URBAN SPRAWL AND OBESITY

In the U.S., urban sprawl and the rise in obesity rates have been two powerful trends during the latter half of the 20th century. Previous empirical work has found that obesity rates are influenced by labor market outcomes that are fundamentally shaped by the spatial pattern of developed land. We examine these potential linkages in an urban spatial model augmented to include time allocation and weight. Residents maximize utility defined over housing, weight, and food subject to a fixed time budget allocated to commuting, calorie expenditure, and work. We examine how weight is affected by commuting distance, food prices, and the rate of calorie expenditure; how a reduction in transportation costs affects weight throughout the city; and how initial weight affects location decisions. We identify, and explore the significance of, the conditions under which weight gain is associated with common features of sprawl.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Restricted Opportunities, Personal Choices, Ineffective Policies: What Explains Food Insecurity in Oregon?

This study examines the extent to which household demographics, local economic and social conditions, and federal food security programs explain the likelihood of household food insecurity in Oregon. Between 1999 and 2001, Oregon had the highest average rate of hunger in the nation and ranked in the top five states with respect to food insecurity. Statistical analyses using a multivariate logit model reveal that food insecurity is influenced by much more than demographics and individual choices. County-level factors such as residential location (urban versus rural) and housing costs significantly affect the likelihood that families will be food insecure.food insecurity, food stamps, hunger, rural residence, Food Security and Poverty,

Software for Engineering Simulations of a Spacecraft

Spacecraft Engineering Simulation II (SES II) is a C-language computer program for simulating diverse aspects of operation of a spacecraft characterized by either three or six degrees of freedom. A functional model in SES can include a trajectory flight plan; a submodel of a flight computer running navigational and flight-control software; and submodels of the environment, the dynamics of the spacecraft, and sensor inputs and outputs. SES II features a modular, object-oriented programming style. SES II supports event-based simulations, which, in turn, create an easily adaptable simulation environment in which many different types of trajectories can be simulated by use of the same software. The simulation output consists largely of flight data. SES II can be used to perform optimization and Monte Carlo dispersion simulations. It can also be used to perform simulations for multiple spacecraft. In addition to its generic simulation capabilities, SES offers special capabilities for space-shuttle simulations: for this purpose, it incorporates submodels of the space-shuttle dynamics and a C-language version of the guidance, navigation, and control components of the space-shuttle flight software

Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine for maintenance of surgically-induced remission in Crohn’s disease

Background Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory condition. Many patients fail to achieve remission with medical management and require surgical interventions. Purine analogues have been used to maintain surgically-induced remission in CD, but the effectiveness of these agents is unclear. Objectives The objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of purine analogues for maintenance of surgically-induced remission in CD. Search methods We searched the following databases from inception to 30 April 2014: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Functional Bowel Disorders Group Specialized Trials Register).We also searched the reference lists of all included studies, and contacted personal sources and drug companies to identify additional studies. The searches were not limited by language. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared purine analogues to placebo or another intervention, with treatment durations of at least six months were considered for inclusion. Participants were patients of any age with CD in remission following surgery. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently assessed trial eligibility and extracted data. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The primary outcome measures were clinical and endoscopic relapse as defined by the primary studies. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, withdrawal due to adverse events and serious adverse events. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis where patients with missing final outcomes were assumed to have relapsed. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for dichotomous outcomes. The Chi2 and I2 statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. The overall quality of the evidence supporting the primary outcomes and selected secondary outcomes was assessed using the GRADE criteria. Main results Seven RCTs (n = 584 patients) were included in the review. Three studies compared azathioprine to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA).One small study compared azathioprine to both 5-ASA and adalimumab. One study compared azathioprine to placebo and another study compared 6-mercaptopurine to 5-ASA and placebo. One small study compared azathioprine to infliximab. Three studies were judged to be at low risk of bias. Four studies were judged to be at high risk of bias due to blinding. The study (n = 22) comparing azathioprine to infliximab found that the effects on the proportion of patients who had a clinical (RR 2.00, 95% CI 0.21 to 18.98) or endoscopic relapse (RR 4.40, 95% CI 0.59 to 3.07) were uncertain. One study (n = 33) found decreased clinical (RR 5.18, 95% CI 1.35 to 19.83) and endoscopic relapse (RR 10.35, 95% CI 1.50 to 71.32) rates favouring adalimumab over azathioprine. A pooled analysis of two studies (n = 168 patients) showed decreased clinical relapse rates at one or two years favouring purine analogues over placebo. Forty eight per cent of patients in the purine analogue group experienced a clinical relapse compared to 63% of placebo patients (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.94). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome was low due to high risk of bias (one study was single-blind) and sparse data (93 events). One study (87 patients) found a reduction in endoscopic relapse rates favouring 6-mercaptopurine over placebo. Seventeen per cent of 6-mercaptopurine patients had an endoscopic relapse at two years compared to 42% of placebo patients (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.83). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence for this outcome was low due to very sparse data (25 events). A pooled analysis of five studies (n = 425 patients) showed no difference in clinical relapse rates at one or two years between purine analogues and 5-ASA agents. Sixty-three per cent of patients in the purine analogues group experienced a clinical relapse compared to 54% of 5-ASA patients (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.34). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome was very low due to high risk of bias (two open-label studies), sparse data (249 events) and moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 45%). There was no difference in endoscopic relapse at 12 months between azathioprine and 5-ASA (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.17; 1 study, 35 patients). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence for this outcome was very low due to high risk of bias (open-label study) and very sparse data (26 events). There was a reduction in endoscopic relapse at 24 months favouring 6-mercaptopurine over 5-ASA patients. Seventeen per cent of 6-mercaptopurine patients had an endoscopic relapse compared to 48% of 5-ASA patients (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.72; 1 study, 91 patients). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence for this outcome was low due to very sparse data (29 events). Adverse events that required withdrawal were more common in the purine analogue group compared to 5-ASA. Twenty per cent of patients in the purine analogue group withdrew due to adverse events compared to 10% of 5-ASA patients (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.39; 5 studies, 423 patients).The results for withdrawal due to adverse events between purine analogues and placebo or for other comparisons were uncertain. Commonly reported adverse events across all studies included leucopenia, arthralgia, abdominal pain or severe epigastric intolerance, elevated liver enzymes, nausea and vomiting, pancreatitis, anaemia, exacerbation of Crohn’s disease, nasopharyngitis, and flatulence. Authors’ conclusions Purine analogues may be superior to placebo for maintenance of surgically-induced remission in patients with CD, although this is based on two small studies. The results for efficacy outcomes between purine analogues and 5-ASA agents were uncertain. However, patients taking purine analogues were more likely than 5-ASA patients to discontinue therapy due to adverse events. No firm conclusions can be drawn from the two small studies that compared azathioprine to infliximab or adalimumab. Adalimumab may be superior to azathioprine but further research is needed to confirm these results. Further research investigating the efficacy and safety of azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine in comparison to other active medications in patients with surgically-induced remission of CD is warranted

USA Health Insider Newsletter - September 20, 2022

The USA Health Insider newsletter for September 20, 2022. The contents include: USA Health Game Day Set for October 20, 2022 USA Health Earns Accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer USA Health First on the Gulf Coast to Perform Prostatectomy Using da Vinci SP Flu Vaccine Clinics Begin USA Health Spine Team Wins at Safety in Spine Surgery Summit Java With Jo New Neonatology Division Chief Joins USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital USA Health appoints new chief of anesthesia services 15th Annual GO Run Draws Hundreds Celebrate Care Improvements at Safari Extravaganza Crook Honored at Reception Employees Enjoy Snow Cone Social Israel to Host Free Cooking Classes for Employees Watch Us Grow: September 20, 2022 USA Health in the News: September 20, 2022 FOX10 to Feature Discussion for Boyshttps://jagworks.southalabama.edu/usahealth_inside-news/1004/thumbnail.jp

USA Health Insider Newsletter - September 27, 2022

The USA Health Insider newsletter for September 27, 2022. The contents include: COVID Status Effective Sept. 22, 2022: Green Zone USA Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center Named for Johnson Haynes, Jr., M.D. “The End of an Era” Singh Appointed to BCRFA Medical Advisory Council MCI Staffer Consults on CDC Campaign Employees Have Java with Jo Game Day T-shirts Available Next Week Faculty Members Needed for Academic Coaching Register Now: Paddle the Escatawpa River CME Conference Watch Us Grow: September 27, 2022 In the News: September 27, 2022 FOX10 to Focus on Annual Checkups The Doctor Is In to Feature Urologist USA Health ENT/Facial Plastic Surgery Hosting Employee Appreciation Weekhttps://jagworks.southalabama.edu/usahealth_inside-news/1005/thumbnail.jp

The strategic mind of Zbigniew Brzezinski: how a native Pole used Afghanistan to protect his homeland

Many years after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Robert Gates revealed several formerly classified details regarding the Carter Administration’s pre-invasion aid to the Mujahideen resistance fighters. Unwittingly, these separate yet interconnected disclosures from Brzezinski and Gates gave the appearance that the White House had intentionally lured the USSR into an insurgent-infested trap in Afghanistan designed to give Moscow its own Vietnam War. Brzezinski, being in a much higher position within the administration than Gates and coming forth with the most provocative revelations, was subsequently accused by many of essentially instigating a war all by himself. But although Brzezinski had hoped that the Soviets would get bogged down in a “Vietnamese quagmire” in Afghanistan if they decided to intervene, he did not attempt to lure the Russians into a trap. The covert aid to the Mujahideen was carried out to trap Moscow only if it continued to act aggressively in the Third World. In addition to Brzezinski’s need to limit the Soviet Union’s capability to project strength in the Third World, he admitted to this author that he had other strategic and personal reasons for aiding the Mujahideen. Months before President Carter signed the covert aid directive on July 3, 1979, Brzezinski had begun to receive quite explicit information from CIA assets in his native Poland that the situation there was on the verge of an explosion. These developments prompted him to turn his thoughts toward both crises simultaneously, with the ultimate goal to develop a strategy that would protect his homeland at all costs. In the final analysis, Brzezinski was correct in his assessment that aiding the Mujahideen and turning up the heat on the Soviets in Afghanistan would later prevent the Kremlin from sending its troops into Poland in order to squelch the burgeoning labor movement known as Solidarity

USA Health Insider Newsletter - July 12, 2022

USA Health Insider newsletter for July 12, 2022. The contents include: USA Health First on Gulf Coast to Secure the da Vinci SP Recent PTO DOnations Fulfill 10 Requests USA Health Expands Digestive Health Center with Addition of New Gastroenterologist Blessings for New Babies Offered Birthing Tours Now Offered Once a Week at Children\u27s & Women\u27s Hospital Calling Medical Alumni: Send Us Your Photos PathPic Contest Winners Announced Mental Health Conference to Feature Temple Grandin One of Us: Kerry Flowers Pathology Resident Graduates Bound for Fellowship Programs USA Health Recognizes You: July 12, 2022 Watch Us Grow: Mapp Family Campus In the News: July 12, 2022 Studio10 to Feature McCoy The Doc is In to Feature Lenzhttps://jagworks.southalabama.edu/usahealth_inside-news/1002/thumbnail.jp

USA Health Insider Newsletter - July 26, 2022

The USA Health Insider newsletter for July 26, 2022. The contents include: Video: \u27This is the Essence of USA Health\u27 USA Health Offers Testing for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Efficacy New USA Health Program Provides Employee Counseling Nitrous Oxide Now Offered to Laboring Mothers at Children\u27s & Women\u27s Hospital Participants Needed for NIH-Sponsored Research Project on Long COVID Mobile Diagnostic Center Expands to Include Psychiatry Care USA Health\u27s William Terry, M.D. Receives Nappie Award Watch Us Grow: Postpartum Unit USA Health in the News: July 26, 2022 Studio10 to Feature Hope Tindle Save the Date: OB-GYN Conferencehttps://jagworks.southalabama.edu/usahealth_inside-news/1003/thumbnail.jp