Internet of Things for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change

Our world is vulnerable to climate change risks such as glacier retreat, rising temperatures, more variable and intense weather events (e.g., floods, droughts, and frosts), deteriorating mountain ecosystems, soil degradation, and increasing water scarcity. However, there are big gaps in our understanding of changes in regional climate and how these changes will impact human and natural systems, making it difficult to anticipate, plan, and adapt to the coming changes. The IoT paradigm in this area can enhance our understanding of regional climate by using technology solutions, while providing the dynamic climate elements based on integrated environmental sensing and communications that is necessary to support climate change impacts assessments in each of the related areas (e.g., environmental quality and monitoring, sustainable energy, agricultural systems, cultural preservation, and sustainable mining). In the IoT in Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change chapter, a framework for informed creation, interpretation and use of climate change projections and for continued innovations in climate and environmental science driven by key societal and economic stakeholders is presented. In addition, the IoT cyberinfrastructure to support the development of continued innovations in climate and environmental science is discussed

The natural exclusion of red deer from large boulder grazing refugia and the consequences for saxicolous bryophyte and lichen ecology

Large boulder grazing refugia permitted comparison of saxicolous bryophyte and lichen assemblages with those boulder tops accessible to red deer (Cervus elaphus) on a sporting estate in northwest Scotland. Plant succession was predicted to occur unchecked by grazing on the tops of these large boulders with cascading effects on bryophytes and lichens—assuming boulders had been in place over the same time period. Fifty pairs of boulders (one ≥2 m and the other accessible to red deer) were selected at random from various locations below north-facing crags. Percentage cover of each bryophyte and lichen species was estimated from three randomly placed quadrats on each boulder top. Due consideration was given to the influence of island biogeography theory in subsequent model simplification. Mean shrub cover and height, leaf-litter, bryophyte cover and bryophyte species richness were significantly higher within quadrats on large boulder tops that naturally excluded red deer. Lichen cover and lichen species richness were significantly higher on boulder tops accessible to red deer. Lichen cover was in a significant negative relationship with bryophyte cover, shrub cover and litter cover. Bryophyte cover showed a significant positive relationship with shrub height but there was an optimum shrub cover. Natural exclusion of red deer from the tops of large boulders has facilitated plant succession. The results suggest that grazing arrests the lithosere on boulder tops accessible to red deer at an early plagioclimax favouring saxicolous lichens. The results are relevant to situations where red deer might be excluded from boulder fields that hold lichen assemblages of conservation value

Toxoplasmic Anterior Optic Neuropathy

To describe clinical findings and course of toxoplasmic anterior optic neuropathy and to differentiate primary and secondary involvement

Pseudotumor cerebri and optic nerve sheath decompression

To determine the efficacy and safety of optic nerve sheath decompression in a large population of patients with pseudotumor cerebri with visual loss despite medical treatment and to suggest a treatment algorithm on the basis of these data. Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. One hundred fifty-eight eyes in 86 patients with pseudotumor cerebri. Optic nerve sheath decompression. Visual acuity, visual fields, and surgical complications. After optic nerve sheath decompression for pseudotumor cerebri, visual acuity stabilized or improved in 148 of 158 (94%) eyes, and visual fields stabilized or improved in 71 of 81 (88%) eyes. Surgical complications, most of which were transient and benign, were seen in 39 of 86 patients. Only one eye in one patient had permanent severe visual loss secondary to an operative complication. In patients with pseudotumor cerebri with progressive visual loss despite maximum medical therapy, optic nerve sheath decompression is a safe and effective means of stabilizing visual acuity and the visual fields of those tested

Presumed toxoplasmosic anterior optic neuropathy

To describe the clinical findings and course of toxoplasmic anterior optic neuropathy and to differentiate primary and secondary involvement. Retrospective observational case series from a tertiary referral institution. Clinical and photographic charts of 13 patients with toxoplasmosis with direct optic nerve head involvement were reviewed and data were collected throughout the length of follow-up. Toxoplasmic anterior optic neuropathy was divided into two types. Type I was defined as secondary infectious involvement of the optic nerve head from an adjacent focus of chorioretinitis that resolved with chorioretinal scarring. Type II was defined as primary involvement of the optic nerve head that resolved without chorioretinal scarring. Visual acuity improved after treatment in both Type I and Type II patients; however, the visual prognosis was worse in Type I patients due to macular involvement. Eighty-three percent of Type II patients had a final visual acuity equal to or better than 20/25 compared to 50% of Type I patients. Visual field defects were present in all patients, most frequently arcuate or altitudinal (62%). Delay in diagnosis was common (54%), especially in Type II patients (71%). Vitreous inflammation was absent on the initial examination in 31% of the patients. Toxoplasmic anterior optic neuropathy is an uncommon manifestation of ocular toxoplasmosis. Delays in diagnosis are common because of the frequent lack of typical chorioretinitis or vitreous inflammation. Adjacent macular involvement strongly influences visual outcome

Patients Presenting Emergently with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Follow-up and Factors Associated with Compliance

Patients presenting emergently with proliferative diabetic retinopathy have low rates of follow-up compliance, 61.9%. This trend is consistent across nearly all demographic variables. The specific insurance payer, length of visit, and interval to follow-up were found to have a significant impact on follow-up compliance and should help identify high risk patients

Post-Streptococcal Vasculitis

Purpose: To report a case of post-streptococcal retinal vasculitis. Design: Review of a case. Methods: Review of patient chart and flourescein angiography. Results: A 17 year old African American female presented with moderate vitritis and macular edema in the right eye and retinal vessel sheathing in both eyes. Conclusions: Although CNS vasculitis is well recognized as a post-streptococcal syndrome, this case illustrates that retinal vasculitis can also occur in this setting, and can resolve with oral steroid therapy