bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of Medicaid Data to Explore Community Characteristics Associated with HIV Prevalence among Beneficiaries with Schizophrenia
Authors: Walkup James , Akincigil Ayse , Hoover Donald R. , Siegel Michele J. , Amin Shahla , Crystal Stephen 
Published: July 2017

Objective. People with severe mental illness (SMI) may be at increased risk for several adverse health conditions, including HIV/AIDS. This disproportionate disease burden has been studied primarily at the individual rather than community level, in part due to the rarity of data sources linking individual information on medical and mental health characteristics with community-level data. We demonstrated the potential of Medicaid data to address this gap. Methods. We analyzed data on Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia from eight states that account for 66% of cumulative AIDS cases nationally. Results. Across 44 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), the treated prevalence of HIV among adult Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with schizophrenia was 1.56% (standard deviation = 1.31%). To explore possible causes of variation, we linked claims files with a range of MSA social and contextual variables including local AIDS prevalence rates, area-based economic measures, crime rates, substance abuse treatment resources, and estimates of injection drug users (IDUs) and HIV infection among IDUs, which strongly predicted community infection rates among people with schizophrenia. Conclusions. Effective strategies for HIV prevention among people with SMI may include targeting prevention efforts to areas where risk is greatest; examining social network links between IDU and SMI groups; and implementing harm reduction, drug treatment, and other interventions to reduce HIV spread among IDUs. Our findings also suggest the need for research on HIV among people with SMI that examines geographical variation and demonstrates the potential use of health-care claims data to provide epidemiologic insights into small-area variations and trends in physical health among those with SMI.
Lead and other Heavy Metals in Dust Fall from Single-Family Housing Demolition
Authors: Jacobs David E. , Cali Salvatore , Welch Alison , Catalin Bogdan , Dixon Sherry L. , Evens Anne , Mucha Amy P. , Vahl Nicole , Erdal Serap , Bartlett John 
Published: July 2017

Objective. We measured lead and other heavy metals in dust during older housing demolition and effectiveness of dust suppression. Methods. We used American Public Housing Association Method 502 and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Methods SW3050B and SW6020 at 97 single-family housing demolition events with intermittent (or no) use of water to suppress dust at perimeter, non-perimeter, and locations without demolition, with nested mixed modeling and tobit modeling with left censoring. Results. The geometric mean (GM) lead dust fall during demolition was 6.01 micrograms of lead per square foot per hour (μg Pb/ft2/hour). GM lead dust fall was 14.18 μg Pb/ft2/hour without dust suppression, but declined to 5.48 μg Pb/ft2/hour ( p=0.057) when buildings and debris were wetted. Significant predictors included distance, wind direction, and main street location. At 400 feet, lead dust fall was not significantly different from background. GM lead concentration at demolition (2,406 parts per million [ppm]) was significantly greater than background (GM = 579 ppm, p=0.05). Arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, and manganese demolition dust fall was significantly higher than background ( p<0.001). Demolition of approximately 400 old housing units elsewhere with more dust suppression was only 0.25 μg Pb/ft2/hour. Conclusions. Lead dust suppression is feasible and important in single-family housing demolition where distances between houses are smaller and community exposures are higher. Neighbor notification should be expanded to at least 400 feet away from single-family housing demolition, not just adjacent properties. Further research is needed on effects of distance, potential water contamination, occupational exposures, and water application.
Barriers to Care and Comorbidities along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Authors: De Heer Hendrik Dirk , Balcazar Hector Guillermo , Morera Osvaldo F. , Lapeyrouse Lisa , Heyman Josiah Mcc. , Salinas Jennifer , Zambrana Ruth E. 
Published: July 2017

Objective. While limited access to care is associated with adverse health conditions, little research has investigated the association between barriers to care and having multiple health conditions (comorbidities). We compared the financial, structural, and cognitive barriers to care between Mexican-American border residents with and without comorbidities. Methods. We conducted a stratified, two-stage, randomized, cross-sectional health survey in 2009–2010 among 1,002 Mexican-American households. Measures included demographic characteristics; financial, structural, and cognitive barriers to health care; and prevalence of health conditions. Results. Comorbidities, most frequently cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, were reported by 37.7% of participants. Controlling for demographics, income, and health insurance, six financial barriers, including direct measures of inability to pay for medical costs, were associated with having comorbidities (odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 1.7 to 4.1, p<0.05). The structural barrier of transportation (OR=3.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.91, 6.97, p<0.001) was also associated with higher odds of comorbidities, as were cognitive barriers of difficulty understanding medical information (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.10, 2.66, p=0.017), being confused about arrangements (OR=1.82, 95% CI 1.04, 3.21, p=0.037), and not being treated with respect in medical settings (OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.05, 2.53, p=0.028). When restricting analyses to participants with at least one health condition (comparing one condition vs. having ≥2 comorbid conditions), associations were maintained for financial and transportation barriers but not for cognitive barriers. Conclusion. A substantial proportion of adults reported comorbidities Given the greater burden of barriers to medical care among people with comorbidities, interventions addressing these barriers present an important avenue for research and practice among Mexican-American border residents.
A Systematic Evaluation of Different Methods for Calculating Adolescent Vaccination Levels Using Immunization Information System Data
Authors: Gowda Charitha , Dong Shiming , Potter Rachel C. , Dombkowski Kevin J. , Stokley Shannon , Dempsey Amanda F. 
Published: July 2017

Objective. Immunization information systems (IISs) are valuable surveillance tools; however, population relocation may introduce bias when determining immunization coverage We explored alternative methods for estimating the vaccine-eligible population when calculating adolescent immunization levels using a statewide IIS. Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of the Michigan State Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) for all adolescents aged 11–18 years registered in the MCIR as of October 2010. We explored four methods for determining denominators: (1) including all adolescents with MCIR records, (2) excluding adolescents with out-of-state residence, (3) further excluding those without MCIR activity ≥10 years prior to the evaluation date, and (4) using a denominator based on U.S. Census data. We estimated state- and county-specific coverage levels for four adolescent vaccines. Results. We found a 20% difference in estimated vaccination coverage between the most inclusive and restrictive denominator populations. Although there was some variability among the four methods in vaccination at the state level (2%–11%), greater variation occurred at the county level (up to 21%). This variation was substantial enough to potentially impact public health assessments of immunization programs. Generally, vaccines with higher coverage levels had greater absolute variation, as did counties with smaller populations. Conclusion. At the county level, using the four denominator calculation methods resulted in substantial differences in estimated adolescent immunization rates that were less apparent when aggregated at the state level. Further research is needed to ascertain the most appropriate method for estimating vaccine coverage levels using IIS data.
Vibrio Infections and Surveillance in Maryland, 2002–2008
Authors: Jones Erin H. , Feldman Katherine A. , Palmer Amanda , Butlera Erin , Blythe David , Mitchell Clifford S. 
Published: July 2017

Objective. Vibrio is a naturally occurring waterborne pathogen with potential occupational, recreational, and commercial impacts. During the last 15 years in the U.S. and in Maryland, the incidence of vibriosis has increased. Due to the increase in cases in Maryland, warming water temperatures, and public concern about human health effects resulting from exposure to the Chesapeake Bay, we reviewed cases of vibriosis and evaluated the Vibrio surveillance system in Maryland for timeliness and data quality, attributes necessary for successful outbreak investigation and illness prevention. Methods. The evaluation included (1) informal qualitative surveys of state and local personnel who report and manage Vibrio cases and (2) a review of Vibrio surveillance data from 2002 through 2008 for data quality and timeliness of the system. Results. From 2002 to 2008, 188 laboratory-confirmed cases of vibriosis were reported in Maryland with an annual average of 27 cases The species of Vibrio that were most frequently responsible for infection, regardless of clinical presentation, were V. parahaemolyticus (43.6%), V. vulnificus (23.9%), V. alginolyticus (9.6%), and non-toxigenic V. cholerae (9.0%). The case fatality rate fluctuated during the study period, but the number of cases increased. Conclusions. The surveillance system in Maryland is flexible and captures cases of vibriosis where specimens were collected for testing; however, the system may not adequately capture mild, self-limiting infections. Better integration of data collection for clinical, laboratory, and environmental information and improved completion of variables for shellfish harvest or water exposure locations could improve the system. Quarterly meetings comprising surveillance, public health laboratory, and food-control personnel could direct and ensure the success of improvement efforts.
Hospitalization Rates of People Living with HIV in the United States, 2009
Authors: Bachhuber Marcus A. , Southern William N. 
Published: July 2017

Objectives. We determined hospitalization rates and disparities among people with HIV, which may have been underestimated in previous studies, as only those in medical care were included. Methods. We estimated the hospitalization rate of people with diagnosed HIV infection in the U.S. in 2009 using two nationally representative datasets. We took the number of hospitalizations from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and searched each discharge for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for HIV infection and opportunistic infections (OIs). We divided the number of hospitalizations by the number of prevalent diagnosed HIV cases estimated by CDC to produce hospitalization rates, and then compared those rates using Z-tests. Results. The estimated nationwide hospitalization rate was 26.6 per 100 population. Women had a 51% higher rate than men (35.5 vs. 23.5 per 100 population, p=0.002). Black people (31.2 per 100 population, p=0.01) had a 42% higher rate, and Hispanic people (18.2 per 100 population, p=0.23) had an 18% lower rate than white people (22.1 per 100 population) of hospitalization for any illness. Of hospitalizations with an OI, females with HIV had a 50% higher rate than males with HIV (5.0 vs. 3.4 per 100 population, p=0.003). Black people with HIV (4.7 per 100 population, p<0.001) had a 72% higher rate and Hispanic people with HIV (2.9 per 100 population, p=0.78) had a similar rate of hospitalization with an OI compared with white people with HIV (2.7 per 100 population). Conclusions. Hospitalization rates among people living with HIV in the U.S. are higher than have been previously estimated. Substantial gender and racial/ethnic disparities in hospitalization rates exist, suggesting that the benefits of antiretroviral therapy have not been realized across all groups equally.
Hepatitis C Seroprevalence among Prison Inmates since 2001: Still High but Declining
Authors: Varan Aiden K. , Mercer Daniel W. , Stein Matthew S. , Spaulding Anne C. 
Published: July 2017

Objectives. Although the hepatitis C epidemic in the United States disproportionately affects correctional populations, the last national estimates of seroprevalence and disease burden among these populations are more than a decade old. We investigated routine hepatitis C surveillance conducted in state prison systems and updated previous estimates. Methods. We surveyed all U.S. state correctional departments to determine which state prison systems had performed routine hepatitis C screening since 2001. Using seroprevalence data for these prison systems, we estimated the national hepatitis C seroprevalence among prisoners in 2006 and the share of the epidemic borne by correctional populations. Results. Of at least 12 states performing routine testing from 2001 to 2012, seroprevalences of hepatitis C ranged from 9.6% to 41.1%. All but one state with multiple measurements demonstrated declining seroprevalence. We estimated the national state prisoner seroprevalence at 17.4% in 2006. Based on the estimated total U.S. correctional population size, we projected that 1,857,629 people with hepatitis C antibody were incarcerated that year. We estimated that correctional populations represented 28.5%–32.8% of the total U.S. hepatitis C cases in 2006, down from 39% in 2003. Conclusions. Our results provide an important updated estimate of hepatitis C seroprevalence and suggest that correctional populations bear a declining but still sizable share of the epidemic. Correctional facilities remain important sites for hepatitis C case finding and therapy implementation. These results may also assist future studies in projecting the societal costs and benefits of providing new treatment options in prison systems.
Simulation study of a quick-service take-out restaurant
Authors: Thomas George R. 
Published: July 2017

This study illustrates the use of discrete simulation models as tools to assist in the analysis of an existing system--a quick-service take-out restaurant with 8 employees. Comparisons made between a model of the real-world system and models of proposed changes to the system's configuration assist in formulating minimal-risk decisions affecting 1. Levels of service 2. Cost of operation 3. Tradeoffs between volume of business and service offered to customers 4. Service time In this study three alternatives involving the loca tion of the cash registers and the staffing level (8 or 10 employees) are examined. The study shows that the level of services could be increased with the same number of employees and with half as many cash registers. Queues would generally be shorter, and fewer customers would be lost during peak hours of business. The results of the simulation were tested and found to be statistically significant.
Macroeconomics of Unbalanced Productivity Growth and Urban Crisis: a Simulation
Authors: Peterson Richard E. , Seo K.K. 
Published: July 2017

The "theory of unbalanced productivity growth and urban crisis" was developed by the economist William Baumol. It is based on a macroeconomic model of a region which is characterized by a progressive sector where technology is steadily advancing and a nonprogressive sec tor where it is not. In the progressive sector wages rise to match gains in productivity and in the nonprogressive sec tor they rise by "wage diffusion." A major component of the nonprogressive sector consists of municipal and other government services. When, under certain conditions, more and more workers enter the nonprogressive sector, municipal fiscal crises are a likely result. The macroeconomic model used in this study is a 19- equation system with eight difference equations for which analytical solutions are not available at this time. A FORTRAN computer program, however, is developed for simulations covering a 50-year period. The results of these simulations are the basis for seven propositions. The worst case (the one most conducive to urban crisis) occurs when the demand for the output of the nonprogressive sector increases at a faster rate than income (i.e., this sector is "in come elastic") and is insensitive to price increases (i. e., is "price inelastic"). In this case the nonprogressive sector absorbs a growing percentage of total employment, and the year-by-year real output of the economy decreases.
Proper Starching Technique
Authors: Kaswell Ernest R. 
Published: July 2017

In view of the widespread application of starches for the sizing of yarns and fabrics, and, in particular, the pres ent scarcity of starch, it is imperative that a maximum economy be attained in the use of this important raw ma terial. The following study was made for the specific pur pose of improving the technique in laundry practice. However, it is believed that disclosure of the relationship between certain variables and fabric stiffness will be of assistance to textile men in general. It was found in this study that a linear relationship between the amount of starch and weight of material such as is frequently used in determining the proper amount of starch does not hold. By proper use of graphs the correct amount of starch for any given weight may be determined.
Scope phenomena in English and Dutch and L2 acquisition: A Case Study
Authors: Haegeman Liliane 
Published: July 2017

The aim of this paper is to examine how a revised contrastive analysis, based on Chomsky's Government Binding Theory, can be a contribution to L2 acquisition research. The paper illustrates in detail how a contrastive approach in terms of parametric variation between languages may explain persistent errors made by Dutch learners of English. Three parameters are considered: the COMP-INFL parameter, the presence of absence of reanalysis in the VP and the categorial status of modals. These three interact in three related areas of English grammar: i) do-insertion, ii) scope of negation, and iii) modal scope (especially as regards conditionals). It is argued that errors made by Dutch learners in these areas of English grammar are due to an inadequate ‘resetting’ of the parameters involved. A prominent feature of L2 parameter setting seems to be the doubling strategy.
Simulation of Non-Linear Viscoelastic Flow Behavior in the Buss Kneader
Authors: Lyu Min-Young , White James L. 
Published: July 2017

We seek to simulate the non-linear viscoelastic characteristics of molten thermoplastics in the Buss Kneader in which the screw has both rotating and oscillating motions. Non-linear viscoelastic effects are considered using a convected Maxwell model. Calculations are made first in a basic screw element and subsequently in the special Kneader screw modules where we consider leakage flows by drag and pressure flows through the interrupted screw flights. Our study predicts screw pumping characteristics of Kneader screw elements which vary with material properties such as viscosity and relaxation time. It also considers pressure and fill factor profiles along the screw axis in the modular Kneader machine.
A Viscoelastic Macro-Microfracture Delay Mechanism Approach in Particulate Epoxy Composites
Authors: Kytopoulos V. N. 
Published: July 2017

By adopting a theoretical model of the elastic-plastic Fracture Mechanics as a reference one concerning the viscoelastic crack growth in cracked plates and by relating this model with a certain viscoelastic as well as macro-microfailure parametric transitional approach, seems to be possible to “gross simulate” the real crack growth behavior in a polymeric composite system by means of the adopted model. This possibility is based on the relative good “general viscoelastic response” of the reference model to the material and experimental conditions. This “viscoelastic response” in turn is consistent with the proposed fracture delay mechanism which is deduced by means of a semiquantitative gross estimation approach methodology. In this methodology the basic assumption that the main contribution to the proposed fracture delay mechanism is given by viscoelastic loss effects and less by the plastic flow and/or adiabatic thermal blunting effects localized at the propagating crack tip seems to be consistent with the material and experimental conditions. In this context it can be reasonably assumed that this delay mechanism in fact may consist of two consecutive phases. The first one which gives the microcrack growth is controlled by short-range intramolecular rearrangements which in turn are expressed by local (crack tip) characteristic relaxation time. The second one which gives the macrocrack growth is controlled by longrange intermolecular rearrangements which in turn are expressed by a characteristic “bulk” relaxation time. The experimental evidence and modeling of these phases was assisted by in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tensile observations and related measurements. Related to these observations was the statement that the proposed delay mechanism is enhancing assisted by the microvoid-microcrack coalescence “submechanism” ahead of the crack tip (notch root). As a result of all the above, an operational mode for the experimental fracture delay characterization of the polymeric composite system by means of a nomogram-aided evaluation technique is introduced.
Sensitivity of the Acoustic Impact Technique in Characterizing Defects/Damage in Laminated Composites
Authors: Haque A. , Raju P. K. 
Published: July 2017

The sensitivity of the Acoustic Impact Technique (AIT) has been investigated in detecting delaminations, impact and moisture induced damage in laminated composites. The use of Acoustic Impact Technique has shown encouraging results by previous investigators in identifying defects like delamination and disbonds in honeycomb structures. Very limited work has been reported in the literature about the utility of AIT as a NDT tool for testing laminated structures. The present work investigates the sensitiveness of the AIT method in detecting delamination in laminated composites in terms of size, shape, position and degree of concentration. The technique has also been applied in identifying low velocity impact and moisture induced damage in laminated composites. The significant advantage of AIT is that this technique is attractive for field applications. The AIT method involves striking the structure with an instrumented impacter in the region of interest and recording the time history of the impulse. The response of the signals received from both good and defective zones of a specimen were anlayzed in the time domain. The experimental configuration used by previous investigators was very restrictive. In this study a different experimental set up for studying AIT is developed. The effectiveness of AIT was evaluated by making a comparative study with ultrasonic measurement in detecting similar types of defects. The results indicate the sensitiveness of AIT in detecting delamination in laminated composites in terms of size, depth and degree of concentration. The low velocity impact damage can also be identified using the AIT method. Moisture induced damage, shape of delamination and position of delamination along the edges and the center appear to be less sensitive for detection by the AlT method.