scholarly journals Spatial modeling could not differentiate early SARS-CoV-2 cases from the distribution of humans on the basis of climate in the United States

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Harbert ◽  
Seth W. Cunningham ◽  
Michael Tessler
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Population Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Population Equilibrium ◽  
Case Data ◽  
The U.S

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is wreaking havoc globally, yet, as a novel pathogen, knowledge of its biology is still emerging. Climate and seasonality influence the distributions of many diseases, and studies suggest at least some link between SARS-CoV-2 and weather. One such study, building species distribution models (SDMs), predicted SARS-CoV-2 risk may remain concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, shifting northward in summer months. Others have highlighted issues with SARS-CoV-2 SDMs, notably: the primary niche of the virus is the host it infects, climate may be a weak distributional predictor, global prevalence data have issues, and the virus is not in population equilibrium. While these issues should be considered, we believe climate’s relationship with SARS-CoV-2 is still worth exploring, as it may have some impact on the distribution of cases. To further examine if there is a link to climate, we build model projections with raw SARS-CoV-2 case data and population-scaled case data in the USA. The case data were from across March 2020, before large travel restrictions and public health policies were impacting cases across the country. We show that SDMs built from population-scaled case data cannot be distinguished from control models (built from raw human population data), while SDMs built on raw case data fail to predict the known distribution of cases in the U.S. from March. The population-scaled analyses indicate that climate did not play a central role in early U.S. viral distribution and that human population density was likely the primary driver. We do find slightly more population-scaled viral cases in cooler areas. Ultimately, the temporal and geographic constraints on this study mean that we cannot rule out climate as a partial driver of the SARS-CoV-2 distribution. Climate’s role on SARS-CoV-2 should continue to be cautiously examined, but at this time we should assume that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to spread anywhere in the U.S. where governmental policy does not prevent spread.

scholarly journals Spatial modeling cannot currently differentiate SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and human distributions on the basis of climate in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Harbert ◽  
Seth W. Cunningham ◽  
Michael Tessler
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Population Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Prevalence Data ◽  
Level Data ◽  
The Us ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Population Equilibrium

AbstractThe SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is wreaking havoc globally, yet knowledge of its biology is limited. Climate and seasonality influence the distributions of many diseases, and studies suggest a link between SARS-CoV-2 and cool weather. One such study, building species distribution models (SDMs), predicted SARS-CoV-2 risk may remain concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, shifting northward in summer months. Others have highlighted issues with SARS-CoV-2 SDMs, notably: the primary niche of the virus is the host it infects, climate may be a weak distributional predictor, global prevalence data have issues, and the virus is not in a population equilibrium. While these issues should be considered, climate still may be important for predicting the future distribution of SARS-CoV-2. To further examine if there is a link, we model with raw cases and population scaled cases for SARS-CoV-2 county-level data from the United States. We show that SDMs built from population scaled cases data cannot be distinguished from control models built from raw human population data, while SDMs built on raw data fail to predict the current known distribution of cases in the US. The population scaled analyses indicate that climate may not play a central role in current US viral distribution and that human population density is likely a primary driver. Still, we do find slightly more population scaled viral cases in cooler areas. This coupled with our geographically constrained focus make it so we cannot rule out climate as a partial driver of the US SARS-CoV-2 distribution. Climate’s role on SARS-CoV-2 should continue to be cautiously examined, but at this time we should assume that SARS-CoV-2 can spread anywhere in the US.

scholarly journals Current Nuclear Strategies and Arsenals of the United States of America and the Russian Federation

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 23-44
Author(s):  
Adam Potočňák
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Other ◽  
Nuclear Forces ◽  
Nuclear Strategy ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The U.S

The article holistically analyses current strategies for the use and development of nuclear forces of the USA and Russia and analytically reflects their mutual doctrinal interactions. It deals with the conditions under which the U.S. and Russia may opt for using their nuclear weapons and reflects also related issues of modernization and development of their actual nuclear forces. The author argues that both superpowers did not manage to abandon the Cold War logic or avoid erroneous, distorted or exaggerated assumptions about the intentions of the other side. The text concludes with a summary of possible changes and adaptations of the American nuclear strategy under the Biden administration as part of the assumed strategy update expected for 2022.

scholarly journals HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FEDERAL LEGISLATION

2021 ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Tamara Bondar
Keyword(s):  
No Child Left Behind ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal Legislation ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Court Decisions ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Education Development ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The U.S

 The relevance of the research problem tackling the inclusive education evolution in the United States is explained by the fact that it the USA has been a leader in developing a rights-based model of inclusive education. The research is conditioned by the current stage of national education that undergoes modernization, the steady course of Ukraine to create an inclusive school, and government’s request to implement its initiatives. The purpose of this article is to present a reconsidered historical analysis of the inclusive education in the USA that represents an expansion of earlier research conducted by the author. Methods applied include historical and comparative research. The author’s periodization that describes the phases in the inclusive education development in the USA is presented. This is based on the chronologically arranged U.S. federal legislation related to ensuring equal rights and opportunities. It is stated that some court decisions and federal legislation that incorporated court decisions clearly marked the phases in inclusive education development. These legislative milestones beginning each phase include the U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975), the Education of the Handicapped Students Act Amendments (1986), No Child Left Behind Act (2001), and Every Student Succeeds Act (2015). Consequently, there are five phases in the inclusive education development and each phase reflects the general trend in the U.S. inclusive education. The initial phase is referred to as the active social movement for the right to education (1954–1974). In the second phase, children with disabilities were integrated into regular schools through mainstreaming (1975–1985). Then comes the so-called Regular Education Initiative phase or full inclusion (1986–2000), followed by the accountable inclusive education phase (2001–2014). Finally, the phase of the high-quality inclusive education started in 2015 and continues today.

scholarly journals Coast-to-coast spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States revealed by genomic epidemiology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Fauver ◽  
Mary E. Petrone ◽  
Emma B. Hodcroft ◽  
Kayoko Shioda ◽  
Hanna Y. Ehrlich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Viral Genomes ◽  
Genomic Epidemiology ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The U.S

SummarySince its emergence and detection in Wuhan, China in late 2019, the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has spread to nearly every country around the world, resulting in hundreds of thousands of infections to date. The virus was first detected in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in January, 2020, with subsequent COVID-19 outbreaks detected in all 50 states by early March. To uncover the sources of SARS-CoV-2 introductions and patterns of spread within the U.S., we sequenced nine viral genomes from early reported COVID-19 patients in Connecticut. Our phylogenetic analysis places the majority of these genomes with viruses sequenced from Washington state. By coupling our genomic data with domestic and international travel patterns, we show that early SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Connecticut was likely driven by domestic introductions. Moreover, the risk of domestic importation to Connecticut exceeded that of international importation by mid-March regardless of our estimated impacts of federal travel restrictions. This study provides evidence for widespread, sustained transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within the U.S. and highlights the critical need for local surveillance.

I Am Curious (Yellow) as Sex Education in the USA

2019 ◽  
pp. 319-326
Author(s):  
Saniya Lee Ghanoui
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Scale ◽  
Box Office ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The U.S

This chapter explores I Am Curious (Yellow) and the public’s response during its first box office run in the United States. It argues that the film functioned as a non-normative form of sex education, and that the U.S. government wanted to censor it swiftly not because it was pornographic, but precisely because it was deemed not to be. In other words, the film presented itself as a creative pseudo-documentary endeavor while the U.S. interpreted it as obscene and tasteless; the film pushed the definitions of what is and is not documentary and informational film. I place I Am Curious (Yellow) in the historical canon of internationally (in)famous Swedish sex education films, the most notable example being Language of Love (Ur kärlekens språk). I Am Curious (Yellow) was the first of several films that further blurred the line between sex education and pornography on an international scale.

scholarly journals The Impact of Physical Activity on Disability Incidence among Older Adults in Mexico and the United States

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Gerst ◽  
Alejandra Michaels-Obregon ◽  
Rebeca Wong
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthy Habits ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
The U.S

Evidence suggests that transitions among older adults towards healthy habits, such as physical activity, appear underway in developed countries such as the USA but not in developing countries such as Mexico. However, little is known about the potential benefit of physical activity in preventing disability among elders in countries at different stages of epidemiological transition. We explore the impact of physical activity on the disablement process among elders in Mexico compared to the USA. Data are from two waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study and the Health and Retirement Study. We examine the impact of exercise on the transition from no disability to ADL limitations two years later. Findings indicate that exercise is more common in the U.S. than in Mexico. There is a positive effect of exercise on negative outcomes in both countries. However, the protective effect of exercise is stronger in the U.S. than in Mexico.

scholarly journals The Association between Medication Experiences and Beliefs and Low Medication Adherence in Patients with Chronic Disease from Two Different Societies: The USA and the Sultanate of Oman

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Kamla M. Ibrahim ◽  
Jon C. Schommer ◽  
Donald E. Morisky ◽  
Raquel Rodriguez ◽  
Caroline Gaither ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
Improve Medication Adherence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
The U.S

This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the association between medication experiences and beliefs and self-reported medication adherence in patients with chronic diseases in two different samples from two different societies: the USA and the Sultanate of Oman. The Morisky Medication Adherence Score (MMAS-8) questionnaire was used to measure medication adherence. Three items (statements) were used for measuring medication experiences and beliefs variable on a four-point Likert scale adapted from the 2015 National Consumer Survey of the Medication Experience and Pharmacists’ Role (NCSME&PR). In the U.S., quantitative secondary data analysis of 13,731 participants was conducted using the 2015 NCSME&PR, a self-administered online survey coordinated by Qualtrics Panels between 28 April 2015 and 22 June 2015. The same variables were translated into Arabic, with studies conducted at the Royal Court Medical Center in Oman, and data from 714 participants were collected between 16 June 2019 and 16 August 2019. Data were analyzed using IMB/SPSS version 24.0 software. Chi-square analysis and descriptive statistics were used. The results showed that the low adherence rates for medication (MMAS-8 < 6) were 56% and 52% in Omani and U.S. groups, respectively. Approximately 90% of the U.S. and Omani participants believed that “medicines are a life-saver”; however, medication adherence was higher in Oman (30%) than in the United States (9%) for these participants. In total, 60% of the U.S. and 29% of Omani participants believed that “medicines are a burden”; however, about 60–65% of participants in both countries were in the low medication adherence group. Additionally, 63% of the U.S. and 83% of the Omani participants disagreed that “medicines do more harm than good”; however, medication adherence in the U.S. (15%) was higher than in Oman (8%). In conclusion, a decrease in low medication adherence was observed with positive medication experiences and beliefs. However, the impacts of medication experiences and beliefs on low medication adherence rates were different from one population to another. The “medication burden” statement resulted in the highest percentage of difference in terms of low medication adherence rates between those who agree and those who disagree in the U.S. group (20%), whereas the “medicines are a life-saver” statement resulted in a greater difference in the Omani group (30%). Proper communication between patients and healthcare providers based on the patient’s medication experiences and beliefs will substantially improve medication adherence.

scholarly journals 1344. Predicting Measles Outbreaks in the United States: Application of Different Modeling Approaches

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S759-S759
Author(s):  
Stephanie Kujawski ◽  
Boshu Ru ◽  
Amar K Das ◽  
Nelson L Afanador ◽  
richard baumgartner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Panel Member ◽  
The United States ◽  
County Level ◽  
Review Panel ◽  
Modeling Approaches ◽  
Case Data ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Background Although measles is still rare in the United States (U.S.), there have been recent resurgent outbreaks in the U.S. To improve the accuracy of prediction given the rarity of measles events, we used machine learning (ML) algorithms to model measles case predictions at the U.S. county level. Methods The main outcome was occurrence of ≥1 measles case at the U.S. county level. Two ML prediction models were developed (HDBSCAN, a clustering algorithm, and XGBoost, a gradient boosting algorithm) and compared with traditional logistic regression. We included 28 predictors in the following categories: sociodemographics, population statistics, measles vaccination coverage, healthcare access, and exposure to measles via international air travel. The models were trained on 2014 case data and validated on 2018 case data. Models were compared using area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and F2 score (combined measure of sensitivity and PPV). Results There were 667 measles cases in 2014 and 375 in 2018 in the U.S. We identified U.S. counties for 635 (95.2%) cases in 2014 and 366 (97.6%) cases in 2018 through published sources, corresponding to 81/3143 (2.6%) counties in 2014 and 64/3143 (2.0%) counties in 2018 with ≥1 measles case. HDBSCAN had the highest sensitivity (0.92), but lowest AUC (0.68) and PPV (0.04) (Table). XGBoost had the highest F2 score (0.49), best balance of sensitivity (0.72) and specificity (0.94), and AUC = 0.92. Logistic regression had high AUC (0.91) and specificity (1.00) but the lowest sensitivity (0.16). Conclusion Machine learning approaches outperformed logistic regression by maximizing sensitivity to predict counties with measles cases, an important criterion to consider to prevent or prepare for future outbreaks. XGBoost or logistic regression could be considered to maximize specificity. Prioritizing sensitivity versus specificity may depend on county resources, priorities, and measles risk. Different modeling approaches could be considered to optimize surveillance efforts and develop effective interventions for timely response. Disclosures Stephanie Kujawski, PhD MPH, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Boshu Ru, Ph.D., Merck & Co. Kenilworth, NJ (NYSE: MRK) (Employee, Shareholder) Amar K. Das, MD, PhD, Merck (Employee) richard baumgartner, PhD, Merck (Employee) Shuang Lu, MBA, MS, Merck (Employee) Matthew Pillsbury, PhD, Merck & CO. (Employee, Shareholder) Joseph Lewnard, PhD, Merck (Consultant, Grant/Research Support) James H. Conway, MD, FAAP, GSK (Advisor or Review Panel member)Merck (Advisor or Review Panel member)Moderna (Advisor or Review Panel member)Pfizer (Advisor or Review Panel member)Sanofi Pasteur (Research Grant or Support) Manjiri D. Pawaskar, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder)

The War of Words

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose V. Fuentecilla
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
First Year ◽  
Investment Climate ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Martial Law ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Media ◽  
Business Week ◽  
The U.S

This chapter details the continuous lobbying and organizing efforts of political exiles as well as their efforts to draw attention to their anti-Marcos and anti-martial law rhetoric. Reflecting their bias for a free press and scorn for the controlled press in the Philippines, the major U.S. media consistently gave the exiles favorable coverage. By and large, the exiles had won the media war in the United States against the regime. The generally critical attitude of the U.S. media acutely troubled Mrs. Marcos. She summoned the American ambassador, Michael Armacost, to express her husband's “anxieties about his upcoming [1982] visit to the USA.” The regime countered as best as it could. During the first year of martial law, it ran colorful multipage spreads in influential U.S. business magazines such as Fortune and Business Week. The message: there was a new, much better investment climate in the country, and it was a safe tourist destination.

scholarly journals Disparities in patient enrollment on glioblastoma clinical trials

CNS Oncology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. CNS59
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Andrea Wasilewski ◽  
Nimish A Mohile
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Population Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tumor Registry ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Central Brain ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Patient Enrollment

Aim: To determine if enrollment on glioblastoma (GBM) interventional clinical trials (ICTs) in the USA is representative of the population. Materials & methods: We queried ClinicalTrials.gov for all ICTs in GBM from 1994 to 2019. Demographics were obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov or the trial publication and compared with population data from Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States. Results: In total, 10617 GBM patients were enrolled in 118 adult ICTs: median age was 54.0 (10.05 years younger than Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States). Age was most discrepant in recurrent tumors, nonrandomized trials and consortium studies. Median age improved from 52.0 to 59.5 over 25 years. Women represented 37.5% of subjects. Conclusion: GBM ICTs under-represent older patients but representation of women reflects the population. ICTs need to be designed to better represent the population.

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