Services of the district public health social worker in referrals other than the crippled children's program, 1955

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Perspectives from the water: Utilizing fisher’s observations to inform SNE/ MA windowpane science and managemen

Within fisheries, stakeholders often have varying viewpoints regarding natural marine resources, and use different sets information to evaluate their condition. Evaluating a resource with different sets of information can lead to different conclusions. Windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus) are a managed finfish species in the northwest Atlantic whose regulations have the potential to limit harvest opportunities for target species. We analyzed commercial trip and catch information from video data to understand local densities of windowpane flounder in conjunction with fisheries independent surveys. Video monitoring data from three Rhode Island commercial fisher’s vessels and fisheries independent trawl survey data were analyzed to understand the geographic distribution of the stock as well as overlap with temporary closed areas. Biomass data from the fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent surveys were combined with a spatial-temporal model that accounted for differences in catchability among vessels and spatial autocorrelation. A separate analysis of esti-mated discard rates with observer data was also conducted to determine how the distribution of windowpane discards in Southern New England compared to the distribution of model predicted windowpane abundance. In agreement with the fishermen’s observations, the temporary closed areas were not located where the highest densities of windowpane flounder occurred. The temporary closed areas, however, were located where the highest rates of discards occurred and thus where fishing had the greatest impact on the stock. The integration of verified fishery-dependent data with the scientific surveys has the potential to create a single set of information that is trusted by all user groups

Collisional Excitation and Non-LTE Modeling of Interstellar Chiral Propylene Oxide

The first set of theoretical rotational cross sections for propylene oxide (CH3CHCH2O) colliding with cold He atoms has been obtained at the full quantum level using a high-accuracy potential energy surface. By scaling the collision reduced mass, rotational rate coefficients for collisions with para-H2 are deduced in the temperature range 5-30 K. These collisional coefficients are combined with radiative data in a non-LTE radiative transfer model in order to reproduce observations of propylene oxide made toward the Sagittarius B2(N) molecular cloud with the Green Bank and Parkes radio telescopes. The three detected absorption lines are found to probe the cold (∼10 K) and translucent (nH ∼2000 cm-3) gas in the outer edges of the extended Sgr B2(N) envelope. The derived column density for propylene oxide is Ntot ∼3 x 1012 cm-2, corresponding to a fractional abundance relative to total hydrogen of ∼2.5 x 10-11. The present results are expected to help our understanding of the chemistry of propylene oxide, including a potential enantiomeric excess, in the cold interstellar medium

Collisional Excitation and Non-LTE Modeling of Interstellar Chiral Propylene Oxide

The first set of theoretical rotational cross sections for propylene oxide (CH3CHCH2O) colliding with cold He atoms has been obtained at the full quantum level using a high-accuracy potential energy surface. By scaling the collision reduced mass, rotational rate coefficients for collisions with para-H2 are deduced in the temperature range 5-30 K. These collisional coefficients are combined with radiative data in a non-LTE radiative transfer model in order to reproduce observations of propylene oxide made toward the Sagittarius B2(N) molecular cloud with the Green Bank and Parkes radio telescopes. The three detected absorption lines are found to probe the cold (∼10 K) and translucent (nH ∼2000 cm-3) gas in the outer edges of the extended Sgr B2(N) envelope. The derived column density for propylene oxide is N tot ∼3 x 1012 cm-2, corresponding to a fractional abundance relative to total hydrogen of ∼2.5 x 10-11. The present results are expected to help our understanding of the chemistry of propylene oxide, including a potential enantiomeric excess, in the cold interstellar medium

At an important tephrostratigraphic crossroads: cryptotephra in Late Glacial to Early Holocene lake sediments from the Carpathian Mountains, Romania

Understanding the temporal and spatial environmental response to past climate change during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition (LGIT, 16-8 ka) across Europe relies on precise chronologies for palaeoenvironmental records. Tephra layers (volcanic ash) are a powerful chronological tool to synchronise disparate records across the continent. Yet, some regions remain overlooked in terms of cryptotephra investigations. Building on earlier work at the same sites, we present the first complete LGIT high-resolution cryptotephra investigation of two lake records in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, Lake Brazi and Lake Lia. Numerous volcanic glass shards have been recognised as originating from various volcanic regions, including: Iceland (Katla, Askja, and Torfajokull), Italy (Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Lipari, and Pantelleria), and central Anatolia (Acigol and Ericyes). In total, four distinct tephra horizons have now been identified in these records: 1) an LGIT Lipari tephra (11,515–12,885 cal BP, 95.4% range); 2) Askja-S (11,070–10,720 cal BP, 95.4% range); 3) an Early Holocene Lipari tephra,(12,590–10,845 cal BP, 95.4% range) and; 4) an Early Holocene Ischia tephra (11,120–10,740 cal BP, 95.4% range). The use of trace element analysis on selected cryptotephra layers provided additional important information in identifying volcanic source and facilitating correlations. These tephra layers, along with numerous other discrete cryptotephra layers, offer promise as significant future isochrons for comprehending the spatial and temporal fluctuations in past climate change throughout Europe and the Mediterranean area. This research has emphasized the significance of the Carpathian region in expanding the European and Mediterranean tephra lattice and establishing it as a keystone area within the framework

Measuring efficiency of health plan payment systems in managed competition health insurance markets

Adverse selection in health insurance markets leads to two types of inefficiency. On the demand side, adverse selection leads to plan price distortions resulting in inefficient sorting of consumers across health plans. On the supply side, adverse selection creates incentives for plans to inefficiently distort benefits to attract profitable enrollees. Reinsurance, risk adjustment, and premium categories address these problems. Building on prior research on health plan payment system evaluation, we develop measures of the efficiency consequences of price and benefit distortions under a given payment system. Our measures are based on explicit economic models of insurer behavior under adverse selection, incorporate multiple features of plan payment systems, and can be calculated prior to observing actual insurer and consumer behavior. We illustrate the use of these measures with data from a simulated market for individual health insurance.R01 MH094290 - NIMH NIH HHS; T32 MH019733 - NIMH NIH HHSAccepted manuscrip

An exploration of function analysis and function allocation in the commercial flight domain

The applicability is explored of functional analysis methods to support cockpit design. Specifically, alternative techniques are studied for ensuring an effective division of responsibility between the flight crew and automation. A functional decomposition is performed of the commercial flight domain to provide the information necessary to support allocation decisions and demonstrate methodology for allocating functions to flight crew or to automation. The function analysis employed 'bottom up' and 'top down' analyses and demonstrated the comparability of identified functions, using the 'lift off' segment of the 'take off' phase as a test case. The normal flight mission and selected contingencies were addressed. Two alternative methods for using the functional description in the allocation of functions between man and machine were investigated. The two methods were compared in order to ascertain their relative strengths and weaknesses. Finally, conclusions were drawn regarding the practical utility of function analysis methods

Platelet‐Derived Growth Factor Promotes Periodontal Regeneration in Localized Osseous Defects: 36‐Month Extension Results From a Randomized, Controlled, Double‐Masked Clinical Trial

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141092/1/jper0456.pd

Associations Among Androgens, Estrogens, and Natriuretic Peptides in Young Women Observations From the Dallas Heart Study

ObjectivesWe sought to determine if natriuretic peptides are associated with estrogen and androgen status in a population study of young women without known cardiac disease.BackgroundCirculating concentrations of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) are higher in women than in men, and they may be influenced by estrogens and androgens.MethodsCardiac magnetic resonance imaging, dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry, and measurements of BNP, NT-proBNP, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), were performed in 682 women (ages 35 to 49 years) participating in the Dallas Heart Study.ResultsIn multivariable analyses adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), serum creatinine, left ventricular mass and left ventricular ejection fraction <55%, menopausal status, and FSH were not associated with BNP and NT-proBNP. In contrast, higher SHBG was associated with higher BNP and NT-proBNP, while the free androgen index and calculated free testosterone were inversely associated with BNP and NT-proBNP (p < 0.0001 for each). Addition of SHBG or any measure of free testosterone to the multivariable models modified the effect of BMI and lean mass, such that measures of body composition were no longer significantly associated with BNP or NT-proBNP.ConclusionsAmong young women, measures of free testosterone were independently and inversely associated with BNP and NT-proBNP. These results suggest that circulating free testosterone, not estradiol, mediates gender differences in natriuretic peptides. In addition, the association between higher BMI and lean body mass with natriuretic peptides may be mediated by testosterone