSGB achievements Former RSGB President Colin Thomas, G3PSM, is now a Silent Key In this year's RSGB elections, there are vacancies for two Nominated Directors. Following a rigorous selection process, the Society's Nominations Committee has chosen to put forward Graham Smith, G4NMD, and Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB, for endorsement. RSGB members will be able to vote to endorse these candidates when voting opens on Wednesday, the 18th of March. To help you learn more about the candidates, the RSGB has published two videos. The candidates weren't given the questions in advance and were interviewed separately. You can watch their in-depth answers in a single easy-to-view video, whilst the two-minute video provides their brief thoughts on RSGB membership. You can watch them on the RSGB YouTube channel and on its website at rsgb.org/candidates Amateur radio continues to evolve, and the RSGB, in turn, develops how it supports current radio amateurs and reaches out to new audiences. The RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, wrote his annual feature called ‘A year in numbers' for the March issue of RadCom. In it he shared some of the year's great achievements in which RSGB HQ staff have often led the way. Read the full feature and view the infographic on page 48 of the March edition. You can also see the highlights in a brief video on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Colin Thomas, G3PSM. Colin worked tirelessly for the RSGB and was President from 2008 to 2009. He made a great contribution to the acquisition and defence of the radio spectrum. Within Region 1, he played a leading role in the acquisition of additional bands, including 136kHz, 472kHz, allocations at 5MHz and the expansion of 7MHz. He also led the successful defence of existing allocations. IARU Region 1 radio amateurs owe him a huge debt. Colin was an Honorary Life Vice-President and a recipient of the Founder's trophy in recognition of his work both for the Society and for the IARU. A full tribute to Colin is being prepared for the RSGB website and for RadCom. The RSGB is reminding radio amateurs that the frequencies at 5MHz are only available on a secondary basis to holders of a UK Full amateur radio licence. Foundation and Intermediate licence holders are not allowed to operate on 5MHz. You can find details about this in the OFW611 amateur radio licence terms and conditions booklet, which is available from ofcom.org.uk, and there is also more information about operating on this band at rsgb.org/5mhz Are you passionate about attracting older people to amateur radio, while retaining and engaging our valued senior members? The RSGB is seeking an enthusiastic individual to take on the role of Honorary Mature Members' Officer. This volunteer leadership role will champion the inclusive ethos of amateur radio and promote how the hobby can be enjoyed by all, irrespective of age. You will help to ensure that mature members feel supported, valued and actively involved and build a small team to develop initiatives that strengthen engagement across our community. If you are an RSGB Member and are committed to helping others remain active and involved in the hobby they love, visit rsgb.org/volunteers to read the full role description and find out how to apply. Time is running out to submit your entry to the RSGB 2026 Construction Competition. The deadline is Sunday, the 1st of March. You'll need to email a short description of your entry and up to four photographs. It is also recommended to send a link to a video that demonstrates your entry working. More details on submitting your application can be found via rsgb.org/construction-competition. The results of the competition will be announced during the RSGB 2026 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 18th of April. To encourage activity on the 2m band, the 145 Alive team has introduced 145 Alive 50. The trial period for this initiative runs until the 18th of April. The rules are simple. Call CQ on the calling channel and have at least one QSO per day on the 2m band. Record your contacts and send your log for 50 or more days, in ADIF format, to 145aliveuk@gmail.com. Electronic certificates will be supplied by the 145 Alive team to successful applicants. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events On Sunday, the 1st of March, the Exeter Radio Rally will take place at The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE. The rally will include a bring-and-buy area, disabled facilities, catering and free car parking. The entry fee is £3. Traders can gain entry from 8 am, and the doors open to the public at 10 am. For more information, email Bill, G7AKJ via billwrench213@btinternet.com On Sunday, the 22nd of March, Callington Radio and Electronics Rally will be held in the Town Hall, New Road, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7BE. The doors will be open to the public from 10 am until 1 pm. Entry is £2 each with no charge for those under the age of 16. A comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and societies from the southwest will be present along with a bring-and-buy stall and the usual catering service. Pre-booking is essential, so please contact Alastair, M0KRR, via alastair.kerr1@btinternet.com or by phone on 01503 262 755 with your requirements as soon as possible. Visit callingtonradiosociety.org.uk for more information. Now the Special Event news Today, Sunday the 22nd, Hartlepool Amateur Radio Club will be operating using special callsign GB100HG for World Thinking Day on the Air. Listen for activity on the 40, 20 and 10m bands, mainly using SSB and possibly CW and FT8. FM contacts will also be possible on the 2m and 70cm bands. The operators are keen to make as many contacts as possible. If you hear them, please give them a call. Celebrating World Radio Day, the VIC Amateur Radio Contest DX Club is operating as 4UNR until the 28th of February using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via OQRS. Now the DX news Michael, OZ6ABL, is active as 5Z4/OZ6ABL from Watamu in Kenya, until Saturday, the 28th of February. Activity is on the 80 to 6m bands using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Logbook of the World, OQRS, or via Michael's home call. Ulmar, DK1CE, is active as TZ1CE from Bamako in Mali until Sunday, the 1st of March. He is operating mainly FT8 on the HF bands. SSB contacts are also possible. QSL via Club Log and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news Today, Sunday the 22nd of February, the UK Microwave Group EHF Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 76 to 241GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The REF Contest started at 0600 UTC yesterday, the 21st, and runs until 1800 UTC today, Sunday the 22nd of February. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The ARRL International DX Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday, the 21st, and finishes at 2359 UTC today, Sunday, the 22nd of February. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and transmitter power. American stations also send their state, and Canadian stations send their province. Tomorrow, the 23rd of February, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 2000 to 2200 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday, the 24th of February, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230 UTC. Using all modes on the 13cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, the 25th of February, the United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. On Thursday, the 26th of February, the RSGB 80m club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ 160m DX Contest starts at 2200 UTC on Friday, the 27th of February and runs until 2200 UTC on Sunday, the 1st of March. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. American stations also send their state, and Canadian stations send their province. On Sunday the 1st of March, the Worked All Britain 3.5MHz Phone Contest runs from 1800 to 2200 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and your Worked All Britain area. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday, the 19th of February. We had a week of relatively low solar flux indices and mostly settled geomagnetic conditions. While the solar flux index fell to the 117 to 129 range, the Kp index was mostly in the twos and threes. This was after the weekend's geomagnetic disturbance, due to a large coronal hole that expelled solar plasma in a stream that moved past Earth at nearly 700 kilometres per second. As a result, HF conditions have been quite good with plenty of DX being worked. The KP5/NP3VI Desecheo Island DXpedition near Puerto Rico has been a struggle for many, due to its popularity and use of solar-powered batteries and low power. One quick hint: try FT8 on the 40m band around 7 to 7.30 am. You get a greyline enhancement at sunrise, but for much of Europe, the band is closing, which means there is little competition. Let us know how you get on. Other DX this week includes 8R1WA in Guyana. This is an Italian team operating until Friday, the 27th of February. Chuck will be active as VP2MCV on Montserrat and will be active in the ARRL DX CW Contest until the end of the month. Finally, a German team will be operating as J51A in Guinea-Bissau until mid-March. Another large solar coronal hole became Earth-facing on Friday, the 20th of February, so we may expect unsettled geomagnetic conditions from today, the 22nd. Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasted a low solar flux index of 105 for yesterday, the 21st, before rising again to potentially reach 165 by the end of this month. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 24th and 25th with an estimated Kp index of 5. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th of February saw afternoon openings on 50MHz to TZ1CE in Mali to generate DX interest. However, as expected, it was stations much further south that benefited from the best propagation, with just a few stations in the southern areas of the UK making QSOs on FT8. The present spell of unsettled weather remains the main theme for the period up to the end of the coming week. The pattern is controlled by a strong Atlantic jet stream, so ‘changeable' is the watchword with periods of heavy rain alternating with brighter showery interludes and, of course, quite strong winds at times. In terms of propagation, rain scatter is a clear favourite, although in one cloudy period in mild air around Tuesday the 24th, some possible tropo may show up for southern areas of the UK. The meteor scatter options are again subject to random activity since we are still some way off the next important shower, the Lyrids, in late April. The auroral prospects have, at best, been gently simmering at low values of the Kp index, mostly less than 5. Stay tuned, though, because we may see an uptick around Tuesday the 24th. So watch for signs of fluttery signals on the LF bands and then check for auroral tones on 10m and up through the 6 to 2m bands. These events are always a bit of a long shot, but should be worth checking this time. The sporadic-E season is still some way off, although a strong jet stream pattern is always a positive. For EME, Moon declination is positive and rising, meaning longer Moon windows and higher peak elevation. Path loss continues to fall as we approach perigee on Tuesday, the 24th. 144MHz sky noise starts the coming week low, rising to moderate towards the end. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
Foundations of Amateur Radio Just under a year ago I started an experiment. I set-up a beacon for WSPR, or Weak Signal Propagation Reporter, transmitting at 200 mW into a dummy load using eight bands between 80m and 10m. I also set-up an RTL-SDR dongle, connected to an external 20m HF antenna and made it monitor 18 amateur bands between 630m and 23cm. I left this running 24/7 for most of the year, though there were times when I detached the antenna due to local thunderstorms and there was a seven week period where there were no reports. It's highly likely that I forgot to reconnect the antenna, but I don't recall. For this analysis I used the online WSPRnet.org database where I uploaded my spots as they were decoded. I noticed that there are reports that I have locally that are not in the database, though I'm not sure why. They're incomplete and not in the same format and merging these is non-trivial for reasons I'll discuss. Lesson learnt, the "rtlsdr-wsprd" tool needs to be patched to output the data in the same format as is available from the online database and I need to actively log locally. The results are puzzling, at least to me right now. Let's start with the low hanging fruit. There are no reports of my WSPR beacon being received by anyone other than me. That doesn't guarantee that nobody heard me, just that nobody reported that they did. In the database there's just over six thousand reports of my station receiving a WSPR transmission from my beacon during the past year. The reports cover all bands, though not equally. The 80m band represents 6 percent of reports, where 40m accounts for 20 percent. The reported SNR, or Signal To Noise ratio, varies significantly across the data. For example, the 12m band shows a range of 42 dB. Digging into this does not reveal any patterns related to date, time of day, season, other band reports or any other metric I was able to imagine. In my exploration, missing records and time-zone differences aside, I discovered that the local data does not appear to match the database. For example I have records where the software decoded my beacon ten times in the same time-slot, but none of them exist in the database. For others, there's only one matching record, which leads me to believe that the WSPRnet.org database only accepts the first report for any given combination of timestamp, transmitter and receiver, but I have yet to confirm that. So, let's talk about getting more than one result for a specific time-slot. As you might know, a WSPR signal is transmitted every 120 seconds, starting at the even minute. Each transmission lasts 110.6 seconds. The decoder will make several attempts to decode multiple, potentially overlapping signals. It is my understanding that the way this happens is by essentially removing a known decoded signal and then attempting to decode what's left, repeating until either there's no more signals to decode, or time runs out, since there's probably only really 9.4 seconds in which to do this. Potentially this means that a faster computer will decode more signals, but I've not actually tested that, but it's probably something worth pursuing. Back to our decodes. If the first decode is removed from the received data and the next decode gives you similar information, same callsign and maidenhead locator, with SNR and frequency differences, then you might imagine that there's so much of it there that the only way that might happen is because the receiver is overloaded. I'm still looking into this, because if that's the case, then we'd need to determine if the receiver was always overloaded, or only sometimes. It's curious, since there's over a thousand other signals being received from other stations, several over 18,000 km away, so it's not like the receiver is completely swamped. Another hypothesis is that the decode is coming from a different band, like a harmonic. This is potentially caused because from a band and timing perspective, the receiver isn't linked to the transmitter in any way. The transmitter hammers away 24/7 one band after the next, switching every two minutes, the receiver listens for half an hour on a band, then randomly picks the next, until it runs out of bands and starts again. The receiver is listening on more than twice as many bands as the transmitter operates on, but that doesn't mean that it cannot hear the transmitter on a harmonic of one of the bands. Again, I don't know if this is the case, or if something else is happening. One thing I'd expect, is to see reports on other harmonics outside the bands that the transmitter is using, but I'm not seeing that. Perhaps the overload is limited to just the band we're actively monitoring and the other signals are coming in regardless of the overload. I'm still trying to determine if that's the case. As I said, merging the data from the two sources is non-trivial, time-zones and formatting are not the same and I'm not in the mood for manually fixing 2,500 or so records, not to mention attempting to determine which SNR is real for the multi-decodes. So, what did I learn? For starters, the world didn't come to a sudden and laborious stop when I transmitted into a dummy load. The experiment was interesting and worth doing. I should test using shorter runs until I've determined the mechanisms involved. For example, one amateur suggested that I might be decoding information that's coming in via the coax, rather than from an antenna. That said, doing so would also require significantly more effort to incrementally analyse this data, so I'd have to find ways to improve my workflow. The SNR is all over the place, not something that I expected. All bands are represented in the data. There does not seem to be any relationship between date, time, other stations and the signal strength seen for the local transmission. I need better record keeping. No doubt there's more. If you have questions, feel free to comment. The experiment also leaves plenty of questions. Why do the SNR values vary so much? I can't imagine that the variation relates to propagation, since we'd have reports from other receivers, so is it something else, even though we're talking about equipment that's indoors, are we observing variations in electronics temperatures for example? Alternatively, if the measurements represent overload of the receiver, why don't we see other harmonics and how is it possible that we can receive and decode very weak signals from other stations? If the signal is arriving via an unexpected path, like the coax, rather than the antenna, what could we do to stop that from occurring and what effects does it have on our current dataset, and could we account for those effects? I suppose, leaving the ultimate question for last: Is the data that I've collected over the past year useful, beyond potentially "this is not how you do this", or is it essentially meaningless? I'm Onno VK6FLAB
12 antennes géantes situées au centre de la France diffusent les programmes de RFI en ondes courtes. Ces ondes, qui parcourent des milliers de kilomètres, continuent d'informer des millions d'auditeurs, notamment zones rurales ou dans des pays qui se ferment. En écho à la Journée mondiale de la radio, L'atelier des médias s'intéresse aux ondes courtes. À l'heure du tout numérique, la radio par ondes courtes (OC) ou shortwave (SW) n'est pas encore reléguée au passé. C'était l'idée d'une table ronde qui s'est tenue le 31 janvier 2026 au festival Longueur d'ondes, à Brest, dont cet épisode de L'atelier des médias fait entendre des extraits choisis. Aux côtés de Steven Jambot se trouvaient Carlos Acciari, chargé de la planification des ondes courtes à RFI, et Jérôme Hirigoyen, directeur du développement et des radios internationales chez TDF. Le rebond sur l'ionosphère : une technologie qui fait fi des frontières Le secret de la puissance des ondes courtes réside dans la physique. Contrairement à la FM, dont la portée excède rarement 70 kilomètres, les ondes décamétriques (entre 3 et 30 MHz) utilisent l'ionosphère – une des couches de l'atmosphère – comme un miroir. Depuis le centre émetteur de TDF à Issoudun (Saint-Aoustrille), en région Centre, 12 antennes géantes ALLISS de 80 mètres de haut diffusent les programmes de RFI par bonds successifs sur des milliers de kilomètres. Cette infrastructure, l'une des plus performantes au monde, permet de cibler des zones jusqu'à 15 000 km de distance. À écouter aussiOndes courtes: à la découverte des antennes géantes qui diffusent RFI à travers le monde HFCC et géopolitique des ondes courtes La gestion des fréquences mondiales repose sur une coordination internationale rigoureuse. Deux fois par an, les grands diffuseurs mondiaux (Américains, Chinois, Russes, Japonais, Français...), qui représentent des radios comme BBC, VOA, DW, NHK, KBS se réunissent au sein de la HFCC (High Frequency Coordination Conference) pour s'accorder sur les plans de fréquences et éviter les brouillages. Jérôme Hirigoyen décrit ces rencontres comme des « accords entre gentlemen » essentiels pour assurer la clarté du signal. Dans un contexte de tensions mondiales, la HF (haute fréquence) redevient un enjeu de souveraineté. Si un satellite peut être brouillé par une simple antenne au sol, il est extrêmement complexe et coûteux de neutraliser totalement les ondes courtes. C'est aussi le média de « dernier recours » lors de crises ou de blackouts. Jérôme Hirigoyen souligne cette permanence stratégique : « Quand on a besoin de communiquer, ça reste un média extrêmement robuste. » Un futur numérique : DRM et DRM Cast L'innovation ne délaisse pas les ondes courtes avec la norme DRM (Digital radio mondiale). Ce format numérique offre une qualité audio supérieure, réduit la consommation d'énergie de 30 à 40 % et permet la transmission de données (images, textes). RFI et TDF expérimentent actuellement le projet DRM Cast, pensé comme un véritable « serveur de podcasts ». Ce boîtier autonome, couplé à un panneau solaire, capte le signal DRM et stocke les données reçues afin de pouvoir les rediffuser en WiFi. Dans un camp de réfugiés ou une zone sans internet, les utilisateurs peuvent ainsi télécharger gratuitement des contenus sur leur smartphone.
This show has been flagged as Clean by the host. Making First Contact An amateur radio contact, more commonly referred to as simply a "contact", is an exchange of information between two amateur radio stations. The exchange usually consists of an initial call, a response by another amateur radio operator at an amateur radio station, and a signal report. A contact is often referred to by the Q code QSO. It is often limited to just a minimal exchange of such station IDs. Stations who have made a contact are said to have worked each other. An operator may also say that he has worked a certain country. QSO: (amateur_radio) Making your first QSO Kees's history 1990 PD1OOY VHF/UHF only, 25 Watt, only F3E. (NED, BEL, LX, DL) 1991 PE1OOY CEPT Class II 1995 G7TWO 1st British callsign CEPT Class II 1997 PE7TWO First vanity callsign CEPT Class II 2000 M5TWO CEPT Class A+B+ CW included 2000 PA7TWO CEPT Class I + CW included 2002 M5TWO CEPT Class I + CW included Ken's history COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom 2020-08-21 Amateur Foundation Examination 2021-01-28 Amateur Intermediate Examination 2021-08-05 Amateur Full Radio Licence Links UK Amateur Licensing Baofeng UV-5R Mini 5W Dual Band Radio BangGood Tech Minds video " This Baofeng UV-5R Mini Is Almost Perfect - And It's Only $25! " QSO: amateur_radio QSL Card IARU Region 1 HF band plan QRZ.com Club Log Modulation Codes , Types of radio emissions Provide feedback on this episode.
Hey dear subscriber, Alex here from W&B, let me catch you up! This week started with Anthropic releasing /fast mode for Opus 4.6, continued with ByteDance reality-shattering video model called SeeDance 2.0, and then the open weights folks pulled up! Z.ai releasing GLM-5, a 744B top ranking coder beast, and then today MiniMax dropping a heavily RL'd MiniMax M2.5, showing 80.2% on SWE-bench, nearly beating Opus 4.6! I've interviewed Lou from Z.AI and Olive from MiniMax on the show today back to back btw, very interesting conversations, starting after TL;DR!So while the OpenSource models were catching up to frontier, OpenAI and Google both dropped breaking news (again, during the show), with Gemini 3 Deep Think shattering the ArcAGI 2 (84.6%) and Humanity's Last Exam (48% w/o tools)... Just an absolute beast of a model update, and OpenAI launched their Cerebras collaboration, with GPT 5.3 Codex Spark, supposedly running at over 1000 tokens per second (but not as smart) Also, crazy week for us at W&B as we scrambled to host GLM-5 at day of release, and are working on dropping Kimi K2.5 and MiniMax both on our inference service! As always, all show notes in the end, let's DIVE IN! ThursdAI - AI is speeding up, don't get left behind! Sub and I'll keep you up to date with a weekly catch upOpen Source LLMsZ.ai launches GLM-5 - #1 open-weights coder with 744B parameters (X, HF, W&B inference)The breakaway open-source model of the week is undeniably GLM-5 from Z.ai (formerly known to many of us as Zhipu AI). We were honored to have Lou, the Head of DevRel at Z.ai, join us live on the show at 1:00 AM Shanghai time to break down this monster of a release.GLM-5 is massive, not something you run at home (hey, that's what W&B inference is for!) but it's absolutely a model that's worth thinking about if your company has on prem requirements and can't share code with OpenAI or Anthropic. They jumped from 355B in GLM4.5 and expanded their pre-training data to a whopping 28.5T tokens to get these results. But Lou explained that it's not only about data, they adopted DeepSeeks sparse attention (DSA) to help preserve deep reasoning over long contexts (this one has 200K)Lou summed up the generational leap from version 4.5 to 5 perfectly in four words: “Bigger, faster, better, and cheaper.” I dunno about faster, this may be one of those models that you hand off more difficult tasks to, but definitely cheaper, with $1 input/$3.20 output per 1M tokens on W&B! While the evaluations are ongoing, the one interesting tid-bit from Artificial Analysis was, this model scores the lowest on their hallucination rate bench! Think about this for a second, this model is neck-in-neck with Opus 4.5, and if Anthropic didn't release Opus 4.6 just last week, this would be an open weights model that rivals Opus! One of the best models the western foundational labs with all their investments has out there. Absolutely insane times. MiniMax drops M2.5 - 80.2% on SWE-bench verified with just 10B active parameters (X, Blog)Just as we wrapped up our conversation with Lou, MiniMax dropped their release (though not weights yet, we're waiting ⏰) and then Olive Song, a senior RL researcher on the team, joined the pod, and she was an absolute wealth of knowledge! Olive shared that they achieved an unbelievable 80.2% on SWE-Bench Verified. Digest this for a second: a 10B active parameter open-source model is directly trading blows with Claude Opus 4.6 (80.8%) on the one of the hardest real-world software engineering benchmark we currently have. While being alex checks notes ... 20X cheaper and much faster to run? Apparently their fast version gets up to 100 tokens/s. Olive shared the “not so secret” sauce behind this punch-above-its-weight performance. The massive leap in intelligence comes entirely from their highly decoupled Reinforcement Learning framework called “Forge.” They heavily optimized not just for correct answers, but for the end-to-end time of task performing. In the era of bloated reasoning models that spit out ten thousand “thinking” tokens before writing a line of code, MiniMax trained their model across thousands of diverse environments to use fewer tools, think more efficiently, and execute plans faster. As Olive noted, less time waiting and fewer tools called means less money spent by the user. (as confirmed by @swyx at the Windsurf leaderboard, developers often prefer fast but good enough models) I really enjoyed the interview with Olive, really recommend you listen to the whole conversation starting at 00:26:15. Kudos MiniMax on the release (and I'll keep you updated when we add this model to our inference service) Big Labs and breaking newsThere's a reason the show is called ThursdAI, and today this reason is more clear than ever, AI biggest updates happen on a Thursday, often live during the show. This happened 2 times last week and 3 times today, first with MiniMax and then with both Google and OpenAI! Google previews Gemini 3 Deep Think, top reasoning intelligence SOTA Arc AGI 2 at 84% & SOTA HLE 48.4% (X , Blog)I literally went
GB2RS News Sunday, the 15th of February 2026 The news headlines: Support the RSGB Contest Committees Learn your freedoms and restrictions in relation to repeaters, gateways and packet radio in March's Tonight@8 Check your club's details are up to date on Club Finder The RSGB Contest Support Committee, HF Contest Committee and VHF Contest Committee are looking for volunteers who can help organise, support and manage the Society's contesting activities. While applications from experienced contestants are welcome, the committees would also be pleased to hear from radio amateurs who are new to contesting. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, in the first instance, via gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk In February 2024, Ofcom made significant changes to the amateur radio licensing conditions, but how has that affected your freedoms and restrictions in relation to repeaters, gateways and packet radio? In the next episode of Tonight@8, two members of the RSGB Emerging Technology Coordination Committee will answer this question for you. Join Steve Morton, F4VTF and John McCullagh, GI4BWM, live on Monday, the 2nd of March, via the RSGB's YouTube Channel or via its special BATC channel. If you have a question on this topic, ensure you watch the webinar live and submit your question via the live chat feature. Find out more by going to rsgb.org/webinars If you are a member of an RSGB-affiliated club or society, the RSGB is encouraging you to check that your organisation's details are up to date on Club Finder. The RSGB Club Finder allows people to search for local amateur radio groups. Those people could want to join your club, find out more about amateur radio before taking their Foundation licence exam, or perhaps need support for British Science Week activities. Updating your listing is easy. Just log in to your club's Membership Services account and go to the ‘UK Club Finder' section. The form includes a section called ‘Meeting details' where you can add helpful information about disabled access, as well as details about both physical and online meetings. The Society will update Club Finder with any new data between 4 pm and 6 pm every Friday. If you wish your latest information to appear before the weekend, please ensure you update your details before 3 pm on Fridays. If you have any questions about the process, please contact membership@rsgb.org.uk Among the many informative and engaging displays at the RSGB National Radio Centre, you'll find information highlighting the contribution to the war effort made by Voluntary Interceptors who were RSGB Members during World War Two. It is this topic that Josephine Saunders explores in her compelling article “Listening for victory” published in “BRITAIN” magazine. The four-page feature looks at the role that radio amateurs played in the War, and how RSGB volunteers now help to bring this history to life at the RSGB National Radio Centre. She also looks at some of the wide-ranging activities on offer at the NRC, such as the ‘Find the spy transmitter' event held last year. Subscribers to the magazine can read the feature on page 63. It can also be read by going to tinyurl.com/NationalRadioCentre Participation from radio amateurs in this year's British Science Week is already looking to exceed last year's. Several clubs and groups are looking to set up skeds, ranging from South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amateur Radio Group to Crowthorne and Wokingham Without NMI Men's Shed. A sked is a prearranged radio contact with another radio operator at a scheduled time and on a particular frequency. Find out more about these opportunities by going to rsgb.org/bsw and selecting ‘Events happening near you' from the right-hand menu. For those unable to attend the Memorial Service for Dr Julian Gannaway, G3YGF, tomorrow, Monday the 16th of February, the service can be viewed online at watch.obitus.com. The login details are available via the RSGB's Silent Key web page. And finally, a date for your diary. The 14th Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT will be held on Saturday, the 31st of October 2026, at the Museum of Communication, Burntisland, Fife, Scotland. There will be an optional dinner in the evening at a local hotel. Further updates will be provided on the GMRT website at gmroundtable.org.uk Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 15th of February, Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society's Radioactive Fair is taking place at Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire CW5 5DG. The doors are open from 10 am to 3 pm. The event features a bring-and-buy sale, RSGB bookstall and raffle. Catering, parking and disabled facilities are available on site. For more details, visit radioactivefair.co.uk On Sunday, the 1st of March, the Exeter Radio Rally will take place at The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE. The rally will include a bring-and-buy area, disabled facilities, catering and free car parking. The entry fee is £3. Traders can gain entry from 8 am, and the doors open to the public at 10 am. For more information, email Bill, G7AKJ via billwrench213@btinternet.com Now the Special Event news Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society will be using the special callsign GB100MKG with Milton Keynes Girlguiding during Thinking Day on the Air weekend. The station will be on the air from 11 am on Saturday, the 21st of February and throughout the day. Operators will be running primarily on the 40, 17 and 15m bands, as well as via the QO-100 satellite, using SSB. FT4 and FT8 contacts will also be possible. Special event station TM23AAW is on the air until the 2nd of March to celebrate the 23rd Antarctic Activity Week. Look for activity on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via F8DVD or the Bureau. For more information, visit QRZ.com Now the DX news Borut, S53BV is active as S9BV from Sao Tome, AF-023, until Friday, the 20th of February. He is operating using CW and SSB on the 60, 40, 30 and 15m bands. QSL via OQRS only. Walt, W0CP and Mary, K0ZV, are active as V31DJ and V31DK from Placencia in Belize until the 27th of February. They are using CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB. Look for activity on the 160 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS, Logbook of the World or directly. Now the contest news The CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest started at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 14th and ends at 2359 UTC today, Sunday, the 15th of February. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The PACC Contest started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 14th and runs until 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 15th of February. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. PA stations also send their province reference. On Tuesday, the 17th of February, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday, the 19th of February, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 21st and runs until 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 22nd of February. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. American stations also send their state, and Canadian stations send their province. The REF Contest starts at 0600 UTC on Saturday, the 21st of February and runs until 1800 UTC on Sunday, the 22nd of February. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday, the 22nd of February, the UK Microwave Group EHF Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 76 to 241GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday, the 12th of February. It has been a good time for HF DX. Settled geomagnetic conditions and a fairly high solar flux index has meant the ionosphere has had time to shine. With the Kp index not exceeding 4.33, and generally being in the ones and twos, coupled with a solar flux index in the 160s, this has meant that the upper HF bands have been humming. This is despite many relatively minor C- and M-class solar flares. DX heard or worked this week includes stations in Vietnam, India, Australia and New Zealand on the 10m band, even with modestly equipped stations. DX being chased includes the KP5/NP3VI Desecheo Island DXpedition near Puerto Rico. This has been difficult, often because they are running low power on their remotely controlled rigs. But UK stations have got through on all bands from 40 to 10m. Due to deteriorating sea conditions, they have delayed equipment recovery until the 3rd of March, so you still have time to work them. The next big DXpedition to look forward to is 3Y0K from Bouvet Island. Due to technical problems with their ship, the operation has now been delayed and will start around the 26th of February. With the path to Bouvet being almost due south from the UK, propagation predictions suggest that the path should be open from around 0730UTC until 1830UTC, up to 10m, with 21MHz being open from around 0800 to 1000UTC and again from 1600 to 1800UTC. Outside of these times, look for a path on the 20, or even 30 or 40m bands, in the evening and night. FT8 will be the most favourable mode, but CW and SSB are possible. However, remember they will be using split frequency operation. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will increase to be in the 160 to 180 range. Geomagnetic conditions may start the week settled, with a predicted Kp index of 2, but we may expect more unsettled conditions as the week progresses, with a predicted Kp index of 4 from the 16th to the 21st of February. So, get your HF Dxing in early next week! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather is often described as blocked when we see long-lasting high pressure, which hangs around for weeks at a time and is a gift for tropo on VHF. However, right next door to a blocked high you will probably find a low-pressure region, which is also blocked for the same reason. Currently, we are in the middle of a prolonged period of blocked low pressure, hence the rain and absence of tropo. The position of the low varies a bit, of course, so sometimes we will have milder southerly winds with rain and at other times colder northerlies with snow. We have the full variety in the coming week or so, and that means no tropo for VHF operators, but plenty of rain scatter for the GHz folk. The meteor scatter position hasn't changed since last week's news, so we are once again confined to random activity and, for this, early morning hours are usually best. Aurora alerts continue to trickle through, and as we approach the spring equinox, the chances of auroras improve, but there is a little way to go yet. Lastly, thoughts of Sporadic-E remain dormant since we are some way short of the typical early season openings of late April and May. As usual, consider checking the propquest.co.uk graphs occasionally, which have shown minor peaks of the foEs, or critical frequency of the Es layer, in the early evening on some days. The Moon reached perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on Tuesday, the 10th of February. The Moon is moving toward apogee on Sunday, the 22nd of February, meaning path loss will gradually increase throughout the week as the Moon's distance grows. Cosmic background noise is relatively low during this period, which helps maintain a better signal-to-noise ratio. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
En este episodio de CQ en Frecuencia ponemos orden en uno de los temas que más confusión genera en radiofrecuencia: diplexores, duplexores y triplexores. Aunque por fuera puedan parecer dispositivos similares, su función, su diseño y sus aplicaciones son completamente distintas, y usarlos mal puede ir desde una operativa deficiente… hasta un equipo averiado. A lo largo del episodio explicamos: Qué es realmente un diplexor y cómo funciona a nivel eléctrico En qué se diferencia de un duplexor y por qué no son intercambiables Qué parámetros hay que tener en cuenta: pérdidas, ROE, aislamiento y potencia Casos de uso reales en el shack: Dos equipos y una antena Un equipo y dos antenas Compartir coaxial Repetidores El uso del diplexor en operativa de satélites en full-duplex con dos walkies Y cuándo tiene sentido usar un triplexor Un episodio práctico, con ejemplos reales y explicaciones claras, pensado tanto para quien empieza a profundizar en RF como para quienes ya tienen electrónica bajo el brazo. Si alguna vez te has preguntado “¿esto vale o no vale?”, este episodio es para ti. ¿Nos apoyas para que podamos seguir haciendo este podcast? Puedes apoyarnos en QRP con 1,99€ al mes o un poco más de potencia en QRO, con 5,99€ al mes aquí: https://cqenfrecuencia.com/apoyar/ NOTAS DEL EPISODIO - Diseño de un diplexor para HF y V/U por EA4FPW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UX4MhU1e8I - Discusión sobre el tema en el foro de URE https://www.ure.es/foros/tecnico/duplexores-triplexores/ Envía tus preguntas, propuestas de temas o lo que quieras: https://cqenfrecuencia.com/contacto/ O en nuestro canal de Telegram: https://t.me/cqenfrecuencia Y no olvidéis visitar nuestra web: https://cqenfrecuencia.com
Click Here,Text Us,Get a Shout-Out next episode.We chase a week of strange headlines and real-world signals: a refined profile of Jupiter, an xAI–SpaceX shuffle, a calm stretch in quakes, and a noisy sun that toys with radios and GPS. We end with a clear correction on HF time-signal frequencies and how to use them well.• value for value model and why we keep it free• Jupiter's refined equatorial profile and what it means• xAI merging with SpaceX and possible motives• seven-day earthquake counts trending lower• sunspot activity, multiple X-class flares, KP swings• HF time signals on 5, 10, and 15 MHz, propagation habits• simple resilience tips for comms and navigation• how to contact us with comments and ideasGo to our website, look at the contact page. You can comment by doing a recording or by leaving us a comment. You can also email us at the ugly quacking duck at gmail.com. Or you can get on many of the players; on the details where it talks about the podcast, there's a link there, you can click on it and leave us a text, a comment. We'll read it off and let you be part of the show. But however you do it, just do it. Let us know you're out there, let us know you're listening, give us your comments. If you have something you'd want to hear about or talk about, let us know, okay?Support the show I hope you enjoy the show! We believe in Value4Value for the podcaster and the listener alike. If you find value in our show, Come back, and tell a friend. Sharing the podcast with someone is a very good way for us to grow. Pray for us. Contact Us. Email: theuglyquackingduck@gmail.com. Text us: On a podcast 2.0 player you will find a link under the episode description. Leave a voice message: On our “Comment” page there is a link to record your voice. Just letting us know you are out there listening is a big boost! Help us with ideas, technology, art work, etc. Support us financially. The equipment, the Podcast hosting, the web page all costs. “Support the Podcast” Anyway you can support us is very much appreciated! Thank You. Until Next time.73 and may the Father's love go with you.Bruce Email: theuglyquackingduck@gmail.comWebsite: https://theuglyquackingduck.com/
Click Here,Text Us,Get a Shout-Out next episode.We chase a week of strange headlines and real-world signals: a refined profile of Jupiter, an xAI–SpaceX shuffle, a calm stretch in quakes, and a noisy sun that toys with radios and GPS. We end with a clear correction on HF time-signal frequencies and how to use them well.• value for value model and why we keep it free• Jupiter's refined equatorial profile and what it means• xAI merging with SpaceX and possible motives• seven-day earthquake counts trending lower• sunspot activity, multiple X-class flares, KP swings• HF time signals on 5, 10, and 15 MHz, propagation habits• simple resilience tips for comms and navigation• how to contact us with comments and ideasGo to our website, look at the contact page. You can comment by doing a recording or by leaving us a comment. You can also email us at the ugly quacking duck at gmail.com. Or you can get on many of the players; on the details where it talks about the podcast, there's a link there, you can click on it and leave us a text, a comment. We'll read it off and let you be part of the show. But however you do it, just do it. Let us know you're out there, let us know you're listening, give us your comments. If you have something you'd want to hear about or talk about, let us know, okay?Support the show I hope you enjoy the show! We believe in Value4Value for the podcaster and the listener alike. If you find value in our show, Come back, and tell a friend. Sharing the podcast with someone is a very good way for us to grow. Pray for us. Contact Us. Email: theuglyquackingduck@gmail.com. Text us: On a podcast 2.0 player you will find a link under the episode description. Leave a voice message: On our “Comment” page there is a link to record your voice. Just letting us know you are out there listening is a big boost! Help us with ideas, technology, art work, etc. Support us financially. The equipment, the Podcast hosting, the web page all costs. “Support the Podcast” Anyway you can support us is very much appreciated! Thank You. Until Next time.73 and may the Father's love go with you.Bruce Email: theuglyquackingduck@gmail.comWebsite: https://theuglyquackingduck.com/
Problems with the PREVENT score, a breakthrough in lipid-lowering therapy, a surprising benefit in stroke care, and more thoughts on statins and preventive care of heart disease are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I PREVENT Score PREVENT Equations in Young Adults https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.12.019 Hospital Readmission Reduction Program for HF https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7664458/ II A New Breakthrough in LDL-C Management With an Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/time-overcome-pcsk9i-inertia-new-data-future-options-2025a1000wf8 CORALreef Trial https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2511002 CORALreef Outcomes Trial https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06008756 III A Win for the Factor XI Inhibitor Asundexian – OCEANIC Stroke Trial https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/first-clear-win-factor-xia-inhibitors-stroke-reduced-2026a10003t0 OCEANIC-STROKE Slide deck https://clinicaltrialresults.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/26-02-02_ISC_OCEANIC-STROKE-primary.pdf OCEANIC-AF Study Stopped Early https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/oceanic-af-study-stopped-early-due-to-lack-of-efficacy/ IV Statin Side Effects Assessment of AEs Attributed to Statins -- Meta-analysis https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01578-8/fulltext N-of-1 Trial to Assess AEs of Statins https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2031173 When to Start a Statin Is a Decision About Preference -- Editorial https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.029808 V Heart Disease Statistics CV Statistics in the US, 2026 https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.12.027 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net
Episode 211: Understanding HFpEF. Hyo Mun and Jordan Redden (medical students) explain the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and how it differentiates from HFrEF. Dr. Arreaza asks insightful questions and summarizes some key elements of HFpEF. Written by Hyo Mun, MS4, American University of the Caribbean; and Jordan Redden, MS4, Ross University School of Medicine. Comments and edits by Hector Arreaza, MD.You are listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California, a UCLA-affiliated program sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. This podcast was created for educational purposes only. Visit your primary care provider for additional medical advice.What is EF? Just imagine, the heart is a pump, blood gets into the heart through the veins, the ventricles fill up and then squeeze the blood out. So, the percent of blood that is pumped out is the EF. Let's start at the beginning. What is HFpEF?Mike: HFpEF stands for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Basically, these patients squeeze normally—their ejection fraction is 50% or higher—but here's the thing: the heart can't relax and fill the way it should. The muscle gets stiff, almost like a thick leather boot that just won't stretch. And because the ventricle can't fill properly, pressure starts backing up into the lungs and the rest of the body. That's when patients start experiencing shortness of breath, leg swelling, fatigue—all those classic symptoms.Dr. Arreaza: And this is where people get fooled by the ejection fraction.Mike: Exactly. The ejectionfraction tells you total left ventricular emptying, not just forward flow.Jordan: The classic example is severe mitral regurgitation. You can eject 60% of your blood volume and still be in cardiogenic shock because most of that blood is leaking backward into the left atrium instead of going into the aorta. So, you get pulmonary edema, hypotension, fatigue, all with a “normal” EF. Which is honestly terrifying if you're over-relying on echo reports without thinking clinically.Dr. Arreaza: And in HFpEF, functional mitral regurgitation often shows up later in the disease. It's not usually the primary cause; it's more of a marker of advanced disease. Moderate to severe MR in HFpEF independently predicts worse outcomes, including a higher risk of mortality or heart failure hospitalization. So, let's contrast this with HFrEF. How are these two different?Mike: HFrEF—heart failure with reduced ejection fraction—is a pumping problem. The heart muscle is weak and can't contracteffectively. Ejection fraction drops below 40%, and this is your classic systolic dysfunction.Jordan: HFpEF, on the other hand, is diastolic dysfunction. The heart muscle is thick, fibrotic, and noncompliant. It squeezes fine, but it just doesn't relax, even though the EF looks reassuring on paper.Mike: I like to explain it this way: HFrEF is a weak heart that can't squeeze. HFpEF is a stiff heart that can't relax. Totally different problems.Dr. Arreaza: And then there's the gray zone: heart failure with mildly reduced EF, or HFmrEF. That's an EF between 41 and 49% with evidence of elevated filling pressures. It really shares the features of both worlds. So, what actually causes HFpEF versus HFrEF?Jordan: HFpEF is basically what happens when all the problems of modern living catch up with you. You've got chronic hypertension, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, aging, systemic inflammation—all of these things slowly remodel the heart over years. The muscle gets thick and stiff, and eventually the ventricle just loses its ability to relax. So, HFpEF is really a disease of metabolic dysfunction and chronic stress in the heart. Mike: HFrEF is more about direct injury. Think about myocardial infarctions, ischemic cardiomyopathy, viral myocarditis, alcohol toxicity, chemotherapy like doxorubicin, genetic cardiomyopathies, or chronic uncontrolled tachycardia. These insults actually damage or kill heart muscle cells, leading to a dilated, weak ventricle that can't pump effectively.Dr. Arreaza: So the short version: HFpEF is caused by chronic metabolic and hypertensive stress, while HFrEF is caused mainly by myocardial damage. A question we get a lot: does HFpEF eventually turn into HFrEF? What do you guys think?Mike: In most cases, no. HFpEF patients usually stay HFpEF throughout their disease course. They don't just “burn out” and turn into HFrEF.Jordan: They're generally separate disease entities with different pathophysiology. A patient with HFpEF can develop HFrEF if they have a big myocardial infarction or ongoing ischemia that damages the muscle, but that's not the natural progression.Mike: Interestingly though, the opposite can happen. Some HFrEF patients actually improve their ejection fraction with good medical therapy—that's called HF with improved EF—and it's a great sign that treatment is working.Dr. Arreaza: Another question. How do HFpEF and HFrEF compare to restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis?Jordan: Clinically, they can all look very similar: dyspnea, edema, fatigue, but the underlying mechanisms are completely different.Mike: In HFpEF, the myocardium itself is stiff from hypertrophy and fibrosis. The problem is intrinsic to the heart muscle, and EF stays preserved. Echoshows diastolic dysfunction with elevated filling pressures.Jordan: In HFrEF, the myocardium is weak. The ventricle is often dilated and contracts poorly, with a reduced EF.Mike: Restrictive cardiomyopathy is different. Here, the myocardium gets infiltrated by abnormal stuff—amyloid, iron, sarcoid—and that makes it extremely stiff. It can look like HFpEF on the surface, but it's usually more severe. On Echo You'll see biatrial enlargement, small ventricles, and preserved EF. And importantly, it's a pathologic diagnosis, so you need advanced imaging or biopsy to confirm it.Jordan: Constrictive pericarditis is another mimic, but here the myocardium is usually normal. The problem is that the pericardium is thickened, calcified, and rigid. This will physically prevent the heart from being filled. Imaging shows pericardial thickening, septal bounce, and respiratory variation in flow, and cath shows equalization of diastolic pressures, which is the hallmark of constrictive pericarditis.Dr. Arreaza: So the takeaway is: HFpEF is a clinical syndrome driven by common metabolic and hypertensive causes, while restrictive and constrictive diseases are specific pathologic entities. If “HFpEF” is unusually severe or not responding to treatment, you need to think beyond HFpEF. Which type of heart failure is more common right now?Mike: Good question, the answer is: HFpEF. It now accounts for up to 60% of all heart failure cases, and it's still rising.Dr. Arreaza: Why is that?Jordan: Because people are living longer, gaining weight, and developing more metabolic syndrome. HFpEF thrives in older, or people with obesity, hypertension, or diabetes: basically, the modern American population. At the same time, better treatment of acute MIs means fewer people are developing HFrEF from massive heart attacks.Mike: HFpEF is the heart failure epidemic of the 21st century. It's honestly the cardiology equivalent of type 2 diabetes.Dr. Arreaza: Let's talk aboutCOVID-19. (2025 and still talking about it) Does it actually increase heart failure risk?Mike: Yes, absolutely. COVID increases both acute and long-term heart failure risk.Jordan: During acute infection, COVID can cause myocarditis, trigger massive inflammation, and precipitate acute decompensated heart failure, especially in patients with pre-existing disease. It also causes microthrombi, which can injure the myocardium.Mike: And after infection, even mild cases are linked to a significantly higher risk of developing new heart failure within the following year. Both HFpEF and HFrEF rates go up.Dr. Arreaza: I remember seeing this in 2021, we had a patient with acute COVID and HFrEF, her EF was about 10%, I lost contact with the patient and at the end I don't know what happened to her. What's the pathophysiology of COVID and heart failure?Mike: COVID causes direct viral injury through ACE2 receptors, triggers massive inflammation that damages the endothelium and heart muscle, leads to microvascular clotting and fibrosis—all mechanisms that promote HFpEF.Jordan: Add autonomic dysfunction, persistent low-grade inflammation, and worsening metabolic syndrome, and you've got a perfect storm for heart failure.Dr. Arreaza: Bottom line: COVID is a cardiovascular disease as much as a respiratory one. If someone had COVID and now has unexplained dyspnea or fatigue, think about heart failure. Get an echo, get a BNP, start treatment. Last big question: why did we have so many therapies for HFrEF but essentially none for HFpEF for years?Mike: HFrEF is mechanistically straightforward. You've got a weak heart with excessive neurohormonal activation going on — so you block RAAS, block the sympathetic system, drop the afterload. The drugs make sense.Jordan: HFpEF is messy. It's not one disease. It's stiffness, fibrosis, inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, metabolic disease, atrial fibrillation, all overlapping. One drug can't fix all of that.Mike: And some drugs that worked beautifully in HFrEF actually made HFpEF worse. Take Beta blockers, for example. They slow heart rate, which is a problem because HFpEF patients rely on heart rate to maintain their cardiac output.Jordan: The breakthrough came with SGLT-2 inhibitors: diabetes drugs that unexpectedly addressed multiple HFpEF mechanisms at once: volume, metabolism, inflammation, and myocardial energetics.Dr. Arreaza: The miracle drug for HFpEF! Alright, let's wrap up.Mike: Bottom line: HFpEF is common, complex, and dangerous: even if the EF looks “normal.”Jordan: And if you're relying on ejection fraction alone, HFpEF will humble you every time.Dr. Arreaza: If you liked this episode, share it with a friend or a colleague and rate us wherever you listen. This is Dr. Arreaza, signing off.Even without trying, every night you go to bed a little wiser. Thanks for listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast. We want to hear from you, send us an email at RioBravoqWeek@clinicasierravista.org, or visit our website riobravofmrp.org/qweek. See you next week! _____________________References:Barzin A, Barnhouse KK, Kane SF. Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. Am Fam Physician. 2025;112(4):435-440.Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure. Circulation. 2022;145(18):e895-e1032.Kittleson MM, Panjrath GS, Amancherla K, et al. 2023 ACC expert consensus decision pathway on management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2023;81(18):1835-1878.Anker SD, Butler J, Filippatos G, et al. Empagliflozin in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(16):1451-1461.Solomon SD, McMurray JJV, Claggett B, et al. Dapagliflozin in heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(12):1089-1098.Pitt B, Pfeffer MA, Assmann SF, et al. Spironolactone for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(15):1383-1392.Yusuf S, Pfeffer MA, Swedberg K, et al. Effects of candesartan in patients with chronic heart failure and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction. Lancet. 2003;362(9386):777-781.Solomon SD, McMurray JJV, Anand IS, et al. Angiotensin-neprilysin inhibition in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(17):1609-1620.Kosiborod MN, Abildstrøm SZ, Borlaug BA, et al. Semaglutide in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(12):1069-1084.Xie Y, Xu E, Bowe B, Al-Aly Z. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19. Nat Med. 2022;28(3):583-590.Puntmann VO, Carerj ML, Wieters I, et al. Outcomes of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in patients recently recovered from COVID-19. JAMA Cardiol. 2020;5(11):1265-1273.Basso C, Leone O, Rizzo S, et al. Pathological features of COVID-19-associated myocardial injury. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(39):3827-3835.Nalbandian A, Sehgal K, Gupta A, et al. Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Nat Med. 2021;27(4):601-615.Badve SV, Roberts MA, Hawley CM, et al. Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in adults with estimated GFR less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m². Ann Intern Med. 2024;177(8):953-963.Navis G, Faber HJ, de Zeeuw D, de Jong PE. ACE inhibitors and the kidney: a risk-benefit assessment. Drug Saf. 1996;15(3):200-211.Textor SC, Novick AC, Tarazi RC, et al. Critical perfusion pressure for renal function in patients with bilateral atherosclerotic renal vascular disease. Ann Intern Med. 1985;102(3):308-314.Hackam DG, Spence JD, Garg AX, Textor SC. Role of renin-angiotensin system blockade in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and renovascular hypertension. Hypertension. 2007;50(6):998-1003.Ronco C, Haapio M, House AA, et al. Cardiorenal syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(19):1527-1539.Prins KW, Neill JM, Tyler JO, et al. Effects of beta-blocker withdrawal in acute decompensated heart failure. JACC Heart Fail. 2015;3(8):647-653.Jondeau G, Neuder Y, Eicher JC, et al. B-CONVINCED: Beta-blocker CONtinuation Vs. INterruption in patients with Congestive heart failure hospitalizED for a decompensation episode. Eur Heart J. 2009;30(18):2186-2192.Theme song, Works All The Time by Dominik Schwarzer, YouTube ID: CUBDNERZU8HXUHBS, purchased from https://www.premiumbeat.com/.
The following DX information comes from Bernie, W3UR, editor of the DailyDX, the WeeklyDX, and the How's DX column in QST. If you would like a free 2-week trial of the DailyDX, your only source of real-time DX information, justdrop me a note at thedxmentor@gmail.comV4 - St. Kitts - The 425 DX News reports that V47JA by W5JON is QRV from the island until February 3, SSB andFT8 on HF. QSL direct to W5JON, or use Logbook of the World. TL - Central African Republic & TT –Chad - TJ1GD, Darek, has established permanent amateur radio stations in the Central African Republic and in Chad, which are maintained locally. These stations (TL8GD and TT1GD), licensed to Darek, operate periodically-often remotely using FT8, CW, and SSB. QSL confirmations are available via LoTW and Club Log.J5 - Guinea-Bissau – Livio, IZ3BUR, is once again QRV as J52EC starting January 24. He has been reported on SSB on 10 and 15 meters. Numerous sources report he is there until March. QSL direct only via IZ3BUR. C2 - Nauru – Phil, FK1TS, is back on Nauru Island and expects to be active as C21TS on FT8 by the weekend, after setting up his vertical antenna. He will operate until July 2026, and Club Log Livestream will indicate when he is on the air. KP5/NP3VI, Desecheo Island - KP5/NP3VI is now 2 weeks into its planned 30-day operation. Their latest published statistics are as follows: 29,418 QSOs with 8,291 unique callsigns; ATNO for 1,66 stations. Six continents are represented in the log, with 91.1 percent of the QSOs with North American and Europe. However, North America contacts continue to decrease in percentage as they increase activity with other regions. C5 - The Gambia - C5SP, Przemyslaw and C5MB, Magdalena are QRV from Sanyang, Gambia (Grid Square IK13pf) until March 2026. QSL cards are available via SP3PS Direct, but not through LoTW.H4 - Solomon Islands - DL2GAC, Bernhard now in the Solomon Islands as H44MS until mid-May. He departed India last Wednesday, arriving in the Solomons' capital on Friday. He is renewing his H44MS license, which was scheduled to expire in early February. He will move to his "usual QTH" there tomorrow or Wednesday. He has taken with him a Hexbeam that covers 20-6, to replace his old tri-bander that covered 20-10. He says the weather is poor, lots of rain, no sunshine. He plans to mostly be on 40M this time, with a dipole 20M high in a palm tree near the ocean.
Join me for my first Parks on the Air (POTA) activation using the brand-new ICOM IC-7300MK2 HF transceiver!
CRT—now framed as cardiac physiologic pacing—remains a cornerstone for HFrEF patients with LVEF ≤50% and either high ventricular pacing burden or a wide QRS, with the biggest gains in LBBB and QRS ≥150 ms. ⚡
PODCAST: This Week in Amateur Radio Edition #1404 - Full Version (With repeater ID breaks every 10 minutes) Release Date: January 24, 2026 Here is a summary of the news trending...This Week in Amateur Radio. This week's edition is anchored by Chris Perrine, KB2FAF, Jordan Kurtz, KE9BPO, Denny Haight, NZ8D, Mike Nicolich, K9DXM, Don Hulick, K2ATJ, Will Rogers, K5WLR, Ed Johnson, W2PH, George Lama, KC2OXJ, Eric Zittel, KD2RJX, George Bowen, W2XBS, and Jessica Bowen, KC2VWX Produced and edited by George Bowen, W2XBS Approximate Running Time: 1:38:53 Podcast Download: https://bit.ly/TWIAR1404 Trending headlines in this week's bulletin service 1. AMSAT: AMSAT Membership Now Includes “Getting Started” Guide 2. AMSAT: Message To U.S. Educators: ARISS Contact Opportunity Call For Proposals 3. AMSAT: Satellite Shorts From All Over 4. WIA: Chinese National Damages Undersea Cable 5. WIA: Communication News Shorts 6. WIA: Hubble Space Telescope Nearing Its End Of Life 7. WIA: Amateur Issues Call For More Ham Radio Accessible Digital Software Development 8. ARD: SpottedHam.com Launches Custom POTA and Keyword Email Alerts 9. ARRL: ARRL Director Tharp, KB7HDX Receives Search-and-Rescue Award 10. ARRL: ARRL Board Approves Funding for Federal Advocacy; Creates New DXCC Single-Band Honor Roll 11. ARRL: Vandals Strike Ham Factory 12. ARRL: ARRL Honorary Vice President John Cadwallader Kanode, N4MM, Silent Key 13. ARRL: Nominations Are Now Being Accepted For The 2026 Dayton Hamvention Awards. 14. ARRL: Former FCC Official John B. Johnston, W3BE, Of Derwood, Maryland, Silent Key 15. PY: Amateurs Arrested In Belarus Under Suspicion Of Espionage 16. NASA Artemis Two Spacecraft Is Rolled Out To The Launch Pad 17. Congress Agrees To Restore Funding To The Voice Of America 18. Hamvention Awards Nomination Window Closes Soon 19. Damage To Taiwanese Undersea Cables Spurs More Interest In Amateur Radio 20. Hosting Site For World RadioSport Team Championship 2030 Is Being Sought 21. Hindu Pilgrimage Safety Is Provided By Indian Amateurs 22. ARRL: 2026 Repeater Directory is now shipping 23. ARRL: 2026 Winter Field Day Is up and running 24. ARRL Upcoming radiosport contests and regional convention listings 25. AMSAT: NASA marks fifty years of the GOES satellites 26. AMSAT: Two US schools & organizations move forward in the ARISS contact selection process 27. FCC: FCC approves Starlink expansion to 19,000+ satellites with direct to device service 28. RW: Financial Traders seek permanency for shortwave data transmissions 29. ARRL: New 60 Meter frequencies will become available as of February 13th, 2026 30. ARRL: The FCC is poised to exempt radio amateurs from Foreign Adversary Reporting System 31. ARD: DX Look introduces VOACAP view professional HF propagation prediction 32. FutureGeo is the most important amateur radio initiative of the decade 33. Device frequency sharing is eyes by Ofcom in the United Kingdom 34: HamCation will be featuring an APRS Digipeater Plus these Special Features This Week: * Working Amateur Radio Satellites with Bruce Paige, KK5DO - AMSAT Satellite News * Australia's own Onno Benschop, VK6FLAB, and Foundations of Amateur Radio, presents Part Five of his series on "Building A Shack". The episode Onno tackles the problem of "Noise" * The DX Corner with Bill Salyers, AJ8B with with all the latest news on DXpeditions, DX, upcoming radio sport contests, and a lot more * Weekly Propagation Forecast from the ARRL * Our own amateur radio historian, Will Rogers, K5WLR, with yet another edition of "Dead Electrical Dudes". This week's stiff is Guglielmo Marconi ----- Full Podcast (ID breaks every 10 mins for use on ham frequencies): https://www.twiar.net/twiarpodcast.rss Full Podcast (No ID Breaks for LPFM or personal listening): https://www.twiar.net/twiarpodcastlpfm.rss Truncated Podcast (Approximately 1 hour in length): https://www.twiar.net/twiarpodcast60.rss Website: https://www.twiar.net X: https://x.com/TWIAR Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/twiar.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twiari YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQdPO6QkZJ1eIvw6-EQWQPgogVNiZim4u RSS News: https://twiar.net/?feed=rss2 Automated (Full Static file, updated weekly): https://twiar.net/TWIARHAM.mp3 Automated (1-hour Static file, updated weekly): https://www.twiar.net/TWIAR1HR.mp3 This Week in Amateur Radio is produced by Community Video Associates in upstate New York, and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. If you would like to volunteer with us as a news anchor or special segment producer please get in touch with our Executive Producer, George, via email at w2xbs77@gmail.com. Thanks to FortifiedNet.net for the server space! Thanks to Archive.org for the audio space.
Ready to upgrade from Technician to General Class and unlock HF privileges? Join our FREE YouTube video series: "Ham Radio General License Mastery" – the ultimate prep course for the FCC Amateur Radio General Exam! Based on the official 2023-2027 General Class Element 3 question pool (valid through June 30, 2027), we break down every subelement with crystal-clear explanations, real-world examples, and bite-sized lessons on key topics like antenna systems, propagation, electrical principles, safety, and operating procedures. No fluff – just what you need to ace the 35-question exam with confidence.Get Your License Manual Here - https://geni.us/7vLlwsK Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ham-radio-2-0--2042782/support.
Everyone keeps saying 2026 is the new 2016, and instead of romanticizing the past, I wanted to talk about how we can actually use the last decade to create the best era of our lives moving forward.In this episode, I'm breaking down the biggest lesson I've learned since 2016: taking action beats overthinking every single time. We're talking about confidence, discipline, people-pleasing, self-trust, gym anxiety, wellness, and why playing it safe is usually the thing holding you back the most.I also share mindset shifts from the book Relentless by Tim Grover, how successful people think differently, and why becoming your best self requires being willing to feel awkward, uncomfortable, and misunderstood...at least at first.If you're feeling stuck, behind, or like you know you're meant for more but keep hesitating, this episode is for you.✨ subscribe for weekly episodes about wellness, confidence, discipline, and becoming your best self✨ comment your biggest takeaway, i wanna hear it!!✨Get 10 free meals and free breakfast for life from HelloFresh with code HF-0449 https://www.filify.co/SHBn0 ✨ Get a free 10 travel of 850+ travel manuka honey sticks ($30) value with code STELLA https://manukora.com/STELLAEnjoy & dont forget to tweet/ig story me a screenshot of you listening!MY NEW WEBSITE!! Shop merch, sign up for my newsletter, book a coffee chat, & more: http://stellaraeherself.comGet $1000 off the health coach certification program I'm doing with promo code STELLACOACHING https://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=1281553&m=96296&u=1030263I edit using Riverside! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=stella-holtshop my new glo up merch!! https://stellarae.myspreadshop.com/instagram http://instagram.com/stellaraepodcastlisten to and/or support the podcast: https://anchor.fm/stella-raetiktok: http://tiktok.com/@stellaraeherselftwitter: http://twitter.com/stellaraegoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10449999-stella-raemy fav books/products/health: https://www.amazon.com/shop/stellaraemy current filming set up:camera: https://amzn.to/4cEQiLOmicrophone: https://amzn.to/3Z2A5gctripod: https://amzn.to/3AEmxgKring light: https://amzn.to/3XxZrShbox lights: https://amzn.to/4e1Q1Ubportable light for phone: https://amzn.to/3XxZspjjoin my patreon for ad-free episodes, early access, merch discounts, behind the scenes, & more! https://www.patreon.com/stellaraepodlisten on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DMbeh7EqiqgROIjvW0sI9listen on apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stella-rae-podcast/id125561818200:00 – 2026 is the new 2016 & reflecting on the last decade01:10 – why action matters more than talent or timing02:15 – my biggest regret: waiting instead of trying03:20 – why playing it safe keeps you stuck04:20 – lessons from successful people & ceos05:35 – leadership & raising your standards06:45 – gym anxiety, feeling awkward & doing it anyway08:00 – confidence, self-respect & owning your energy09:10 – why caring less about others changes everything10:35 – knowing your values so opinions don't derail you11:30 – “do the work” quote & discipline mindset12:45 – people-pleasing vs self-trust14:00 – choosing your best self daily (even when it's uncomfortable)15:55 – real-life examples of choosing confidence17:05 – taking action vs staying invisible18:10 – reflecting on regrets & lessons learned19:05 – wellness habits, gym goals & fitness mindset22:50 – discipline, consistency & staying locked in24:00 – final thoughts on becoming your best self#StellaRaePodcast
Ready to upgrade from Technician to General Class and unlock HF privileges? Join our FREE YouTube video series: "Ham Radio General License Mastery" – the ultimate prep course for the FCC Amateur Radio General Exam! Based on the official 2023-2027 General Class Element 3 question pool (valid through June 30, 2027), we break down every subelement with crystal-clear explanations, real-world examples, and bite-sized lessons on key topics like antenna systems, propagation, electrical principles, safety, and operating procedures. No fluff – just what you need to ace the 35-question exam with confidence.Get Your License Manual Here - https://geni.us/7vLlwsKBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ham-radio-2-0--2042782/support.
We discuss the diagnosis and management of SCAPE in the ED. Hosts: Naz Sarpoulaki, MD, MPH Brian Gilberti, MD https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/SCAPEv2.mp3 Download Leave a Comment Tags: Acute Pulmonary Edema, Critical Care Show Notes Core EM Modular CME Course Maximize your commute with the new Core EM Modular CME Course, featuring the most essential content distilled from our top-rated podcast episodes. This course offers 12 audio-based modules packed with pearls! Information and link below. Course Highlights: Credit: 12.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Curriculum: Comprehensive coverage of Core Emergency Medicine, with 12 modules spanning from Critical Care to Pediatrics. Cost: Free for NYU Learners $250 for Non-NYU Learners Click Here to Register and Begin Module 1 The Clinical Case Presentation: 60-year-old male with a history of HTN and asthma. EMS Findings: Severe respiratory distress, SpO₂ in the 60s on NRB, HR 120, BP 230/180. Exam: Diaphoretic, diffuse crackles, warm extremities, pitting edema, and significant fatigue/work of breathing. Pre-hospital meds: NRB, Duonebs, Dexamethasone, and IM Epinephrine (under the assumption of severe asthma/anaphylaxis). Differential Diagnosis for the Hypoxic/Tachypneic Patient Pulmonary: Asthma/COPD, Pneumonia, ARDS, PE, Pneumothorax, Pulmonary Edema, ILD, Anaphylaxis. Cardiac: CHF, ACS, Tamponade. Systemic: Anemia, Acidosis. Neuro: Neuromuscular weakness. What is SCAPE? Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema (SCAPE) is characterized by a sudden, massive sympathetic surge leading to intense vasoconstriction and a precipitous rise in afterload. Pathophysiology: Unlike HFrEF, these patients are often euvolemic or even hypovolemic. The primary issue is fluid maldistribution (fluid shifting from the vasculature into the lungs) due to extreme afterload. Bedside Diagnosis: POCUS vs. CXR POCUS is the gold standard for rapid bedside diagnosis. Lung Ultrasound: Look for diffuse B-lines (≥3 in ≥2 bilateral zones). Cardiac: Assess LV function and check for pericardial effusion. Why not CXR? A meta-analysis shows LUS has a sensitivity of ~88% and specificity of ~90%, whereas CXR sensitivity is only ~73%. Importantly, up to 20% of patients with decompensated HF will have a normal CXR. Management Strategy 1. NIPPV (CPAP or BiPAP) Start NIPPV immediately to reduce preload/afterload and recruit alveoli. Settings: CPAP 5–8 cm H₂O or BiPAP 10/5 cm H₂O. Escalate EPAP quickly but keep pressures to avoid gastric insufflation. Evidence: NIPPV reduces mortality (NNT 17) and intubation rates (NNT 13). 2. High-Dose Nitroglycerin The goal is to drop SBP to < 140–160 mmHg within minutes. No IV Access: 3–5 SL tabs (0.4 mg each) simultaneously. IV Bolus: 500–1000 mcg over 2 minutes. IV Infusion: Start at 100–200 mcg/min; titrate up rapidly (doses > 800 mcg/min may be required). Safety: ACEP policy supports high-dose NTG as both safe and effective for hypertensive HF. Use a dedicated line/short tubing to prevent adsorption issues. 3. Refractory Hypertension If SBP remains > 160 mmHg despite NIPPV and aggressive NTG, add a second vasodilator: Clevidipine: Ultra-short-acting calcium channel blocker (titratable and rapid). Nicardipine: Effective alternative for rapid BP control. Enalaprilat: Consider if the above are unavailable. Troubleshooting & Pitfalls The “Mask Intolerant” Patient Hypoxia is the primary driver of agitation. NIPPV is the best sedative. * Pharmacology: If needed, use small doses of benzodiazepines (Midazolam 0.5–1 mg IV). AVOID Morphine: Data suggests higher rates of adverse events, invasive ventilation, and mortality. A 2022 RCT was halted early due to harm in the morphine arm (43% adverse events vs. 18% with midazolam). The Role of Diuretics In SCAPE, diuretics are not first-line. The problem is redistribution, not volume excess. Diuretics will not help in the first 15–30 minutes and may worsen kidney function in a (relatively) hypovolemic patient. Delay Diuretics until the patient is stabilized and clear systemic volume overload (edema, weight gain) is confirmed. Disposition Admission: Typically requires CCU/ICU for ongoing NIPPV and titration of vasoactive infusions. Weaning: As BP normalizes and work of breathing improves, infusions and NIPPV can be gradually tapered. Take-Home Points Recognize SCAPE: Hyperacute dyspnea + severe HTN. Trust your POCUS (B-lines) over a “clear” CXR. NIPPV Immediately: Don’t wait. It saves lives and prevents tubes. High-Dose NTG: Use boluses to “catch up” to the sympathetic surge. Don’t fear the dose. Avoid Morphine: Use small doses of benzos if the patient is struggling with the mask. Lasix Later: Prioritize afterload reduction over diuresis in the hyperacute phase. Read More
Foundations of Amateur Radio Noise la la la la la hinders if I were a rich man effective a noise annoys an oyster communication but a noisy noise annoys an oyster more. Or said differently, when you're trying to communicate, something that the hobby of amateur radio does in spades, you'll need to deal with a phenomenon called noise. This noise comes in different forms, but the effect is the erection of barriers to successful communication. We refer to the impact of noise as a signal to noise ratio or SNR, the signal being the desired information, the noise the undesired interference. Expressed in decibels so you can deal with a massive range using a small number, an SNR greater than 0 dB means that the signal is stronger than the noise. Building a shack requires that you consider noise in many forms. If you've been a radio amateur for a few moments, your mind is likely to head straight for the hiss, crackle and pop you might hear whilst attempting to communicate on HF, but there's a few other things to discuss. There's all sorts of electronic noise received by your radio. In addition, there's audio noise picked up by your ears, and often your microphone. Then there's the noise that you produce, either from your transmitter into the rest of the building, or from your mouth or speakers into the ears of the people you share the space with. Starting with audio, having a space that you can close the door on is a good way to limit the noise coming into and leaving your shack. An alternative is to wear headphones and generate text to speech, or prerecord your voice, ready for a contact, potentially ideal for contesting, not so much for free form discussion. Another consideration is audio from other radios, including those tuned to a local broadcaster, or aviation frequencies. In other words, if you're transmitting with a microphone, make sure that there's no other audio coming through. In some cases it's even illegal to transmit that audio, but in all cases it's noise that makes communication more difficult. This kind of audio noise mitigation is pretty straightforward. In stark contrast, achieving the same with electronic noise is pretty much a balancing act between budget and effectiveness. The impact of noise is inversely proportional to distance. Essentially, the closer it is, the more impact it has. With that in mind, when you start dealing with noise, start nearby and work your way out. As you eliminate the nearby noise, other sources will become apparent. Without turning this into a noise mitigation class, the process is essentially one of elimination. First locate the noise source, then eliminate it. That's easier said than done. For example, if the noise source is a power supply sitting on your bench, you can turn it off, except if that power supply is the one powering your radio, so perhaps I should say: "attempt to eliminate it" instead. There's plenty of ways to have a go at this and volumetric kilotons of content published on the subject, some of it even useful. In many, but not all cases, noise is an electrical phenomenon that enters via any means possible and you'll need to attempt noise mitigation at multiple points of entry. Obvious sources are the power supply, coax and the antenna connection, the speaker cable, the microphone lead, and if you're using a computer, the USB, serial or Ethernet cable and within the computer itself. Each requiring different approaches. The obvious one is to disable the noise, that is, turn off the offending device. As I said, that might not be an option, but you can replace noisy gear, or place it further away. There's isolation, using tools like ferrites and chokes to stop the noise from reaching your radio. Often in the form of a clip-on blob, you'll find these on things like monitor and USB cables. Place the ferrite as close as possible to the input of your radio. If it's loose on the cable, wind it through the ferrite, the tighter the better. There's software solutions with varying levels of effectiveness. You'll find DSP or Digital Signal Processing knobs and buttons on many radios. They're generally helpful for narrowband repeating noises, like the hum of an electric motor or power supply. There's tools that attempt to impose a noise on your signal that cancels out the noise, anti-noise, if you like, by receiving the noise, inverting it and adding it to your signal, thus, at least theoretically, eliminating it, noise minus noise is silence. This can take the form of a device for noise coming in from the antenna, but it also applies to things like noise cancelling speakers. In audio this is called active noise cancelling. There's also a new crop of noise cancelling software, using A.I. or Assumed Intelligence, that captures your signal, attempts to figure out what's noise and what's not, removes the noise and then feeds it back to you. Your Mileage May Vary and if you break it, you get to keep both parts. Consider your privacy and security implications of sending your audio out the door to be processed. That's not to say that, at least theoretically, effective local Machine Learning models could be created to help with this. I have yet to see one. At some point you'll hopefully reach a place where the noise inside your shack is no longer an issue. Then you'll discover your noisy neighbours, with solar panel inverters, pool pumps, plasma televisions, broadband modems, kids toys and pretty much anything electronic, purchased with no consideration whatsoever in relation to your hobby. I'm mentioning this, because more often than not, you'll have little or no control of those devices. You could cultivate your relationship with your neighbours and discuss your situation, but don't expect compliant hardware to magically solve all your issues. Antenna orientation, horizontal versus vertical might assist, as might placement or distance from the noise source. It's why I suggest that you start this journey with simple antennas, with plenty of room for evaluation and modification to suit the conditions. All this to point out that once you have the perfect shack, your work is only just beginning, but then I suspect that you've already realised this. Like antennas, I will note that noise and its elimination is an integral part of this hobby. It's easy to forget that, whilst you're in the middle of a frustrating hunt for a noise source, and if you like you can think of it as ripples or waves on the pond whilst you're casting a fly. When you discuss this with other amateurs, you'll likely come across terms like QRM and QRN, the last letter describing either Man-made or Natural noise. I'm not sure how helpful the distinction is, but it's there if you need it. One resource worth mentioning is a website called qrm.guru. It has documented processes and tools to discover where noise is coming from and how to go about dealing with it. I'm Onno VK6FLAB
Some great listener feedback, one of the best studies of the year in atrial fibrillation and heart failure, imaging to exclude left atrial thrombus, and a truly amazing first cardiac procedure are the topics John Mandrola, MD, discusses in this week's podcast. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I Listener Feedback On Fish Oil and AF Links between omega-3 fatty acids and AF https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.058596 Omega-3 and risk of AF https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2024.11.003 DHA vs EPA in reducing vulnerability to AF https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCEP.112.971515 II Withdrawal of HF Therapy AF rhythm control The AF is Gone, the EF Is Up. Can You Stop the HF Meds? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/af-gone-ef-can-you-stop-hf-meds-2024a1000h6o Effect of beta-blockers in patient with HF plus AF -- meta-analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25193873/ TRED HF Trial 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32484-X External Link WITHDRAW-AF Trial https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/47/2/250/8238240 III ICE or TEE Before AF Ablation ICE vs TEE in Atrial Fibrillation Ablation https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2839370 IV The Vector Procedure Percutaneous Aorto-Coronary Bypass Graft: the VECTOR procedure https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.125.016130 You may also like: The Bob Harrington Show with the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net
Ready to upgrade from Technician to General Class and unlock HF privileges? Join our FREE YouTube video series: "Ham Radio General License Mastery" – the ultimate prep course for the FCC Amateur Radio General Exam! Based on the official 2023-2027 General Class Element 3 question pool (valid through June 30, 2027), we break down every subelement with crystal-clear explanations, real-world examples, and bite-sized lessons on key topics like antenna systems, propagation, electrical principles, safety, and operating procedures. No fluff – just what you need to ace the 35-question exam with confidence.Get Your License Manual Here - https://geni.us/7vLlwsKBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ham-radio-2-0--2042782/support.
Ready to upgrade from Technician to General Class and unlock HF privileges? Join our FREE YouTube video series: "Ham Radio General License Mastery" – the ultimate prep course for the FCC Amateur Radio General Exam! Based on the official 2023-2027 General Class Element 3 question pool (valid through June 30, 2027), we break down every subelement with crystal-clear explanations, real-world examples, and bite-sized lessons on key topics like antenna systems, propagation, electrical principles, safety, and operating procedures. No fluff – just what you need to ace the 35-question exam with confidence.Get Your License Manual Here - https://geni.us/7vLlwsKBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ham-radio-2-0--2042782/support.
In this episode, our very own Paul Braun, WD9GCO, our show announcer, becomes the special guest. Paul tells us all about his big POTA rove and how he operated HF remotely from a cruise ship. This show also features a large crowd of regulars with an extended workbench segment.
Topics discussed on today's show: Heidi's Vacation, Take Down The Tree, Gay Hockey, Vaccine Recommendations, Inappropriate Laughter, Heidi's New Years Resolution, GLP1's, Super Bowl Ranking, Stranger Things, Waymo, Polymarket, Betting on HF, Smart Legos, Gut Microbiome, Word Sandwich, Turning 50 Tunes, KNAC 40th Anniversary, and Apologies.
This show has been flagged as Clean by the host. Hello, again. This is Trey. Welcome to part 6 in my Cheap Yellow Display (CYD) Project series. Thank you for hanging in there with me on this rambling series. If you wish to catch up on earlier episodes, you can find them on my HPR profile page https://www.hackerpublicradio.org/correspondents/0394.html To review, my project is to build a portable morse code "Keyer memory" which can be connected to any of my amateur HF transceiver radios by simply plugging it in to the code key input port. This is based around an ESP32 platform which comes prepackaged on a yellow PC board with a color touchscreen display, WIFI, and Bluetooth. We fondly call this contraption the Cheap Yellow Display. So far, I have defined the necessities, collected the required hardware, and failed miserably building the graphical user interface (GUI). While I sort out the technical challenges getting my GUI code to play nicely with the CYD's touchscreen, it is important that we spend some time discussing Morse code itself, and the timing standards we will need to follow. I am not going to dive too deeply into the history behind telegraphs and Morse code, but it is very interesting. If you want to learn more, Wikipedia has the origins and evolution written out quite nicely at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code For our purposes, we will fast forward from the year 1820 (When telegraphy began) all the way to 1865 when the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standardized, what it called "International Morse Code". When I say Morse Code for the remainder of this podcast, I am referring to this ITU International Morse Code. Morse code typically includes the following characters: The 26 letter basic Latin alphabet The Indo-Arabic numerals 0 to 9 There is also a single accented Latin letter (É), which is written as an E with an accent mark, and a handful of punctuation marks. These characters are encoded using a sequence of short and long signals. Each short signal is referred to as a dit . Each long signal is referred to as a dah . At a young age, I began to refer to them as dots and dashes, as this is how they are usually written. For example, the letter "A" consists of a single dit followed by a single dah. When written out this would look like a period followed by a hyphen (what some might call a minus sign) .- This encoding method allows messages to be sent by turning on and off an electrical signal. This could result in a light flashing or a tone sounding to the pattern of the signal. The timing of a dit and dah, along with the spacing between them is carefully defined. Morsecode.world does a great job explaining the timing, and you can find their explanation at https://morsecode.world/international/timing/ It all starts with the dit, or more accurately, the amount of time the dit signal is turned on. We will call this length of time 1 unit. We will get to the actual length of time for a unit later in this episode. For now, it is just one unit. So, if a dit is 1 unit long, a dah will be 3 units long, so there is an obvious and consistent difference between a dit and a dah. Also, empty space between elements of the same character is 1 unit long. The space between characters should be 3 units long. Let's demonstrate using the letters H, P, & R. An "H" would be 4 dits …. A "P" would be 1 dit followed by 2 dahs and ending with 1 dit .--. An "R" would be 1 dit followed by 1 dah and ending with 1 dit .-. Remember when we send these grouped together like a word, we need 3 units of spacing between each character. You can hear this now. This is Morse code for the letters "HPR" at 15 words per minute .... .--. .-. That is the perfect segue to the next section, words per minute. The speed of morse code is measured in "words per minute". But how do you calculate this when some characters are short (Like the letter "E" which is only a single dit long), and other characters are long (Like the letter "J" which starts with a single dit and is followed by 3 dahs)? And that's just letters. What about words? We have short words and long words. How can we standardize on words per minute with so much diversity of length? Well, thanks to the French, we have a quite elegant solution to this problem. Well, not the French in general. Just PARIS. PARIS is the standard word which has been agreed upon to be used for determining the speed of Morse code. The word PARIS is 50 units long. "P" = dit(1) + (1) + dah(3) + (1) + dah(3) + (1) + dit(1) = 11 units {Space between letters} = 3 units "A" = dit(1) + (1) + dah(3) = 5 units {Space between letters} = 3 units "R" = dit(1) + (1) + dah(3) + (1) + dit(1) = 7 units {Space between letters} = 3 units "I" = dit(1) + (1) + dit(1) = 3 units {Space between letters} = 3 units "S" = dit(1) + (1) + dit(1) + (1) + dit(1) = 5 units {Space between words} = 7 units 11+3+5+3+7+3+3+3+5+7 = 50 units Here is the word PARIS sent at 15 WPM .--. .- .-. .. ... Morsecode.world again does a great job explaining the maths for how many milliseconds long a dit should be for a specific WPM of code ( https://morsecode.world/international/timing/ ) But, no... We could not keep it that simple. Some guy named Donald R. "Russ" Farnsworth had to complicate things and increase the gaps between letters and words to make interpreting code much easier. There are even more maths for Farnsworth timing... Wait a minute. When did I start saying "Maths" instead of "Math" like a normal North American? What is the reasoning around pluralizing "Math" anyways? Which way is more original English, "Math" or "Maths"? This sounds like a show idea for someone other than me. If you know or are interested in researching it, I look forward to listening to your show in the future. ANYWAYS, there IS much more MATH about Farnsworth timing on another page on Morsecode.world. ( https://morsecode.world/international/timing/farnsworth.html ). But I don't want to get into all of it in detail here. Not when there is a shortcut we can use in our code. Simplified, we can take 1,200 and divide it by the WPM we desire, and it will give us a close enough approximation of the number of milliseconds long a dit should be. For the 15 WPM messages you have heard throughout this episode, a dit was 1200/15 = 80 ms in length. If I speed it up to 20 WPM (The speed at which I try to practice) a dit will be 1200/20 = 60 ms long. This will be an important calculation for us as we develop the code we will later be using to construct our messages using the CYD. And this is also a good stopping point so that I can get back to trying to build that infernal GUI. Provide feedback on this episode.
Join the brand new season of Elite Finance Podcast with Kaushik, with Greg Giordano, from Veritas Capital, one of the leading technology & services Private Equity firms in the world! The Elite Finance podcast features elite professionals & investors from the top PE, HF, VC, IB & AI firms in the world. Kaushik is the leading voice in the High Finance space, having built 3 Private Equity platforms to date, including Onefinnet, the #1 Finance platform in the world245 | Greg's Intro350 | Greg's Experience with Onefinnet500 | What does Veritas Actually Do700 | What does it Look Like to Work in Private Equity900 | Different Kinds of Private Equity Firms1100 | What Goes in Minds of Private Equity Investors1300 | Best Practices of Due Diligence for Private Equity Firms1500 | How to Overcome Large Risks in Private Equity1710 | Strategies Employed in Private Equity2000 | How does a Private Equity Deal Look Like2240 | Private Equity : How does Value Addition Work2510 | Private Equity : Kinds of Exit Strategies2845 | Promising Market Sectors for Next 5 Years3100 | Competition : How to Standout from other Private Equity Firms3350 | Deal Sourcing : How does a Deal Lands with a Firm3600 | Importance of Teams : How is a Team Formed3850 | How to Build a Skillset for Private Equity Operator4110 | Role & Impact of Technology in Private Equity4345 | Future of AI and Human Capital in Finance Industry4630 | Balancing Short-Term & Long-Term Investments 4935 | How to Standout as Candidate for Private Equity5225 | Early Careers : How to Standout as an Analyst5530 | Potential Candidate : Important Factors to Standout5850 | How does Operational Sides of Private Equity Look Like10130 | Challenges You Face in Private Equity10355 | How does MBA help in Career10700 | One Piece of Advice10845 | Ending Note
Harry Anderson is the only person to have both flown solo and sailed solo to all seven continents. He is also the author of "Sailing 7 Continents Solo." We talk about his route, his boats (a Bavaria 37 and an Alures 40.9), sailing with a centerboard, heaving-to, HF radio, VHF with wireless remote handset, anchoring, shore lines, generating electricity, Deception Island, getting permits to go to Antarctica, katabatic winds, Puerto Montt, Cocos Keeling, friendly people, favorite places, Namibia, beautiful moments, safety, heaters, the NW passage, his books, and more. photos and links are on the podcast shownotes page support the show through Patreon browse or list sailboats for sale get remote electrical help from Meridian Marine Electrical
Foundations of Amateur Radio One of the potentially trickier aspects of putting together your shack is connecting the radio to the antenna. On the face of it, the challenge is limited to making sure that you have mating connectors on both ends, but when you actually start implementing this you'll run into several other considerations. The very first one as I said is the connector. Every amateur I've ever spoken to goes through the same process. You pick a connector, typically the one that your radio comes with, then you adapt the connector on your coaxial cable to suit, then you'll get an SWR meter, a dummy load, some testing gear, a coax switch or two, perhaps another radio, or an amplifier and along the way you'll discover that you now have a growing collection of connectors to choose from, and that's just the connectors inside the shack. After considering connectors, you'll start to contemplate the coax itself. You'll likely weigh price against signal loss, but there are other aspects to the selection of the right coax for the job. For example, how do you get the coax actually into the shack? One of the main challenges associated with solving that problem is surprisingly something that rarely affects our hobby, other than any human factors associated with the phenomenon of "weather". Getting coax into a shack generally involves passing through a weather proof barrier of some sort. In doing so, you're likely to create a place where the weather can make its way into places it's not supposed to. Water can and will travel along your coax. Hopefully on the outside of it, but if you're unlucky, on the inside too, likely destroying it along the way. At first glance you'll think that water only travels down with gravity and in an ideal world you'd be right, but as it happens, water will happily do other things like get blown by the wind, or condensate in temperature gradients, like those found near a hole you just created in your lovely weather proof barrier. If your shack has existing openings, they're generally the easiest to appropriate, things like gaps in the eves, existing vent holes, between roof tiles or sheet iron, plenty of existing places where you can get from inside to outside a shack. Note that this is also the case if your shack is a trestle table tucked away in an office, like mine. Before I continue, I'm about to raise some potential safety issues, but I'm not an occupational health and safety professional, so, do your own due diligence. If you do need to go into your roof space, height aside, consider it a dangerous place. Make sure that there's someone to check on you and consider alternatives to climbing up there. Wearing a face mask and full body clothing is a very good idea. Often you'll find exposed wires, deteriorating or toxic insulation and other nasty things, conductivity of steel roof frames and pipes are also a hazard, so be extremely reluctant to venture there. Avoidance is preferable. Working at heights 101: Don't .. that said, there may be no alternative. You can lift corrugated iron sheets by undoing the roofing screws. If you do, make absolutely sure that you don't make a string of water inlet points when you put it all back together. In lifting a sheet, you can access the roof space and run your coax. Sometimes the gap between the corrugation and the rafters is sufficient to push the coax through, but if you live in a hot climate, make sure that it doesn't touch the sheeting, since coax is likely to distort, if not outright melt, if it's in direct contact with the iron sheet while the sun is belting down on it. Consider the temperature rating of your coax. Similarly, terracotta roof tiles tend to have enough space to allow coax to enter the roof space. Be very careful, since they're often fragile and potentially irreplaceable. Look for openings like existing roof fittings, things like chimneys, vent pipes, roof ridges, etc. for simpler points of entry. If you need to make a hole in your roof and seal it, there's special rubber grommets for this purpose. You cut a little opening in the grommet, too tight for the coax, then force it through. Seal to the roof with UV-stable silicone and you're good to go. Check them every so many years, they deteriorate. Speaking of silicone, if there's an existing hole that you're using, don't just seal it up, it might be there for a reason. Windows often have vent holes or gaps that will fit some types of coax and there's inserts you can use to open a sliding window that will accommodate coax, but consider the security of that window before you commit. There's also special flat coax for running through a window frame or under a door, but check before you buy that they're suitable for the job. Ladder line is also an option, it's much thinner, can travel longer distances, but its performance can be affected by corrugated iron and other conductors. Rarely if ever does the initial acquisition of coaxial cable involve details like "bending radius", the smallest turn you can make with the coax without destroying its characteristics, since bending causes the insulation, the core and the shield to distort to some degree and with it, affect the RF passing through. Whichever path your coax takes, consider that you can cut it short, but not long. If you really must know how long the coax is, use some string to run along the proposed path, but beware, the string has a bending radius that approaches zero, coax does not. Most coax will specify a bending radius for fixed and repeated bending. The fixed one is for a one time only bend and 65 mm is typical. Thinner coax tends to have a smaller bending radius, but that might affect the signal loss, or the budget, or both, so take that into account. Cutting and joining also introduces points of failure, places of moisture ingress, thick spots that cannot be pulled through existing holes, and plenty of other hidden fun and games, in other words, don't be stingy, get it right, it might cost a few bob extra, but you'll have a happier time of it. If you need to run your coax inside a wall, the tool you're looking for is called a "Cavity King", not of the embalming variety, though relevant if you happen to do something foolish like drill a hole through an existing power wire in your building, so don't start drilling holes where it suits without checking first. If you do, make sure that you drill on an angle facing upwards from the outside and find a place where the coax itself doesn't get wet on the way in. Speaking of holes. Terminate the coax after you installed it, not before. You can use electrical tape to attach a rope to pull the coax along its route without damaging the coax. Before you close up the roof and pack everything away attach the connectors to the coax and properly test it. If it fails your tests, it's easier to run it again with everything in place than it is to start from scratch, ask me how I know. In my shack, I have a run of RG-214 that goes to my VHF/UHF vertical, I also have a run of quad shield RG-6 that goes to my HF antenna. If you're familiar with coax indicators, you'll know that RG-6 is actually 75 Ohm, not 50 Ohm. Given that it's made from aluminium, not copper, it's also an absolute turd to solder. What it does have going for it is that it's absurdly cheap, since its used in satellite dish installations across the planet. It also very handily can be terminated with F-type compression connectors, which in the 25 years I've used them, I've yet to see fail. The F-type connector can accommodate a handy BNC adaptor, bringing us back into the realm of amateur radio. My coax goes under the corrugated iron of my roof through the plasterboard of my office wall, hidden away in a cupboard, snakes under the cupboard door, along the wall to the termination coax switch that is in turn connected to my radio, more on that another time. The two coax runs are tied together, to ensure that they don't coil weirdly, don't pose a trip hazard and it's connected to various fixed points along its path. None of it is permanent, other than the hole in the plasterboard, inside a cupboard, behind a faceplate. So, after removing the coax, a blanking plate brings everything back to invisible if that's ever required. What happens outside is a whole different story and what it attaches to, yet another. The point is that from the place of picking the right connector, you likely discovered that routing coax is potentially a bigger challenge than you might have considered at first. There are other options. What issues affect the ingress of coax at your shack? I'm Onno VK6FLAB
$10,000 Elk Voucher Giveaway! Before we jump in, I've got to tell you about an incredible giveaway we're running with Hunting Fool Adventures. We're giving away a $10,000 elk voucher that's good for a landowner tag, a fully guided hunt, or credit toward whatever you want for next elk season. Here Here's how to enter: For the last three years, I've been building a smartwatch specifically for hunters - the Reckon Founder Series. I was frustrated with the smartwatches out there and thought we could do better. Turns out, we can. If you're a smartwatch person, you're going to love this product. Trust me. Head over and hit the presale on the Reckon Founder Series watch right now and use code HF - you'll be automatically entered to win this $10,000 elk voucher from Hunting Fool. Whether you're looking for a landowner tag, a full guided hunt, or anything else, this voucher has you covered. If you've ever thought about getting a new watch, now's the time. Go check it out and throw your name in the hat! What's up, elk hunters! This week on the Elk Hunt Podcast, I sat down with my buddy Jared Miller, and man, this conversation went deep. We started talking about rifle hunting versus archery hunting elk (spoiler: Jared thinks rifle hunting elk in Montana is way harder than bow hunting), and somehow ended up diving into the mental game of archery, bow tuning secrets, and his insane Matthews hunt that we filmed this fall. Jared's one of those guys who's just obsessed with the process - whether it's shooting Vegas rounds every single day, torque tuning his bow, or working through Joel Turner's shot control process. We get into all of it. He shares some wild stories from this season, including a two-day Montana archery hunt that turned into one of the best films we've put out, and breaks down exactly how he stalked to 20 yards on a bedded bull in socks. If you're into archery hunting, this episode is packed with gold. We talk about grip pressure, forgiveness in bow setups, the mental side of executing under pressure, and why Jared shoots 30-60 arrows a day leading into season. Plus, he drops some serious knowledge on open country elk hunting and what he's learned about where these bulls actually bed. This one's a bit different from our usual episodes - less tactical talk, more mental game and archery deep dive - but I think you're gonna love it. Let's get into it.Jared's Matthews Film - Immersion Tricer Tripods - These guys make gear that's fast, light, and simple. From incredible tripods to bino mounts, panheads, truck mounts, and now even bipods, Tricer has everything you need for better glassing setups. I've been running their bipod hard this season and killed a lot of critters with it. Head over to www.tricer.com and use code TRO to save 10% at checkout. Stone Glacier - My Sky Archer 6400 has been everywhere with me this year - Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, Montana. Whether it's a 10-day backpack hunt or day hunting from the side-by-side, Stone Glacier makes minimalist, lightweight gear that works for everything. They've got a full suite of hardcore mountain hunting gear, so if you're in the market, check out www.stoneglacier.com and use code TRO for a discount. Chapters 0:00 - Intro & $10K Hunting Fool Elk Voucher Giveaway 3:15 - Rifle vs. Archery Elk Hunting 8:30 - Montana Rifle Season Grind 12:45 - Wyoming October Rifle Hunt 18:20 - Getting the New Matthews Bow 24:10 - Bow Setup & Tuning Philosophy 31:40 - Joel Turner Shot Process & Target Panic 40:25 - Forgiveness in Bow Setups 46:50 - String Angle & Slow-Mo Arrow Flight 52:15 - Alaska Blacktail Mental Rollercoaster 58:40 - The Matthews Film Hunt Begins 1:02:30 - The Stalk & Kill Shot 1:07:45 - Zach's Seven by Eight 1:10:20 - Open Country Hunting Tips 1:12:00 - Outro Three Key Takeaways Trust Your Instincts Under Pressure - Jared talks about how he played it too safe on his first couple stalks trying to accommodate the camera crew, but once he went back to his aggressive, instinctual hunting style, he closed the deal at 20 yards on a bedded bull. The lesson: find what works for you and stick to it, especially when the pressure is on. Forgiveness Over Speed in Bow Setup - Instead of chasing maximum speed, Jared prioritizes forgiveness in his bow setup (shooting around 280-285 fps, lots of vane, torque tuning). He explains how you can find an "equilibrium" where your bow hits center even when you torque left or right - critical for real hunting situations when you're not perfect. Mental Reps Are Everything - Jared shoots 30-60 arrows a day, but not just for physical strength. He's training his mental process - getting comfortable operating in a state of awareness, managing shot anticipation, and executing controlled shots even when his pin is floating. He credits Joel Turner's process for helping him overcome severe target panic that had even started affecting his rifle shooting.
Foundations of Amateur Radio When you start on the journey of putting together a shack, in whatever form that eventually takes, you'll need to figure out how much space is required. Of course, no matter what you choose, it's never enough, but you have to start somewhere. Ultimately a shack is a work in progress. As an aside, I'm using the word "shack", but that is really an amateur concept, so we're not necessarily talking about a plot of land with a wooden lean-to cobbled together from bits of wood collected from your beachcomber days. Not that it can't be that, but it doesn't have to be. As I've said, my "shack" is a wooden trestle table, I know shacks that are a dedicated room in a house, a converted garage, a garden shed, a warehouse office, a radio station, an out building, several scout halls, demountables, a converted passenger bus and plenty more. In this context, in referring to "shack", I mean, "the place where my radio lives when I get on-air to make noise", but "shack" runs off the tongue a little easier. Budget aside, in order to attempt to quantify your space requirements, you need to figure out what you're going to do with it. This perhaps sounds a little ludicrous, since the answer is "amateur radio" .. duh .. obviously. Okay, so, here's some questions. Does amateur radio for you mean any of the following: operating the local repeater, HF radio, solo or with visitors, listening to multiple stations, operating multiple bands simultaneously, computers, Morse code, contesting, soldering, building, experimentation and plenty more. While we're at it, if you're into soldering, is that with valves, discrete components, or integrated circuits, and what levels of existing bits and pieces do you have? I'm asking because the racks of jars, component trays and drawers I've seen over the past fifteen years often rival the actual shack for size. In other words, when you're thinking about .. what .. you want to do, be specific. For me, amateur radio is more about computers and less about soldering irons, that's not to say that I don't own a soldering iron, just that its use is incidental, rather than fundamental, computers, keyboards and monitors on the other hand, for me, are part and parcel of my amateur radio experience. Truth be told, if I could, I'd try to eliminate all the analogue radios from my shack and replace them with a single box capable of wide band operation across the amateur bands that I could control with a computer. I realise that this is not a universal picture of what amateur radio means, but it's what it means for me because it represents the ultimate level of flexibility. That said, I love my FT-857d. I have several other radios that I loan out from time-to-time to new amateurs while they find their feet. I love to experiment with those as well, so my shack needs space for temporary set-ups. While I enjoy chewing the fat over a cup of coffee, I rarely get on-air and make noise with anyone else. That's not because I don't appreciate it, but because I've yet to discover an effective way of filtering interference, a topic for another day. Even if you're not a computer nerd like me, there's a high probability that a shack today includes a computer of some description, for record keeping, propagation forecasts, logging, and digital modes. So it's a good idea to imagine yourself actually doing your planned activities and speculating what kinds of things you'll need. Like, where do you put your cup of coffee, your keyboard and your Morse key? While we're discussing putting things down. Think about the ability to actually use these things, not just where they live. It's no fun balancing a keyboard and trying to reach over the top to change the operating frequency, or having to strain your neck to look at the logging screen when you've made that elusive contact, so think about the ergonomics of what you're planning. Right now I have a wire shelving unit sitting on my desk. It's 80 cm tall, 90 cm wide and 30 cm deep. The two shelves are adjustable in height. Currently one is at the highest point, the other has enough space to fit a base-station radio underneath it, about 13 cm from the lowest point. It's not ideal, since it means that the keyboard is in front of it. During the previous iteration, of which there have been several, my monitors were in front of this and the keyboard was an external one connected to a laptop to the right of the screen, allowing me to have two screens to display information. The idea was that I'd use the computer to control the transceivers using a protocol called CAT. This never happened, so operating was awkward to say the least and as a result, hardly used. Instead the FT-857d sat on top of the bottom shelf, using a sound card to operate on digital modes. A slightly better operating angle, were it not for the monitor that hid it from view. As I said, not ideal. I'm mentioning all this to give you a picture of at least one other shack but in my experience, nothing beats going out to see what others have gotten up to. Of course, you can visit shacks online with the proliferation of photographs proud amateurs have shared, but there's a difference between looking at a photo and walking around someone's physical shack, so keep that in mind. Other space considerations are rarely, if ever, talked about. What space is there left for you to make changes to your shack? You might think that your shack won't change once you've built it. Here's a change, disconnecting the antenna in case of a thunderstorm, here's another, plugging in a CAT cable, setting up an external speaker, or even buying a new radio, you name it, the shack is never done. So, think about the idea of being able to walk behind the radio. If you think that's silly, put the shack on wheels. You'll thank me later. While you're walking behind your equipment, consider coax routing, a topic of its own, but being mindful of the need to actually get the coax from where it enters to your gear and how it relates to any electricity routing required to actually power your gear. One other consideration in relation to space is your chair. How much space does it need? Can you adjust it, is it on casters, or a wooden dining chair? Again, this can all be as simple as a dining table, or it can be something more substantial. In my experience, a happier outcome is achieved if you spend some quality time thinking about some of the questions I've proposed. As you might have guessed, there's plenty more to explore. I'm Onno VK6FLAB
Alright, so Jeremy Gilbertson is one of those guys who just went all-in on elk hunting—and it worked. This dude studied elk hunting harder than he studied school, killed a bull on his first-ever trip 36 hours from his front door in Minnesota, and then spent the next few years guiding hunters and building maps for a living. Now he's joining the Bridger Watch team to help us build the absolute best maps for wearables, because turns out everyone who said "nobody wants maps on a watch" was dead wrong. We dive deep into Jeremy's journey from cold-calling Colorado OTC units to guiding on private ranches in New Mexico, and we get into the real tactics that separate the guys who find elk from the guys who wander around hoping. We talk about e-scouting secrets, micro terrain, efficiency versus effectiveness, why busy is lazy (shoutout to Cal Arnold), and how to hunt like a 301 even if you're happy shooting raghorns. Jeremy's got a unique perspective because he's both a hardcore public land DIY guy and a guide who's seen hundreds of hunters make the same mistakes. If you want to learn how to find elk in tough units, how to balance aggression with patience, and why you need way more than seven days to figure out a unit, this one's for you. Let's get into it. $10,000 ELK HUNT GIVEAWAY We're partnering with Huntin' Fool Adventures for an insane giveaway. When you preorder a Bridger Reckon Watch and use code HF at checkout, you're automatically entered to win a $10,000 elk hunt voucher. You can use this for New Mexico landowner tags, a fully guided hunt, or whatever elk hunting adventure you want. Here's the best part: we're talking single-digit entries right now, so your odds of winning are actually really, really good. This isn't one of those giveaways where you're up against 50,000 people—this is a legitimate shot at a dream elk hunt. Head over to bridgerwatch.com, preorder your Reckon, use code HF, and you're in. If you were already thinking about getting the Founder Series, this is a no-brainer. OnX Hunt - The ultimate tool for elk hunters and the app I absolutely won't go into the field without. Whether you're e-scouting from the couch or actually hunting elk, OnX gives you detailed maps, property boundaries, and over 50 layers of mapping data including satellite imagery, offline maps, and waypoints. It helps you make smarter decisions no matter where you hunt. Save time, avoid mistakes, and stay connected to your crew. If you're not an Elite member yet, you're missing out on a whole other level of tools. Head over to onxmaps.com and use code TRO to save 20% off your membership. Tricer - These guys make gear that's fast, light, and simple. From bomber tripods to spotting scope mounts, panheads, truck mounts, and now even bipods—Tricer makes gear that just works. I've been running their bipod hard this season and it's been rock solid. If you're looking to upgrade your glassing system, check out Tricer. Head over to tricer.com, use code TRO at checkout, and save yourself 10%. Stone Glacier - I've packed out a lot of animals with my Stone Glacier pack. This year, the Sky Archer 6400 has been with me to Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, and Montana. Whether it's a 10-day backpack hunt or day hunting from the side-by-side, Stone Glacier is minimalist, lightweight, and versatile. They make an entire suite of hardcore mountain hunting gear. Head over to stoneglacier.com, use code TRO, and get yourself some great gear. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro & Bridger Watch Announcement 2:30 - Jeremy's New Role at Bridger Watch 5:45 - Building the Best Maps for Wearables 8:20 - Jeremy's Elk Hunting Origin Story 11:15 - From Minnesota Deer Hunter to Colorado Elk Obsessed 14:30 - First Hunt: 36 Hours to a Bull on the Ground 18:45 - How Much Was Luck vs. Skill? 21:30 - Advice to Your Younger Self 24:15 - Learning When to Run and When to Crawl 28:40 - Hunting 101 vs 201 vs 301 33:20 - Understanding Herd Dynamics at the Macro Level 37:50 - What Guiding Teaches You About Elk 41:15 - Elk Bros Outfitting Model Explained 45:30 - Hunting the Nucleus vs. Chasing Satellites 49:00 - Teaching Hunters vs. Learning Yourself 52:45 - E-Scouting Secrets: Avoid the OnX Holes 57:20 - Looking for Micro Terrain, Not Big Features 1:01:30 - Turn Off Public Land Layers When E-Scouting 1:04:45 - Rifle Hunting: Finding Where One Elk Can Survive 1:09:15 - Efficiency vs. Effectiveness in Hunt Planning 1:13:30 - Decision Fatigue and Mental Management 1:17:45 - Whoop for Hunters: Managing Expedition-Level Stress 1:21:00 - Why You Need More Than Seven Days 1:25:30 - Time on Feet Beats Everything Else 1:28:15 - Patience is the Hardest Skill to Master 1:31:45 - Elk Bros Details & Who It's For 1:34:00 - Outro & Hunt Planner Download THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS Stop Looking for Perfect Spots—Find Where Elk Can Survive - Everyone e-scouts the same big features: burns, mega meadows, obvious north-facing slopes. Jeremy's secret? Look for the smallest pockets where elk could survive, not where they want to be. That 50-acre hidden basin above the highway? That's where the pressure-educated bulls are living. When you're looking at a unit, turn off the public land layers and ask yourself: if I could hunt anywhere, where would the elk actually be? Then figure out how to access those spots legally. The micro terrain beats the macro highlights every single time. You Need Way More Than Seven Days to Figure Out a Unit - Outfitters operate on seven-day hunts because they've already spent years figuring out where the elk are and what they're doing. When you show up as a DIY hunter with seven days, you're spending the first five just learning what the guide already knows. Jeremy's rule: plan for 10-15 days minimum if you're hunting a new unit. The hard units? Budget 12+ days just to figure it out, then another 3-4 to actually execute. If you only have seven days, you're gambling that you'll figure it out faster than average—and most guys are packing out on the drive home with all the knowledge they needed on day one. Hunt Like a 301 Even If You're Happy Shooting Raghorns - The difference between a 201 hunter and a 301 hunter isn't the size of the bull—it's understanding the entire system. A 201 hunter finds a herd and focuses on that six-point. A 301 hunter understands where all the herds are, how they interact, where the satellites are coming and going, and how pressure moves elk across the entire unit. Here's the secret: if you hunt the nucleus where the big bulls are, you'll magnetize all the smaller bulls trying to be there too. Understanding macro herd dynamics doesn't just help you find giants—it puts you in position to encounter way more elk, period.
CardioNerds (Dr. Kelly Arps, Dr. Naima Maqsood, and Dr. Elizabeth Davis) discuss chronic AF management with Dr. Edmond Cronin. This episode seeks to explore the chronic management of atrial fibrillation (AF) as described by the 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. The discussion covers the different AF classifications, symptomatology, and management including medications and invasive therapies. Importantly, the episode explores current gaps in knowledge and where there is indecision regarding proper treatment course, as in those with heart failure and AF. Our expert, Dr. Cronin, helps elucidate these gaps and apply guideline knowledge to patient scenarios. Audio editing for this episode was performed by CardioNerds intern Dr. Bhavya Shah. CardioNerds Atrial Fibrillation PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls Review the guidelines- Catheter ablation is a Class I recommendation for select patient groups Appropriately recognize AF stages- preAF conditions, symptomatology, classification system (paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, permanent) Be familiar with the EAST-AFNET4 trial, as it changed the approach of rate vs rhythm control Understand treatment approaches- lifestyle modifications, management of comorbidities, rate vs rhythm control medications, cardioversion, ablation, pulmonary vein isolation, surgical MAZE Sympathize with patients- understand their treatment goals Notes Notes: Notes drafted by Dr. Davis. What are the stages of atrial fibrillation? The stages of AF were redefined in the 2023 guidelines to better recognize AF as a progressive disease that requires different strategies at the different therapies Stage 1 At Risk for AF: presence of modifiable (obesity, lack of fitness, HTN, sleep apnea, alcohol, diabetes) and nonmodifiable (genetics, male sex, age) risk factors associated with AF Stage 2 Pre-AF: presence of structural (atrial enlargement) or electrical (frequent atrial ectopy, short bursts of atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter) findings further pre-disposing a patient to AF Stage 3 AF: patient may transition between these stages Paroxysmal AF (3A): intermittent and terminates within ≤ 7 days of onset Persistent AF (3B): continuous and sustained for > 7 days and requires intervention Long-standing persistent AF (3C): continuous for > 12 months Successful AF ablation (3D): freedom from AF after percutaneous or surgical intervention Stage 4 Permanent AF: no further attempts at rhythm control after discussion between patient and clinician The term chronic AF is considered obsolete and such terminology should be abandoned What are common symptoms of AF? Symptoms vary with ventricular rate, functional status, duration, and patient perception May present as an embolic complication or heart failure exacerbation Most commonly patients report palpitations, chest pain, dyspnea, fatigue, or lightheadedness. Vague exertional intolerance is common Some patients also have polyuria due to increased production of atrial natriuretic peptide Less commonly can present as tachycardia-associated cardiomyopathy or syncope Cardioversion into sinus rhythm may be diagnostic to help determine if a given set of symptoms are from atrial fibrillation to help guide the expected utility of more aggressive rhythm control strategies. What are the current guidelines regarding rhythm control and available options? COR-LOE 1B: In patients with reduced LV function and persistent (or high burden) AF, a trial of rhythm control should be recommended to evaluate whether AF is contributing to the reduced LV function COR-LOE 2a-B: In patients with reduced LV function and persistent (or high burden) AF, a trial of rhythm control should be recommended to evaluate whether AF is contributing to the reduced LV function. In patients with a recent diagnosis of AF (