Diagnostic Procedures Using Radiation and Risk of Thyroid Cancer: Causal Association or Detection Bias? An Examination of Population Cancer Trends and Data from the NYC Fire Department

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is a common cancer diagnosis in the United States, whose incidence is increasing. Disaster and radiation treatment studies show high doses of radiation can cause TC. Some diagnostic procedures, whose use is increasing, expose individuals to low-dose radiation but can also incidentally detect subclinical TC. Evidence regarding low-dose radiation risk is limited. Objectives: To investigate the possible association of greater use of diagnostic procedures with TC, either causally through radiation exposure or via incidental detection. Methods: Two data sources were used: National Cancer Institute\u27s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data and Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) data. Using age-period-cohort analyses of SEER data (1973-2011), trends in TC incidence in the United States were decomposed into the effects of age, period and cohort in the context of changes in diagnostic procedures. Using FDNY data, the association of radiation exposure from diagnostic procedures with TC risk was assessed. Whether heightened medical attention (screening using diagnostic procedures and number of medical exams) mediated the previously-observed association between World Trade Center (WTC) exposure and TC was also investigated. Results: Between 1973 and 2011, TC incidence has increased and mortality has remained stable. Independent age, period and cohort effects were observed for TC incidence in the United States. Risk increased around the 1993-1997 period, consistent with hypotheses of increased detection via diagnostic procedures, and decreased around the 1970s birth cohort. Analyses by cancer subtypes and tumor size showed mostly similar results. Among firefighters, radiation exposure from diagnostic procedures and TC was not statistically significant (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=1.02 per mSv), although after adjusting for confounders, the highest radiation exposure category \u3e10 mSv, had a HR of 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-5.18. TC risk was higher among firefighters with WTC exposure on 9/11/2001 but not after age-adjustment (HR=1.75, 95% CI 0.80-3.82). The association was partially mediated by heightened medical attention; 21.9% of the association was due to screening diagnostic procedures and medical exams. Conclusions: Incidental detection of TC may be contributing to the increasing incidence and possibly exposure to low-dose radiation from diagnostic procedures as well

Agreement in Bimanese

This thesis is primarily concerned with the nature and behaviour of actor agreement clitics in the Indonesian language Bimanese (Central Malaya-Polynesian; Sumbawa). In addition to qualifying these morphemes as both 'agreement' and 'clitics', this study seeks to account for what determines whether they are realized before the predicate as proclitics, or after the predicate, as enclitics. This thesis also examines the status of grammatical relations in Bimanese, and in particular the notion of a surface subject. A number of Austronesian languages have been variously ascribed not to hold this grammatical status. Amidst the tests for subjecthood, it is all the while contended that Bimanese distinguishes a grammatical relation of 'actor' at a lower level of (syntacticized) argument-structure; it is this grammatical relation which is singled out by the primary agreement relation. In addition, this study also draws on some of the distinctions made at an entirely different level: that of pragmatics, or information structure. The distinctions made at this level are believed to be pertinent and necessary for the purpose of aptly describing the grammatical character of Bimanese

Usability Testing to Improve Research Data Services

Usability refers to the ease and accessibility of a system. Usability testing seeks to study how users interact with a system in order to improve the users’ experience and satisfaction in achieving their objectives with the system. Usability testing is an important metric for improving a library’s online services, including research data services. Libraries can help make research data available by providing repositories and data curation services for researchers to house their collected data. Providing services throughout the science data life cycle (i.e. plan, collect, share, and preserve) is important for producing higher quality research, expanding its impact, and data reuse. The Data Observation Network for Earth (DataONE) is supported by the US National Science Foundation and seeks to provide the framework and cyber-infrastructure to meet the needs of the science community to provide constant and secure access to Earth observational data. The DataONE network has heavily invested and implemented a comprehensive Usability Program to ensure user-centric software and components are made available to the variety of DataONE stakeholders. DataONE’s ONEMercury is a search tool for scientific data, and the ONEDrive is a mounted workspace on the user’s computer that works with ONEMercury. In 2012, a usability test was performed of the DataONE’s ONEMercury tool to evaluate how scientists engage with its content and information. Twenty-six participants performed a series of tasks using the tool. MORAE software recorded the sessions, including screen display, keystrokes, and mouse movements. Participants were also asked to think aloud as they completed the tasks. The results were analyzed by observation, think aloud, time on task, and number of errors. Another usability test was performed of the DataONE’s ONEDrive to assess user impressions as the tool was in development. Six participants were shown a wireframe of the tool and asked for their feedback. This paper proposes to examine the results from the ONEMercury and ONEDrive tests and draw implications for libraries and other data providers wishing to implement and utilize usability practices and principles

Embedded Librarians: Partnering with Faculty in the Virtual Classroom

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Support Systems Designed for Older Drivers to Achieve Safe and Comfortable Driving

Background: The number of older people is increasing. Many of them expect to maintain a rich social life and to continue driving at an older age. Objective: The present study investigates the mechanisms behind self-regulation and driving cessation in order to suggest development of support systems to prolong older drivers’ safe mobility. Method: Three focus groups were conducted with 19 older active drivers aged 65+ who were divided according to annual mileage driven. Results: A content analysis revealed broad self-regulatory behaviour as already reported in the literature, e.g., avoiding driving at rush hour and at night. The participants also reported difficulty in finding the way to their final destination and an increasing need to plan their travelling. Co-piloting was a behaviour applied by couples to cope with difficulties encountered in traffic. A large part of the discussion was focused on emerging feelings of stress, anxiety and fear when driving in recent years, a feeling induced by external factors e.g., other road users’ behaviour, traffic density or high speed. Apart from health problems, high levels of stress could explain driving cessation, especially for women. An increased feeling of safety and comfort could be achieved by an increased use of support systems specifically designed to respond to older drivers’ needs. Conclusion: Support systems for older drivers should increase comfort and decrease their stress levels. New systems, such as co-pilot function and more developed Global Positioning System (GPS) supporting of the entire travel from door to door, should be developed to respond to the market needs

Development and characterization of an in vitro system of the human retina using cultured cell lines

Background: Previously developed in vitro cultures of the human retina have been solo or dual cell cultures. We developed a triple-cell culture in vitro model utilizing a membrane system to produce a better representation of a functional and morphological human retina. Methods: Retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMVEC/ACBRI181, Cell systems), retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE/ARPE-19, ATCC) and Müller glial cells (MIO-M1, UCL) were grown in a triple-culture. Our optimized triple-culture media contained a mix of specific endothelial medium and high glucose Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), where all three layers were viable for up to 5 days. Co-culture effect on morphological changes (cell staining) and gene expression of functional genes (pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) were measured from RNA via real time PCR. Expression of tight junction protein 1 (TJP1) was measured in RNA isolated from ARPE-19s, to assess barrier stability. Results: The triple-culture promotes certain cell functionality through up-regulation of TJP1, increasing PEDF and decreasing VEGF expression highlighting its importance for the assessment of disease mechanisms distinct from a solo culture which would not allow the true effect of the native microenvironment to be elucidated. Conclusion: This model's novelty and reliability allows for the assessment of singular cellular function within the retinal microenvironment and overall assessment of retinal health, whilst eliminating the requirement of animal-based models

Human cardiac mesenchymal stem cell like cells, a novel cell population with therapeutic potential.

Cardiac stem/progenitors are being used in the clinic to treat patients with a range of cardiac pathologies. However, improvements in heart function following treatment have been reported to be variable, with some showing no response. This discrepancy in response remains unresolved. MSCs have been highlighted as a regenerative tool as these cells display both immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative activity. The purpose of this study was to derive a cardiac MSC population to provide an alternative/support to current therapies. We derived human cardiac-mesenchymal-stem-cell-like-cells (CMSCLC) so named as they share some MSC characteristics. However, CMSCLC lack the MSC tri-lineage differentiation capacity, being capable of only rare adipogenic differentiation and demonstrating low/no osteogenic or chondrogenic potential, a phenotype that may have advantages following transplantation. Further, CMSCLC expressed low levels of p16, high levels of MHCI and low levels of MHCII. A lack of senescent cells would also be advantageous for cells to be used therapeutically, as would the ability to modulate the immune response. Crucially, CMSCLC display a transcriptional profile which includes genes associated with cardio-protective/cardio-beneficial effects. CMSCLC are also secretory and multipotent, giving rise to cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. Our findings support CMSCLC as a novel cell population suitable for use for transplantation

Provision of Outdoor Nature-Based Activity for Older People with Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review from the ENLIVEN Project

© 2023 Rachel Collins et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.The health and well-being benefits of outdoor nature-based activity are increasingly recognised, but older people with cognitive impairment face significant barriers to access. The ENLIVEN project aims to promote access by gathering evidence and coproducing guidance for activity providers. As part of this project, we conducted a scoping review to characterise the types of outdoor nature-based activity for older people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment for which research evidence is available and the range of outcomes is examined. The protocol is available online. We systematically searched relevant databases from 1st January, 2009, to 20th October, 2022, and screened articles against the following criteria: participants were older people aged 65 and above with cognitive impairment arising from dementia or another health condition. The study described the formal provision of outdoor nature-based activity away from the person’s usual place of residence, and at least one outcome of participation in the activity was evaluated. Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria, all focused on people living with dementia. In most cases, participants were attending day care or living in residential care, and sample sizes ranged from 4 to 136. Activities fell into three groups: green day care (fifteen articles), equine-assisted interventions (seven articles), and community nature-based activities (six articles). Outcome domains explored were connection with nature, activity engagement, impacts on clinical symptoms, functional ability, physical, psychological, and social health, and quality of life. Outdoor nature-based activity can be offered as an opportunity for meaningful occupation to enrich daily life, as a framework for day care provision, or as an intervention to address clinical needs. The evidence base for green day care is relatively established, but the potential for addressing specific clinical needs remains to be explored. The paucity of evidence regarding community provision, especially for those not attending formal care settings, suggests the need for effective knowledge exchange to stimulate initiatives in this area.Peer reviewe

Sleep in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Evidence Gaps and Challenges

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence is rising to epidemic proportions due to historical smoking trends, the aging of the population, and air pollution. Although blaming the victims has been common in COPD, the majority of COPD worldwide is now thought to be nonsmoking related, that is, caused by air pollution and cookstove exposure. It is increasingly appreciated that subjective and objective sleep disturbances are common in COPD, although strong epidemiological data are lacking. People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) plus COPD (the so-called overlap syndrome) have a high risk of cardiovascular death, although again mechanisms are unknown and untested. This review aims to draw attention to the problem of sleep in COPD, to encourage clinicians to ask their patients about symptoms, and to stimulate further research in this area given the large burden of the disease

Diabetic Retinopathy in Newly Diagnosed Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Contribution of β-Cell Function

Purpose: The association of hyperglycemia and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in established type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects is well accepted. However, the association between β-cell responsiveness and insulin sensitivity leading to fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia with DR in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve T2DM subjects remain unreported. Methods: A total of 544 newly diagnosed treatment-naïve T2DM subjects were screened for DR (digital photography) and underwent a standardized meal tolerance test. Serial plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured, and fasting (M0) and postprandial β-cell responsiveness calculated Calculating Pancreatic Response Program along with homeostasis model assessment-β cell function (HOMA-B) and HOMA-Insulin Sensitivity. A subgroup of 201 subjects also underwent a frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test and the acute insulin response to glucose, insulin sensitivity, and glucose effectiveness (SG) estimated (MINMOD model). Results: A total of 16.5% (90) subjects had DR at diagnosis. Subjects with DR had significantly reduced M0, HOMA-B and SG leading to higher fasting and postprandial (2 hour) glucose and significantly lower fasting and postprandial (2 hour) insulin. Factors independently associated with DR in multivariate logistic regression analysis were M0, HOMA-B, and SG with fasting and postprandial (2 hour) glucose and insulin. There was no statistical difference in glycated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, acute insulin response to glucose, and insulin sensitivity between those with or without DR. Principal Conclusions: In this cohort of newly diagnosed T2DM subjects, DR is associated with reduced β-cell responsiveness, resulting from β-cell failure rather than insulin resistance, leading to fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemi