2017 State of the Commonwealth Report

This is the third State of the Commonwealth Report produced by the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University. The report is sponsored, in part, by ODU\u27s Strome College of Business. While the report represents the work of many people connected in various ways to the university, it does not constitute an official viewpoint of Old Dominion, its president, John R. Broderick, or the Board of Visitors. This report maintains the goal of stimulating thought and discussion that ultimately will make the Commonwealth of Virginia an even better place to live, work, and do business. We are proud of Virginia\u27s many successes, but realize it is possible to improve our performance. To do so, we must have accurate and objective information about where we are and a sound understanding of the policy options open to us

Serum S100B levels after meningioma surgery: A comparison of two laboratory assays

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>S100B protein is a potential biomarker of central nervous system insult. This study quantitatively compared two methods for assessing serum concentration of S100B.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective, observational study performed in a single tertiary medical center. Included were fifty two consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for meningioma that provided blood samples for determination of S100B concentrations. Eighty samples (40 pre-operative and 40 postoperative) were randomly selected for batch testing. Each sample was divided into two aliquots. These were analyzed by ELISA (Sangtec) and a commercial kit (Roche Elecsys^®) for S100B concentrations. Statistical analysis included regression modelling and Bland-Altman analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A parsimonious linear model best described the prediction of commercial kit values by those determined by ELISA (y = 0.045 + 0.277*x, x = ELISA value, R²= 0.732). ELISA measurements tended to be higher than commercial kit measurements. This discrepancy increased linearly with increasing S100B concentrations. At concentrations above 0.7 μg/L the paired measurements were consistently outside the limits of agreement in the Bland-Altman display. Similar to other studies that used alternative measurement methods, sex and age related differences in serum S100B levels were not detected using the Elecsys^®(p = 0.643 and 0.728 respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although a generally linear relationship exists between serum S100B concentrations measured by ELISA and a commercially available kit, ELISA values tended to be higher than commercial kit measurements particularly at concentrations over 0.7 μg/L, which are suggestive of brain injury. International standardization of commercial kits is required before the predictive validity of S100B for brain damage can be effectively assessed in clinical practice.</p

Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, Texas Project. Report 3: Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model Verification

Source: https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/jspui/This report describes the verification results of the three-dimensional (3-D) hydrodynamic model used to evaluate tides, current velocities, and salinities in Galveston Bay, Texas. This is the third in a series of reports concerning the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels The goal of these reports is to determine the effect of the proposed channel deepening and widening upon tides, currents salinities, and navigation. Report 1 describes the field data collection and results, Report 2 presents the two-dimensional numerical modeling of hydrodynamics for a navigation study. Report 3 presents the verification description for the 3-D model, and Report 4 details the results or tests of the 3-D model. This report first describes the 3-D model program, RMA10-WES, which is a finite element code using mixed quadratic and linear Lagrange polynomials. The remainder of the report reveals the demonstration of the model applicability through the verification procedure. This procedure of adjustment and verification was first a comparison to a short series of data with a series of adjustments in bed roughness. Then the model was run with no adjustment over a period of roughly 6 months in comparison to field data from 19 July 1990 to 15 January 1991. This period includes the time following a major flood in the Galveston Bay system for which the model reproduces the timing and magnitude of the salinity rebound very well. Comparisons of model performance are drawn qualitatively between the model and description of the Bay in the literature, and also quantitatively with the field data recorded for this study._x000D_ _x000D_ NOTE: This is large. Allow your browser several minutes to download the file

Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, Texas Project. Report 4. Three-Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Hydrodynamics and Salinity

Source: https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/jspui/This report describes the testing program conducted to evaluate the impact of enlargement of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel on the salinity and hydrodynamic fields of tidally influenced Galveston Bay. The present channel nominal dimensions are 40 ft deep at mean low water (mlw) and 400 ft wide. The proposed enlargements tested are for a channel 45 ft deep at mlw and 530 ft wide (Phase I) and 50 ft deep and 600 ft wide (Phase II). Current plans do not include the Phase II enlargement. Salinity fields for these channel configurations and the existing channel dimensions are compared. In a separate study the results from these simulations were used to drive an ecosystem model to predict oyster product ion. Testing conditions included tidal conditions and winds for the year 1984. The freshwater inflows (developed outside this study) were tested for low-, medium-. and high-flow years. Additionally, since water demand in the future is expected to modify freshwater distribution and quantities, future distributions for the test year 1999 (Wallisville Dam in place) and 2024. The code used (RMA 10-WES) is a Galerkin-based finite element solution to simulate three-dimensional (3-D) unsteady open-channel flow. The code represents 3-D hydrodynamics using conservation of fluid mass, horizontal momentum, and salinity/temperature transport equations subject to the hydrostatic assumption. Results of these tests showed that the largest increases in salinity were in low-salinity areas, including the upper west side of the bay across the channel from Atkinson Island, and the upper bay channel. Trinity Bay showed a small salinity increase. South of midbay the salinity increases were generally less than 1 ppt. Some locations in the south bay near the navigation channel occasionally showed a decrease in salinity for the deeper channel configurations. These decreases occurred during the period of rebound in salinity after the high inflow period of late spring. The deepened channels showed increased salinity stratification. The stratification increased with channel project depths and with freshwater inflow in the Buffalo Bayou/San Jacinto River Basin. The future hydrologic scenarios result in more freshwater inflow to Galveston Bay through Buffalo Bayou and San Jacinto River. The deepened channels typically resulted in less significant salinity increases in the scenarios than for the present hydrologic year (1990). These future scenarios redistribute some of the freshwater inflow from the Trinity River and reintroduce it through Buffalo Bayou and San Jacinto River. The model indicates a corresponding increase in salinity in Trinity Bay and decrease in the western upper bay salinity. NOTE: This file is very large. Allow your browser several minutes to download the file

Methods of abdominal wall expansion for repair of incisional herniae: a systematic review.

To systematically review the available literature regarding methods for abdominal wall expansion and compare the outcome of primary fascial closure rates.Accepted manuscript - 12 month embargo - statemen