Maryland Center Research Articles

Remaining useful life prediction of Lithium-ion batteries based on PSO-RF algorithm

Accurately predicting the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of lithium-ion batteries is the key to the battery health management system. However, problems of unstable model output and extensive calculation limit the prediction accuracy. This article proposes a Particle Swarm Optimization Random Forest (PSO-RF) prediction method to improve the RUL prediction accuracy. First, the battery capacity extracted from the lithium-ion battery data set of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) is set as the battery life health factor. Then, a PSO-RF prediction model is established based on the optimal parameters for the number of trees and the number of random features to split by the PSO algorithm. Finally, the experiment is verified on the NASA and CALCE data sets. The experiment results indicate that the method predicts RUL with Mean Absolute Error (MAE) less than 2%, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) less than 3%, and goodness of fit greater than 94%. This method solves the problem of parameter selection in the RF algorithm.

A Mixed Methods Study of Contraceptive Counseling and Care at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Maryland.

This study examined the experience of contraceptive counseling and care in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Maryland. Patients attending medical visits in 2021 were surveyed using the Interpersonal Quality of Family Planning scale to assess the quality of contraceptive counseling. Medical chart reviews were performed to identify alignment between contraceptive care received, and preferences patients had expressed. Primary care providers, reproductive health providers, and a subgroup of patients were interviewed to further contextualize survey and chart review findings. The average item score for the 94 survey participants was 4.39 (SD: 0.9) out of 5. Factor analysis showed high internal consistency reliability (alpha = 0.96). Eighty percent of patients received contraceptive care that aligned with their preferences, 4% did not, and 16% lacked clear contraceptive preferences. Qualitative analysis revealed that patients desired more guidance from providers in selecting a contraceptive method, while providers noted logistical and insurance-related barriers to care. While the quality of contraceptive counseling was high, patient experience of care may be improved by implementing team-based care.

How do Specialists Address Contraceptive Care Compared to General Practitioners in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Maryland.

To determine associations between primary provider specialty and the contraceptive care that patients receive in a Federally Qualified Health Center setting in Maryland. A study of reproductive-age patients and their providers was performed from January 2018 to December 2021. A pooled crosssectional survey of electronic medical record data for 44 127 encounters of 22 828 patients was performed to calculate the odds of contraceptive care being addressed by patients who had General Practitioner, OB/GYN, pediatrician, or infectious disease (ID) specialists as their primary providers. In 19 041 encounters (43%), contraception was addressed through either counseling alone, documentation of a contraceptive prescription, or long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) placement procedure. After adjusting for insurance status and race/ethnicity, the odds ratio (OR) of contraceptive care delivery was statistically significantly higher for OB/GYN providers compared to General Practitioners-OR 2.42 (CI 2.29-2.53) and statistically significantly lower for ID providers-OR 0.69 (CI 0.61-0.79). There was a non-statistically significant difference for Pediatricians-OR 0.88 (CI 0.77-1.01). The provision of contraceptive care, a critical aspect of comprehensive primary care delivered in an FQHC setting, varies by provider specialty, and may be negatively influenced by Ryan White funding related structures. There is a need to intentionally design robust referral and tracking systems to ensure contraceptive care is equitably accessible to all, regardless of assigned primary care provider specialty or HIV status.

Prescriber Perspectives on Biosimilar Adoption and Potential Role of Clinical Pharmacology: A Workshop Summary.

The approval and adoption of biosimilar products are essential to contain increasing healthcare costs and provide more affordable choices for patients. Despite steady progress in the number of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) biosimilar approvals over the years, biosimilar adoption in the United States has been slow and gradual, largely driven by payers rather than clinicians. In order to better understand the barriers to biosimilar adoption in the clinic, the University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (M-CERSI) and the FDA jointly hosted a virtual workshop on April 13, 2022, titled "Biosimilars: A Decade of Experience and Future Directions - Strategies for Improving Biosimilar Adoption and the Potential Role of Clinical Pharmacology." This summary documents the experiences of four leading academic clinicians with specialties in oncology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology and their perspectives on how to increase biosimilar adoption, including the role of clinical pharmacology. Besides systemic changes in pricing and reimbursement, there is a need for additional education of a broad range of providers, including advanced care practitioners, and patients themselves. Educational efforts highlighting the rigor of the studies that support the approval of biosimilars-including the clinical pharmacology studies-and the benefits of biosimilars, can play a major role in improving biosimilar acceptance.

OR28-1 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes Technology Use amongst Persons with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract Objective Despite recent advances in diabetes technology, the distribution of healthcare resources is often unequal among racial and socio-economic groups. A recent multicenter study looking at technology use amongst young adults with T1D demonstrated that socioeconomic status (SES) was not the sole driver of racial/ethnic disparities and that adjustment for income, insurance level, and health literacy did not significantly attenuate disparities. Here we present a retrospective cohort study looking at racial/ethnic disparities in insulin pump and CGM use in adults with T1D at an urban university hospital system. Methods We reviewed the charts of all adults aged 18 to 89 with T1D who attended the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology (UMCDE) between 1/2019 and 12/2019. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, type of insurance, ZIP code, BMI, A1c, method of insulin delivery, and type of glucose monitoring device were obtained from each chart. We utilized the 2019 US Census data to determine the median income for each ZIP code. Patient charts were re-accessed in 2021 to check for changes in diabetes technology use from 1/2020 until 12/2021. Logistic regression modeling was done in PRISM to control for age, gender, race, insurance type, ZIP code, last known provider, BMI, and A1c. Hosmer-Lemeshow test was done to evaluate goodness of fit. Stratified analysis was done for potential confounders such as insurance type and income. The Breslow-Day test and Likelihood Ratio test for nested models were used to evaluate their degree and significance. Result A total of 532 adults were included in the study; 277 identified as non-Hispanic (NH) White, 204 identified as NH Black, 7 identified as Hispanic, and 44 identified as other racial/ethnic groups. NH White adults had a significantly higher insulin pump use when compared to NH Black (adjusted ratio 54.0% vs. 18.4%, OR 2.43 after regression, 95%CI [1.41-4.22]). Similarly, NH White adults had significantly higher CGM use when compared to NH Black (66.5% vs. 35.2%, OR 2.00 after regression, 95%CI [1.24-3.22]). Disparities between NH White and NH Black patients did not resolve throughout 2020-2021. Insurance type was a potential effect modifier for CGM prescriptions between NH White and NH Blacks (Crude OR 4.04, Commercial Strata OR 2.68, Medicaid 1.79, Medicare 2.79, Other/Self-pay 25.7, p=0.039 on Breslow-Day test). There was large heterogeneity in the rate of Pump or CGM prescriptions between providers. Conclusion NH White adults with T1D were significantly more likely to have been prescribed diabetes-related technologies when compared to other racial/ethnic groups, and this difference did not resolve over 2 years of follow-up. Future directions include a comprehensive survey of our population regarding patient-derived and patient-perceived factors driving disparities beyond socioeconomic status. Presentation: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Abstract P016: Blood Pressure Measurements Obtained By Community-dwelling Adults Are Similar To Clinician-obtained Measurements: The SMART-BP Validate Study

Background: Home blood pressure (BP) monitoring is an effective strategy to diagnose and manage BP. However, uncertainty regarding patients’ ability to accurately measure their BP contributes to treatment inertia. Thus, we compared BP measurements with the Omron 9210T device obtained by clinicians and community-dwelling adults, after training. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a simulated home environment at an academic center in Maryland. After a 5-minute rest period, a trained clinician measured participants’ BP, twice at a 1-minute interval. Participants then ambulated at their usual pace for two minutes followed by a 5-minute rest. During the second rest period, the participant viewed a 3-minute video on how to measure their BP. They obtained two measurements at a 1-minute interval. Results: We included 90 adults with a mean age of 55 (±13.9) years, 58% were female, 88% were Black, 39% had annual income <$25,000, 64% had diagnosed hypertension, and 53% had BMI > 30 kg/m 2 . About half (52%) had a home BP monitor. There were no significant differences between clinician- and participant-obtained systolic BP (mean difference [MD]: -1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.98-0.54, p = 0.173) or diastolic BP (MD: -0.62, 95% CI: -1.35-0.12, p = 0.094). There was no difference in between the large or extra-large cuff sizes. All participants demonstrated satisfactory self-measured BP skills after the training. Conclusions: Community-dwelling adults can accurately measure BP after a brief training. Integration of BP training into patient encounters may result in reliable home BP measurements, and use of home BP measures may potentially reduce clinical inertia.

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound Predicts Severe Disease and Death Due to COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES:The clinical utility of point-of-care lung ultrasound (LUS) among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is unclear.DESIGN:Prospective cohort study.SETTING:A large tertiary care center in Maryland, between April 2020 and September 2021.PATIENTS:Hospitalized adults (≥ 18 yr old) with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction results.INTERVENTIONS:None.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:All patients were scanned using a standardized protocol including 12 lung zones and followed to determine clinical outcomes until hospital discharge and vital status at 28 days. Ultrasounds were independently reviewed for lung and pleural line artifacts and abnormalities, and the mean LUS Score (mLUSS) (ranging from 0 to 3) across lung zones was determined. The primary outcome was time to ICU-level care, defined as high-flow oxygen, noninvasive, or invasive mechanical ventilation, within 28 days of the initial ultrasound. Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for age and sex were fit for mLUSS and each ultrasound covariate. A total of 264 participants were enrolled in the study; the median age was 61 years and 114 participants (43.2%) were female. The median mLUSS was 1.0 (interquartile range, 0.5–1.3). Following enrollment, 27 participants (10.0%) went on to require ICU-level care, and 14 (5.3%) subsequently died by 28 days. Each increase in mLUSS at enrollment was associated with disease progression to ICU-level care (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.61; 95% CI, 1.27–10.2) and 28-day mortality (aHR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.29–7.50). Pleural line abnormalities were independently associated with disease progression to death (aHR, 20.93; CI, 3.33–131.30).CONCLUSIONS:Participants with a mLUSS greater than or equal to 1 or pleural line changes on LUS had an increased likelihood of subsequent requirement of high-flow oxygen or greater. LUS is a promising tool for assessing risk of COVID-19 progression at the bedside.

:The Material World of Eyre Hall: Four Centuries of Chesapeake History

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsCarl R. Lounsbury, ed. The Material World of Eyre Hall: Four Centuries of Chesapeake History. Baltimore: Maryland Center for History and Culture, in association with Giles Ltd., 2021. 448 pp.; 400 color illustrations, notes, index. $89.95.Brigette JonesBrigette JonesBelle Meade Historic Site and Winery. Bridge Builders Historical Consulting, LLC Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Winterthur Portfolio Volume 56, Number 2-3Summer/Autumn 2022 Published for the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc. Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/723105 Views: 4Total views on this site For permission to reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Disparities in Index of Care for Otolaryngologic Procedures Performed in Ambulatory and Inpatient Settings.

To compare the same surgical procedure performed in ambulatory and inpatient settings to determine the demographics associated with this selection, the differences in 30-day revisit rates, and the total 30-day cost of care. Retrospective cohort analysis. Ambulatory and inpatient centers in Florida, New York, and Maryland. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, the State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database, and the State Inpatient Database were used to identify patients undergoing commonly performed otolaryngologic procedures in 2016. The State Emergency Department Database and State Inpatient Database were used to identify 30-day revisits. A total of 55,311 patients underwent an otolaryngologic procedure: 51,136 (92.4%) ambulatory and 4175 (7.6%) inpatient. Adjusted odds of receiving care in the ambulatory setting was significantly lower for Black patients (odds ratio, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.55-0.85]; P = .001) and nonspecified other races (odds ratio, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.52-0.95]; P = .001) as compared with White patients. Women had 1.16-higher adjusted odds of undergoing a procedure in the ambulatory setting (95% CI, 1.05-1.29; P = .005). Insurance status and income were associated with location of care in the subcategorization of head and neck surgery. Adjusted inpatient procedure costs were significantly more than ambulatory (median, $59,112 vs $14,899); 30-day adjusted costs were $71,333.07 (95% CI, $56,223.99-$86,42.15; P < .001) more expensive for inpatient procedures vs ambulatory; and the adjusted 30-day odds of revisit were 2.23 times greater (95% CI, 1.44-3.44; P < .001) for ambulatory surgery across all procedures. Disparities exist in the use of ambulatory settings to provide otolaryngologic surgery. Additional research is required to ensure equitable triaging of surgical care setting.

A National Status Report on United States Coral Reefs Based on 2012–2018 Data From National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Conservation Program supports the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in the United States Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. NCRMP conducts standardized observations of biological, climatic, and socioeconomic indicators across American Samoa, Guam, the Main Hawaiian Islands, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Pacific Remote Islands, Florida, the Flower Garden Banks, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. NCRMP provides periodic, national-level assessments of the status of United States coral reef ecosystems and communities connected to them. In 2014, NCRMP partnered with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science on an unprecedented collaboration between federal and jurisdictional/state agencies, academia, and non-governmental organizations to synthesize NCRMP data into a reporting format designed to be accessible and relevant to the public and policy makers. The process involved multi-year data analyses of key benthic, fish, and climate indicators. In populated jurisdictions, socioeconomic data were integrated to assess public support for management actions, participation in pro-environmental behaviors, and awareness of threats to coral reefs. Jurisdictions were scored using a report-card scale (0–100%) by establishing references for each indicator using best-available historical data or expert opinion where historical data did not exist or were not statistically comparable. Despite overall ecosystem scores of Fair for all combined Atlantic (70%) and Pacific (74%) jurisdictions, the current trend is downward with a majority of United States coral reefs declining and vulnerable to further degradation. Remote, uninhabited reefs had an advantage with respect to reef fish population scores, i.e., Flower Garden Banks (85%) and Pacific Remote Islands (93%), when compared to populated location scores, i.e., Puerto Rico (63%) and Main Hawaiian Islands (66%). All coral reefs are highly impacted by climate change, and climate impacts were more pronounced than expected on remote reefs, i.e., the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (58%). Presenting results in a report-card style facilitates communication to the public and policy makers, and provides a useful mechanism to garner support for management actions such as expanding protected areas; enforcing existing regulations; increasing climate change education; reducing land-based sources of pollution; and other actions to improve the trajectory of coral reef ecosystem conditions.

Preface

Forest should be managed wisely to benefit all parties and stakeholders. Forests provide many benefits, both tangible and intangible. So far, forest management has focused on the use of timber forest products which are nowadays clearly unable to maintain forest conditions, especially natural forests. This is indicated by the decreasing number of natural forest concession rights, as well as natural forest timber production which in turn will result to its inability to meet the needs of domestic industrial raw materials, but increasing the rate of deforestation and degradation.Silvicultural science plays a very vital role in sustainable forest management by ensuring the sustainability of forest ecosystem functions (habitat, regulation, production and information) and increasing positive socio-economic impacts, including in terms of maintaining and increasing forest productivity, and achieving sustainable development. The study of forest ecosystem functions requires in-depth research, sharing and dissemination of research results to various stakeholders.Therefore, we need a forum that can facilitate and provide space for sharing and dissemination of the study for academics, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. The International Conference on Tropical Silviculture is held regularly by the Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University. The 3rd International Conference on Tropical Silviculture (ICTS 2021) held virtually on 24 August 2021. The theme of this year’s conference is “Inspiring Silviculture Innovation and Research in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals”. . Nine topics discussed in ICTS 2021, includes: biomass energy forest, forestry business, forest fire & climate change, agroforestry and forest plantation, ecosystem services, biodiversity, non-timber forest product, un-even aged silviculture, and forest degradation and rehabilitation. This conference is expected to be a means of exchanging information, knowledge and innovation for the sake of improving the function of forest ecosystems and also achieving sustainable forests.On behalf of the committee, I wish to appreciate to the Rector of IPB University, the Dean of Faculty of Forestry and Environment, and the Head of Department of Silviculture for their support to ensure the success of this conference. I would like to thank to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Masyarakat Silvikultur Indonesia (MASSI), Tree Grower Community (TGC), International Collaboration Office – IPB University (ICO), Regional Fire Management Resource Center – South East Asia (RFMRC), and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies (UMCES) for their important collaboration in this conference.My sincere thanks also to all parties, including session moderators, all speakers, poster presenters and participants that already make this conference meaningful. High appreciation dedicated to the committee who have worked very hard and the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the quality of manuscripts in this conference proceedings.The Chairman, Organizing Committee ICTS 2021Prof. Dr. Prijanto PamoengkasList of the committees and editors of ICTS 2021:List of Steering Committee, Organizing Committee, Scientific Committee/Editors are available in the pdf.

Speciation of yttrium and the rare earth elements in seawater: Review of a 20-year analytical journey

This review describes a program that we have conducted for more than 20 years, first at the University of South Florida and then at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to systematically measure stability constants for solution complexes of yttrium and all rare earth elements (YREE), except Pm, at the ionic strength of seawater (I ~ 0.7). This effort informs our goal of better characterizing and understanding YREE speciation in the marine environment, in the presence of both inorganic and organic ligands (and sorbents). Since all YREE appear to show similar behavior as a function of ionic strength, patterns of stability constants for individual ligands have been extrapolated to I = 0 whenever sufficient data for at least one member of the series are available. Complexes with hydroxide, fluoride and chloride, carbonate, and sulfate, are treated in detail, being the most prominent inorganic YREE ligands. A natural siderophore (DFOB) and synthetic polyaminopolycarboxylic acids (NTA, EDTA, DTPA) are given as examples of strong organic YREE complexation which, while remaining poorly quantified, is thought to be important. Several YREE ligands that play a negligible role in seawater, or for which data are as yet scarce, are also briefly discussed. Many different and sometimes novel analytical approaches were used in our experiments and these are summarized in the introductory sections, along with a primer on the theory of chemical speciation. This paper is intended as a retrospective of our work, not as a critical review of all available data. Literature values are thus cited primarily for comparison with our results, to support specific arguments, or to highlight prior discrepancies that prompted our own studies.

Effects of a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention and Metformin Treatment on Serum Urate: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Lower body mass index (BMI) has been associated with lower serum urate (SU), but only in observational studies. We sought to determine the effects of behavioral weight loss and metformin treatment on SU in a randomized trial. Methods and Findings: The Survivorship Promotion In Reducing IGF-1 Trial (SPIRIT) was a parallel three-arm randomized controlled trial of overweight/obese adult cancer survivors without gout at a single center in Maryland, United States. Participants were randomized to: (1) coach-directed weight loss (behavioral telephonic coaching), (2) metformin (up to 2000 mg daily), or (3) self-directed weight loss (informational brochures; reference group). SU and BMI were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-randomization. The 121 participants had a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 60 ± 9 years, 79% were female, and 45% were Black. At baseline, BMI was 35 ± 5 kg/m2, and SU was 5.6 ± 1.3 mg/dL. Compared to the self-directed group, at 12 months, the coach-directed group reduced BMI by 0.9 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval (CI): −1.5, −0.4) and metformin reduced BMI by 0.6 kg/m2 (95% CI: −1.1, −0.1). However, compared to the self-directed group, the coach-directed group unexpectedly increased SU by 0.3 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.05, 0.6), and metformin non-significantly increased SU by 0.2 mg/dL (95% CI: −0.04, 0.5); these effects were attenuated when analyses included change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Conclusions: In this randomized trial of cancer survivors without gout, reductions in BMI either increased or did not change SU, potentially due to effects on eGFR. These results do not support a focus on BMI reduction for SU reduction; however, long-term studies are needed. ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT02431676.

Frailty: Progress update on prevention and treatment.

Journal of Evidence-Based MedicineVolume 14, Issue 3 p. 173-174 PERSPECTIVE Frailty: Progress update on prevention and treatment Chuanyao Deng, orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-9811 Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaSearch for more papers by this authorJirong Yue, Corresponding Author yuejirong11@hotmail.com Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China Correspondence Jirong Yue, Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, China. Email: yuejirong11@hotmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorQianli Xue, Department of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this author Chuanyao Deng, orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-9811 Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaSearch for more papers by this authorJirong Yue, Corresponding Author yuejirong11@hotmail.com Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China Correspondence Jirong Yue, Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, China. Email: yuejirong11@hotmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorQianli Xue, Department of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 25 June 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12425Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume14, Issue3September 2021Pages 173-174 RelatedInformation

Childcare Staff Feeding Practices Associations With Children’s Willingness to Try New Foods

ObjectivesTo examine the associations between childcare staff feeding practices and preschool children’s willingness to try new foods (WTNF). MethodsParticipants included children (n = 460), ages 3–5 years, and childcare staff (n = 91) recruited from childcare centers in Maryland participating in baseline assessment of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate strategies to promote the development of healthy eating behaviors. Staff feeding practices were measured using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) adapted to the childcare setting. Children’s WTNF was evaluated by offering 6 novel and 3 familiar foods during a food tasting activity administered in the childcare center. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were used to evaluate the factor structure of the adapted version of the CFPQ, and to identify modified factor structures. Logistic regressions assessed the association between childcare staff feeding practices (i.e., average staff feeding factor scores in a classroom) and children’s WTNF (dichotomized as high: tried ≥ 3 novel foods vs. low: tried < 3 novel foods), adjusting for child sex and age and clustering in the childcare center. ResultsA revised 7-factor, 32-item model, including indulgent, restriction for health, monitoring, pressure, environment, healthy eating guidance, and encourage balance and variety, was identified to assess childcare staff feeding practices. Children under the care of staff members who reported more frequent use of indulgent feeding practices in the classroom had 2.13 (95% CI: 1.04 - 4.37) greater odds of demonstrating high WTNF compared to children under the care of staff members who reported lower use of this feeding practice, with no associations among other feeding practices. ConclusionsChildcare staff use of food to regulate children’s behaviors and/or emotions (i.e., indulgent feeding) was related to children’s greater willingness to try new foods in childcare settings. Understanding the mechanisms underlying childcare staff-child feeding can inform interventions to promote healthy eating behaviors among young children. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the direction of effect between staff’s indulgent feeding practices and children’s willingness to try new foods. Funding SourcesNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Progress in Drug Development-Pediatric Dose Selection: Workshop Summary.

The "Pediatric Dose Selection" workshop was held in October 2020 and sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the University of Maryland Center for Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. A summary of the presentations in the context of pediatric drug development is summarized in this article.

Blood usage at a large academic center in Maryland in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

BackgroundBlood usage and collections were impacted throughout 2020 both by the severity of the COVID‐19 pandemic as well as public health decisions affecting hospital operations. We sought to understand the longer‐term effects of the pandemic on blood usage via changes in case volume and clinical intensity as well as whether the blood needs of COVID‐19‐positive patients differed from other transfused patients.Study design and methodsA single‐center retrospective study of blood use in 2020 as compared to 2014–2019 was conducted at a tertiary care center. Statistical analysis was performed in an R‐based workflow. p values are reported using two‐sided t‐tests for total hospital blood usage and using Mann–Whitney U tests for comparisons of patient blood usage.ResultsMean monthly red cell usage in 2020 decreased by 11.2% (p = .003), plasma usage decreased by 23.8%, (p < .001) platelet usage decreased by 11.4% (p < .001), and monthly cryoprecipitate use increased by 18% (p = .03). A linear regression model predicted significant associations between total blood usage and the year, number of Medicare eligible discharges, and Case Mix Index. COVID‐19‐positive patients requiring at least one blood product did not use significantly different amounts of red cells, plasma, or platelets from all other transfused patients.ConclusionsYear 2020 began with decreased blood usage that was normalized by late spring. Reassuringly, transfused COVID‐19‐positive patients in general and those requiring ICU level care do not use significantly increased amounts of blood as compared to similar transfused hospital patients.

The Challenges and Strategies of Affordable Care Act Navigators and In-Person Assisters with Enrolling Uninsured, Violently Injured Young Black Men into Healthcare Insurance Coverage.

Low-income young Black men experience a disproportionate burden of violent injury in the United States. These men face significant disparities in healthcare insurance coverage and access to care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a new healthcare workforce, Navigators and In-Person Assisters (IPAs), to support low-income minority populations with insurance enrollment. Using a longitudinal qualitative case study approach with Navigators and IPAs at the two busiest urban trauma centers in Maryland, this study identifies the culturally and structurally responsive enrollment strategies used by three Navigators/IPAs as they enrolled violently injured young Black men in healthcare insurance coverage. These approaches included gaining their trust and building rapport and engaging female caregivers during enrollment. Navigators and IPAs faced significant barriers, including identity verification, health literacy, privacy and confidentiality, and technological issues. These findings offer novel insight into the vital work performed by Navigators and IPAs, as they attempt to decrease health disparities for young Black male survivors of violence. Despite high rates of victimization due to violent firearm injury, little is known about how this population gains access to healthcare insurance. Although the generalizability of this research may be limited due to the small sample size of participants, the qualitative case study approach offers critical exploratory data suggesting the importance of trauma-informed care in insurance enrollment by Navigators and IPAs. They also emphasize the need to further address structural issues, which affect insurance enrollment and thus undermine the well-being of young Black men who have survived violent injury.

A virtual case-based learning module for pain in dentistry.

Journal of Dental EducationVolume 85, Issue S3 p. 1928-1929 ADVANCING THROUGH INNOVATION A virtual case-based learning module for pain in dentistry Man-Kyo Chung DMD, PhD, Corresponding Author Man-Kyo Chung DMD, PhD [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-7637-1148 Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, 650 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201 USA Correspondence Prof. Man-Kyo Chung, DMD, PhD, Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author Man-Kyo Chung DMD, PhD, Corresponding Author Man-Kyo Chung DMD, PhD [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-7637-1148 Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, 650 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201 USA Correspondence Prof. Man-Kyo Chung, DMD, PhD, Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author First published: 13 February 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.12567Citations: 1Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume85, IssueS3Supplement: Advancing Through InnovationDecember 2021Pages 1928-1929 This article also appears in:Advancing Through Innovation in a Challenging Time RelatedInformation

Dynamic back face deformation measurement with a single optical fibre

A single optical fibre sensor is used to measure the dynamics of an impact. The method consists of sewing the optical fibre onto a woven Kevlar layer and placing it between the shoot pack and backing material. The measurement is accomplished by using the friction between the layer and the optical fibre to relate the optical fibre strain to impact deformation. Tests are done using a backing material of Roma Plastilina No.1 clay, and transparent ballistics gel with independent high-speed imaging. A final calculated BFD average error of 7.75% is presented as well as a timing error of 15.5% between the imaged dynamic BFD and the dynamic BFD determined by the FBG. This method is also tested at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland with a final calculated error of 7%.