The Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia: From 1825 to 1908

This brief 1908 history of Jefferson Medical College was written by James W. Holland. An 1868 graduate, Holland went on to become the Dean of Jefferson Medical College in 1887https://jdc.jefferson.edu/jeffersonhistorybooks/1007/thumbnail.jp

On "Sexual contacts and epidemic thresholds," models and inference for Sexual partnership distributions

Recent work has focused attention on statistical inference for the population distribution of the number of sexual partners based on survey data. The characteristics of these distributions are of interest as components of mathematical models for the transmission dynamics of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). Such information can be used both to calibrate theoretical models, to make predictions for real populations, and as a tool for guiding public health policy. Our previous work on this subject has developed likelihood-based statistical methods for inference that allow for low-dimensional, semi-parametric models. Inference has been based on several proposed stochastic process models for the formation of sexual partnership networks. We have also developed model selection criteria to choose between competing models, and assessed the fit of different models to three populations: Uganda, Sweden, and the USA. Throughout this work, we have emphasized the correct assessment of the uncertainty of the estimates based on the data analyzed. We have also widened the question of interest to the limitations of inferences from such data, and the utility of degree-based epidemiological models more generally. In this paper we address further statistical issues that are important in this area, and a number of confusions that have arisen in interpreting our work. In particular, we consider the use of cumulative lifetime partner distributions, heaping and other issues raised by Liljeros et al. in a recent working paper.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures in linked working pape

Weak Indestructibility and Reflection

This work is a part of my upcoming thesis [7]. We establish an equiconsistency between (1) weak indestructibility for all $\kappa +2$-degrees of strength for cardinals $\kappa$ in the presence of a proper class of strong cardinals, and (2) a proper class of cardinals that are strong reflecting strongs. We in fact get weak indestructibility for degrees of strength far beyond $\kappa +2$, well beyond the next inaccessible limit of measurables (of the ground model). One direction is proven using forcing and the other using core model techniques from inner model theory. Additionally, connections between weak indestructibility and the reflection properties associated with Woodin cardinals are discussed.Comment: 28 page

This Means War: Can Environmental Change and Food Production Have an Effect on Conflict in Africa?

My paper concerns the roles of food and climate change as influences on the prevalence of conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa. Presenting this research is important because it may provide avenues as to how best to address global issues and mitigate adverse effects of climate change related food scarcity

Factors Which Influence Adult African Americans\u27 Asthma Self-Management

There are approximately 22.2 million Americans’ who are living with asthma and of those 18.4 million are adults. African Americans’ are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma compared to Caucasians, and experience more asthma attacks. In this study, the Social Cognitive Theory was used to examine the relationships among personal characteristics, environmental factors, asthma self-efficacy, self-management behaviors, and quality of life (QOL) in African American adults with asthma. A correlational design was used. Data were collected from a non-random sample of adult African Americans’ with asthma (N = 39) using the following self-report questionnaires: the Knowledge, Attitude, and Self-Efficacy of Asthma Questionnaire (KASE), the short form of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM-SF), the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) for social support, the Asthma Trigger Inventory (ATI), the Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire, Asthma Self-Management Questionnaire (ASMQ), the Modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Asthma Control Test (ACT), and the Asthma Quality of Life Standardized (AQLQ-S). Data analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson Product correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression. On average, participants (N = 39) were middle aged (M = 55.9 ± 7.9) years, female (65%), did not smoke (87%), did not use a peak flow meter (PEFR) to self-manage their asthma (72%), and were obese (M = 34.06, SD = 10.78). Participants reported high confidence in asthma self-management; however, had low medication adherence and scores indicating uncontrolled asthma (M = 16.10, SD = 4.29). More than half (67%) of the participants reported poor sleep quality (PSQI). BMI and sleep quality accounted for significant variance (38%) in asthma QOL (F (2, 38) = 7.08, p = .001). Social support was an independent predictor of asthma self-efficacy (F (2, 38) = 5.65, p = .02). Better control of weight and asthma symptoms may improve sleep quality. Health care providers need to address the ongoing challenges of asthma self-management and monitor sleep quality. Encouraging the use of peak flow meters, which have been shown to improve self-management and asthma control, may result in better quality of life for African Americans’ with asthma

Analysis of HHS Final Rules on Reinsurance, Risk Corridors and Risk Adjustment

Summarizes final rules for states and health insurance plans for minimizing adverse selection under federal healthcare reform and highlights changes from proposed rules. Outlines implications for states and plans, as well as outstanding issues

Analysis of Flexibility Mechanisms for Quota-Catch Balancing in Multispecies Individual Fishing Quotas

Individual fishery quotas (IFQs) are an increasingly prevalent form of fishery management around the world, with more than 170 species currently managed with IFQs. Yet, because of the difficulties in matching quota holdings with catches, many argue that IFQs are not appropriate for multispecies fisheries. Using on-the-ground-experience with multispecies IFQ fisheries in Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, we assess the design and use of catch-quota balancing mechanisms. Our methodology includes a mix of interviews with fishery managers, industry representatives, and brokers; literature review; and data analysis. We find that a combination of incentives and limits on use rates for the mechanisms provide sufficient flexibility to the quota owner without the fishery manager incurring excessive levels of overexploitation risk. Contrary to some opinions, these programs are evidence that it is possible to implement IFQ programs for multispecies fisheries and that they can be profitable and sustainable.natural resources, created markets, tradable permits

Nitrogen deposition onto the United States and Western Europe: A synthesis of observations and models.

The documented acceleration of NH3 and NOx (NO + NO2) emissions over the last 150 years has accelerated N deposition, compromising air and water quality and altering the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. To construct continental-scale N budgets, we produced maps of N deposition fluxes from site-network observations for the United States and Western Europe. Increases in the rates of N cycling for these two regions of the world are large, and they have undergone profound modification of biospheric–atmospheric N exchanges, and ecosystem function. The maps are necessarily restricted to the network measured quantities and consist of statistically interpolated fields of aqueous NO3− and NH4+, gaseous HNO3 and NO2 (in Europe), and particulate NO3− and NH4+. There remain a number of gaps in the budgets, including organic N and NH3 deposition. The interpolated spatially continuous fields allow estimation of regionally integrated budget terms. Dry-deposition fluxes were the most problematic because of low station density and uncertainties associated with exchange mechanisms. We estimated dry N deposition fluxes by multiplying interpolated surface-air concentrations for each chemical species by model-calculated, spatially explicit deposition velocities. Deposition of the oxidized N species, by-products of fossil-fuel combustion, dominate the U.S. N deposition budget with 2.5 Tg of NOy-N out of a total of 3.7–4.5 Tg of N deposited annually onto the conterminous United States. Deposition of the reduced species, which are by-products of farming and animal husbandry, dominate the Western European N-deposition budget with a total of 4.3–6.3 Tg N deposited each year out of a total of 8.4–10.8 Tg N. Western Europe receives five times more N in precipitation than does the conterminous United States. Estimated N emissions exceed measured deposition in the United States by 5.3– 7.81 Tg N, suggesting significant N export or under-sampling of urban influence. In Europe, estimated emissions better balance measured deposition, with an imbalance of between −0.63 and 2.88 Tg N, suggesting that much of the N emitted in Europe is deposited there, with possible N import from the United States. The sampling network in Europe includes urban influences because of the greater population density of Western Europe. Our analysis of N deposition for both regions was limited by sampling density. The framework we present for quantification of patterns of N deposition provides a constraint on our understanding of continental biospheric–atmospheric N cycles. These spatially explicit wet and dry N fluxes also provide a tool for verifying regional and global models of atmospheric chemistry and transport, and they represent critical inputs into terrestrial models of biogeochemistry