Appeal No. 0013: Baldwin Producing Corporation v. State of Ohio, acting by and through the Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Department of Natural Resources

Adjudication Orders #130, and Amendments No.1 & 2 to Order #13

Resiliency of Smart Power Meters to Common Security Attacks

AbstractThe development of Smart Grid power systems is gaining momentum in many countries leading to massive deployment of smart meters to realize the envisioned benefits. However, there are several concerns among the consumer communities and the service providers with respect to information security when it comes to the deployment of smart meters. This paper attempts to address the main challenge related to smart grid information security by examining the resiliency of smart meters to security threats and attacks. Several common information security attacks are being used to study their impact on the performance of smart meters in a controlled laboratory environment. Results obtained showed drastic effect on the functionality of smart meters and their associated data gathering servers

Perceptions of Online Learning Among Instructors: How to Maximize Instructors’ Competencies in Virtual and Blended Learning

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate instructors' perceptions of e-learning at the Public Authority For Applied Education and Training (PAAET) in Kuwait. It sheds light on the effectiveness of Ms-Teams as a learning management tool used by instructors and students. The outcome of the study will help to introduce guidelines for enhancing the role of instructors in virtual and blended learning. . Theoretical framework: Information technology will change education if used properly by skilled teachers. Technology's rapid adoption and investment have changed education, and instructors are crucial to 21st-century learning standards and methods. Because AI, advanced technology, and automation will rule the future, the next generation of workers must be tech-savvy. This study will identify instructors' digital skills and provide recommendations and a road map to support advanced technological tools and new innovative learning strategies in human resource management.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods. A focus group session was conducted to investigate further, and the results of the session helped shape a survey questionnaire that was distributed to 161 instructors at PAAET. The survey aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities presented by online learning.   Findings: Instructors have a positive view of online learning and Ms Teams as a learning management. The study also found some obstacles to online learning platform implementation. These issues include poor helpdesk support, training, management motivation, and electronic educational resources. These obstacles must be overcome for PAAET to adopt a learning system that improves academic performance. No significant gender differences in instructors' perceptions are found.   Originality/Value: This study should help education policymakers be more brave when investing in IT and human resources "Instructors" to create a better and more competitive teaching and learning environment. This study proposes an HRM-based framework to improve digital instructors and the educational process

What is the right sequencing approach? Solo VS extended family analysis in consanguineous populations.

Testing strategies is crucial for genetics clinics and testing laboratories. In this study, we tried to compare the hit rate between solo and trio and trio plus testing and between trio and sibship testing. Finally, we studied the impact of extended family analysis, mainly in complex and unsolved cases. Three cohorts were used for this analysis: one cohort to assess the hit rate between solo, trio and trio plus testing, another cohort to examine the impact of the testing strategy of sibship genome vs trio-based analysis, and a third cohort to test the impact of an extended family analysis of up to eight family members to lower the number of candidate variants. The hit rates in solo, trio and trio plus testing were 39, 40, and 41%, respectively. The total number of candidate variants in the sibship testing strategy was 117 variants compared to 59 variants in the trio-based analysis. We noticed that the average number of coding candidate variants in trio-based analysis was 1192 variants and 26,454 noncoding variants, and this number was lowered by 50-75% after adding additional family members, with up to two coding and 66 noncoding homozygous variants only, in families with eight family members. There was no difference in the hit rate between solo and extended family members. Trio-based analysis was a better approach than sibship testing, even in a consanguineous population. Finally, each additional family member helped to narrow down the number of variants by 50-75%. Our findings could help clinicians, researchers and testing laboratories select the most cost-effective and appropriate sequencing approach for their patients. Furthermore, using extended family analysis is a very useful tool for complex cases with novel genes

Wheat root system architecture and soil moisture distribution in an aggregated soil using neutron computed tomography

Non-invasive techniques are essential to deepen our understanding of root-soil interactions in situ. Neutron computed tomography (NCT) is an example of such techniques that have been successfully used to study these interactions in high resolution. Many of the studies using NCT however, have invariably focused on lupine plants and thus there is limited information available on other more commercially important staple crop plants such as wheat and rice. Also considering the high neutron sensitivity to hydrogen (e.g. water in roots or soil organic matter), nearly all previous in-situ NCT studies have used a relatively homogeneous porous media such as sand, low in soil organic matter and free from soil aggregates, to obtain high-quality images. However to expand the scope of the use of NCT to other more commercially important crops and in less homogenous soils, in this study we focused on wheat root growth in a soil that contained a considerable amount of soil organic matter (SOM) and different sized aggregates. As such, the main aims of this research were (1) to unravel wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Fielder) root system architecture (RSA) when grown in an aggregated sandy loam soil (<4 mm) with 4% SOM content, (2) Map in 3D, soil water distribution after a brief drying period and (3) to understand how the root system interacts with soil moisture distribution brought about by soil structural heterogeneity. To achieve these, wheat seedlings were grown for 13-days in aluminium tubes (100 mm height and 18 mm diameter) packed with soil and imaged for the first time at the IMAT neutron beamline (in the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK). To the best of our knowledge, this is also the first study to use NCT to study wheat root architectural development. Our study proved that NCT can successfully be used to reveal wheat RSA in a heterogeneous aggregated soils with moderate amounts of SOM. Lateral root growth within the soil column was increased in regions with increased finer soil separates. NCT was also able to successfully map water distribution in a 3D and we show that large macro-aggregates preferentially retained relatively higher soil moisture in comparison to the smaller soil separates within our samples (Fig. 1). This highlights the importance large macro-aggregates in sustainable soil management as they may be able to provide plants water during periodic dry spells. More in situ investigations are required to further understand the impact of different aggregate sizes on RSA and water uptake

The predictive value of CTSI scoring system in non-operative management of patients with splenic blunt trauma: The experience of a level 1 trauma center

Background: The spleen is one of the most injured organs following blunt abdominal trauma. The management options can be either operative or non-operative management (NOM) with either conservative management or splenic artery embolization. The implementation of CT in emergency departments allowed the use of CT imaging as a primary screening tool in early decision-making. Consecutively, new splenic injury scoring systems, such as the CT severity index (CTSI) reported was established. Aim: The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the implementation of CTSI scoring system on the management decision and outcomes in patients with blunt splenic trauma over 8 years in a level 1 trauma center. Methods: This is a retrospective study including all adult patients with primary splenic trauma, having NOM and admitted to our hospital between 2013 and 2021. Results: The analyses were conducted on ninety-nine patients. The average sample age was 32.7 ± 12.3 years old. A total of (63/99) patients had splenic parenchyma injury without splenic vascular injury. There is a statistically significant association between CTSI grade 3 injury and the development of delayed splenic vascular injury (p < 0.05). There is an association between severity of initial CTSI score and the risk of NOM/clinical failure (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Our findings suggest implementing such a system in a level 1 trauma center will further improve the outcome of treatment for splenic blunt trauma. However, CTSI grade 3 is considered an increased risk of NOM failure, and further investigations are necessary to standardize its management

Clinical outcomes of high-intensity doses of atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A retrospective cohort study using real-world data

Aims: To compare the effectiveness and safety of 2 high-intensity atorvastatin doses (40 mg vs 80 mg) among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study using real-world data included patients admitted with ACS to the Heart Hospital in Qatar between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular disease-associated death, nonfatal ACS and nonfatal stroke. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to determine the association between the 2 high-intensity atorvastatin dosing regimens and the primary outcome at 1 month and 12 months postdischarge. Results: Of the 626 patients included in the analyses, 475 (75.9%) received atorvastatin 40 mg, while 151 (24.1%) received atorvastatin 80 mg following ACS. Most of the patients were Asian (73%), male (97%) with a mean age of 50 years and presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (60%). The incidence of the primary effectiveness outcome did not differ between the atorvastatin 40-and 80-mg groups at 1 month (0.8 vs 1.3%; adjusted hazard ratio = 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.04-8.13, P =.690) and at 12 months (3.2 vs 4%; adjusted hazard ratio = 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.18-1.80, P =.340). Similarly, the use of the 2 doses of atorvastatin resulted in comparable safety outcomes, including liver toxicity, myopathy and rhabdomyolysis with an event rate of <1% in both groups. Conclusion: The use of atorvastatin 40 mg in comparison to atorvastatin 80 mg in patients with ACS resulted in similar cardiovascular effectiveness and safety outcomes. 2020 British Pharmacological SocietyThis study was supported by the HMC (Grant number: MRC?01?19?094). The funders had no role in the design, planning and implementation of the project, or the preparation of this manuscript. The content is the sole responsibility of the authors.Scopu

A Comparative Study of High-intensity Rosuvastatin Versus Atorvastatin Therapy Post-acute Coronary Syndrome Using Real-world Data

A high-intensity statin is recommended for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, real-world evidence of the effectiveness of rosuvastatin following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is scarce. This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with ACS to compare between the 2 high-intensity statin therapies (rosuvastatin vs atorvastatin) in terms of a primary composite outcome of CVD-associated death, non-fatal ACS, and non-fatal stroke at 1 month and 12 months post discharge. The primary effectiveness outcome did not differ between the 2 groups at 1 month (1.3% vs 1%; aHR = 1.64, 95% CI 0.55-4.94, P= 0.379) and at 12 months (4.8% vs 3.5%; aHR = 1.48, 95% CI 0.82-2.67, P= 0.199). Similarly, the 2 groups had comparable safety outcomes. In conclusion, the use of high-intensity rosuvastatin compared to high-intensity atorvastatin therapy in patients with ACS had resulted in comparable cardiovascular effectiveness and safety outcomes

The Effect of Telemedicine on Patients' Compliance in Family Medicine Follow-ups in Qatar

Introduction: Telemedicine is the delivery of health care services to patients distantly. During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, telemedicine has become an essential implement in delivering healthcare services worldwide. Accordingly, in March 2020, the Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Qatar has started telephone consultation follow-up appointments in Family Medicine (FM) clinics instead of conventional consultation. Given the limited data about telephone consultations in Qatar, our aim of this study is to investigate the possible impact of telemedicine on chronic disease patients' follow-up compliance. Methods: This study compares the compliance of adult patients with chronic diseases following-up within FM clinics in Qatar's PHCC through telephone consultations with a minimum of three telephone consultations ordered between April to November 2020, in comparison to the compliance of the same group of patients to their prior face-to-face follow-up consultations in FM clinics with a minimum of three face-to-face ordered follow up appointments between April to November 2019. A cross-sectional study will be carried out to investigate the effect of telephone consultation in PHCC on patients' compliance with reference to conventional face-to-face consultation. Patients' data will be received from Health Information Management in twenty-seven PHCCs in Qatar. Conclusion: Due to the limited studies on the effectiveness of telemedicine on patient compliance in FM follow-ups within Qatar's PHCC, comparing patients' follow-up compliance with telephone consultations to their prior face-to-face consultations would be helpful in assessing patients' quality of care delivering within FM clinics. With telecommunication being easily accessible and time-efficient, it is believed, when used correctly, it might improve compliance and adherence to the management prescribed by the physician and follow-up appointments in Qatar's PHCC. In addition, this study will help in providing recommendations that could guide the organization on forming policies to be applied in PHCCs after the resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.Qscienc