Examining Healthcare Expenditures: Mechanical Ventilation & An Evaluation of Long-Term (Acute) Care Hospitals

This study analyzed demographic and clinical characteristics, actual hospital/facility costs, and Medicare charges/payments among beneficiaries discharged to, and from, long-term (acute) care hospitals (LTCHs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), or inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) following an acute inpatient hospitalization under Medicare-severity diagnosis-related group (MS-DRG) 207, "respiratory system diagnosis with ventilator support for greater than 96 hours." We also examined the likelihood of discharge by provider type to determine criteria informing patient discharge to a LTCH, SNF, or IRF for treatment. Concerning discharges to LTCHs, patients were not significantly older, did not have the highest length of stay, and had comparable diagnoses and diagnosis counts to those discharged elsewhere. Discharges from LTCHs had significantly higher diagnosis counts and lengths of stay. Costs, charges, and payments were significantly higher among discharges to, and from, LTCHs. Multinomial logistic regression analyses indicated numerous associations between certain variables and discharge location

Three Essays on Quote Stuffing, Dealer Liquidity and Stub Quoting

This dissertation consists of three essays on quote stuffing, dealer provided liquidity, and stub quoting. The first essay examines the impact that intense episodic spikes in quoting activity (frequently referred to as quote stuffing ) has on market conditions. We find that quote stuffing is pervasive with several hundred events occurring each trading day and that over 74% of US exchange traded securities experience at least one episode during 2010. We find that during periods of intense quoting activity stocks experience decreased liquidity, higher trading cost, and increased short term volatility. In the second we examine the role of the NASDAQ market marker over time. Specifically, we study the liquidity providing behavior of NASDAQ market markers in the trading environment in 2010 compared to 2004. We examine the frequency with which market makers are at the inside quote, the market and stock specific factors that influence market maker participation, changes in the number of market makers over time, and the relation between market maker participation and intraday bid-ask spread patterns. We find that the role of NASDAQ market makers declines over time. In 2004, the percentage of the trading day that market makers quote at the inside bid (ask) is 60% (62%) compared to 2010 when NASDAQ dealers quote at the inside bid (ask) just 12% (11%). The number of market makers declines. We also find evidence that the influence market makers have on intraday variations in the bid-ask declines over time. Finally in the third essay, we examine the liquidity providing behavior of NASDAQ market makers surrounding two periods of changing dealer obligation. The first period is the relaxation of Rule 4613 in November of 2007 which required NASDAQ market makers to place two-sided quotes that must be reasonably related to the current best bid and offer. This rule change permitted NASDAQ market makers to post quotes far away from the prevailing market (frequently referred to as a Stub Quote ). The second is the Securities and Exchange Commission ban on stub quoting in December 2010 which requires that market makers quote within a predefined distance from market prices. We find evidence in both the 2007 and 2010 rule change periods that placing restrictions on stub quoting alters market makers liquidity providing behavior. Stub quote restrictions increase the time that market makers quote at the NBBO. We also find evidence that stub quoting restrictions increase the percent of daily volume executed by market makers. However, we find little evidence that stub quoting rules impact the participation of market makers during days with excessive volatility

Firearms: Ownership, Laws & and The Case for Community Mobilization

The United States (U.S.) currently ranks number one in the world in both the quantity of privately owned guns and the rate of private gun ownership. These privately owned firearms, which include rifles, shotguns and handguns, are predominantly owned by middle-aged, 35-54, white men, but the gaps have been steadily closing over the years, especially depending on the type of firearm, in all areas including gender, age, race, education level, political affiliation and geographic location. Gun violence is a leading cause of injury death in the U.S. In examining gun violence and potentially reducing its incidence, this article reviews gun ownership, access and utilization in the U.S., outcomes of gun violence, and the impact of community involvement in reducing gun violence. Specific areas of focus include the current state of background checks, with a focus on mental illness, and the role of medical professionals in guiding gun policy development. Gun violence continues to negatively impact the safety of individuals, families and communities. This article will emphasize the importance of social mobilization in enacting meaningful changes in gun policy and the development of relationships among healthcare professionals, social workers, and community members so as to further reduce and/or prevent gun violence

Model-Based Software for Simulating Ultrasonic Pulse/Echo Inspections of Metal Components

The use of models to simulate inspections has played a key role in UT NDE R&D efforts. Over the years, a series of wave propagation models, flaw response models, and microstructural backscatter models have been developed at CNDE to address inspection problems of interest. One use of the combined models is the estimation of signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) in circumstances where backscattered echoes from the microstructure (grain noise) act to mask sonic echoes from internal defects. Such S/N models have been used to address questions of inspection reliability, such as how to optimize the choices of transducer properties and inspection design to insure that critical defects are reliably detected. Under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation\u27s Industry/University Cooperative Research Center at ISU, an effort was initiated in 2015 to repackage existing research-grade software into user friendly tools for the rapid estimation of S/N for ultrasonic inspections of metals. This presentation provides an overview of the ongoing modeling effort, with emphasis on recent developments. The software can now treat both normal and oblique-incidence immersion inspections of curved metal components having equiaxed microstructures in which the grain size varies with depth. Both longitudinal and shear-wave inspections are treated. The model transducer can either be planar, spherically-focused, or bi-cylindrically-focused. A calibration (or reference) signal is required, and is used to deduce the measurement system efficiency function. This can be “invented” by the software using center frequency and bandwidth information specified by the user, or, alternatively, a measured calibration signal can be used. Defect types include flat-bottomed-hole (FBH) reference reflectors, and spherical pores and inclusions. Simulation outputs include estimated defect signal amplitudes, RMS grain noise amplitudes, and S/N ratios as functions of the depth of the defect within the metal component. At any particular depth, the user can view a simulated A-scan displaying the superimposed defect and grain-noise waveforms. The realistic grain noise signals used in the A-scans are generated from a set of measured “universal” noise signals whose strengths and spectral characteristics are altered to match predicted noise characteristics for the simulation at hand. Examples are presented comparing measured and predicted A-scan signals for FBHs in Nickel-alloy components. We also discuss efforts currently underway to generate a simulated C-scans (including grain noise speckle) corresponding to inspections in which the model transducer is scanned above the defect. As will be demonstrated as part of this poster presentation, the software typically requires only a few seconds to complete a simulation when running on a typical laptop computer

Using Augmented Reality to Assess and Modify Mobile Manipulator Surface Repair Plans

Industrial robotics are redefining inspection and maintenance routines across multiple sectors, enhancing safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. In outdoor industrial facilities, it is crucial to inspect and repair complex surfaces affected by corrosion. To address this challenge, mobile manipulators have been developed to navigate these facilities, identify corroded areas, and apply protective coatings. However, given that this technology is still in its infancy and the consequences of improperly coating essential equipment can be significant, human oversight is necessary to review the robot's corrosion identification and repair plan. We present a practical and scalable Augmented Reality (AR)-based system designed to empower non-experts to visualize, modify, and approve robot-generated surface corrosion repair plans in real-time. Built upon an AR-based human-robot interaction framework, Augmented Robot Environment (AugRE), we developed a comprehensive AR application module called Situational Task Accept and Repair (STAR). STAR allows users to examine identified corrosion images, point cloud data, and robot navigation objectives overlaid on the physical environment within these industrial environments. Users are able to additionally make adjustments to the robot repair plan in real-time using interactive holographic volumes, excluding critical nearby equipment that might be at risk of coating overspray. We demonstrate the entire system using a Microsoft HoloLens 2 and a dual-arm mobile manipulator. Our future research will focus on evaluating user experience, system robustness, and real-world validation.Comment: Winning Paper (2nd Prize) at The Second International Horizons of an Extended Robotics Reality (XR-ROB) Workshop - IEEE IROS 2023 | Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/view/xr-robotics-iros2023/home?authuser=

Experimental and computational studies on the formation of cyanate from early metal terminal nitrido ligands and carbon monoxide

An important challenge in the artificial fixation of N[subscript 2] is to find atom efficient transformations that yield value-added products. Here we explore the coordination complex mediated conversion of ubiquitous species, CO and N[subscript 2], into isocyanate. We have conceptually split the process into three steps: (1) the six-electron splitting of dinitrogen into terminal metal nitrido ligands, (2) the reduction of the complex by two electrons with CO to form an isocyanate linkage, and (3) the one electron reduction of the metal isocyanate complex to regenerate the starting metal complex and release the product. These steps are explored separately in an attempt to understand the limitations of each step and what is required of a coordination complex in order to facilitate a catalytic cycle. The possibility of this cyanate cycle was explored with both Mo and V complexes which have previously been shown to perform select steps in the sequence. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of some of the steps and DFT calculations suggest that, although the reduction of the terminal metal nitride complex by carbon monoxide should be thermodynamically favorable, there is a large kinetic barrier associated with the change in spin state which can be avoided in the case of the V complexes by an initial binding of the CO to the metal center followed by rearrangement. This mandates certain minimal design principles for the metal complex: the metal center should be sterically accessible for CO binding and the ligands should not readily succumb to CO insertion reactions.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (CHE-1111357

Characterization of dimensional changes of cement pastes and mortars in fresh state applying an interferometric technique

The effect produced by the incorporation of additives in Portland cement based materials over dimensional changes occurring during the setting process was evaluated employing a fiber optic Fizeau interferometric sensor. The sensor system employed a broadband light source (SLED) centered at 1550 nm, whose spectral emission was modulated by the interferometer formed between the material surface and the end of the optical fiber used to illuminate the sample. An optical spectrum analyzer was used to monitor the variation of the modulated spectrum, while the mentioned process took place. The expansion or contraction experienced by materials with different compositions was observed and quantified. Results obtained point out the accuracy and the potential of the technique.Fil: Mesa Yandy, Angelica Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Duchowicz, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); Argentina. Universidad Austral. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Russo, Nelida Araceli. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Zerbino, Raul Luis. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

Molecular analyses on host-seeking black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) reveal a diverse assemblage of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemospororida) parasites in an alpine ecosystem

BACKGROUND: Molecular studies have suggested that the true diversity of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemospororida) species well exceeds the approximately 35 currently described taxa. Further, the degree of host-specificity may vary substantially among lineages. Parasite distribution can be influenced by the ability of the parasite to infect a host, vector preferences for certain avian hosts, or other factors such as microhabitat requirements that increase the probability that vertebrate hosts and vectors are in frequent contact with each other. Whereas most studies of haemosporidians have focused on passerine hosts, sampling vectors in the same habitats may allow the detection of other lineages affecting other hosts. METHODS: We sampled abundant, ornithophilic black flies (Simuliidae) across a variety of sites and habitats in the Colorado Rocky Mountains throughout the summer of 2007. Black flies were screened with PCR using Leucocytozoon-specific primers that amplify a portion of the cytochrome b gene, and the sequences were compared to the haplotypes in the MalAvi database. Infections of Leucocytozoon from birds sampled in the same area were also included. RESULTS: We recovered 33 unique haplotypes from the black flies in this study area, which represented a large phylogenetic diversity of Leucocytozoon parasites. However, there were no clear patterns of avian host species or geography for the distribution of Leucocytozoon haplotypes in the phylogeny. CONCLUSIONS: Sampling host-seeking vectors is a useful way to obtain a wide variety of avian haemosporidian haplotypes from a given area and may prove useful for understanding the global patterns of host, parasite, and vector associations of these ubiquitous and diverse parasites. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0952-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users