US Regions Research Articles

Variable effects of spatial resolution on modeling of nitrogen oxides

Abstract. The lifetime and concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are susceptible to nonlinear production and loss and to the resolution of a chemical transport model (CTM). This is due to the strong spatial gradients of NOx and the dependence of its own chemical loss on such gradients. In this study, we use the GEOS-Chem CTM in its high-performance implementation (GCHP) to investigate NOx simulations over the eastern United States across a wide range of spatial model resolutions (six different horizontal grids from 13 to 181 km). Following increasing grid size, afternoon surface NOx mixing ratios over July 2015 generally decrease over the Great Lakes region (GL) and increase over the southern states of the US region (SS), yielding regional differences (181 km vs. 13 km) of −16 % (in the GL) to 7 % (in the SS); meanwhile, hydrogen oxide radicals (HOx) increase over both regions, consistent with their different chemical regimes (i.e., NOx-saturated in the GL and NOx-limited in the SS). Nighttime titration of ozone by surface nitric oxide (NO) was found to be more efficient at coarser resolutions, leading to longer NOx lifetimes and higher surface mixing ratios of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over the GL in January 2015. The tropospheric NO2 column density at typical afternoon satellite overpass time has spatially more coherent negative biases (e.g., −8 % over the GL) at coarser resolutions in July, which reversed the positive biases of surface NOx over the SS. The reduced NOx aloft (>1 km altitude) at coarser resolutions was attributable to the enhanced HOx that intrudes into the upper troposphere. Application of coarse-resolution simulations for interpreting satellite NO2 columns will generally underestimate surface NO2 over the GL and overestimate surface NO2 over the SS in summer, but it will uniformly overestimate NOx emissions over both regions. This study significantly broadens understanding of factors contributing to NOx resolution effects and the role of fine-resolution data in accurately simulating and interpreting NOx and its relevance to air quality.

Abstract PD1-01: The Impact of Structural Racism on Breast Cancer Stage at Presentation

Abstract Background: Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, racial and economic disparities in breast cancer-specific survival persist and this is exacerbated by later stage at presentation. It is essential to assess the factors that contribute to later stage at presentation to target racial and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer mortality. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity, as measured by the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), on breast cancer stage at presentation in a diverse metropolitan area that mirrors the projected demographics of many US regions. Methods: Patients treated at our medical campus, comprised of a safety-net hospital and an academic cancer center, with stage I-IV breast cancer from 2005-2017 were identified from our tumor registry. Census tracts were used as neighborhood proxies. Using 5-year estimates from the American Community Survey, 5 ICE variables were computed: economic (high vs. low), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White (NHW) vs. non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and NHW vs. Hispanic) and racialized economic (low-income NHB vs high-income NHW and low-income Hispanics vs. high-income NHW) segregation. ICE uniquely captures spatial economic and racial/ethnic segregation by mapping social inequality not otherwise captured by evaluating a population of a specific socioeconomic level or belonging to a particular racial/ethnic group. We used five separate models based on each of the ICE variables to evaluate economic and racial/ethnic segregation. Model 1 captures economic segregation (high vs. low), Model 2 captures racial segregation (NHB vs. NHW), Model 3 evaluates racialized economic segregation (low-income NHB vs high-income NHW), Model 4 captures segregation by Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic vs. Non-Hispanic), and Model 5 captures ethnic and economic segregation (low-income Hispanics vs. high-income NHW). Our main outcome was breast cancer stage at presentation categorized as early (Stage I and II) vs. late (Stage III and IV) disease. All models controlled for the following covariates: race/ethnicity, age, insurance status, tumor subtype, and comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipidemia. Results: The study population included 6,145 breast cancer patients. 52.6% were Hispanic, 26.3% were NHW, and 17.2% were NHB. Those living in the most economically marginalized neighborhoods (Quartiles 1 and 2) had significantly increased odds of presenting with later stage disease [ORQ1 1.36 (1.13-1.64), ORQ2 1.43 (1.18-1.75); p< 0.05]. Those living in the most racial/ethnic and economically marginalized neighborhoods (Quartile 1 of Models 3 and 5) had statistically significantly increased odds of presenting with later stage after controlling for all covariates compared to a NHW living in more economically advantaged neighborhoods [ORModel3 1.55 (1.21-1.99), ORModel5 1.43 (1.11-1.85); p< 0.05]. Conclusions: This study is the first to evaluate stage at presentation by ICE, which allows us to uniquely evaluate how residential racial and economic segregation may influence breast cancer disparities. Our study shows that patients in the most economically and racial/ethnically marginalized neighborhoods were more likely to present with later stage disease. This suggests that structural racism is influencing stage at presentation, and therefore effecting racial and economic disparities in breast cancer, even when accounting for demographics and tumor characteristics. To address these disparities, effective interventions are needed that account for the social and environmental contexts in which cancer patients live and can access care. Table 1: Odds Ratios for Later Stage at Presentation with Breast Cancer by Different Types of Residential Segregation Model 1: Economic segregation (high-income vs low-income) Model 2: NHB vs NHW segregation Model 3: NHB and economic segregation (low-income NHB vs high-income NHW) Model 4: Hispanic vs NHW segregation Model 5: Hispanic and economic segregation (low-income Hispanics vs. high-income NHW) Q1: Most disadvantaged neighborhoods; Q4: Reference: most advantaged neighborhoods. *p < 0.05 Citation Format: Alexandra Hernandez, Brianna L Cohen, Ashly Westrick, Cheyenne Thompson, Susan Kesmodel, Neha Goel. The Impact of Structural Racism on Breast Cancer Stage at Presentation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr PD1-01.

Analyzing golf course pesticide risk across the US and Europe—The importance of regulatory environment

This study quantifies golf course pesticide risk in five regions across the US (Florida, East Texas, Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast) and three countries in Europe (UK, Denmark, and Norway) with the objective of determining how pesticide risk on golf courses varied as a function of climate, regulatory environment, and facility-level economic factors. The hazard quotient model was used to estimate acute pesticide risk to mammals specifically. Data from 68 golf courses are included in the study, with a minimum of at least five golf courses in each region. Though the dataset is small, it is representative of the population at confidence level of 75 % with a 15 % margin of error. Pesticide risk appeared to be similar across US regions with varied climates, and significantly lower in the UK, and lowest in Norway and Denmark. In the Southern US (East Texas and Florida), greens contribute most to total pesticide risk while in nearly all other regions fairways make the greatest contribution to overall pesticide risk. The relationship between facility-level economic factors such as maintenance budget was limited in most regions of the study, except in the Northern US (Midwest, Northwest, and Northeast) where maintenance and pesticide budget correlated to pesticide risk and use intensity. However, there was a strong relationship between regulatory environment and pesticide risk across all regions. Pesticide risk was significantly lower in Norway, Denmark, and the UK, where twenty or fewer active ingredients were available to golf course superintendents, than it was in US where depending on the state between 200 and 250 pesticide active ingredients were registered for use on golf courses.

Operating in an Opioid Crisis: A Temporal Analysis of Pain Medication Prescribing Practices in Plastic Surgery.

In response to the opioid epidemic, the United States declared a public health emergency in 2017. We evaluated pain medication prescribing practices among plastic and reconstructive surgeons, assessing pain medication prescription rates and opioid-related mortality both nationally and regionally within the United States. A retrospective analysis of Medicare Part D prescriber data among plastic surgeons from 2013 through 2017 was conducted. Pain medications were categorized as opioid and nonopioid medications. Trends in surgeon prescribing habits were evaluated using the Cochrane-Armitage trend test. A total of 708,817 pain medication claims were identified: 612,123 claims (86%) were for opioid pain medications and 96,694 claims (14%) were for nonopioid pain medications. Total pain medication claims decreased from 44% of all medications in 2013 to 37% in 2017 (P < 0.001). Opioid medications decreased from 37% of total medication claims to 32% (P < 0.001). The overall opioid prescription rate fell from 1.53 claims per beneficiary in 2013 to 1.32 in 2017 (P < 0.001). Nonopioid pain medications decreased from 7% in 2013 to 6% in 2017 (P < 0.001); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug claims increased by 44%. The prescription rate of nonopioid medications decreased from 2.40 claims per beneficiary in 2013 to 2.32 in 2017 (P < 0.001). An overall increase in opioid-related mortality was observed. Trends in pain medication prescriptions varied significantly among US regions and divisions. Plastic surgeons are prescribing less opioids and relying more on nonopioid pain medications. Increased adoption of multimodal pain treatment approaches among surgeons is a likely explanation for this trend in face of the current opioid crisis.

Evaluating Enhanced Reservoir Evaporation Losses From CMIP6‐Based Future Projections in the Contiguous United States

AbstractEnhanced reservoir evaporation has become an emerging concern regarding water loss, especially when compounded with the ever‐increasing water demand. In this study, we evaluated the evaporation rates and losses for 678 major reservoirs (representing nearly 90% of total storage capacity) in the Contiguous United States over historical baseline (1980–2019), near‐term (2020–2039), and mid‐term (2040–2059) future periods. The evaporation rate was estimated using the Lake Evaporation Model (LEM), an advanced lake evaporation model that addresses both heat storage and fetch effects, driven by multi‐ensemble downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects 6 (CMIP6) projections under the SSP585 emission scenario. The results project that the evaporation loss may increase by 2.5 × 107 m3/yr through the research period (1980–2059). Among all regions, the Rio Grande is projected to have the largest increasing rate in the near‐term and mid‐term future, with values of 7.11% of 10.25%, respectively. At the seasonal scale, the most significant increase in the evaporation rate is projected during the fall. The evaporation is projected to increase faster than the streamflow over many of the regions in the southwestern US during the summer/fall, suggesting that the shortage of water will be further exacerbated. The climate models contribute the most to the variance, as compared to the other components related to the projection of evaporation losses (e.g., hydrological model, downscaling method, and historical meteorological data set). These findings demonstrate the need to consider accelerated water loss through open water evaporation in long‐term water resources planning across various spatiotemporal scales.

Abstract P568: Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular Disease-Related Mortality Trends in the United States, 1999 - 2020

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporosis share common risk factors and often co-exist. In this study, we quantify CVD-related mortality trends in individuals with osteoporosis. Hypothesis: Among gender, racial, and geographic subgroups, disproportionate mortality rates related to CVD and osteoporosis are observed. Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses using the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database to identify mortality rates from 1999 to 2020 with CVD as the underlying cause of death and osteoporosis within the multiple causes of death. Quantified measures included age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR), average annual percentage change (AAPC), and 95% confidence intervals. Joinpoint regression (National Cancer Institute) was used for AAPC calculation. Stata (StataCorp LLC) was used for data visualization. Results: There was a total of 70,930 deaths from 1999 to 2020. The AAMR decreased from 1.76 in 1999 to 0.40 in 2020 [p &lt;0.05] with an AAPC of -6.8%. There were a higher AAMR among females (1.34) compared to males (0.27) [p &lt;0.05], with a similar AAPC (-6.6% and -7.2%, respectively [p &gt;0.05]). White populations had the highest AAMR, followed by Asian populations (0.63), then Black populations (0.28) [p &lt;0.05]. AAPC was similar among the three racial subgroups (-6.9%, -6.8%, -4.7%, respectively [p &gt;0.05]). Non-Hispanic (0.98) subgroups had higher AAMR than Hispanic subgroups (0.45) [p &lt;0.05], with a similar AAPC (-6.8% and -6.6%, respectively [p &gt;0.05]). Non-metro regions (1.17) had higher AAMR compared to metro regions (0.9) [p &lt;0.05], with a similar AAPC (-5.8% and -7.2%, respectively [p &gt;0.05]). The Midwest (1.19) had the highest AAMR, followed by the West (1.13), South (0.80), and the Northeast (0.74) [p &lt;0.05]. AAPC was similar among all US regions (-6.4%, -6.6%, -8.3%, and -6.4%, respectively [p &gt;0.05]). Conclusion: Disparities related to CVD and osteoporosis related mortality exist among gender, racial, and geographic subgroups within the United States.

Analysis of Asian Marketing Status of L 'Oreal Group

As one of the world's leading cosmetics groups, the L'Oréal Group owns overseas markets in many countries, and its sophisticated international marketing operations have brought achievements in overseas markets. This paper examined and analyzed the current state of L'Oréal Group's marketing in Asia international markets around the last decade of the 21st century and the problems that exist. Based on a comparative investigation of some differences in the marketing strategies of the L'Oréal Group in the European or US regions to investigate whether regional cultural uniqueness influences the marketing strategies implemented in Asia in the market. Meanwhile, the case study illustrated the disadvantages and competition problems that the L'Oréal Group may have in marketing in Asian overseas markets. A literature review and case study were conducted on this article with qualitative methods. The 4Ps (Price, Product, Place, Promotion) were applied to analyze some of L'Oréal Group’s marketing situation in Asia. Also, the advantages and disadvantages of L'Oréal’s marketing strategy in Asia will examine by the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) method. Finally, propose countermeasures for L'Oréal to improve Asian marketing based on the problems that exist and highlighted the competitive advantages of L'Oréal Group in the international cosmetics market industry.

Growing convergence research: Coproducing climate projections to inform proactive decisions for managing simultaneous wildfire risk

We apply a convergence research approach to the urgent need for proactive management of long-term risk associated with wildfire in the United States. In this work we define convergence research in accordance with the US National Science Foundation-as a means of addressing a specific and compelling societal problem for which solutions require deep integration across disciplines and engagement of stakeholders. Our research team brings expertise in climate science, fire science, landscape ecology, and decision science to address the risk from simultaneous and impactful fires that compete for management resources, and leverages climate projections for decision support. In order to make progress toward convergence our team bridges spatial and temporal scale divides arising from differences in disciplinary and practice-based norms. We partner with stakeholders representing US governmental, tribal, and local decision contexts to coproduce a robust information base for support of decision making about wildfire preparedness and proactive land/fire management. Our approach ensures that coproduced information will be directly integrated into existing tools for application in operations and policy making. Coproduced visualizations and decision support information provide projections of the change in expected number of fires that compete for resources, the number of fire danger days per year relative to prior norms, and changes in the length and overlap of fire season in multiple US regions. Continuing phases of this work have been initiated both by stakeholder communities and by our research team, a demonstration of impact and value.

Directions for the Sustainability of Innovative Clustering in a Country

This paper presents potential improvements through utilizing the cyclical nature of clusters by human capital, technology, policies, and management. A historical review of the formation and sustainable development of clusters in the US, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions is carried out to achieve this. The aim was to identify and assess the prominent occurrence cases, the central institutional actors, the indicators of their innovative activity, and the schematics of successful cluster management. The theory section covers current classification methods and typology of innovation-territorial economic associations. Consequently, a regression analysis model is produced to identify the potential dominant success factors in implementing the innovation policy of the most successful innovative clusters. Comments on the influence of these predictors on the competitiveness and level of innovative development of the 50 inspected countries follow. As a result of qualitative and quantitative analysis, an overview of the best world practice, the new vision, and its priorities are proposed to improve the efficiency at the level of management structures of innovation clusters.

Location, Location, Location: Manufacturing and House Price Growth

Abstract Exploiting data on tens of millions of housing transactions, we show that (1) house prices grew by less in manufacturing-heavy US regions, (2) this pattern is especially present for the lowest-value homes and that (3) price declines coincided with worse labour market outcomes, consistent with an income channel. Counterfactual accounting exercises reveal that regional differences in the growth of these lowest-value homes are an important driver of the changes in overall house price inequality. Hence, the economic decline in manufacturing-heavy areas extends far beyond income and employment flows to house prices.

Assessment of Trauma Team Activation Fees by US Region and Hospital Ownership

Trauma centers must be readily equipped to handle a variety of life-threatening injuries and consequently may charge a fee for the activation of their trauma team. Regional and hospital-related variations in trauma activation fees across the US have not been formally assessed. To evaluate the variability of trauma activation fees from trauma centers across the US and examine whether certain hospital characteristics are associated with higher activation fees. This cross-sectional study used data from the American College of Surgeons website to identify all trauma centers in the US that were listed as verified from inception of the verification database through March 4, 2022 (N = 546). Five military hospitals were excluded, and trauma activation fees could not be found for 18 trauma centers; the remaining 523 hospitals were included in the analysis. Each hospital's publicly available chargemaster (a comprehensive list of a hospital's products, procedures, and services) was searched to obtain its trauma activation fees. Two levels of trauma activation fees were recorded: tier 1 (full activation) and tier 2 (partial activation). Hospital-specific data were obtained from the American Hospital Association website. All data were collected between January 2 and March 11, 2022. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess potential associations between hospital characteristics (type of control [for profit, government, church, or other nonprofit], hospital system [owner], number of staffed beds, and academic vs nonacademic status) and trauma activation fees. Median and mean trauma activation fees nationally and stratified by location, hospital system, and other hospital characteristics. Of 523 trauma centers included in the analysis, most were located in the Midwest (180 centers) and West (129 centers). There were 176 adult level I trauma centers and 200 adult level II trauma centers; 69 centers had for-profit status, and 415 were academic. Overall, the median (IQR) tier 1 trauma activation fee was $9500 ($5601-$17 805), and the mean (SD) tier 1 trauma activation fee was $13 349 ($11 034); these fees ranged from $1000 to $61 734. Median (IQR) trauma activation fees were highest in the West ($18 099 [$10 741-$$27 607]), especially in California, where the median (IQR) activation fee was $24 057 ($15 979-$33 618). Trauma activation fees were also higher at for-profit hospitals, most of which were owned by the HCA Healthcare system, which had 43 trauma centers and a median (IQR) tier 1 trauma activation fee of $29 999 ($20 196-$37 589). In this study, trauma activation fees varied widely among hospitals in the US. Regional variation in these fees was substantial, with hospitals in the West charging substantially more than those in other locations. In addition, for-profit hospitals charged more than other types of hospitals. These findings suggest that some patients with serious traumatic injuries will incur disproportionately high trauma activation fees depending on the trauma center to which they are brought. Therefore, standardization of trauma activation fees is warranted.

Reaching Populations at Risk for HIV Through Targeted Facebook Advertisements: Cost-Consequence Analysis

An undiagnosed HIV infection remains a public health challenge. In the digital era, social media and digital health communication have been widely used to accelerate research, improve consumer health, and facilitate public health interventions including HIV prevention. We aimed to evaluate and compare the projected cost and efficacy of different simulated Facebook (FB) advertisement (ad) approaches targeting at-risk populations for HIV based on new HIV diagnosis rates by age group and geographic region in the United States. We used the FB ad platform to simulate (without actually launching) an automatically placed video ad for a 10-day duration targeting at-risk populations for HIV. We compared the estimated total ad audience, daily reach, daily clicks, and cost. We tested ads for the age group of 13 to 24 years (in which undiagnosed HIV is most prevalent), other age groups, US geographic regions and states, and different campaign budgets. We then estimated the ad cost per new HIV diagnosis based on HIV positivity rates and the average health care industry conversion rate. On April 20, 2021, the potential reach of targeted ads to at-risk populations for HIV in the United States was approximately 16 million for all age groups and 3.3 million for age group 13 to 24 years, with the highest potential reach in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. When using different FB ad budgets, the daily reach and daily clicks per US dollar followed a cumulative distribution curve of an exponential function. Using multiple US $10 ten-day ads, the cost per every new HIV diagnosis ranged from US $13.09 to US $37.82, with an average cost of US $19.45. In contrast, a 1-time national ad had a cost of US $72.76 to US $452.25 per new HIV diagnosis (mean US $166.79). The estimated cost per new HIV diagnosis ranged from US $13.96 to US $55.10 for all age groups (highest potential reach and lowest cost in the age groups 20-29 and 30-39 years) and from US $12.55 to US $24.67 for all US regions (with the highest potential reach of 6.2 million and the lowest cost per new HIV diagnosis at US $12.55 in the US South). Targeted personalized FB ads are a potential means to encourage at-risk populations for HIV to be tested, especially those aged 20 to 39 years in the US South, where the disease burden and potential reach on FB are high and the ad cost per new HIV diagnosis is low. Considering the cost efficiency of ads, the combined cost of multiple low-cost ads may be more economical than a single high-cost ad, suggesting that local FB ads could be more cost-effective than a single large-budget national FB ad.

Perceptions of Palliative Care Program Viability During the Pandemic: Qualitative Results From a National Survey.

Background: Palliative care programs have played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the financial impact of the pandemic and operational challenges for palliative care programs have raised concerns for their future viability. Objectives: To explore palliative care program leaders' perceptions of the future viability of their programs in the context of the pandemic and inform future educational and program development. Methods: Surveys were sent to 1430 specialist palliative care program leaders, identified through the Center to Advance Palliative Care's contact lists, via email in May 2020 and January 2021. Leaders were asked why they were or were not concerned about the viability of their palliative care programs. Qualitative content analysis was applied to determine themes. Results: We received 440 responses. Most programs served hospital settings and were geographically located across all US regions. We identified four themes: 1) The importance of being valued by organizational leadership and peers, 2) The importance of adequate and supported palliative care staff, 3) The pandemic validated and accelerated the need for palliative care, and 4) The pandemic perpetuated organizational financial concerns. Conclusion: Findings provide insights about palliative care program viability from the perspective of program leaders during a global pandemic. Technical assistance to support palliative care teams and their relationships with stakeholders, methods to measure the impact of peer support, efforts to educate administrators about the value of palliative care, and efforts to reduce burnout are needed to sustain palliative care programs into the future.

Nationwide Analysis of the Distribution of Level 1 and Level 2 Trauma Centers Per Population Growth and Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries/Fatalities Utilizing Geographic Information Systems Mapping Technology: Toward Optimizing Access to Trauma Care.

Trauma centers (TCs) improve patient outcomes. Few investigations detail the US geographical distribution of Level 1 and 2 TCs (L1TCs, L2TCs) regarding motor vehicle collision (MVC) injuries/fatalities. We utilized Geographic Information Systems mapping to investigate the distribution of L1TCs and L2TCs in relation to population growth, MVC injuries, and MVC fatalities at the county and regional level to identify any disparities in access to trauma care. A cross-sectional analysis of L1TC and L2TC distribution, MVC injuries/fatalities, and population growth from 2010 to 2018. Information was gathered at the county and region level for young adults (aged 15-44), middle-aged adults (45-64), and elderly (≥65). A total of 263 L1TCs across 46 states and 156 counties and 357 L2TCs across 44 states and 255 counties were identified. The mean distance between L1TCs and L2TCs is 28.3 miles and 31.1 miles, respectively. Seven counties were identified as being at-risk, all in the Western and Southern US regions that experienced ≥10% increase in population size, upward trends in MVC injuries, and upward trends MVC fatalities across all age groups. Seven US counties containing ≤2 ACSCOT-verified and/or state-designated L1TCs or L2TCs experienced a 10% increase in population, MVC injuries, and MVC fatalities across young, middle-aged and elderly adults from 2010 to 2018. This study highlights chronic disparities in access to trauma care for MVC patients. Evaluation of state limitations regarding the distribution of L1TCs and L2TCs, frequent evaluation of local and regional trauma care needs, and strategic interventions to improve access to trauma care may improve patient outcomes for heavily burdened counties.

Relational and mental health outcomes of trauma and disaster in couples:The intermediary role of grit

This study was designed to assess associations between resource loss related to the 2019 hurricane season, and traumatic event exposure history on individual and relational wellbeing. Further, the potential intermediary role of grit was explored. The study was completed with a sample of 240 heterosexual couples who reported living in or near coastal regions in the southeast US, who were at risk of experiencing disaster-related losses during the 2019 hurricane season. A modified actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was fitted using path analysis to test associations between disaster-related loss (incurred in 2019) and prior traumatic event exposure, and the outcome variables of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and attachment behaviors within and across partners, with male and female grit tested as intermediaries. Results showed higher levels of disaster-related loss in 2019 and exposure to prior traumatic events associated significantly with higher levels of PTSS within partners. Higher levels of traumatic event exposure also associated with lower grit within partners. In turn, higher levels of grit associated with higher levels of attachment behaviors and lower levels of PTSS within and across partners. Indirect effects suggested that lower grit may play an intermediary role in the path between higher trauma event exposure history and lower levels of attachment behaviors within partners. Results suggest the primacy of loss in understanding traumatic stress, and further imply the importance of grit as a potential buffer in individual and relational wellbeing.

Technical notes on the placement of cerebral microdialysis: A single center experience.

Cerebral microdialysis enables monitoring of brain metabolism and can be an important part of multimodal monitoring strategies in a variety of brain injuries. Microdialysis catheters can be placed in brain parenchyma through a burr hole, a cranial bolt, or directly at the time of an open craniotomy or craniectomy. The location of catheters in relation to brain pathology is important to the interpretation of data and guidance of interventions. Here we retrospectively review the use of cerebral microdialysis at a US Regional Medical Center between March 2018 and February 2022 and provide detailed descriptions and technical nuances of the different methods to place microdialysis catheters. Eighty two unique microdialysis catheters were utilized in 52 patients. 35 (42.68%) were placed via a quad-lumen bolt and 47 (57.32%) were placed through craniotomies. 27 catheters (32.93%) were placed in a perilesional location, 50 (60.98%) were located in healthy tissue, and 6 (7.32%) were mispositioned. No significant difference was seen between placement by bolt or craniotomy in regard to perilesional location, mispositioning, or complications. With careful planning and thoughtful execution, cerebral microdialysis catheters can be successfully placed though a variety of strategies to optimize and individualize brain monitoring in different clinical settings. This paper provides a detailed guide for the various methods of catheter placement to help providers begin or expand their use of cerebral microdialysis.

Timber Transportation Crash and Vehicle Defect Rates in the US South

Highlights Crash rates among southern log truck fleets were 176% higher than log truck fleets in the Lake States. Vehicle and driver out-of-service rates were similar among log trucks in the US South, Northeast, Lake States, and West. The age and condition of log trucks did not explain elevated crash rates in the US South. Abstract. The US South harvests more than 200 million tonnes of timber annually, nearly all of which is transported from forests to mills by truck. Log truck fleets in the US South have been struggling with rising liability insurance premiums. The goal of this study was to compare crash rates and the condition of log trucks operating in the US South to log trucks operating in other US regions and trucks in other industries. A sample of inspection and crash data were collected from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Vehicle and driver out-of-service rates, vehicle defect rates, and crash rates among log truck fleets in the US South were compared to log trucks in other US regions and to 50 large non-log truck fleets. Crash rates among southern log truck fleets were 176% higher than log truck fleets in the Lake States and 48% higher than 50 large non-log truck fleets. Vehicle and driver out-of-service rates were similar among log truck fleets in each region (p &amp;gt; 0.25), but southern logging business fleets had higher vehicle out-of-service rates than 50 large non-log truck fleets (p = 0.02). Driver education, technology implementation, improved fleet maintenance practices, and weight limit parity on interstate highways may improve timber transportation safety. Keywords: Log trucks, Logging accidents, Logging safety, Timber harvesting, Wood supply chain.

The El Ni&amp;amp;#241;o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Effects on Cowpea and Winter Wheat Yields in the Semi-Arid Region of the Southern US

Information is limited on the effects of climate variability on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in the semiarid region of the southern US. Using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model and weather data spanning 81 years, we assessed the impact of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the grain yields of these crops in the Llano Estacado region of the southern US as affected by cowpea and wheat planting dates and N application rate. Simulated results showed that the El Niño phase of ENSO produced about 30% more yields of mono-cropped cowpea than those produced under the La Niña phase, especially with the cowpeas planted in July. The cowpea yields under El Niño were about 10% more than the 81-year average normal yield, whereas those under La Niña were about 20% less. At the N rates of 0, 50, and 100 kg·ha−1, regardless of wheat planting dates, the El Niño years produced, respectively, about 8%, 40%, and 60% higher wheat yields than those produced in the La Niña years, and about 5%, 20%, and 27% more than the 81-year average normal yield. In the La Niña years, the wheat yields at 0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1 were, respectively, about 5%, 15%, and 20% less than the normal yield with similar N levels. The impact of ENSO on wheat yields under cowpea-wheat double-cropping systems was significant, especially for the wheat crops planted on October 15 (October 30) or later following the cowpea crops planted in June (July). At zero N, the mono-cropped wheat yields were not impacted by ENSO due to N limitation. However, the double-cropped wheat yields were impacted by ENSO even when no N fertilizer was applied due to high soil N status caused by N transfer from cowpea stover residues and roots. Results indicated that management strategies need to be attentive to ENSO forecasts and adjust potential planting dates and N application rates with the ENSO phase to avert risks of crop failure and economic loss.

Italian Immigration in the American West: 1870–1940

Italian Immigration in the American West: 1870–1940

Preface

The International Conference on Power Electronics and Advanced Control is a leading international conference. It aims at building an international platform for the communication and academic exchange among participants from various fields related to power electronics and advanced control. Here, scholars, experts, and researchers are welcomed and encouraged to share their research results and inspirations. It is a great opportunity to promote academic communication and collaboration worldwide.This volume contains the papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Power Electronics and Advanced Control (PEAC 2022), held during November 11st-13rd, 2022 in Guilin, China (virtual event). For the safety concern of all participants, we decided to hold it as a virtual conference which is also effective and convenient for academic exchange and communication. Everyone interested in this field were welcomed to join the online conference and to give comments and raise questions to the speeches and presentations.The online conference was composed of keynote speeches, oral presentations, and academic investigation, attracting about 50 individuals from all over the world. We have invited three sophisticated professors to perform keynote speeches. Among them, Prof. Sudip K. Mazumder from University of Illinois, USA is one of our keynote speakers and delivered a dramatic speech. He has around 30 years of professional experience, held research and development and design positions in leading industrial organizations, served as a Technical Consultant for several industries, and has been serving as a Regional Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Power Electronics Society for the US region since 2021. Besides, he has published more than 250 refereed papers, delivered over 110 keynote/plenary/distinguished/invited presentations, and received 55 sponsored research studies since joining the UIC. All the keynote speakers made brilliant speeches and shared unique experience and insights, and we are hoping the pandemic soon come to an end and we could see each other face to face next year.List of Committee member is available in this pdf.