Network effects in a human capital based economic growth model

We revisit a recently introduced agent model[ACS {\bf 11}, 99 (2008)], where economic growth is a consequence of education (human capital formation) and innovation, and investigate the influence of the agents' social network, both on an agent's decision to pursue education and on the output of new ideas. Regular and random networks are considered. The results are compared with the predictions of a mean field (representative agent) model.Comment: to appear in Physica

Integrating Telehealth and Community Health Workers to Enhance Quality Care Access: A Narrative Review

Community Health Workers (CHWs) often share cultural, geographic, or other lived experiences with patients and provide health education and support. Use of CHWs and telehealth approaches are promising strategies for addressing the needs of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This narrative review analyzed how these approaches were integrated into programs expanding care access for patients with MetS. Searching PubMed, PSYCInfo, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar resulted in 1,630+ abstracts screened and 12 articles meeting inclusion criteria. These studies examined implementation of tele-mentoring approaches (n=4), patient group classes via videoconferencing (n=2), or individual telehealth consultations facilitated by CHWs (n=7), with some programs including multiple intervention types. This review included adults ranging from 37-79 years old. Most studies focused on late mid-life (ages 50-64). Because health behaviors in midlife have important implications for MetS and related health concerns in later life, it is important to consider midlife interventions. Using the RE-AIM framework, we evaluated studies on five dimensions: reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Reach and implementation indicators suggest reducing barriers to engagement (e.g., home visits) allows for higher participation and program completion rates. Measures of MetS-related behavioral outcomes were heterogeneous across study designs, making overall effectiveness difficult to determine. Adjusting time spent with patients according to health literacy and clinical needs is a strategy CHW programs use to provide equitable, cost-effective care. Programmatic considerations for implementing programs that include both CHWs and telehealth are discussed, with special consideration for what works in late middle age and in older adulthood

Longitudinal change in hip fracture incidence after starting risedronate or raloxifene: an observational study

This study examined patients' risk profiles and adherence to treatment in relation to the effect of risedronate and raloxifene on hip fracture incidence. Administrative billing data were used to follow two cohorts of women aged 65 and older after starting therapy with either risedronate (n=86,735) or raloxifene (n=37,726). The fracture risk profile was described using a 6-month history period before starting therapy. Effectiveness of each therapy was evaluated by comparing the incidence of hip fractures during the first 3months with the subsequent 12months among women adherent (medication possession ratio >80%) compared with those non-adherent to treatment. At the start of therapy, the raloxifene cohort was younger than the risedronate cohort (median age 73 vs. 76years) and had fewer prior fractures (p<0.01 for both). In the first 3months of therapy, hip fracture incidence was lower in the raloxifene group (0.51 per 100 person-years) compared with the risedronate group (0.94 per 100 person-years). In the subsequent 12months, the incidence of hip fractures decreased among patients adherent to the risedronate regimen [relative risk (RR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.84, p<0.01] and did not change significantly among patients adherent to the raloxifene regimen (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.73-1.44). In poorly adherent patients, neither drug decreased hip fracture risk. Risedronate treatment in adherent patients rapidly decreased the risk of hip fractures, whereas raloxifene treatment did no

Evidence of Bottom-Trapped Currents in the Kuroshio Extension Region

As part of the Kuroshio Extension System Study, observations from five current meter moorings reveal that the abyssal currents are weakly bottom intensified. In the framework of linear quasigeostrophic flow, the best fitted vertical trapping depths range from 8 to 15 km in the absence of steep topography, but one mooring near an isolated seamount exhibited vertical trapping that was more pronounced and energetic with a vertical trapping depth of 5 km. The ratios of current speeds and geostrophic pressure streamfunctions at the sea surface compared to the bottom are 88% in the absence of steep topography, 63% near an isolated seamount, and overall on average 83% of their value at a reference depth of 5300 m. It is hypothesized that weakly depth-dependent eddies impinging upon topographic features introduce to the flow the horizontal length scales of the topography, and these smaller lateral scales are subject to bottom intensification

Innovation flow through social networks: Productivity distribution

A detailed empirical analysis of the productivity of non financial firms across several countries and years shows that productivity follows a non-Gaussian distribution with power law tails. We demonstrate that these empirical findings can be interpreted as consequence of a mechanism of exchanges in a social network where firms improve their productivity by direct innovation or/and by imitation of other firm's technological and organizational solutions. The type of network-connectivity determines how fast and how efficiently information can diffuse and how quickly innovation will permeate or behaviors will be imitated. From a model for innovation flow through a complex network we obtain that the expectation values of the productivity level are proportional to the connectivity of the network of links between firms. The comparison with the empirical distributions reveals that such a network must be of a scale-free type with a power-law degree distribution in the large connectivity range.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Braze for ceramic and ceramic matrix composite components

In some examples, a technique may include positioning a first part comprising a ceramic or ceramic matrix composite and a second part comprising a ceramic or a CMC adjacent to each other to define a joint region at the interface of the first part and the second part. In some examples, the joint region may be heated using at least one of a laser or a plasma arc source to heat the joint region to an elevated temperature. The first and second parts may be pressed together and cooled to join the first and second parts at the joint region. In other examples, a solid braze material including a filler material and a metal or alloy may be delivered to the joint region and locally heated to cause a constituent of the filler material and a constituent of the metal or alloy to react. When reacted, the constituents may form a solid material, which may join the first and second parts

A Label-Free Electronic Biosensor for Detection of Bone Turnover Markers

This paper describes the development of a biosensor based on label-free immunosensing for the detection of the C-terminal telopeptide bone turnover marker from type-1 collagen. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of dithiodipropionic acid was deposited on a gold electrode. Then streptavidin and biotinylated anti-human C-terminal telopeptide antibody were successively conjugated on the self-assembled monolayer. Electrochemical impedance measurements were made to characterize each step of the SAM/streptavidin/biotinylated antibody binding. Subsequently, electrochemical impedance was measured with different concentrations of C-teminal telopeptide. A detection limit of 50 ng/mL and a dynamic range up to 3 μg/mL were achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to develop a label-free immunosensor based on electrochemical impedance with DC bias for detection of bone-related degradation and rebuilding products. The electronic biosensor might eventually be used for quantitative point-of-care screening of bone health. It is hoped that analysis of bone turnover markers can indicate the beginning of bone diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis so that treatment might start early when it is most effective

The Local Emergence and Global Diffusion of Research Technologies: An Exploration of Patterns of Network Formation

Grasping the fruits of "emerging technologies" is an objective of many government priority programs in a knowledge-based and globalizing economy. We use the publication records (in the Science Citation Index) of two emerging technologies to study the mechanisms of diffusion in the case of two innovation trajectories: small interference RNA (siRNA) and nano-crystalline solar cells (NCSC). Methods for analyzing and visualizing geographical and cognitive diffusion are specified as indicators of different dynamics. Geographical diffusion is illustrated with overlays to Google Maps; cognitive diffusion is mapped using an overlay to a map based on the ISI Subject Categories. The evolving geographical networks show both preferential attachment and small-world characteristics. The strength of preferential attachment decreases over time, while the network evolves into an oligopolistic control structure with small-world characteristics. The transition from disciplinary-oriented ("mode-1") to transfer-oriented ("mode-2") research is suggested as the crucial difference in explaining the different rates of diffusion between siRNA and NCSC

F O R M U L A RY M A N A G E M E N T Comparison of Risedronate to Alendronate and Calcitonin for Early Reduction of Nonvertebral Fracture Risk: Results From a Managed Care Administrative Claims Database

steoporosis is an increasing concern for older adults as painful fragility fractures can significantly affect overall health and quality of life. In the United States, the lifetime risk of fracture at age 50 is estimated at 40% for women and 12.5% for men. Reductions in relative risk (RR) of radiographic vertebral fracture were comparable for the 2 drugs, ranging from 41% to 49% over 3 years (3.0% to 10.9% absolute risk reduction [ARR]). 9 Osteoporosis is considered to be a &quot;silent&quot; disease, and patients may fail to be compliant with therapy due to multiple ). Most were women (93%); mean age was similar for alendronate and risedronate, and nasal calcitonin patients were about 3 years older, on average. Risedronate and alendronate patients were more likely to have used estrogen, while nasal calcitonin patients were more likely to have been hospitalized and had higher use of concomitant medications and more physician visits. Relative risks were adjusted for these differences. Risedronate and alendronate patients were similar with respect to these indicators of general health status. In the 6-month analysis, nonvertebral fractures were observed in 2.2% of patients receiving nasal calcitonin, 1.4% of patients receiving alendronate, and 0.6% of patients receiving risedronate. The adjusted RR reduction was 69% for risedronate versus calcitonin (RR = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.81; P = 0.02), 54% for risedronate versus alendronate (RR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.20 to 1.06; P = 0.07), and 26% for alendronate versus calcitonin (RR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.27; P = 0.28). In the 12-month analysis, nonvertebral fracture rates were 2.9% for nasal calcitonin, 2.4% for alendronate, and 0.9% for risedronate patients. The adjusted RR reduction was 75% for risedronate versus calcitonin (RR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.64; P&lt;0.01), 59% for risedronate versus alendronate (RR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.94; P = 0.04), and 25% for alendronate versus calcitonin (RR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.25; P = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of medical and pharmacy claims contained in an administrative database confirms the early fracture reduction with risedronate that was shown in randomized clinical trials. Risedronate was more effective than calcitonin in reducing the risk of nonvertebral fractures within the first 6 months of treatment. Risedronate was more effective than either calcitonin or alendronate in reducing the risk of nonvertebral fractures within 12 months of treatment