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Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of adult long-term disability in the US, with high impact for African Americans. Since 90% of stroke survivors are functionally impaired, improving stroke outcomes is a major public health issue. Agencies such as CMS and the Joint Commission have implemented performance programs including quality indicators (QIs) which would ideally be selected based on impact on stroke-related outcomes, but such evidence is currently scant. The Institute of Medicine has stated "that unbiased, reliable information about what works in health care is essential to reducing geographic variation in the use of health care services, and improving quality." We propose to systematically study Qls related to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) care and their associations with the outcomes of cardiovascular disease [CVD] mortality, CVD events, and functional independence. The overall goal is to develop a set of "optimal" AIS care Qls that maximizes long term outcomes both for patients overall and for specific groups of patients, such as African Americans, and AIS patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or diabetes, both more common among African Americans.
We aim to 1) examine variations in guideline-concordant process of AIS management, hypothesizing that guideline concordant care will vary by patient, hospital and regional factors, and that adherence to CMS Qls but not other potential Qls will improve over 2003-12;2) examine associations between processes of AIS management and outcomes, including incremental and relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in the >70% with CMS data. hypothesizing that guideline concordant care is associated with lower in-hospital complications and mortality, and that one year later, guideline-concordant inpatient care during the initial AIS hospitalization is associated with lower recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction (Ml), CVD mortality and higher functional independence;3) examine the association between processes of AIS management and outcomes in AIS patients with CKD or diabetes, hypothesizing that patients with CKD or diabetes will receive less guideline-concordant care than others, and that CKD and diabetes patients receiving guideline-concordant care will have better outcomes than others, but the set of Qls that optimizes quality of life for CKD and diabetes patients will differ compared with those for AIS patients overall. The study will consist of formal chart abstraction of processes of AIS care among 1200 REGARDS subjects, and will use publically available data on hospital characteristics, as well as CMS data.
Stroke outcomes are worse for African Americans than for others in the US. This study will examine medical care provided to 1200 individuals who suffered an acute ischemic stroke to determine which types of care provided during their hospitalization lead to the best outcomes further down the road, and how to optimize outcomes for people who already had diabetes or chronic kidney disease at the time of their stroke.
|Boehme, Amelia K; Siegler, James E; Mullen, Michael T et al. (2014) Racial and gender differences in stroke severity, outcomes, and treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 23:e255-61|
|Boehme, Amelia K; Rawal, Pawan V; Lyerly, Michael J et al. (2014) Investigating the utility of previously developed prediction scores in acute ischemic stroke patients in the stroke belt. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 23:2001-6|
|Petrov, Megan E; Sawyer, Patricia; Kennedy, Richard et al. (2014) Benzodiazepine (BZD) use in community-dwelling older adults: Longitudinal associations with mobility, functioning, and pain. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 59:331-7|
|Petrov, Megan E; Howard, Virginia J; Kleindorfer, Dawn et al. (2014) Over-the-counter and prescription sleep medication and incident stroke: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 23:2110-6|
|Chang, Tiffany R; Albright, Karen C; Boehme, Amelia K et al. (2014) Factor VIII in the setting of acute ischemic stroke among patients with suspected hypercoagulable state. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 20:124-8|
|Mullen, Michael T; Wiebe, Douglas J; Bowman, Ariel et al. (2014) Disparities in accessibility of certified primary stroke centers. Stroke 45:3381-8|
|Lyerly, Michael J; Houston, J Thomas; Boehme, Amelia K et al. (2014) Safety of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator administration with computed tomography evidence of prior infarction. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 23:1657-61|
|Boehme, Amelia K; Kapoor, Niren; Albright, Karen C et al. (2014) Predictors of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in ischemic stroke undergoing systemic thrombolysis with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 23:e271-6|
|Mathias, Tiffany L; Albright, Karen C; Boehme, Amelia K et al. (2014) The Impact of Myocardial Infarction vs. Pneumonia on Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke. J Cardiovasc Dis 2:1-3|
|Petrov, Megan E; Kim, Yongin; Lauderdale, Diane S et al. (2014) Objective sleep, a novel risk factor for alterations in kidney function: the CARDIA study. Sleep Med 15:1140-6|
Showing the most recent 10 out of 28 publications


In the second episode of The Good Citizen Jeremy Hansen talks to Henry Crothers about having the bravery to transform our urban landscapes.
“We need to stop chickening out.”
Landscape architect and urban designer Henry Crothers is playing a guiding role in the creation of many of the best bits of New Zealand towns and cities, but he thinks it’s time for more bravery when it comes to the reinvention of the places we share. He’s been instrumental in the design of much-lauded projects including Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, Westhaven Promenade and Te Ara i Whiti (the pink cycle path). Now his firm, LandLAB, is immersed in the rehabilitation of central Christchurch, as well as new master plans for Tauranga and Queenstown. A little more courage, he says, could change these places from good to great.
Many of his projects share a common theme: they’re about creating places for people, not cars. In fact, much of his work could be described as undoing decades of damage overzealous traffic engineers have done to the places we live in. But despite the magnitude of the changes cities like Auckland are facing, car users still threaten to revolt if street side car parks are repurposed or cycle lanes claim their rightful place on our roads, forcing Crothers into the role of negotiator and salesperson for a better, more people-centric world.
This isn’t an easy job. Crothers says New Zealand’s understanding of the power of good urban design has expanded enormously since he started out, as have the review processes of the organisations who commission new projects. But getting the anti-change brigade to see the benefits of people-centric spaces still feels a lot harder than it should, with these groups continuing to have a disproportionate influence on decision makers.
Crothers says the more great projects we create, the easier these arguments will be to win. The fights over the decade-old revamp of Auckland’s Queen Street (a project Crothers also worked on), for example, have long been forgotten, replaced by a new consensus based on rapidly growing pedestrian counts and a flood of new retailers. Now, councillors are openly talking about permanently closing parts of Queen Street to cars.
A guiding principle of Crothers’ work is that he wants it to heighten awareness of the landscapes we live in. Cities and towns are remarkable for the way they eradicate connections to the land they occupy: we pave over everything, channel streams into underground pipes, and casually reclaim land from our harbours.
Crothers begins his design process by examining the ecology of the places in which he’s working in to establish a better connection with the environment. “Cities are a complex layering of the ecologies of nature, infrastructure, culture, commerce and community – an interconnected field,” he says. “Landscape can be the driver and ordering device of our new places, spaces and communities.”
On a large housing project plan in Auckland’s Glenn Innes, for example, he proposed putting the river first and daylighting the many tributaries that run through the site to the Tāmaki Estuary, and planting them so they act as natural filters for water on its way to the Waitematā. At the end of Auckland’s North Wharf and on Christchurch’s Avon River, he’s designed broad, generous steps that allow visitors to dip their toes in the water – a connection to the immediate environment that seems so logical that it’s almost astonishing to think about how difficult this was to achieve before. His work, in a sense, is about highlighting these simple pleasures in the hope of creating deeper connections with the places we live in.Listen


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domain: design


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Analysts expect Sonoco Products Co (NYSE:SON) to announce $1.27 billion in sales for the current quarter, Zacks reports. Five analysts have made estimates for Sonoco Products’ earnings, with the highest sales estimate coming in at $1.30 billion and the lowest estimate coming in at $1.23 billion. Sonoco Products posted sales of $1.14 billion during the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year over year growth rate of 11.4%. The business is expected to report its next quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, February 15th.
According to Zacks, analysts expect that Sonoco Products will report full year sales of $1.27 billion for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $4.97 billion to $5.04 billion. For the next year, analysts forecast that the company will post sales of $5.25 billion per share, with estimates ranging from $5.18 billion to $5.37 billion. Zacks’ sales calculations are a mean average based on a survey of research firms that that provide coverage for Sonoco Products.
Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The industrial products company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.27 billion. Sonoco Products had a return on equity of 16.40% and a net margin of 5.63%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.72 earnings per share.
Shares of Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON) opened at $54.69 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5,436.24, a P/E ratio of 20.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Sonoco Products has a 1-year low of $47.10 and a 1-year high of $55.77.
In other news, CFO Barry L. Saunders sold 5,645 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.39, for a total transaction of $295,741.55. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 60,455 shares in the company, valued at $3,167,237.45. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.90% of the company’s stock.
Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Naples Global Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Sonoco Products by 10.6% during the fourth quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC now owns 26,591 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,413,000 after buying an additional 2,550 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue boosted its position in shares of Sonoco Products by 66.7% during the fourth quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 14,490 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $769,000 after buying an additional 5,800 shares during the last quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. purchased a new position in shares of Sonoco Products during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $451,000. Alpha Windward LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sonoco Products during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $558,000. Finally, Schwab Charles Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Sonoco Products by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Schwab Charles Investment Management Inc. now owns 532,451 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $28,295,000 after buying an additional 25,293 shares during the last quarter. 72.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
About Sonoco Products
Sonoco Products Company is engaged in manufacturing of industrial and consumer packaging products, and providing packaging services. The Company operates in four segments: Consumer Packaging, Paper and Industrial Converted Products, Display and Packaging, and Protective Solutions. Its Consumer Packaging segment’s products and services include round composite cans, aluminum, steel and peelable membrane easy-open closures for composite and metal cans; plastic bottles, cups and trays, and printed flexible packaging and global brand management.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
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domain: economics


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7 Feb 2019 How To Make THE BEST Cactus Farm For Factions or Skyblock (Schematica Needed- Schematic Download) $100 Buycraft Giveaway for make a cactus farm in minecraft skyblock easy,how to make a big cactus farm in minecraft Minecraft; 2009 I Found the World's Most ANNOYING Minecraft Player! 3 Jun 2014 TOO SMALL: The Mega Cactus Farm. Mumbo Jumbo. Loading Unsubscribe from Mumbo Jumbo? Cancel Game. Minecraft; 2009 2 Jan 2019 May as well start a new map the smartest way possible! ;) #minecraft #skyblock 2000 IQ MASSIVE CACTUS FARM | Minecraft Skyblock. 13 Mar 2018 Minecraft Factions: Fastest OP Crop Hopper Cactus Farm (Tutorial) (Schematic download). Jdpfarmz. Loading Unsubscribe from Jdpfarmz? 8 Apr 2017 Today I show u how to make my awesome cactus farm in skyrealms this cactus farm makes around 3245 cactus in 2hrs. 29 Mar 2014 In this episode we complete the cactus farm by adding a storage system. World download (episode 15): http://tiny.cc/tiveden_e15 Diamond:A big troll ;( XD Nice awesome building´s and more Hey Storm I think your world, which already is nice looking would look beautiful with a texture pack of some Minecraft Automatic Cactus Farm | Fast Easy & Efficient. This fully Minecraft Seeds Videos - Page 2 Minecraft Skull, Minecraft Seed, Minecraft Tutorial, Video
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domain: hobby


Would county reservoir be source of 'relief?'
In 2002, you could walk across the Broad River in some spots, said Cleveland County Water manager Butch Smith.
“All the churches were praying for rain in 2002,” Smith said. “PPG almost shut down because there almost wasn’t enough water to keep it running. We would have lost thousands of jobs.”
Since 2000, the county has sought to create another water source in the Delight area of northern Cleveland County to act as a backup in the event of another major drought.
Recently, the N.C. Division of Water Quality gave approval for a reservoir in Cleveland County and dropped a requirement that the water system obtain a permit saying the project would not harm water quality. Approval came without the normal public hearings or environmental studies.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must also sign off on the reservoir for it to become a reality. The Corps is still working on an environmental impact statement that would show how such a water source would affect plant and animal species in the region. The completion of that document could take another year, Corps officials have told The Star.
Approval by the Army Corps would still not ensure a reservoir, Smith said. County residents would vote on the formation of a reservoir before it would happen, he said.
Local leaders see benefits
The proposed Cleveland County reservoir would secure water in the area for potential future periods of drought, but it would also bring industry to the county, officials say.
“A reservoir in the upper end of the county would be a relief to potential industry looking to come up here,” said interim county manager David Dear. “It will be a relief for them knowing that there are two reservoirs in the upper end of the county, the other being Moss Lake.”
The Disney and AT&T data centers in Kings Mountain need constant utilities to remain operational. They depend on Cleveland County Water as a backup source, Smith said, and that was a factor in them agreeing to come to the county in recent years.
The potential reservoir would also be used as a lake, which would attract recreation, Smith said.
Here's what some other local leaders said:
“It would give us a great insurance policy as far as water supply goes in times of drought. It’s a little difficult to judge off of this summer because we have had more rain than in any six-month period, but we will drought again. Remember in 2000 and 2002, we had severe dry spells during the year and the river got extremely low. A reservoir in the upper end of the county would be a relief to potential industry looking to come here, knowing we had two reservoirs both in the upper end and at Moss Lake.”
-David Dear, interim county manager
“Our council has not had any discussion about the reservoir yet, but we have been watching it. We haven’t taken any position on it one way or the other.”
-Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony
“Ever since the concept was broached by the sanitary district, commissioners always supported the efforts. I don’t see the commissioners changing direction with that. Moss Lake would be a great example of how this would help. Water is like blue gold; it’s precious. If you can impound water, then it would attract industry and help open up and develop an area.”
-Cleveland County Commissioners chairman Ronnie Hawkins
Other groups have concerns
In the past 13 years, Cleveland County Water has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers office in Wilmington on the reservoir project, Smith told The Star in June.
“The Corps is the lead agency working on the reservoir, and all we are doing is paying them,” he said.
Several groups, including some residents living in the upper end of the county, have said they see drawbacks in the reservoir.
The Army Corps and the federal Environmental Protection Agency have raised concerns about the proposed water source.
The Corps says the proposed reservoir would cover 1,500 acres of forest and farmland, destroying 24 miles of streams, six acres of wetlands and a federally threatened plant community.
The EPA has urged the county to look for alternatives.
The Corps proposed seven reservoir alternatives to the water board, but Smith calls these "Band-aids." Alternatives include getting water from the Broad River, purchasing water from Kings Mountain and purchasing water from the Rutherford County municipality of Forest City.
“When Shelby was in a drought, Forest City didn’t have water either,” Smith said. “Kings Mountain couldn’t keep up.”
Federal authorities cannot approve projects that could hurt water quality until the state does, according to state officials.
The likelihood that the Corps would deny approval for the project prompted the decision by state officials, said Tom Reeder, director of the Division of Water Resources.
"The state of North Carolina looked at all this and said there's really no value added to us getting involved in this whole thing," Reeder said. "Cleveland County would have had to spend more money that would not go to any good purpose."
The Corps has to decide which alternative will impact the environment the least, Army Corps team leader Jennifer Fry told The Star in June.
A public hearing will be held for comment from residents, and then the in-the-works environmental impact document will be finalized.
The completion of the environmental impact report could take another year, Fry previously told The Star. If the Corps gave its approval, county residents would vote on the project, Smith said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Jessica Pickens at 704-669-3332 or email@example.com.


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domain: entertainment


text:
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with a total internal reflection fluorescence STED microscope (TIRF-STED-FCS).
Leutenegger M., Ringemann C., Lasser T., Hell SW., Eggeling C.
We characterize a novel fluorescence microscope which combines the high spatial discrimination of a total internal reflection epi-fluorescence (epi-TIRF) microscope with that of stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy. This combination of high axial confinement and dynamic-active lateral spatial discrimination of the detected fluorescence emission promises imaging and spectroscopy of the structure and function of cell membranes at the macro-molecular scale. Following a full theoretical description of the sampling volume and the recording of images of fluorescent beads, we exemplify the performance and limitations of the TIRF-STED nanoscope with particular attention to the polarization state of the laser excitation light. We demonstrate fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) with the TIRF-STED nanoscope by observing the diffusion of dye molecules in aqueous solutions and of fluorescent lipid analogs in supported lipid bilayers in the presence of background signal. The nanoscope reduced the out-of-focus background signal. A lateral resolution down to 40-50 nm was attained which was ultimately limited by the low lateral signal-to-background ratio inherent to the confocal epi-TIRF scheme. Together with the estimated axial confinement of about 55 nm, our TIRF-STED nanoscope achieved an almost isotropic and less than 1 attoliter small all-optically induced measurement volume.

domain: biology


text: Cappadocia is one of Turkey's most popular tourist destinations and for good reason! Ancient cave homes from the Bronze Age, and palaces are still visible carved into rocks. Tall "fairy chimneys", or rock pinnacles formed from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, and shaped from erosion reach up to the sky. Walking through this semi-arid landscape, I was reminded of the National Parks of Utah, but with an added sense of wonder of the people who at one point carved their homes into the high up rocks for defense and shelter. With hot sunny days, and cool nights, Cappadocia is a place of wonder that can be explored by people of all ability depending on how far off the beaten path you want to wander. Being a tourist destination there are also plenty of unique hotels, artisan shops, and fantastic restaurants to spend time when you aren't hiking through the valleys, or visiting the open air museums.

domain: geography


The City of Lacey municipal buildings are powered by 100% Green Energy
Lacey was one of the first cities and entities to sign on to PSE’s Green Direct program.
Green Direct is a ground-breaking initiative designed by PSE that allows government and commercial customers the ability to purchase 100 percent of their energy from a dedicated, local, renewable energy resource, while providing them with a stable, cost-efficient solution.
This program furthers PSE’s deep decarbonization goals and accelerates the move towards clean electricity by 2045, as called for in Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act.
The first project developed for the Green Direct program is the Skookumchuck Wind Facility. Construction began in 2019 and the project went into operation November 2020. It can produce up to 137 megawatts (MW) of wind energy—equivalent to powering 30,000 homes.
The project, owned by Southern Power, is located on Weyerhaeuser timber land, located in Lewis and Thurston counties. It is the first large-scale wind project located in Western Washington; and the first in the state to be located on working forest land.
A second project for Green Direct, the Lund Hill Solar Project, is under development by Avangrid Renewables in Klickitat County, Washington. At 150 megawatts of energy, this second project would be the largest solar project in the state of Washington. Visit Puget Sound Energy's website here to learn more.
| We are an EPA Green Power Community |
Lacey has been designated an official "Green Power Community" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of its commitment to green power use—the twelfth such city in the nation. Nearly 6 percent of the collective electrical energy used in Lacey's homes, businesses and offices is now green power, resulting in an annual reduction of approximately 11,614 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—equivalent to the amount of carbon stored annually by 2,247 acres of native forest.
In addition to the renewable energy utilized by Lacey's residents and businesses, the community meets all electrical needs for its municipal buildings (including city hall, the library, community center, senior center, museum and public works operations center) as well as its water, reclaimed water, wastewater and stormwater utilities, all parks and recreation facilities, and more than 3,000 streetlights and traffic signals through the exclusive use of green power.
To learn more about renewable energy and green power, call Puget Sound Energy at 1 (800) 562-1482, or browse to pse.com


text:
The Morgan State Bears (10-13, 5-6 MEAC) host the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks (10-13, 5-7 MEAC) in a matchup of MEAC teams at Talmadge L. Hill Field House, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET on Monday, February 28, 2022. The Bears are 3.5-point favorites in the game. The point total is 141.5 in the matchup.
Morgan State vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Predictions
Morgan State vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Betting Odds
|Morgan State||-3.5||141.5 points|
Morgan State vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Last 10 Games
- Morgan State has a 4-6 record straight-up in its last 10 contests, while covering the spread three times in those games.
- Morgan State and its opponents have combined to hit the over in six of those 10 games.
- The last 10 Bears games averaged 147.2 total points, 5.7 more points than this matchup’s point total.
- In the last 10 games, the Bears are scoring 1.9 points less per game compared to their season average.
- Maryland-Eastern Shore has a 4-6 record straight-up in its past 10 contests, while covering the spread seven times in those games.
- The final scores of the past 10 Maryland-Eastern Shore games have exceeded the set total three times.
- The last 10 Hawks games averaged 135.8 total points, 5.7 fewer points than this matchup’s point total.
- The Hawks’ per-game scoring average over their past 10 games is 67.3, 0.9 points lower than their season-long per-game average.
Morgan State vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Betting Trends
- Morgan State has put together a 6-13-0 record against the spread this season.
- In games they have played as 3.5-point favorites or more, the Bears have an ATS record of 1-3.
- This season, Morgan State’s games have hit the over 11 times out of 19 chances.
- The Bears put up 76 points per game, 10 more points than the 66 the Hawks give up.
- When Morgan State scores more than 66 points, it is 4-6 against the spread and 9-5 overall.
- Maryland-Eastern Shore has covered the spread in a game 15 times this year (15-7-0).
- In games they have played as 3.5-point underdogs or more, the Hawks have an ATS record of 12-4.
- This season, eight of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s games have gone over the point total out of 22 chances.
- The Hawks’ 68.2 points per game are 5.8 fewer points than the 74 the Bears allow to opponents.
- Maryland-Eastern Shore is 4-0 against the spread and 7-0 overall when it scores more than 74 points.
Morgan State vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Over/Under Trends
- This season, 13 of Morgan State’s 19 games have gone over Monday’s total of 141.5 points.
- This season, five of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s games have finished with a combined score higher than 141.5 points.
- The total for the matchup of 141.5 is 2.7 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Bears (76 points per game) and the Hawks (68.2 points per game).
- This matchup’s total is 1.5 fewer points than the 140 these two teams combine to give up per game in 2020.
- This season, the average total for Bears games is 145.9 points, 4.4 more than the over/under of 141.5 points for this contest.
- A difference of seven points separates this matchup’s over/under (141.5 points) and the average total points bet in Hawks’ games (134.5 points) this season.
Morgan State Team Leaders
- Lagio Grantsaan: 10.5 PTS, 49.7 FG%, 26.2 3PT% (11-for-42)
- De’Torrion Ware: 11 PTS, 33.6 FG%, 30.9 3PT% (42-for-136)
- Sheryn Devonish: 7 PTS, 1.2 STL, 37.1 FG%, 25 3PT% (2-for-8)
- Malik Miller: 12.3 PTS, 8.5 REB, 1.5 STL, 53.6 FG%
- Isaiah Burke: 8 PTS, 1.6 STL, 45.2 FG%, 37.3 3PT% (25-for-67)
Maryland-Eastern Shore Team Leaders
- Nathaniel Pollard Jr.: 9 PTS, 1.4 STL, 56.3 FG%, 25 3PT% (2-for-8)
- Da’Shawn Phillip: 9.1 PTS, 1.7 STL, 38.3 FG%, 28.6 3PT% (26-for-91)
- Kevon Voyles: 9.1 PTS, 1.4 STL, 45.7 FG%, 41.4 3PT% (24-for-58)
- Zion Styles: 10.2 PTS, 1.8 STL, 39.6 FG%, 32.5 3PT% (13-for-40)
- Dom London: 10.9 PTS, 1.2 STL, 43.9 FG%, 37.2 3PT% (29-for-78)
College Basketball Picks
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Looking for the best bonuses and offers from online sportsbooks? Check out BetSGPN, your home for online sports betting.

domain: game


text:
“My identity as a queer artist and my passion for visual storytelling fuel my dedication to capturing these emotions in my work,” says photographer Daniel Blake (he/him/his) to the Phoblographer in an interview. “It’s about showcasing the beauty of vulnerability and the complexities of the human spirit. Being able to evoke emotions and create that bond with my audience is what drives me as an artist.” Dan continues to state that he’s sharing a part of his soul and inviting others to join him on an emotional journey. This idea permeates through his surreal photography.
For Daniel, photography has always been a way for him to express himself when words fail him — and several other artists and photographers can relate. In the way that many readers were beguiled by the words and skill of Shakespeare, it’s easy to become smitten with his conceptual and surreal photography. And for Daniel, it’s always been about expression — specifically around the emotions that he’s feeling.
“Over the last few years, my focus has been on exploring deep emotional themes that resonate with me: heartache, loneliness, love, and melancholy,” he tells us. Daniel’s journey as a queer photographer has shaped his photographic style. It shows a unique perspective that it hard to see or find amongst many photographers.
I’ve been particularly fascinated by the way memory fluctuates and influences our realities. It’s incredible how our minds can warp our perceptions, sometimes in ways we adore, and other times, we despise. This aspect adds a profound layer to my work, inviting viewers to ponder their own memories and emotions.Daniel Blake
The Creative Journey of Daniel Blake
Dan started out around 2009 — when Tumblr was all the rage. A self-described shy kid, he took a lot of self-portraits. Sometimes his father would help him realize his creative dreams, but otherwise, his work was often created alone. Dan drew inspiration from the surreal artwork on Flickr, which is where we found him.
Dan wanted to be a photographer from a young age, but thought that it was an unattainable dream — and he didn’t want to specialize in wedding photography. But as Dan continued to explore emotionally charged themes in his work, he started using it as his primary way to communicate his sense of isolation and vulnerability.
“During high school, I pursued photography courses and even volunteered for a photojournalism program in my senior year,” he tells us. “Around the same time, I was diagnosed with severe panic disorder, which further influenced and deepened the emotional aspect of my art.” From there, he went to community college, took a break while exploring his identity, and then returned to college, focusing on graphic design. But photography was always the main squeeze.
Dan’s embers for photography sparked into flames when he discovered drag culture via his partner at the time. Specifically, it renewed his passion for nightlife photography. “Every weekend, I ventured out alone, documenting moments with my camera,” he tells us. “Although I sometimes collaborated with others for self-portraits, I predominantly captured them on my own still. Surprisingly, I even took the stage, performing in several drag shows and later hosting them through my small project, the Grand Artists Guild (G.A.G.).”
For the money, he assisted a wedding photographer until upgrading his equipment to a Sony a7 III and a few lenses. This eventually led the way to him booking his own weddings until he registered as a legitimate photography business this year in 2023. To help clarify that statement, we mean that he’s gainfully employed this way.
My journey has been one of growth, resilience, and pursuing my passion relentlessly. Through photography, I have found a way to connect with others, express myself, and create lasting memories for my clients. It’s an honor to now be a part of the photography industry and contribute my unique perspective and artistic flair.
Formerly a Canon and Nikon shooter, Dan felt that his gear couldn’t keep up with his creative vision. So he got a Sony a6000 until upgrading to the a7 III. “When I hold and use this camera, it evokes the nostalgic charm of traditional film cameras, which I absolutely adore,” he tells us. “Although I’m not particularly drawn to the process of film photography, the Sony a7 iii captures the essence and style I love.” He pairs the camera with 85mm, 50mm, 24-70mm, 30mm, and 14mm lenses. He also always has an ND filter.
Dan does a combination of in-camera work and Photoshop. In fact, he admits that he used to struggle with Photoshop, but now he’s more comfortable with it. He used to do most of his work in the program, actually, until he realized that it’s sometimes faster to just get things done in-camera. “…I believe both approaches hold significance, but I find myself enjoying the editing process immensely, and it remains a significant aspect of my work.”
On AI in Photography
Sure, Dan does a lot of work in Photoshop, but he’s also a bit skeptical about AI. When he started seeing the TikTok trends, he thought it would fade away. But it didn’t. “On one hand, I recognize the potential of AI as a powerful tool that can significantly improve workflow, helping with tasks like object editing, clothing fixes, and adding elements not readily available,” he shares. “Art, being subjective, can benefit from AI’s enhancements. Yet, I also notice some individuals using it for their headshots and other purposes, which raises a sense of uncertainty.” Dan hopes that AI serves as an aid in the future to enhance artistry rather than replace it.

domain: artistic


text:
While many qualities come to mind with regards to leadership characteristics, kindness seems to be one that is overlooked.
Kindness may seem as a waste when it is under appreciated, but kindness. that is given from your heart is truly an investment.
The dividends of kindness may not be reciprocated right away, but in due time it will.
Aesop said “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
When you demonstrate kindness, you are exemplifying the very nature of leadership that has been so very forgotten and needed again. Today, the world is hurting like never before. The challenges many of us face remind us that we are all in this together. What one individual may be going through today, you may go through tomorrow. Never underestimate the value to what you can do today for someone that could very well return the favor unto you tomorrow.
If everyone were to display, act & show the treatment you give others today; unto you, would you be satisfied?
It might be hard to imagine how an act of kindness demonstrated today can dramatically impact someone’s life tomorrow, but that’s the beauty of it. Practicing kindness (random and intentional) is not about being seen or done with the expectation of something in return; it’s simply doing the right thing. No matter if it’s returned today or never again acknowledged, it is the very thing that displays your character and the person you are. If you’ve shown kindness and have been handed the wrath in return, don’t be discouraged or become bitter. You will be rewarded wether it be now, or later. It will be returned ten fold at one point or another. A wrath given after kindness has been shown, is not what determined your act; it determined the character of the one who was spiteful back. Keep posture and remember that kindness is a choice you are able to give unto others no matter the reaction that is returned. It is how one portraits their heart to the world, not a reward to be sought. William Wordsworth said it best “The best portion of a man’s good life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.”
Lead by example not for applause. We can not change the fact that people act a certain way, but we can pack with us a good attitude by choice and decide how we act and react everyday.
Attitude to me is far more important than facts, the past, than education, than circumstances, than money, than success, than failure, than skill, then ones gifts or appearance. It is more important than what other people think, say or do. It is important because it is your choice. If you choose to have a good attitude and a positive outlook above all these things, all these things will soon follow as a reward to that choice. Your attitude is what sets you apart from everyone else.
While you don’t have control of how another’s attitude is displayed, you have control on how yours is displayed. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn down to another person’s bad behavior by behaving badly yourself. Take the high road and never allow to lower yourself to the level of a difficult person. Great leaders understand that the right attitude will set the right atmosphere, which enables the responses and attitudes from others. When negative attitude is shown when difficult people surround you, take the high road because perhaps by being the higher influence with the right attitude others will follow you. Do not change your attitude to match the attitude of others.
Lead with heart and you will soon see the investment given from that kindness that never sought out a gold medal.
Role model what you would want given, wether it ever be gifted back to you or not.
Accept where people are. That’s right, you read that correctly. Accept them WHERE THEY ARE. Not where you wish them to be. Not where your standard is. Love people right where they are. Loving them where they are means seeing past the flaws, the bad, the mistakes, the failures and the wronged faults. You may see these attributes and assume they are bad people. They are not bad people, they are not ill intended. They may have made the worst decisions that brought in more bad decisions, that led to habits that turned to a reverse cycle of bad behavior, but they aren’t bad people. They are lost people, lost people who need guidance and direction. They are spinning in a cycle of bad decisions that led to habits that led to the lifestyle produced that they now have to live with until a drastic change takes place. They know no better. It is so easy to point out the flaws, the faults and the wrongs. The world does enough of that, stop tracing the same negative foot steps. This does no good for that person and absolutely does nothing for yourself other then exude bad character on your part. It’s time to challenge yourself and only speak the good into that person’s life (no matter how small it may be) if we found the good simple qualities (not appearance but actions) and made sure to acknowledge, reward and compliment them as often as possible; people would bring out MORE of that characteristic. Where as if we focus on the negative, the person is more drawn to bring more of that to the table and wallow in self pity. We are all guilty of having a negative self-talk. If you are constantly pointing out what is wrong of a person, their self talk is already doing that for them and now it’s been doubled. Stop speaking failure into someone’s life, We already have a natural tendency to self talk our failures as permanent circumstances that were never reality. Drop failure-talk to the curb. Start speaking LIGHT, LOVE and GUIDE people where they are already longing to be, they just need one person; one person to believe in them so they can have the permission to believe in themselves. It only takes one person, and you may be THE ONLY person to cross their path. We must have this mindset in every encounter we face with another, if we don’t.. we have unconsciously selfishly overlooked the kindness that ought to be given. We need no more critics, harsh, crude, hateful people. Disregard stereotypes. We need life-givers who are willing to lead by example instead of diminishing people.
Where a person has come from is not nearly as important as where you are leading them. Accepting people not only as they are where they are, but believing in who they can become is the first step to impacting their lives and ultimately impacting your own.
Your legacy you have planned to accomplish “one day” starts with today. The wonderful thing about legacy is that you are the one who gets to create it and determine when it starts.
You will not be remembered so much as to what you said but in more so what you did.
As John Wooden has said “True happiness comes from the things that can not be taken away from you. Making the full effort to do the right thing with great influence can never be taken away from you.”
Be a life-giver.

domain: sociology


text:
La Borgata Ristorante is family owned and operated. Our family has been cooking and serving customers of family and friends for more than 50 years. Cooking is our passion and serving you our pleasure. We pride ourselves on using only the highest quality, freshest ingredients, and providing you with nothing short of excellent service.
We specialize in authentic Italian Cuisine. Our original recipes along with creative and inventive specials blend the flavors of selective regions of Italy. Your patience is greatly appreciated as all dishes are prepared to order. Each plate is dedicated and presented as if it were a work of art. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions as our chef will be happy to accommodate you.
Take your palate on an Italian culinary adventure your taste buds will enjoy. You owe yourself a taste of Italy. NO PASSPORT REQUIRED! Come and experience Italian hospitality and food at its finest.
We hope your dining experience here at La Bogata’s will be of pleasure, enjoyment, satisfying and most of all delicious. If for any reason we do not meet your expectations please let us know.

domain: food


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Insiders’ fears for Ryan Seacrest after worrying on-air incident
A bizarre on-air meltdown hints at a wider problem with one of the hardest-working people on US TV, his friends fear.
Known as the hardest-working man in show business, Ryan Seacrest rarely takes a day off. So when he took an unscheduled one from co-hosting the US morning show Live with Kelly Ripa on May 18, there was cause for alarm at the show’s network, ABC.
An ABC source told The New York Post that some members of the show’s production team were made aware of Seacrest’s absence less than 30 minutes before they were to go live on air.
“It was a last-minute thing and there was a sense of panic at ABC when we were told that Ryan couldn’t make it that morning,” the ABC source revealed.
Just hours earlier, the 45-year-old had prompted serious fears for his health during the American Idol finale — when, while broadcasting from his Los Angeles home, he struggled with words, seemed confused and had a visibly droopy right eye.
Seacrest’s reps were forced to deny that the host had suffered a stroke amid frantic tweets from worried fans.
The next morning, when Seacrest had to bow out, Ripa’s actor-husband, Mark Consuelos, was able to quickly step in alongside his wife at their vacation house on the Caribbean island of Mustique.
Live is set to go on a weeks-long scheduled hiatus next month, and sources close to Seacrest and within ABC say the timing couldn’t be better.
“There are people at the network who are extremely worried that he is overdoing it,” said the ABC source.
Added a television industry insider: “People internally have started to ask questions.”
Seacrest has been spread thin, by choice, for a long time. Not only does he co-host Live every weekday, he also has a syndicated radio show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, which runs for five hours Monday to Friday, as well as the weekly American Top 40 music-radio countdown program.
He hosts American Idol and various specials – including two recent Disney Sing-A-Longs and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve – as part of his multimillion-dollar three-year deal with ABC. He hosts E!’s awards-show red carpet coverage, as well as contributing to the same for ABC.
His eponymous production company gave the world all the Kardashian family reality shows and spin-offs on E! – which Seacrest has referred to this as his “biggest contribution to the world”, plus series such as Shahs of Sunse t on Bravo. He has skincare and clothing lines, among several other business ventures.
Perhaps no one should have been surprised when Seacrest returned to Live on May 19 and admitted to suffering from exhaustion.
Although he brushed it off – thanking viewers for their well-wishes and saying “I got a day off to relax” – an ABC/Disney source admitted: “People are worried. That Idol moment was extremely disconcerting.”
According to a friend, his on-air breakdown is likely a culmination of years of workaholic tendencies catching up with him.
“People underestimate just how much work Ryan puts in every day. (Right now), he wakes up at 4am, has producer meetings by 5am and has to be ready to film at 6am LA time as Live goes on air at 9am EST. Add the radio show every day, in addition to hosting Idol and additional content for his platforms,” said the friend. “He has definitely had to adjust his body clock.
“While some of us can turn off or take a break throughout our workday, he almost always has a camera on him or a microphone in his hand. He’s always on.”
But other sources say Seacrest’s schedule is actually easier during the pandemic than it has been in the past, and wonder if there’s more to the story.
Previously, Seacrest had to travel a couple days a week between Los Angeles and New York City, where he lives most of the time. He would record Idol in LA, then catch a red-eye to NYC to record Live and his radio shows.
But since March, Seacrest has been in lockdown at the Southern California estate he bought from good friend Ellen DeGeneres for $US37 million ($A54.8 million) and recording everything from his home studio.
“This whole time (he) has been in his house in LA because of the pandemic. It’s been a lot of shooting, but people internally … are concerned about his fatigue,” said the television-industry insider. “Everyone is rooting for him to be OK and knows he’s a hard worker and juggling a lot of things – but he’s a hard worker with no commute.”
As for Idol, once the coronavirus lockdown hit, producers were forced to find creative ways to continue the show virtually, sending contestants smartphones, lighting rigs and cameras to film themselves.
“So much work went into those Idol shows, they weren’t completely live, other than a few moments during the finale,” the Seacrest friend revealed of the host’s stress.
A representative for Seacrest had no comment.
In the past, at least, Seacrest’s relationship with Shayna Taylor, a 28-year-old food blogger and trained chef, has also been a stress point.
Earlier this month, he reflected on their eight-year up-and-down romance on Live: “You know, when we drive by an amusement park, I always look at the roller coaster and go, ‘Look, there we are.’ It’s all definitely upside-down loops.”
The couple split in February 2019 after three years together, and a source told People at the time that it was because Seacrest wasn’t ready for marriage.
“Shayna wanted more out of the relationship,” the source said. “It felt like the natural next step for her. She was ready to get married, but Ryan wasn’t there yet.”
By September, the two had reconciled.
During the lockdown, Seacrest is said to stay in touch with his family in Georgia via Zoom, but hasn’t been able to see friends.
“Although he has such a huge public persona, Ryan is actually very private. His friends are worried about him,” said the ABC source. “They just want to see him for themselves and make sure he is OK.”
Still, insiders say there is little chance of Seacrest scaling back his work duties.
This article originally appeared on Page Six and was reproduced here with permission

domain: news


text:
Vesicular Palmoplantar Eczema Treatment & Management
- Author: Elaine Dupuis, MD, MBA; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD more...
Several modalities of therapy are available for the treatment and control of vesicular palmoplantar eczema. Therapy should be chosen according to the type and severity of the condition. Whenever possible, eliminate known triggers. If pruritus is a problem, antihistamines (eg. hydroxyzine) can relieve some symptoms.
Regular use of hand emollients and avoidance of frequent contact with irritants are important means to prevent flare-ups of vesicular palmoplantar eczema. Contact allergy has been noted in one study to be responsible for 67.5% of pompholyx eczema, and all patients should be considered for patch testing to identify relevant allergens.
Topical therapy for vesicular palmoplantar eczema includes high-potency glucocorticoids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, adjunctive keratolytics, and/or topical retinoids.
Topical high-potency glucocorticoids, such as betamethasone dipropionate and clobetasol propionate, are first-line therapies. Ointment preparations are less irritating and can enhance drug delivery. As well, application of these medications under plastic and vinyl occlusion enhances their efficacy. However, this method may predispose the patient to secondary infection and to both local and systemic adverse effects of corticosteroids. Therefore, it should be used only intermittently and should never be used in the presence of coexisting infection.
Patients with mild vesicular palmoplantar eczema may be controlled with the use of less potent corticosteroids such as betamethasone valerate, triamcinolone, or mometasone cream or ointment.
In the hyperkeratotic form of hand eczema, topical keratolytic agents like salicylic acid and tar agents may be useful adjunctive therapies.
Acute, severe episodes of pompholyx benefit from rest, and bland applications with wet soaks and compresses and with drying agents such as Burow solution. Occasionally, large blisters may need to be aspirated.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors, such as topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment and pimecrolimus, have been shown to be as effective as mometasone furoate in the treatment of chronic relapsing eczema of the hands. These topical immunomodulators may be used as steroid-sparing agents to treat resistant palmar eczema, with minimal systemic absorption or systemic effect. Use of other agents should be considered when plantar eczema is being treated because this therapy is less effective on the soles of the feet than on the hands. The use of occlusion with these agents has also been shown to increase their efficacy.
A small open-label study demonstrated efficacy of topical vitamin D-3 derivatives (ie, calcipotriol, maxacalcitol) for the control of hyperkeratotic palmoplantar eczema.
Systemic therapy includes steroids, immunosuppressive agents (eg, azathioprine, cyclosporine), retinoids (eg, acitretin, alitretinoin), and PUVA.
Consider the use of systemic glucocorticoids or intralesional steroids in acute episodes of vesicular palmoplantar eczema when local therapy fails. These agents are not helpful for long-term treatment because of a potential for severe adverse effects.
Cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and methotrexate either alone or in combination with steroids may be used for severe, recalcitrant cases of vesicular palmoplantar eczema.[32, 33] These therapies have also been tried as steroid-sparing agents in chronic relapsing eczema.
For hyperkeratotic eczema, consider the use of aromatic retinoids, such as acitretin, which help control hyperkeratosis. These agents are best used in relatively low doses because of adverse effects. Therapy may need to be continued indefinitely in cases of hyperkeratotic eczema and is often accompanied by topical occlusive therapy, with combined or alternating steroids and keratolytics (5-20% salicylic acid) or tar preparations.
Increasingly, the retinoid alitretinoin has been shown to be a favorable option for severe hand eczema. Oral alitretinoin has been shown to be an effective and well-tolerated therapy for treatment of severe hand eczema.[34, 35] One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial examining severe chronic hand eczema found alitretinoin superior to placebo, with 48% of patients achieving full or almost full resolution of signs and symptoms. A 2012 observational study noted alitretinoin improved vesicular eczema in 47.9% of patients. An open-label study showed significant improvement with alitretinoin at doses starting at 10 mg daily (increased to 30 mg daily as tolerated).
The use of etanercept in a case study achieved a 4-month remission of vesicular palmoplantar eczema, which was followed by relapse.
Phototherapy, in particular PUVA, has been shown to be effective in dyshidrotic eczema for disease control and maintaining remission. However, the use of psoralen has been associated with carcinogenic risk of the skin. Although conventionally used with psoralen for its photosensitizing effects, UVA-1 alone has also shown success in treating palmoplantar eczema, with the advantage that it does not require psoralen.[41, 42] PUVA can be administered orally or topically. In a study comparing the effectiveness of the 2 modalities, dyshidrotic eczema responded well to both oral and topical (bath) treatment, while hyperkeratotic eczema cleared significantly better with oral therapy than with topical (bath) PUVA.
Narrowband UVB therapy has been shown to be equally efficacious as PUVA therapy for dyshidrotic and "dry" types of hand eczema and can be used as an alternative to PUVA, with fewer adverse effects. As UV radiation has an immunosuppressive effect, one case noted resolution of dyshidrotic eczema symptoms with repeated sunlight exposures (although recurrences were not reduced). Only a few reports describe the role of narrowband UVB therapy in hyperkeratotic hand eczema. However, narrowband UVB has been used with some success in other hyperkeratotic disorders like palmoplantar psoriasis. One study comparing PUVA therapy with narrowband UVB for palmoplantar psoriasis demonstrated significant improvement with both modalities. However, PUVA was superior to narrowband UVB in reducing clinical severity scores. PUVA may be superior to UVB modalities for hyperkeratotic hand eczema because of the deeper penetration of UVA rays into the skin.
Other treatment options for vesicular palmoplantar eczema that have been reported include treatment with intradermal injections of botulinum toxin A, x-ray therapy, disulfiram for nickel-induced disease, and, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Botulinum toxin A is a potent neurotoxin that blocks the autonomic cholinergic fibers.[48, 49] It has been shown to improve symptoms of itching and vesicular formation in a controlled left-right hand comparison study with 8 subjects. This therapy may be used alone or in combination with topical steroids. However, the mechanism of action in reducing the severity of palmoplantar eczema is disputed. Some proposed mechanisms are a disruption of the afferent nerve supply of the skin, which may reduce sweating, because sweat is known to exacerbate the condition. Another mechanism is the possible effect of the toxin on afferent nerve fibers. Blockade of the inflammatory process and inhibition of neuropeptides such as substance P via toxic effects may explain the reduction of pruritus in treated patients. One case report showed improvement of relapsing dyshidrotic eczema with treatment of coexisting hyperhidrosis with the anticholinergic oxybutynin.
The inflammatory cells functioning in eczema are highly radiosensitive, and, therefore, x-ray irradiation has been used in some patients with resistant chronic eczema of the hand when other treatments have not been successful. Grenz rays and superficial radiotherapy were popular treatments for chronic severe hand eczema in the 1980s; however, they have currently decreased in popularity, mostly because of a lack of availability than because of the risk for potential carcinogenesis. Superficial radiation therapy appears to have a higher success rate than grenz ray therapy because of its deeper penetration into the skin. One study revealed excellent results with the use of superficial radiation for palmoplantar eczema, while others have not.[53, 54] However, the potential risk of irradiation for a benign non–life-threatening disease must be recognized, and care must be taken not to exceed the maximum safe cumulative lifetime dose by using dosimetry. External-beam megavoltage radiation therapy was reportedly successful in treatment of this condition in one patient.
Disulfiram may be administered as a nickel-chelating agent in patients with known nickel sensitivity, but this should not be used in thiuram-sensitive patients.
One case report describes a patient with obstructive sleep apnea and dyshidrotic palmar eczema whose dermatitis resolved after being placed on a CPAP machine. The authors speculated the resolution of the eczema may reflect the effects of increased tissue oxygenation and decreased circulating inflammatory factors associated with better sleep quality.
Id reactions tend to resolve with treatment of the primary infection. Consider systemic antibiotics if secondary infection is suspected, and culture suspicious lesions.
Refer patients to a dermatologist because vesicular palmoplantar eczema is likely to be a lifelong disease (albeit intermittent in some patients).
Maintaining a low-cobalt diet has been suggested to decrease the number of dyshidrotic eczema flares.
Patients with established nickel sensitivity may benefit from nickel-free diets.
Elimination of known exacerbating factors, although often difficult to accomplish, is crucial in preventing relapses of vesicular palmoplantar eczema.
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Soloman A, Cosgarea R, Ruzicka T, Braun-Falco M. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015 Oct 1. doi: 10.111/jdv.13400. [Epub ahead of print]:[Medline].
Bittencourt AL, Mota K, Oliveira RF, Farre L. A dyshidrosis-like variat of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with clinicoapathological aspects of mycosis fungoides. A case report. Am J Dermatopathol. 2009 Dec. 31(8):834-7. [Medline].
Spieth K, Grundmann-Kollmann M, Runne U, Staib G, Fellbaum C, Wolter M, et al. Mycosis-fungoides-type cutaneous T cell lymphoma of the hands and soles: a variant causing delay in diagnosis and adequate treatment of patients with palmoplantar eczema. Dermatology. 2002. 205(3):239-44. [Medline].
Yoon SY, Park HS, Lee JH, Cho S. Histological differentiation between palmoplantar pustulosis and pompholyx. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Jul. 27(7):889-93. [Medline].
Kim DY, Kim JY, Kim TG, Kwon JE, Sohn H, Park J, et al. A comparison of inflammatory mediator expression between palmoplantar pustulosis and pompholyx. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Dec. 27(12):1559-65. [Medline].
Schnopp C, Remling R, Mohrenschlager M, Weigl L, Ring J, Abeck D. Topical tacrolimus (FK506) and mometasone furoate in treatment of dyshidrotic palmar eczema: a randomized, observer-blinded trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Jan. 46(1):73-7. [Medline].
Schurmeyer-Horst F, Luger TA, Bohm M. Long-term efficacy of occlusive therapy with topical pimecrolimus in severe dyshidrosiform hand and foot eczema. Dermatology. 2007. 214(1):99-100. [Medline].
Egawa K. Topical vitamin D3 derivatives in treating hyperkeratotic palmoplantar eczema: a report of five patients. J Dermatol. 2005 May. 32(5):381-6. [Medline].
Scerri L. Azathioprine in dermatological practice. An overview with special emphasis on its use in non-bullous inflammatory dermatoses. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999. 455:343-8. [Medline].
Egan CA, Rallis TM, Meadows KP, Krueger GG. Low-dose oral methotrexate treatment for recalcitrant palmoplantar pompholyx. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Apr. 40(4):612-4. [Medline].
Pickenacker A, Luger TA, Schwarz T. Dyshidrotic eczema treated with mycophenolate mofetil. Arch Dermatol. 1998 Mar. 134(3):378-9. [Medline].
Diepgen TL, Pfarr E, Zimmermann T. Efficacy and tolerability of alitretinoin for chronic hand eczema under daily practice conditions: results of the TOCCATA open study comprising 680 patients. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 May. 92(3):251-5. [Medline].
Lakshmi C, Srinivas CR. Hand eczema: an update. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012 Sep-Oct. 78(5):569-82. [Medline].
Ruzicka T, Lynde CW, Jemec GB, et al. Efficacy and safety of oral alitretinoin (9-cis retinoic acid) in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to topical corticosteroids: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Br J Dermatol. 2008 Apr. 158(4):808-17. [Medline].
Diepgen TL, Pfarr E, Zimmermann T. Efficacy and Tolerability of Alitretinoin for Chronic Hand Eczema Under Daily Practice Conditions: Results of the TOCCATA Open Study Comprising 680 Patients. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 Jun 8. 92(3):251-5. [Medline].
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Bretterklieber A, Legat FJ, Wolf P, Hofer A. Retrospective long-term follow-up in patients with chronic palmoplantar dermatoses after good response to bath PUVA therapy. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012 Nov. 10(11):814-8. [Medline].
Behrens S, von Kobyletzki G, Gruss C, Reuther T, Altmeyer P, Kerscher M. PUVA-bath photochemotherapy (PUVA-soak therapy) of recalcitrant dermatoses of the palms and soles. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1999 Apr. 15(2):47-51. [Medline].
Petering H, Breuer C, Herbst R, Kapp A, Werfel T. Comparison of localized high-dose UVA1 irradiation versus topical cream psoralen-UVA for treatment of chronic vesicular dyshidrotic eczema. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004 Jan. 50(1):68-72. [Medline].
Tzaneva S, Kittler H, Thallinger C, Honigsmann H, Tanew A. Oral vs. bath PUVA using 8-methoxypsoralen for chronic palmoplantar eczema. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2009 Apr. 25(2):101-5. [Medline].
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Sezer E, Erbil AH, Kurumlu Z, Taştan HB, Etikan I. Comparison of the efficacy of local narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy versus psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) paint for palmoplantar psoriasis. J Dermatol. 2007 Jul. 34(7):435-40. [Medline].
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domain: medical


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An article in last Sunday’s Observer newspaper gives a revealing insight into how the commencement of IRA weapons decommissioning came about.
The intense pressure from the US, which any informed observer could not but fail to see, is explained at great length. Some illustrative details could only have come from sources within the American or British government, or possibly from within Sinn Fein.
The author, Alan Ruddock, begins his account with the morning of September 11, the day of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, as the US special envoy to Ireland, Richard Haass was preparing for a meeting with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. Under the heading, “ How America held the IRA over a barrel,” Ruddock writes:
“After a few minutes of talking about ‘inching forward’ towards the peace process, Haass finally snapped. ‘If any American, service personnel or civilian, is killed in Colombia by the technology the IRA supplied then you can f**k off,’ he shouted, finger jabbing towards Adam’s chest. ‘Don’t tell me you know nothing about what’s going on there, we know everything about it,’” Ruddock writes.
Haass was referring to the arrest of three alleged IRA men in Columbia in August, one of whom was Sinn Fein’s representative in Cuba, Niall Connolly. After the meeting with Haass, Adams made the spurious claim that Connolly’s appointment had been made without his knowledge or the authorisation of the international department of Sinn Fein.
In a World Socialist Web Site article of October 25, we drew attention to American interests in Northern Ireland and the fact that “Sinn Fein has sought to recast itself in the role of a favoured political representative of American imperialism.” The article by Ruddock says, “Adam’s principal concern remained the maintenance of warm relations with the American administration and the preservation of millions of dollars from rich, conservative Irish-Americans.”
Ruddock cites the case of Bill Flynn, “one of the pivotal figures in Irish-American politics.” Describing him as a “close confident of Irish nationalists,” Ruddock states that Flynn, as chairman of the Mutual Bank of America, “is a conservative that no government in Washington can ignore.”
The Observer states Flynn told the IRA that, after Colombia, “the only way to rescue the party’s reputation in the US capital was for the IRA to disarm.”
“They listen to me because they know I am a strong supporter of what they are doing to unite Ireland,” Flynn is said to have told the Observer.
According to the Observer, Flynn is the “figurehead” for a group of US businessmen sympathetic to Sinn Fein, “who are simultaneously crucial to fundraising while also pushing for an end to the military campaign. Last year the party raised more than $1 million from corporate Irish-American backers and Adams realised that, such was the gravity of the situation, Sinn Fein risked having to close its crucial Washington office.”
Flynn was no less forthright than Haass in his communiqués with Adams, which the Observer say were couriered by special envoys, as both men were too nervous of being bugged to use the telephone. Flynn told Adams, “They (in Washington) are not going to put up with any more nonsense... After Columbia and then September 11, the time had come for real politics, and we had got to decommission.”
Niall O’Dowd, publisher of the New York-based Irish Voice, told the Observer, “I think that the Americans played an understated but very significant role. And I think that time will reveal the importance of what they did, especially the presence of their ambassador at Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis a couple of weeks ago. In that apparent contradiction was a clear pointer that the US was still involved and engaged, despite Columbia and the World Trade Centre.”
The article claims that, “On September 27 at a safe house in Dundalk, an Irish border town where many IRA men on the run from the British security forces live, the Provisionals’ leadership held an historic meeting.
“Pat Doherty, a Sinn Fein MP, proposed that, for the coming few months, Martin McGuinness should become the IRA’s chief of staff [a position he was rumoured to hold before becoming a more public figure in Sinn Fein following the 1981 hunger strikes] putting the pro-decommissioning wing in the driving seat.”
Over the next few weeks, the Observer reveals, the Sinn Fein/IRA leadership held meetings throughout Ireland with key figures who were persuaded to back decommissioning. “However, the leadership avoided holding an ‘Army Convention’ fearing a nationwide gathering of the volunteers would become a focal point for dissent.”
This is the background to the closely choreographed events leading to the simultaneous announcement by Adams in Belfast and McGuinness in Washington on October 22, calling on the IRA to “save the peace process”. The following day the IRA announced that it had begun to decommission “to save the peace process and to persuade others of our intentions”.
Ruddock says, “It was made clear that America had two big sticks to wield—visas for Sinn Fein leaders and the right to fundraise in the US. These would be withdrawn unless there was decommissioning.”
Absent from the article is any assessment of what America gets in return. To examine this calls into question the democratic pretences of the Good Friday Agreement and the new political structures it has brought into being. Far from heralding the control of the people of the north of Ireland over their own destiny, the Northern Ireland Assembly brings together Unionist and Republican parties that do the political bidding of one or another of the British, American and Irish governments.
For Britain, the peace process was driven primarily by the fact that its old methods of rule over the north though Unionism and the Protestant ascendancy were no longer effective. With the north’s economic decline since the 1960s, Britain’s public spending on the province increased substantially. While cross-boarder trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland increased, with the Republic being northern Irelands’ number one export market, the south was the main beneficiary. Britain even saw its own interests in the north decline as America’s advanced.
For the southern government, the peace process was driven by the requirements of international trade and investments. The Republic had benefited at the expense of the north, becoming the prime European location for transnational corporations, particularly American. But if this was to be expanded, the armed conflict had to be ended.
For the US, the stabilisation of the situation in the north was essential both for existing investment in the south and new possibilities in the north. With the failure of earlier attempts to reach a settlement that excluded Sinn Fein, it was evident that the Republicans must be included within any new political structures.
Their role as proxy for the US, however, has given them standing beyond their wildest dreams. Not only can they maintain US funding for their organisation, but they are now treated as respected bourgeois politicians. One can only imagine McGuinness’ self-congratulatory frame of mind as he was ushered into the State Department to meet General Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State as what the Observer calls a “small treat” for having agreed to disarm. How better to mark Sinn Fein’s transition to respectability than to have the titular head of the IRA shake hands with the man leading America’s supposed “war on terrorism”.

domain: history


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Laugh And Love Words White Glitter Borde
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text:
andy, February 21st, 2016
. Kitchen, Kitchens With Cream Cabinets.
Are you like design kitchens with cream cabinets? Now, we will tell you about this information. Kitchen with beautiful color combination has been widely applied and maybe one of them is your kitchen .
Warn only consists of two types of dark and light colors. Dark colors also has its own attraction for the devotees, as well as the many bright warn the public interest. Bright colors for a kitchen and interior, became a form of natural design for your home. One of the bright color is the color creams which may be almost the same as the color white, but creams much less dark than white.
Not necessarily all that exist in the cream colored kitchen, enough for some interior and kitchen utensils such as for storage cabinets. Beige color that is used for a storage cabinet in the kitchen makes the kitchen look more clean and light, you can combine it with a cream-colored variety of other colors that will give a warmer feel in it as the color beige, combined with the color red, it could also beige color blends with the color brown for shelves and dishes on the kitchen walls and yam.
In addition to the colors, beige color which is used for cabinets, can be combined with a bright white color, for tiles and ceiling. Beige become one of the color that is used for a kitchen storage cabinet is perfect for combination with other colors. Thanks to visit crypto-news.com
, read also Kitchen Colors with Dark Cabinets


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I have another layout to share with you today that was submitted at Colorful Creations for their Member Spotlight Challenge (GDTNOV13). You can see the challenge here.
And my "Big Fish" layout:
Andrew was so proud of the trout he caught and was more than happy for me to take pics! This was a super fun camping/fishing trip with my in-laws. It certainly was never a dull moment!
Paper: DCWV, Colorbok
Darice Embossing Folder
Stickers were adhered onto each circle. The page title sticker was matted several times. The brown cardstock was embossed... and I enhanced the cracked paper by rubbing over it.
A fishing pole sticker was added to the right of the photo.
The brown cardstock was embossed using a different folder.
The arrow was traced from a template and the edges distressed.
A closer look. Ribbon went through the center of the page... under the photos.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Colorful Creations Design Team Member


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Just starting to look into choosing a wedding venue, but considering that we're the first in our families and first of our friends to get engaged, we really have no idea what to expect as far as cost.
We live in the Bronx and are looking into Marina del Rey, Villa Barrone, and the beach clubs in New Rochelle (VIP, Surf Club, etc.), as well as anywhere that's not too far from there.
Could anyone give me an idea of what to expect at these places?
Thanks so much


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© 2024 Writing Atlas, Inc. All rights reserved.
Short stories tagged with Digging Through Earth
A professor tries to stab the center of the Earth, believing that this will alert the living Earth that humankind inhabit its crust.
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This Florida house has a really private setting! The house was built in 1900. It is located on 1.86 acre in High Springs, Florida. The house features a covered front porch, some cedar shake siding, original hardwood floors and baseboards. There is a detached carport on the property. Not far from historic High Springs and Poe State Park. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms and 1,092 square feet. $120,000
Contact Patricia Moser with Horizon Realty of Alachua: 386-462-4020
From the Zillow listing:
Own a piece of High Springs history with this 1900-built home on 1.86 acres! This quaint cottage features an open living space with real wood floors, spacious kitchen with island, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths and utility rooms at the rear of the home. The covered front porch and back deck offer plenty of space to get some fresh air. There is a combined carport/storage shed with electric situated behind the home. Located less than a 5-minute drive from historic High Springs and Poe Springs State Park!
Let them know you saw it on Old House Life!


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Former Kaplan Star Abby Trahan Transfers To USM
A former local softball standout has found herself a new college softball home.
Trahan helped Kaplan High School to a state title in softball in 2016 as a senior, going 23-5 with a 0.73 ERA, while tossing six no-hitters. So also batted a .482, to go along with six home runs and 28 runs batted in.
For her efforts, Trahan was named a Small School All-American by CBS/MaxPreps.com, as well as the Louisiana AAA Player of the Year and First Team All-State.
Following high school, Trahan headed up north, to St. Francis College, which is located in New York City.
As a freshman in 2017, Trahan was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, after compiling an overall record of 15-4, to go along with three saves and a 2.45 ERA.
Last season, as a sophomore, Trahan was named the Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year, after going 28-12 with a 2.55 ERA.
A right-hander, Trahan helped lead the Red Flash to NCAA Regional play, where she limited Arizona to just one run on tow hits over six innings of work.
We wish Trahan the best of luck in Hattiesburg!

domain: sports


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This research guide highlights resources that are important for Music History 3513. Use the tabs in the guide to find books, journal articles, and recommended websites. If you need research assistance or help on your topic, please contact me at the email or phone shown below.
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The music and musical instruments of southern India and the Deccan
Articles, books, and other materials in one comprehensive search!
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Equipment and Facilities
1st Floor Reference Fiction Media CDs at Circ Desk Current issues of print journals, magazines, and newspapers
2nd Floor Nonfiction (Circulating collection) Older reference works Journals and Magazines (older issues)

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Harmony and Melody School of Music
Education & TrainingArts & CultureChildren and YouthClasses and Day Camps for YouthMusicPerformance Art
Harmony & Melody School of Music help finds the most suitable music teacher based on your passions and interests.We serve the Greater Vancouver Area. At HM School of Music, we see ourselves as the harmony and our students as the melody. We believe that the inner talents of future rising stars can only surface when shared with the wisdom of advanced musical teachers.
Thank you to our generous Pillar Partners


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