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The study aimed to assess and compare the values prevalent among the students and teachers of Universities in Bangladesh, Japan, USA and Germany. The sample consisted of 480 students and 236 teachers. The sample included 120 undergraduate students from Japan; 120 undergraduate students from Bangladesh; 120 undergraduate students from USA, and 120 undergraduate students from Germany. The faculty sample included 60 teachers from Japan, 60 teachers from Bangladesh; 60 teachers from USA, and 56 teachers from Germany. To identify the value preferences of the individuals a list of 10 values, pro-social, achievement, power over others, security, self direction, otherworldliness, fatalism, narcissism, inner directed, and conservative, based on previous values studies by Singh and Parek were prepared. The first five values were identified in previous studies as functional (Singh, 1975) and other five were identified as dysfunctional (Parek, 1988) in the context of national development of Asian cultures. The results revealed that Bangladeshi students held stronger preferences for values identified as functional values than for those identified as dysfunctional. Japanese students indicated stronger preferences for the values identified as functional values except narcissism. The American students indicated a preference for three of the five values identified as functional but also ranked narcissism and other worldliness as third and fifth preferred values respectively. German student showed a preference for functional values, except narcissism which they also ranked as third. Bangladeshi teachers' preferences for functional values were higher than dysfunctional values. Japanese teachers indicated a preference for functional values except narcissism. American teachers preferred functional values except other worldliness. German teachers' value preferences were also functional, except for narcissism which they ranked as fifth. Students and teachers in the four countries sampled indicate preferences for values identified as functional with few exceptions. This research suggests that value preferences among university students and teachers are more similar than different, suggesting a homogenizing effect (Boli, 2005) on human values. An English version of schedule for value preferences is appended. (Contains 4 tables)

Graduation efficiency is of top concern for institutions of higher education throughout the world. Increasingly, accountability metrics have come under scrutiny as policymakers seek to ensure public resources are efficiently used. Traditionally, higher education policymakers in the USA and Europe have used graduation rate as an accountability measure to assess a university's efficient use of resources. This time-to-degree method, however, does not take into account the shift in student demographics from a traditional full-time student to the diverse group of students pursuing higher education through varied paths, including balancing work with reduced course loads, studying abroad, completing internships, among others. These changes suggest additional accountability measures are needed to accurately capture student progress as it relates to resource utilisation. This research adapts the Graduation Efficiency Index proposed by Gillmore and Hoffman (1997) to a cohort-based model to allow for evaluating retention policies implemented by cohorts to improve student progress.

Objective: Online racial discrimination (ORD) is rampant; however, little is known about its associations with mental health among undergraduates. This study explored the relations between ORD and mental health among Black undergraduates. It also investigated gender differences in these relations. Participants: Two hundred seventy-eight Black, cisgender men and women enrolled in a minority-serving public university in the Northeast U.S. Methods: Participants completed measures of ORD, depression, generalized anxiety (GA), and social anxiety (SA) via a Web-based survey. Results: Eighty-five percent of participants experienced at least one ORD incident in the last year. Men and women reported comparable exposure. Gender moderated the relations between ORD and depression and SA, respectively; these associations were stronger for women. Conclusions: Exposure to ORD is prevalent among Black undergraduates and is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, especially for women. Campus mental health interventions should address online discrimination in the context of students' intersecting identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The impact of the Coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on patients with liver disease is not well described at the population level in the United States. We used the largest, nationwide inpatient dataset to describe inpatient liver disease outcomes in the United States during the first year of the pandemic (2020) using 2018 and 2019 as comparator years. Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (2018–2020), we explored year‐to‐year and 2020 month‐to‐month trends in hospitalizations, length of stay, and inpatient mortality for liver‐related complications including cirrhosis, alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) and alcoholic hepatitis using regression modeling. We reported relative change (RC) in the study period. Results: Decompensated cirrhosis hospitalizations decreased in 2020 compared with 2019 (RC: −2.7%, P < 0.001) while all‐cause mortality increased by 15.5% (P < 0.001). Hospitalizations for ALD increased compared with pre‐pandemic years (RC: 9.2%, P < 0.001) with a corresponding increase in mortality in 2020 (RC 25.2%, P = 0.002). We observed an increase in liver transplant surgery mortality during the peak months of the pandemic. Importantly, mortality from COVID‐19 was higher among patients with decompensated cirrhosis (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.53–1.94]), Native Americans (OR 1.76, 95% CI [1.53–2.02]), and patients from lower socioeconomic groups. Conclusions: Cirrhosis hospitalizations decreased in 2020 compared with pre‐pandemic years but were associated with higher all‐cause mortality rates particularly in the peak months of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In‐hospital COVID‐19 mortality was higher among Native Americans, patients with decompensated cirrhosis, chronic illnesses, and those from lower socioeconomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ornamental crop industry is an important contributor to the economy in the United States. The industry has been facing challenges due to continuously increasing labor and agricultural input costs. Sensing and automation technologies have been introduced to reduce labor requirements and to ensure efficient management operations. This article reviews current sensing and automation technologies used for ornamental nursery crop production and highlights prospective technologies that can be applied for future applications. Applications of sensors, computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet-of-Things (IoT), and robotic technologies are reviewed. Some advanced technologies, including 3D cameras, enhanced deep learning models, edge computing, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and integrated robotics used for other cropping systems, are also discussed as potential prospects. This review concludes that advanced sensing, AI and robotic technologies are critically needed for the nursery crop industry. Adapting these current and future innovative technologies will benefit growers working towards sustainable ornamental nursery crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As people with HIV (PWH) age, they experience prolonged exposure to HIV and antiretroviral therapy, increased risks of developing age‐related HIV‐associated non‐AIDS (HANA) comorbidities and higher rates of hospitalization. Few studies have explored the ageing of PWH and its impact on hospital stays in the US. This study examined trends, characteristics and comorbidities associated with hospital stays with HIV (HSWH) as compared with hospital stays without HIV (HSWOH). Methods: Thirteen years of pooled National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2003 through 2015 were analysed to describe yearly trends. Trends were evaluated for eight major HANA conditions (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, bone loss, kidney disease, pulmonary disease and neurological disease) across four age groups (18–34, 35–49, 50–64, 65+ years). Results: Although overall rates of hospitalization reduced across all age groups, the proportion of HIV‐related hospitalization increased among older Americans. The average number of chronic conditions was higher for HSWH among all age groups and disproportionately increased for older PWH. Although age‐adjusted rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, bone loss and pulmonary disease were lower for HSWH relative to HSWOH, rates increased disproportionately over the study period. The prevalence of all major HANA conditions except cancer and diabetes increased among the elderly (65+), and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, bone loss, kidney disease and pulmonary disease also increased among patients aged 50–64 years. Conclusions: Higher rates of hospitalizations and HANA comorbidities were observed among older HIV patients. The ageing of PWH suggests increased future hospital resource utilization for HSWH. Appropriate training of healthcare providers is essential to managing increased comorbidity burdens of older PWH during hospital stays in the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population contact patterns fundamentally determine the spread of directly transmitted airborne pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. Reliable quantitative estimates of contact patterns are therefore critical to modeling and reducing the spread of directly transmitted infectious diseases and to assessing the effectiveness of interventions intended to limit risky contacts. While many countries have used surveys and contact diaries to collect national-level contact data, local-level estimates of age-specific contact patterns remain rare. Yet, these local-level data are critical since disease dynamics and public health policy typically vary by geography. To overcome this challenge, we introduce a flexible model that can estimate age-specific contact patterns at the subnational level by combining national-level interpersonal contact data with other locality-specific data sources using multilevel regression with poststratification (MRP). We estimate daily contact matrices for all 50 US states and Washington DC from April 2020 to May 2021 using national contact data from the US. Our results reveal important state-level heterogeneities in levels and trends of contacts across the US over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for the spread of respiratory diseases. Author summary: Reliable quantitative estimates of contact patterns are in high demand because they are a critical input for modeling and reducing the spread of directly transmitted infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza. But, while national-level contact data are available from surveys collected in many countries—including the United States—local-level estimates of age-specific contact patterns are almost never available. Yet these local-level contact patterns are crucial, since disease dynamics and public health policy vary by geography. Here, we introduce a new method for estimating levels and trends in local-level rates of disease-relevant contacts by combining information from national-level contact data and other locality-specific data sources. We illustrate our method by estimating novel state-level estimates of contact patterns in the US over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates are an important resource for researchers and policymakers who wish to understand the state-level dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The new methods we introduce are applicable to any directly transmitted infectious disease and can be applied in many different settings all over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has disrupted health care delivery in the United States, with increased reliance on telemedicine visits as opposed to in‐person outpatient appointments. We used national data to evaluate shifts in modes of hepatology outpatient care for patients with cirrhosis during the pandemic. This was a retrospective cohort study among U.S. veterans with cirrhosis. We used linear regression to evaluate absolute and percentage changes from baseline in hepatology in‐person visits and telemedicine visits from January 1, 2020, to August 11, 2020. The proportion of in‐person and telemedicine visits were plotted geographically to demonstrate state‐level shifts in care delivery over time. Patient‐level characteristics in the pre‐COVID and during‐COVID periods were also compared. We identified 5,618 in‐person and 6,210 telemedicine hepatology visits among patients with cirrhosis. In‐person visits significantly declined (−16.0% per week; 95% confidence interval [CI] −20.7, −11.2; P < 0.001), while telemedicine visits significantly increased (61.3% per week; 95% CI 45.1, 77.5; P < 0.001) in the early during‐COVID period. At the U.S. state level, we found that nearly all states experienced a significant shift toward telemedicine over the course of several weeks. Patients over the age of 70 years and Black patients were less likely to receive telemedicine visits in the pre‐COVID period (each P < 0.05), although these differences were eliminated in the during‐COVID periods. Conclusion: Among patients with cirrhosis, hepatology outpatient care delivery has shifted heavily toward telemedicine due to COVID‐19. This occurred across the United States, and changes have been sustained through August 2020. Expanded telemedicine visits among older patients and Black patients may reflect dedicated efforts to increased access to care among these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Between 2012 and 2018, bus ridership in the US declined 15% and rail ridership declined 3%. • We identify the factors responsible and quantify the contribution of each. • Expanded transit service and land-use changes would have led to higher ridership but were offset by other factors. • Ride-hailing is the biggest contributor to transit ridership decline. • Higher fares, incomes, teleworking and car ownership, and lower gas prices also contribute. Between 2012 and 2018, bus ridership in the United States declined 15% and rail ridership declined 3%. These losses are widespread and in contrast to trends in other countries. Using data from 215 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we identify the factors responsible for this decline and quantify the contribution of each. We show that expanded transit service and land-use changes increased ridership 4.7% on bus and 10.7% on rail. However, losses due to other factors exceed these gains. Ride-hailing is the biggest contributor to transit ridership decline over this period, reducing bus ridership by 10%. Ride-hailing's effect on rail varies by metropolitan area size: it has little effect on rail ridership in the largest metropolitan areas but decreases rail ridership 10% in mid-sized metropolitan areas. Lower gas prices and higher fares contribute to lower transit ridership, as do higher incomes, more teleworking and higher car ownership. By providing a clear understanding of the causes of transit ridership decline, our research provides the foundation on which communities can craft an effective response to the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may have favourable neurohumoral and metabolic effects in patients with chronic liver disease. However, studies examining SGLT2i in this population have been limited to patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and have focused on surrogate biomarkers. Our aim was to evaluate whether SGLT2i can reduce the incidence of ascites and death over a period of 36 months in patients with cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus. Using electronic health data from Veterans Affairs hospitals in the United States, we conducted a propensity score matched intention‐to‐treat analysis among veterans on metformin who subsequently received either SGLT2i or dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors. Among 423 matched pairs (in total, 846 patients), we found no significant difference in the risk for ascites (hazard ratio 0.68 for SGLT2i, 95% confidence interval 0.37‐1.25; p =.22) but did find that SGLT2i users had a reduced risk for death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.11‐0.99; p <.05). In comparison with dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors, SGLT2i may improve survival for patients with cirrhosis who require additional pharmacotherapy for diabetes mellitus beyond metformin, but confirmatory studies are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Poor oral health has been shown to be associated with selected adverse health outcomes. This study assessed the association between untreated dental caries and mortality and examined whether having dental insurance mitigates the risk of mortality among working‐age US adults with dental caries. Methods: Analysis used the publicly available linked mortality file for NHANES III, an observational study conducted in 1988‐1994, with follow‐up through December 2015. Propensity score matching was conducted to create similar populations of insured and uninsured adults, resulting in a sample of 4420 matched observations. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the effect of untreated dental caries and that of dental insurance on risk of all‐cause mortality. The descriptive and final outcome statistical analyses were adjusted for complex sampling technique using weights, strata and cluster variables. Results: Adults with untreated dental caries had a higher risk of mortality (HR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.06‐1.68) than those with no dental caries. Having dental insurance was associated with a lower risk of mortality (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.59‐0.92). An interaction between caries treatment status and dental insurance was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Adults with untreated dental caries have a higher risk of mortality, even in the presence of dental insurance. Untreated caries may be an indicator for multiple risk factors, including personal attitudes regarding health and healthcare‐seeking behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate relative and absolute utilization trends and practice patterns in the United States for MRA and CTA. Using Medicare Part B physician payment databases (2013−2020), MRA and CTA interpreting physicians and exams were identified using the unique MRA and CTA Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. The number of exams, physicians, demographics, use of contrast, and payments were summarized annually and analyzed to evaluate trends before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2013 to 2019, the annual number of MRA exams performed decreased by 17.9 %, while the number of CTA exams increased by 90.3 %. The number of physicians interpreting MRA decreased in both hospital (−17.2 %) and outpatient (−7.5 %) environments. The number of physicians interpreting CTA increased in both hospital (+29.4 %) and outpatient (+54.3 %) environments. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, MRA utilization decreased across all imaging environments by 25.0 % whereas CTA only decreased by 5.5 %. Intracranial MRA studies were most often performed without contrast, while contrast use for neck MRA was performed at similar rates as non-contrast exams. The overall utilization of MRA and the number of interpreting physicians are decreasing. On the other hand, CTA use and its number of interpreting physicians are increasing. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, use of both MRA and CTA decreased, but the utilization of MRA decreased at five times the rate of CTA. • From 2013 to 2019, the annual number of MRA exams decreased by -17.9% and the number of CTA exams increased by +90.3%. • The number of physicians interpreting MRA decreased at both hospitals (-17.2%) and outpatient imaging centers (-7.5%). • Conversely, the number of physicians interpreting CTA increased at both hospitals (+29.4%) and outpatient imaging centers (+54.3%). • During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, MRA utilization decreased across all imaging environments by -25.0% whereas CTA only decreased by -5.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the aging population of patients with cirrhosis in the United States, there is a potentially increased need for surgical procedures. However, individuals with cirrhosis have increased perioperative risk relative to patients without cirrhosis. We sought to quantify temporal trends in cirrhosis surgical procedures and in-hospital mortality in relation to surgical procedure type, elective admission status and compensated vs. decompensated status. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of cirrhosis hospitalizations between 2005 and 2014 using the National Inpatient Sample. Surgical procedures of interest included cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and major abdominal, orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery. We plotted trends in volume and in-hospital mortality by procedure type, and used linear regression to test the significance of trends. Results While the number of cirrhosis hospitalizations increased over time, the number of surgeries per 1000 admissions decreased (β=-1.454, P<0.001). When stratified by elective admission status, elective major orthopedic surgeries significantly increased over time (β=177.9; P<0.001). In-hospital mortality rates for most surgeries were significantly higher in the non-elective vs. elective setting (each P<0.001). In patients with compensated cirrhosis, there was a significant increase in the number of orthopedic (β=272.4; P<0.001) and hernia repair surgeries over time (β=191.1; P<0.001). Overall, there was significantly greater inhospital mortality among patients with decompensated cirrhosis (each P<0.05). Q. Please mention the exact P-value unless <0.001 Conclusions Despite an increasing number of cirrhosis hospitalizations, the decreasing relative number of cirrhosis surgeries may indicate progressive surgical risk aversion. Future cirrhosis surgical risk scores should consider surgical procedure type, elective/non-elective status, and decompensation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the relationship of dental insurance with all‐cause mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and cerebrovascular diseases (CBD) among those with periodontitis. Materials and Methods: NHANES III and its associated mortality data set were used in this study. The outcome variables were "all‐cause mortality" and "combined mortality" due to CVD, DM, and CBD. The independent variable was dental insurance stratified over periodontitis status. Unweighted frequencies with weighted column percentages were used for descriptive statistics, and chi‐square test was applied for significance. Cox proportional hazard models were used for stratified multivariable analyses. All analyses were performed in SAS v9.4 accounting for survey data complexities. Significance level was kept at 5%. Results: The mortality was 14.58% for all‐cause mortality and 4.06% for combined mortality among those with periodontitis in this study. Dental insurance significantly reduced the hazard of all‐cause mortality among those with periodontitis (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61 – 0.93), adjusted for covariates. However, no association of dental insurance with combined mortality was observed among periodontitis group. Conclusions: Dental insurance reduces hazard of all‐cause mortality among those with periodontitis. Dental insurance ensures access to dentists and improves oral and dental health. Longitudinal study is needed to establish causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between accounting conservatism and internal control weaknesses (ICW) in the post–Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) period when the U.S. firms have been subject to higher regulations and enhanced corporate oversight and scrutiny. Our multivariate analyses show that the firms having ICW, especially the firms with company-level ICW, have significantly changed their conservative reporting practice from the pre- to the post-SOX period. The analyses further show that the ICW firms exhibit greater accounting conservatism in the post-SOX period compared with the firms with effective internal controls (non-ICW). The result is mostly driven by increased conditional conservatism by the firms having company-level ICW that are more pervasive in effect, less auditable, and more difficult to detect and prevent. Furthermore, we find that the difference in conservatism between ICW and non-ICW firms is more prominent in the first 3 post-SOX years than in the last 3 post-SOX years of the sample period. These findings suggest that enhanced corporate oversight and scrutiny have induced the ICW firms to use more accounting conservatism in an effort to reduce reporting uncertainty, enhance information reliability, and promote contracting efficiency. Our findings are consistent with prior studies that demonstrate a shift in the U.S. firms’ financial reporting strategies in response to stringent regulations and governance in the post-SOX period. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Renewable electricity generation technologies provide a more sustainable solution than the non-renewables. However, as a complete system, renewable energy generation systems have some overall environmental impacts on humankind, resources and ecosystems. This paper will address the environmental effects caused by different types of renewable plants through life-cycle assessment. A comparative study is done among solar PV, biomass, and pumped storage hydropower plants in the United States. Life-cycle impact analysis has been carried out by the Eco-indicator 99, TRACI (Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other Environmental Impacts), CED (Cumulative Energy Demand), Ecopoints 97, RMF (Raw Material Flows) and IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methods, using the SimaPro software. The impacts are considered in 10 mid-point impact categories and three end-point indicators. The results show that pumped storage hydropower plants have the highest impact on human health (7.74E-05/kWh) and the ecosystem (3.35E-06/kWh), whereas biomass plants have the maximum effect on resources (4.79E-07/kWh). Overall, the solar PV plants are found to be much more environment-friendly than other renewable electricity generation systems. These findings will guide investors in installing sustainable and clean power plants. • Comparative environmental impacts of solar-PV, biomass and pumped storage hydropower plants was investigated. • Impacts are assessed by a systematic LCA analysis using the ecoinvent database and SimaPro software. • Solar-PV plants are found least hazardous to environment than other renewable energy plants in the United States. • Findings will guide the investors in installing the best renewable power plant considering the environmental aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the work of home health aides is very demanding physically and emotionally, they rarely receive support from peers or from the organizations for which they work. This study is aimed at examining the influence of organizational values and work-related compensation on job satisfaction of home health aides. A total of 3,377 home health aides and 1,036 home health agencies were selected from the nationally representative sample. The number of work-related fringe benefits was highly associated with job satisfaction of home health aides. Household income was found to be negatively associated with job satisfaction. Significant cross-level interaction effects revealed that hourly wage had a stronger relationship with job satisfaction when individual home health aides worked for agencies that were perceived to recognize the value of home health aides. We conclude that organizational values significantly moderate the relationship between work-related factors and job satisfaction. The findings suggest that home health care facility leaders need to recognize explicitly the value of home health workers, to provide them with additional fringe benefits so that workers feel valued and to adopt a patient assignment system that allows strengthening of patient-worker bonds for enhancing home health aides' job satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) program aimed to improve health care quality and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in 16 diverse communities in the United States from 2006 to 2015; yet most communities failed to make substantive progress toward advancing health care equity by the program's end. This qualitative analysis of key stakeholder interviews aims to identify the major contributors to success versus failure in addressing local health disparities during AF4Q and identified five major themes. Three themes highlight challenges related to collecting local data on racial and ethnic health disparities and transitioning from data collection to action. Two themes capture the critical contribution of stakeholder engagement and access to technical expertise to successful efforts. The challenges and facilitators experienced by these 16 AF4Q communities may help inform the disparities reduction efforts of other communities and guide state or federal policies to reduce health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many universities and colleges in the United States and elsewhere are increasingly concerned about enhancing the comprehension and knowledge of their students, particularly in the classroom. One method of enhancing student success is teaching effectiveness. The overarching objective of this research paper is to propose a novel research model that examines the relationship between teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes qualitatively and then analyzes the outcomes of the researcher further using a mixed method data analysis methodology. This new model will first use a unique and in-depth qualitative case study methodology especially designed for the instructional setting. The anticipated qualitative initial data collecting techniques will include but not be limited to the following: observations, personal interviews, qualitative survey questionnaires, research field notes, document review, etc. The secondary data analysis model will use the mixed methods (Qualitative and Quantitative) Triostatistics Tri-Squared Test to further validate the research investigation outcomes. The initial data gathering qualitative model uses assumed data and applied statistical Cross-Tabulation and Chi-Square Tests, including a theoretical analysis of the open-ended responses and field notes recorded from participants (a sample of 32 students presently enrolled in a Semester-long English ENG 1200-01 course at a public University in North Carolina). The associative statistical findings found a positive relationship between teaching effectiveness and student learning. The outcomes of this study will increase the current lack of Information on the use of qualitative and mixed methods research designs in determining teaching efficacy and its effects on student achievement in the social and behavioral sciences. This new model expands on existing measures by providing new measures to more carefully examine teaching effectiveness and its effect on student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backdating stock options, a practice that retroactively adjusts stock option grant dates to lower the exercise price, has raised governance, legal, accounting, tax, and auditing concerns. The practice of backdating options generally is believed to be a result of both ineffective corporate governance and management opportunism. Both of these factors have been linked to a higher level of discretionary accruals adjustments. This study examines the accruals-based earnings management patterns for a group of firms that were implicated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for backdating stock options with a matched control group of nonimplicated firms for a time period surrounding the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002. Both the univariate and multivariate analyses show that in the pre-SOX years, the sample of implicated firms managed abnormal accruals at a significantly greater level than the matched group of nonimplicated firms. The differential pattern of accruals management across these two groups becomes insignificant in the post-SOX period. Our result also suggests that the effect of SOX on mitigating the level of accruals management is substantially greater for the implicated companies than for the nonimplicated companies. The difference in the effect of SOX on the two groups of firms persists even after controlling for the differences in their governance and internal control effectiveness. We, therefore, suggest that SOX had effects on management’s reporting choices beyond those resulting from improvements in governance and internal control over financial reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Deep-fat fried foods are a popular choice in the United States, known for their delicious taste and affordability. However, they often absorb excessive amounts of oil during frying, leading to accelerated lipid oxidation and reduced shelf life. This study introduced an innovative approach by developing edible coatings from oleogels (OGC) loaded with thyme essential oil (TEO) at varying concentrations (0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, and 2 % v/v). Uncoated samples were also included as controls to assess the effect of the coating on chicken nuggets. The aim was to explore their effectiveness in enhancing the physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of deep-fat fried chicken nuggets. Results indicated that the incorporation of TEO effectively reduced coating pickup in coated samples. Furthermore, these oleogel-based coatings significantly minimized moisture loss and fat uptake in chicken nuggets, improving both lightness (L*) and a* values without significant changes in pH values or textural parameters. Most notably, increasing TEO concentration led to a remarkable two-fold reduction in peroxide values compared to the control. Importantly, sensory analysis revealed that the addition of TEO to the coating does not compromise the overall sensory quality of the fried products. This study suggests promising future applications of OGC and TEO blends in mitigating quality degradation in deep-fat fried foods. These findings hold great potential for the food industry, offering a pathway to healthier, longer-lasting fried products with enhanced sensory appeal. [Display omitted] • An oleogel-based coating (OGC) was developed with thyme essential oil (TEO). • The OGC/TEO coating restricted moisture loss and fat uptake with increased TEO concentration. • Increasing TEO concentration inhibited lipid oxidation. • OGC/TEO offered a novel formulation for improving the quality of fried chicken nuggets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded the coverage of Medicaid to include entire population with income below 138% of federal poverty line. It remains unclear whether this policy change has improved access to and utilization of health care, particularly use of mammography and Pap tests among poor women. Methods: We used a difference-in-difference (DID) design to estimate the impact of Medicaid expansion on mammography and Pap tests utilization among low-income women. Expansion states are the treatment group and non-expansion states are the control group. The years 2012–13 are the pre-expansion period and 2015–16 are the post-expansion period for the purpose of estimating the DID parameters. Results: The difference-in-difference estimate show that likelihood of utilizing mammograms did not change significantly among low-income women after the implementation of Medicaid expansion (DID coefficient -0.0476 with t-statistics at -1.26), Pap test decreased (coefficient -0.0615, t-statistics -2.76), and Medicaid enrollment has increased significantly among low-income women living in expansion states (coefficient 0.0889 with t-value of 3.68). Conclusion: Expansion of Medicaid was associated with increased Medicaid enrollment but did not yield near-term improvement in use of mammography and Pap tests among low-income women. Factors beyond health insurance coverage may be important in determining the likelihood of obtaining these screenings. Policy makers should try to identify other barriers to cancer screenings among low-income women in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined risk factor for calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) for which transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly utilized as treatment. We evaluated the effect of a program to increase testing of and define the prevalence of elevated Lp(a) among patients undergoing TAVR. Educational efforts and incorporation of a "check-box" Lp(a) order to the preoperative TAVR order set were instituted. Retrospective chart review was performed in 229 patients requiring TAVR between May 2013 and September 2018. Of these patients, 57% had an Lp(a) level measured; testing rates increased from 0% in 2013 to 96% in 2018. Lipoprotein(a) testing occurred in 11% of patients before and in 80% of patients after the "check-box" order set (P < .001). The prevalence of elevated Lp(a) (≥30 mg/dL) was 35%; these patients had a higher incidence of coronary artery disease requiring revascularization compared with patients with normal Lp(a) (65% vs 47%; P = .047). Patients with Lp(a) ≥30 mg/dL also had higher incidence of paravalvular leak compared with those with normal Lp(a) (13% vs 4%; P = .04). This study defines the prevalence of elevated Lp(a) in advanced stages of CAVS and provides a practice pathway to assess procedural complications and long-term outcomes of TAVR in patients with elevated Lp(a) levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The scale and scope of medical tourism have expanded rapidly over the last few decades. Turkey is becoming an important player in this market because of its relatively better service quality and large comparative cost advantage.Methods: This paper compares cost, quality and effectiveness of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the USA and in Turkey. The data from Turkey were obtained from a hospital specializing in IVF services and the US data came from secondary sources. Package price offered by the dominant IVF-service provider to international patients in Turkey was used as a measure of cost for Turkey while IVF-specific service prices were used to estimate the cost for USA. To compare quality and effectiveness of IVF services, a number of general clinical quality indicators and IVF success rate were used.Results: Indicators of quality, cost and success rate in the Turkish hospital were found to be better than the corresponding indicators in US hospitals. The cost difference of IVF services between USA and Turkey is so significant that the overall cost of obtaining the service from Turkey remains lower even with additional expenses for travel and accommodation.Conclusions: Cost-effectiveness ratio of IVF treatment per successful clinical pregnancy was much lower in Turkey than in the USA. It appears that cost and quality are the two most important factors affecting demand for health care services by international patients in Turkey. Like other important players in the medical tourism market, Turkey should be able to take advantage of its success in IVF, a highly specialized niche market, to transform its health system into an important exporter of general health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizens of different countries are now experiencing a newly invented service delivery channel to receive service from government portals. This study addresses whether a service delivery channel, based on mobile phones and provided through a short messaging service can be included in public administration to meet citizen requirements. The study further examines what factors are important to develop citizen perceptions of high value and effectiveness of this new service delivery channel. It also attempts to identify if culture has any effect on developing a positive attitude toward this service delivery channel. This study, through an empirical investigation among citizens in three countries – the USA, India, and Bangladesh, has identified that citizens are quite satisfied with this new service delivery channel use by the public service domain. The success of this delivery channel depends on the issue of segmentation. If public service providers can effectively segment the market based on time, location, and requirements, and can deliver the preferred message to concerned users with relevant and information that is easy to access and process, citizens will regard this service delivery channel as effective and satisfactory, and as competent as its private counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It has been reported that cancer survivors are delaying or avoiding necessary care due to costs. Medication non-adherence is one of the important aspects of deferred treatment. This study estimates the prevalence of cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN) by gender and factors associated with CRN among cancer survivors.Methods: Using 2006-2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we examined self-reported CRN among cancer survivors by gender. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models were used to examine gender differences in CRN.Results: In a nationally representative sample of 15,159 cancer survivors, 7.4% of male and 12.5% of female reported CRN. Overall, the prevalence of CRN was found to be the highest for uninsured group and the lowest for Medicare, but gender differences persist for all insurance types, including Medicare. After controlling for relevant covariates, female cancer survivors were 27% more likely (odds ratio (OR) = 1.27, confidence intervals (CI), 1.06-1.53) than male to report CRN. With higher number of comorbidities and activity limitations, CRN rates tend to increase for both male and female cancer survivors.Conclusions: Significant gender differences in CRN were found among cancer survivors after controlling for differences in sociodemographic, health status, and insurance coverage.Implications For Cancer Survivors: Given the rapid increase in prescription drug costs, it is important to monitor closely the CRN in high-risk subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic aerosol (OA) is at least partly hygroscopic, i.e., water partitions into the organic phase to a degree determined by the relative humidity (RH), the organic chemical composition, and the particle size. This organic-phase water increases the aerosol mass and provides a larger absorbing matrix while decreasing its mean molecular weight, which can encourage additional condensation of semi-volatile organic compounds. Most regional and global atmospheric models account for water uptake by inorganic salts but do not explicitly account for organic-phase water and its subsequent impact on gas/particle partitioning of semi-volatile OA. In this work, we incorporated the organic-phase water model described by Pankow et al. (2015) into the UCD/CIT air quality model to simulate water uptake by OA and assessed its influence on total OA mass concentrations. The model was run for one summer month over two distinct regions: South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) surrounding Los Angeles, California and the eastern United States (US). In SoCAB where the OA was dominated by non-hygroscopic primary OA (POA), there was very little organic-phase water uptake (0.1–0.2 μg m −3 ) and consequently very little enhancement (or growth) in total OA concentrations (OA + organic-phase water): a 3% increase in total OA mass was predicted for a 0.1 increase in relative humidity. In contrast, in the eastern US where secondary OA (SOA) from biogenic sources dominated the OA, substantial organic-phase water uptake and enhancement in total OA concentrations was predicted, even in urban locations. On average, the model predicted a 20% growth in total OA mass for a 0.1 increase in relative humidity; the growth was equivalent to a 250 nm particle with a hygroscopicity parameter (κ) of 0.15. Further, for the same relative humidity, the exact extent of organic-phase water uptake and total OA enhancement was found to be dependent on the particle mixing state. When the source-oriented mixing state of aerosols was considered, generally, less organic-phase water uptake was predicted than when simple internal mixing approximations were made. Overall, the results indicated that organic-phase water can significantly influence predicted total OA concentrations under certain conditions. Regional models applied in areas with high humidity and significant SOA formation should include calculations for organic-phase water in order to capture this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have been adopted by most of the G20 countries. Given the broad worldwide acceptance of IFRS and significance of attaining comparability to facilitate free flow of capital, the US standard setter, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) made a commitment to jointly work with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to explore the possibilities of convergence of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) with IFRS. In 2007, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) eliminated the requirement that foreign companies listed on the US stock exchanges reconcile their IFRS-based financial statements with the US GAAP. In the same year the US SEC issued a concept release to the public requesting comments on a proposal to allow US issuers to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Following these initiatives by the FASB and SEC, the aim of the present study is to investigate the implications of a potential full adoption of IFRS by the US. The present study details the challenges and benefits of adoption and outlines the steps required for a successful outcome of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a paper that reflect on precarity as an unavoidable structural feature of capitalism in the U.S. and mentions how neoliberalism has expanded precarity, and mentions of precarity in the era of neoliberal globalization.

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine the association between the corporate ownership characteristics and the timely remediation of internal control weaknesses over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs both ordered and binary logistic regression models for a sample of 695 US firms who reported internal control weaknesses for the first time, pursuant to SOX Section 404, and evaluates the impact of the stock ownership characteristics on the timeliness in remediation of their control weaknesses. Findings – The test results show that the corporate ownership characteristics, as a part of governance mechanism, play an incrementally critical role to influence firms' decisions to promptly remediate their internal control problems and improve the reliability of financial information. In addition, it was also found that a corporate board independent of its CEO is effective in monitoring timely remediation of control problems. Sub-sample analyses for the company-level and account-specific internal control weaknesses produce similar results in support of the effect of corporate stock ownership characteristics on the timely remediation of internal control weaknesses. Originality/value – First, the paper adds to the literature by demonstrating the incremental effect of the stock ownership characteristics on a firm's timeliness in remediation of control weaknesses, even after controlling the effect of audit committee and board characteristics in the analysis. Second, the paper shows that even in the post-SOX years with enhanced regulatory oversight in corporate affairs, the effect of corporate ownership attributes as a part of governance is incrementally observable in a situation that calls for prompt managerial action to ensure the reliability of financial information. Third, for the first time, the study makes a separate detailed analysis on the association between the stock ownership attributes and the remediation of company-level and account-specific control weaknesses. The results provide valuable insights into the ownership governance effect on the remediation of the two types of control weaknesses that have different rigor, auditability (more or less auditable), and effects (pervasive or non-pervasive) on financial reporting quality. Fourth, the study further enhances one's understanding of several important governance factors that help achieve a sound financial reporting system and restore investors' confidence in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the neoliberal restructuring of the U.S. economy and how it has U.S. impacted economic policy. Topics include the reform of U.S. monetary policy, the expansion of financial markets, and the decrease in the power of labor unions. Information is provided on the financialization of the economy and the increase in individual and government debt.

Radial velocity (RV) identification of extrasolar planets has historically been dominated by optical surveys. Interest in expanding exoplanet searches to M dwarfs and young stars, however, has motivated a push to improve the precision of near-infrared RV techniques. We present our methodology for achieving 58 m s-1 precision in the K band on the M0 dwarf GJ 281 using the CSHELL spectrograph at the 3 m NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. We also demonstrate our ability to recover the known 4 M JUP exoplanet Gl 86 b and discuss the implications for success in detecting planets around 1-3 Myr old T Tauri stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopausal women are deficient in estrogen, progesterone, and frequently in testosterone and DHEA. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the United States has generally consisted of one or two agents, typically equine estrogen and medroxyprogesterone, with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, and breast cancer [WHI trials]. Bio-identical hormones [chemically endogenous hormones] have gained popularity and can be mixed according to physician's orders by compounding pharmacists in the United States. However, there is little published information about the use of such hormones. This paper reports a 12 plus months follow up on 189 patients who were administered natural estrogen plus progesterone with or without DHEA or testosterone according to a rationalized protocol described later. Ninety-seven percent of the patients experienced varying degrees of symptom control, whereas three had minimal or questionable benefit. Mental symptoms experienced upon presentation improved in 90% of the patients. Sixty percent of the patients, who had gained weight during menopause, lost an average of 14.8 lbs [SD 11.98 lbs]. Complications described with traditional HRT did not develop in this group of patients. These findings point out a need for larger controlled trials of similar protocols in the management of menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on opinion changes in the U.S., Australia, and Great Britain during an election campaign based from Gallup Polls. It notes political scientists' view that election campaigns have minimal impacts on election outcomes. It concentrates on the voting intention in Great Britain and Australia and the presidential approval in the U.S. It adds that people are now more responsible when voting, with 3 and 5 percent of voters who switch back to their original intentions on election day.

This paper investigates the change in value relevance of quarterly foreign sales data of U.S.-based multinational enterprises after adopting Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 (SFAS 131). First, I examine whether the interim foreign sales data of all sample firms are valued at a higher rate by equity investors after the firms adopt SFAS 131. My empirical findings indicate that for all sample firms the value relevance of quarterly foreign sales data increases after the firms adopt SFAS 131. I then examine whether the valuation consequence of firms that change their geographic segment definition after they adopt SFAS 131—segment change firms—changes after those firms adopt SFAS 131. Based on the empirical results, I conclude that quarterly foreign sales data of segment change firms are priced at a relatively higher rate after SFAS 131 is adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last several years, the interest in wireless networking has grown significantly due to the availability of many wireless products, such as cell phones, wireless enabled mice, keyboards, modems, and many other products. Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, personal digital assistance (PDAs), and laptops are becoming common. Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) products are growing at a rapid rate. Several companies have already started developing WiMax products. The reason for the rapid growth of wireless technology is that it provides the users with additional convenience over the wired technology. General Motors Corporation introduced a Bluetooth network in its 2003 Saab 9–3 model car. Having a wireless personal area network (WPAN) in a vehicle will allow the driver to control the various operations within the vehicle without taking his hands off the steering wheel. For example, the driver will be able to make a phone call through a Bluetooth-enabled headset and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone using voice-activated dialing features. If the Bluetooth network is connected to the vehicle's wired network through an appropriate gateway device, then the driver will be able to control the lights, windshield wipers, air flow, heat, and various other features of the vehicle through a Bluetooth-enabled headset and voice-activated features. An in-vehicle WPAN will also allow the users to use their PDAs as electronic car keys. Though an in-vehicle WPAN can provide the users with many convenient features, it can also make the vehicle system vulnerable to many types of security attacks unless it is properly designed. In this paper, the authors present a technique for building an in-vehicle secure WPAN (SWPAN). The technique is user friendly and easy to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the value-relevance of voluntarily disclosed quarterly sales data on the foreign operations of U.S. multinational corporations included in quarterly earnings announcements. Using a short-window event-study methodology with risk-adjusted returns, we find that voluntarily disclosed quarterly foreign sales of U.S. multinational corporations is value-relevant to equity investors. The empirical results also show that in most instances, quarterly foreign sales data are valued at a substantially higher rate than quarterly domestic sales data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1960, it was discovered that Simian Virus 40 (SV40) contaminated up to 30% of the poliovirus vaccines in the US. This contamination arose because the vaccines were produced in monkey kidney cell cultures harboring SV40 between 1955 and 1963. During this period, approximately 90% of children and 60% of adults in the USA were inoculated for polio and possibly exposed to SV40. Many epidemiologic and molecular pathogenesis studies have been conducted in order to identify potential cancer risks since this ‘natural’ experiment began. Productive SV40 infection has the potential to initiate malignancy in a variety of target tissues. Epidemiological studies that investigated the relationship between SV40 infection and cancer risks have yielded mixed results. Studies can be grouped into three categories based on their exposure definition of SV40 infection: (1) use of vaccination or birth cohorts as proxy variables for infection, (2) follow-up of children of pregnant women who received polio vaccines, and (3) direct molecular detection of the virus or serologic detection of anti-SV40 antibody responses. A meta-analysis of five published studies did not support the hypothesis that SV40 exposure increases the overall risk of cancer incidence or cancer mortality. The analysis of specific cancer sites is largely inconclusive because of substantial problems that most studies have had in reliably defining exposure, defining latency effects, or dealing with confounding and other biases. A new generation of molecular epidemiologic studies is necessary to properly address these issues.Oncogene (2004) 23, 6535-6540. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207877 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the war on terrorism in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2002 in the U.S. Attitude of the U.S. towards the elimination of terrorism; Use of the metaphors of war in other concepts.

Discusses the medical malpractice experiences of physicians in the U.S. Use of a large malpractice database from Florida; Assessment of the concentration of losses among physicians; Predictability of claims experience; Effects of claims experience on physicians' practice decisions and on actions taken by the state's licensing board.

Background: Despite the availability of a universal influenza vaccination program in the United States and Canada, seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV) uptake among the elderly remains suboptimal. Understanding the factors that determine SIV uptake in this important population subgroup is essential for designing effective interventions to improve seasonal influenza vaccination among the elderly. We evaluated the determinants of SIV uptake in the elderly in the United States and Canada. Methods: We systematically searched relevant bibliographic databases and websites from 2000 to 2017 for population-based clinical trials or observational studies conducted in community-based elderly individuals in the United States or Canada, irrespective of health status. Two reviewers independently screened the identified citations for eligibility using a two-stage sifting approach to review the title/abstract and full-text article. We gathered data on determinants of uptake (any vaccine receipt) and adherence (receipt of vaccine in more than one season) to seasonal influenza vaccination. Where possible, we pooled the data using inverse variance methods to minimize the variance of the weighted average. Results: Five cross-sectional studies on SIV uptake (none on adherence) from the United States met our eligibility criteria. Being older (pooled odds ratio [POR] = 1.44, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.11, 1.86); White (POR = 1.33, 95% CI = [1.10, 1.64]); and having higher income (POR = 1.06, 95% CI = [1.04, 1.09]); and health insurance (POR = 1.40, 95% CI = [1.25, 1.55]) were associated with increased SIV uptake. Conclusion: Older, ethnically White, higher income elderly individuals with access to health insurance coverage and a regular health care provider have higher SIV uptake in the United States. There was limited evidence for other socioeconomic and health-related determinants. Further studies are needed to provide an evidence base for planning more effective influenza vaccination programs in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]