Anatomy of a Community-Level Fiscal Impact Model: FIT-4-NH.

Abstract: This paper describes the development of a fiscal impact tool for New Hampshire communities (HT -4-NH). FIT -4-NH belongs to a family of computergenerated fiscal impact assessment models designed to estimate the impacts to local government revenues and expenditures that result from economic changes. In the past, work in this area has centered on the completion of countylevel models for the midwestern states. FIT-4-NH is unique in that it was designed for rural community-level use in the northern New England region of the country

Just what the doctor ordered: An evaluation of provider preference-based Instrumental Variable methods in observational studies, with application for comparative effectiveness of type 2 diabetes therapy

Instrumental Variables provide a way of addressing bias due to unmeasured confounding when estimating treatment effects using observational data. As instrument prescription preference of individual healthcare providers has been proposed. Because prescription preference is hard to measure and often unobserved, a surrogate measure constructed from available data is often required for the analysis. Different construction methods for this surrogate measure are possible, such as simple rule-based methods which make use of the observed treatment patterns, or more complex model-based methods that employ formal statistical models to explain the treatment behaviour whilst considering measured confounders. The choice of construction method relies on aspects like data availability within provider, missing data in measured confounders, and possible changes in prescription preference over time. In this paper we conduct a comprehensive simulation study to evaluate different construction methods for surrogates of prescription preference under different data conditions, including: different provider sizes, missing covariate data, and change in preference. We also propose a novel model-based construction method to address between provider differences and change in prescription preference. All presented construction methods are exemplified in a case study of the relative glucose lowering effect of two type 2 diabetes treatments in observational data. Our study shows that preference-based Instrumental Variable methods can be a useful tool for causal inference from observational health data. The choice of construction method should be driven by the data condition at hand. Our proposed method is capable of estimating the causal treatment effect without bias in case of sufficient prescription data per provider, changing prescription preference over time and non-ignorable missingness in measured confounders.Comment: 44 pages, 11 figure

EVA Glove Research Team

The goal of the basic research portion of the extravehicular activity (EVA) glove research program is to gain a greater understanding of the kinematics of the hand, the characteristics of the pressurized EVA glove, and the interaction of the two. Examination of the literature showed that there existed no acceptable, non-invasive method of obtaining accurate biomechanical data on the hand. For this reason a project was initiated to develop magnetic resonance imaging as a tool for biomechanical data acquisition and visualization. Literature reviews also revealed a lack of practical modeling methods for fabric structures, so a basic science research program was also initiated in this area

Increasing Diversity in the City Schools: Unexplored Paths of Opportunity

In its school rezoning and closure process from May 6 - June 3, 2013, the Richmond School Board voted to close 3 schools and change 14 elementary school zones despite opposition that overwhelmingly outweighed support at both public hearings. Though there were a wide range of concerns cited, including the rushed timeline, lack of transparency and absence of clear criteria for closing and rezoning these schools, many stakeholders expressed particular disapproval related to the potential increase in racial isolation that would result from the plan, formally known as Option C. While regional efforts to promote school diversity—a central theme of the Looking Back, Moving Forward conference—remain critical, the school board actions present a specific challenge which could be addressed within a single school system through innovative policies with a record of success in other locales. To that end, this memo has three broad purposes. We identify key demographic changes that present opportunities and challenges for promoting school diversity in Richmond Public Schools (RPS). We also provide a synthesis of more than six decades of social science research showing that integration is still a deeply worthy policy goal. We outline the racial impact of current student assignment policies, in addition to the projected impact of the June 2013 rezoning. And perhaps most importantly, we close with a vision for moving forward in a way that more comprehensively fosters the many benefits of school diversity in Richmond City

Evaluating associations between the benefits and risks of drug therapy in type 2 diabetes:A joint modelling approach

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Dove Medical Press via the DOI in this record.Data statement: No additional data are available from the authors although the individual participant data from the ADOPT trial used in this study are available from GlaxoSmithKline on application via www.clinicalstudydatarequest.comObjective: Precision medicine drug therapy seeks to maximise efficacy and minimise harm for individual patients. This will be difficult if drug response and side-effects are positively associated, meaning patients likely to respond best are at increased risk of side-effects. We applied joint longitudinal-survival models to evaluate associations between drug response (longitudinal outcome) and risk of side-effects (survival outcome) for patients initiating type 2 diabetes therapy. Study Design and Setting: Participants were randomised to metformin, sulfonylurea or thiazolidinedione therapy in the ADOPT drug-efficacy trial (n=4,351). Joint models were parameterised for: 1) current HbA1c response (change from baseline in HbA1c); 2) cumulative HbA1c response (total HbA1c change). Results: With metformin, greater HbA1c response did not increase risk of gastrointestinal events (Hazard ratio (HR) per 1% absolute greater current response 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.67,1.01); HR per 1% higher cumulative response 0.90 (0.81,1.00)). With sulfonylureas, greater current response was associated with increased risk of hypoglycaemia (HR 1.41 (1.04,1.91)). With thiazolidinediones, greater response was associated with increased risk of oedema (current HR 1.45 (1.05,2.01); cumulative 1.22 (1.07,1.38)) but not fracture. Conclusion: Joint modelling provides a useful framework to evaluate the association between response to a drug and risk of developing side-effects. There may be great potential for widespread application of joint modelling to evaluate the risks and benefits of both new and established medications.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council (UK) (Grant MR/N00633X/1). ATH is a NIHR Senior Investigator and a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator. ERP is a Wellcome Trust New Investigator (102820/Z/13/Z). AGJ is supported by an NIHR Clinician Scientist award. ATH and BMS are supported by the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility. WEH received additional support from IQVIA and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula (NIHR CLAHRC South West Peninsula)

Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 20

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Polymorphisms of the Flavin containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) gene do not predispose to essential hypertension in Caucasians.

BACKGROUND: The recessive disorder trimethylaminuria is caused by defects in the FMO3 gene, and may be associated with hypertension. We investigated whether common polymorphisms of the FMO3 gene confer an increased risk for elevated blood pressure and/or essential hypertension. METHODS: FMO3 genotypes (E158K, V257M, E308G) were determined in 387 healthy subjects with ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements, and in a cardiovascular disease population of 1649 individuals, 691(41.9%) of whom had a history of hypertension requiring drug treatment. Haplotypes were determined and their distribution noted. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant association found between any of the 4 common haplotypes and daytime systolic blood pressure in the healthy population (p = 0.65). Neither was a statistically significant association found between the 4 common haplotypes and hypertension status among the cardiovascular disease patients (p = 0.80). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the variants in the FMO3 gene do not predispose to essential hypertension in this population

Customizable Avatars with Dynamic Facial Action Coded Expressions (CADyFACE) for Improved User Engagement

Customizable 3D avatar-based facial expression stimuli may improve user engagement in behavioral biomarker discovery and therapeutic intervention for autism, Alzheimer's disease, facial palsy, and more. However, there is a lack of customizable avatar-based stimuli with Facial Action Coding System (FACS) action unit (AU) labels. Therefore, this study focuses on (1) FACS-labeled, customizable avatar-based expression stimuli for maintaining subjects' engagement, (2) learning-based measurements that quantify subjects' facial responses to such stimuli, and (3) validation of constructs represented by stimulus-measurement pairs. We propose Customizable Avatars with Dynamic Facial Action Coded Expressions (CADyFACE) labeled with AUs by a certified FACS expert. To measure subjects' AUs in response to CADyFACE, we propose a novel Beta-guided Correlation and Multi-task Expression learning neural network (BeCoME-Net) for multi-label AU detection. The beta-guided correlation loss encourages feature correlation with AUs while discouraging correlation with subject identities for improved generalization. We train BeCoME-Net for unilateral and bilateral AU detection and compare with state-of-the-art approaches. To assess construct validity of CADyFACE and BeCoME-Net, twenty healthy adult volunteers complete expression recognition and mimicry tasks in an online feasibility study while webcam-based eye-tracking and video are collected. We test validity of multiple constructs, including face preference during recognition and AUs during mimicry.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure

Disruptive Technologies with Applications in Airline & Marine and Defense Industries

Disruptive Technologies With Applications in Airline, Marine, Defense Industries is our fifth textbook in a series covering the world of Unmanned Vehicle Systems Applications & Operations On Air, Sea, and Land. The authors have expanded their purview beyond UAS / CUAS / UUV systems that we have written extensively about in our previous four textbooks. Our new title shows our concern for the emergence of Disruptive Technologies and how they apply to the Airline, Marine and Defense industries. Emerging technologies are technologies whose development, practical applications, or both are still largely unrealized, such that they are figuratively emerging into prominence from a background of nonexistence or obscurity. A Disruptive technology is one that displaces an established technology and shakes up the industry or a ground-breaking product that creates a completely new industry.That is what our book is about. The authors think we have found technology trends that will replace the status quo or disrupt the conventional technology paradigms.The authors have collaborated to write some explosive chapters in Book 5:Advances in Automation & Human Machine Interface; Social Media as a Battleground in Information Warfare (IW); Robust cyber-security alterative / replacement for the popular Blockchain Algorithm and a clean solution for Ransomware; Advanced sensor technologies that are used by UUVs for munitions characterization, assessment, and classification and counter hostile use of UUVs against U.S. capital assets in the South China Seas. Challenged the status quo and debunked the climate change fraud with verifiable facts; Explodes our minds with nightmare technologies that if they come to fruition may do more harm than good; Propulsion and Fuels: Disruptive Technologies for Submersible Craft Including UUVs; Challenge the ammunition industry by grassroots use of recycled metals; Changing landscape of UAS regulations and drone privacy; and finally, Detailing Bioterrorism Risks, Biodefense, Biological Threat Agents, and the need for advanced sensors to detect these attacks.https://newprairiepress.org/ebooks/1038/thumbnail.jp

Epoxy Composites Using Wood Pulp Components as Fillers

The components of wood, especially lignin and cellulose, have great potential for improving the properties of polymer composites. In this chapter, we discuss some of the latest developments from our lab on incorporating wood-based materials into epoxy composites. Lignosulfonate was used as a flame retardant and cellulose nanocrystals were used as reinforcing materials. Lignosulfonate will disperse well in epoxy, but phase separates during curing. An epoxidation reaction was developed to immobilize the lignosulfonate during curing. The lignosulfonate–epoxy composites were characterized using microcombustion and cone calorimetry tests. Cellulose also has poor interfacial adhesion to hydrophobic polymer matrices. Cellulose fibers and nanocrystals aggregate when placed in epoxy resin, resulting in very poor dispersion. The cellulose nanocrystal surface was modified with phenyl containing materials to disrupt cellulose interchain hydrogen bonding and improve dispersion in the epoxy resin. The cellulose nanocrystal – epoxy composites were characterized for mechanical strength using tensile tests, water barrier properties using standardized water absorption, glass transition temperatures using differential calorimetry, and aggregation and dispersion using microscopic techniques