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Studies have consistently shown that agricultural producers in the continental United States have disproportionately high rates of depression and suicide as compared to other occupations. It is not known whether this is true in Hawaiʻi, which is both geographically distinct and ethnically diverse. To examine rates of depression and suicide as well as potential risk and protective factors, a state-wide mental health needs assessment was conducted from November 2021 to September 2022. We conducted a survey with a nonprobability-based convenience sample targeting agricultural producers across Hawaiʻi, and performed descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. In a sample of 408 respondents, 35% (n = 143) had clinical depression symptomatology, and 8% (n = 33) had suicidal ideation based on the Patient Health Questionnaire−9. Older age was slightly protective in that every year of increase in age was associated with 0.98 times (95% CI: 0.96, 0.99) reduced odds of depression symptomatology, and 0.96 times (95% CI:0.94, 0.98) reduced odds of suicidal ideation. Identifying as East Asian had 2.04 times (95% CI: 1.16, 3.61) higher odds of depression symptomatology, and Southeast Asian had 3.04 times odds (95% CI:1.15, 8.00) of suicidal ideation. However, in the presence of stress and coping variables, the demographic factors became statistically non-significant. Instead, feeling stressed, uncertainty as the stressor, and media-focused coping were significant risk factors in increasing two to eight times the odds of depressive symptoms. For suicidal ideation, depression symptomatology increased odds by 31.95 (95% CI: 5.60–182.32), using media-focused coping increased 5.20 odds (95% CI: 1.66, 16.27), but problem-focused coping decreased 0.32 times odds (0.10, 0.99). Culturally specific prevention and intervention measures should be tailored for Hawai'i agricultural producers with an emphasis toward younger, East, and Southeast Asian producers and attention toward providing skillful coping strategies for effective stress regulation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather types (WTs) are common atmospheric patterns that shape weather and climate characteristics. While an improved understanding of WTs can provide insights into seasonal predictions, few studies have investigated WT transitions and their impacts on temperature and precipitation across the continental United States (U.S.). This study focuses on 23 WT scenarios, involving five weather type classifications evaluated over the years 1979–2018 derived from 500-hPa geopotential height anomaly. There are five persistent WT scenarios with the same WT on back-to-back days and 18 non-persistent transition scenarios. Two additional non-persistent scenarios had no occurrences during this time. Persistent WT/non-persistent transition scenarios account for ~ 70%/30% of total transition cases, respectively. The weather regime transitions exhibit distinct impacts on temperature and precipitation across the U.S. The impacts of WT transitions on precipitation can be explained by changes in moisture flux and vertical pressure velocity. WT transitions show strong seasonality, with stronger impacts in winter months than summer months, leading to larger temperature and precipitation anomalies. Persistent scenarios of WT transitions account for the vast majority of transition cases and contribute more to individual WT trends. Our results suggest WT transitions play a crucial role in modulating temperature and precipitation anomalies. An improved understanding of WT transitions sets the stage for improving seasonal to sub-seasonal forecasts of the U.S. climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Social isolation imposes risks to an individual's psychological well-being. However, few studies have examined the role of resilience on these associations among older Chinese Americans, the fastest-growing aging population across all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. We aim to examine the associations of social isolation with indicators of psychological well-being and the mediating role of resilience in these associations.Methods: Data were derived from 398 Chinese older adults aged over 55 residing in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2018. Psychological well-being was measured by psychological distress, life satisfaction, and happiness. Multivariate linear regressions and ordered logistic regressions were conducted.Results: Social isolation was positively associated with psychological distress and negatively associated with life satisfaction and happiness (all p < 0.05). By contrast, resilience was associated with lower levels of psychological distress and higher levels of life satisfaction and happiness (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the findings supported our hypothesis that resilience mediated the association between social isolation and psychological well-being. With regard to social isolation, resilience contributed to 32.0% of its association with distress, 24.9% of the association with life satisfaction, and 16.3% of the association with happiness.Conclusion: Our findings revealed a significant association between social isolation and psychological well-being and the mediating role of resilience in the association of older Chinese Americans in Hawaii. The study findings expand our understanding of psychological resources in older Chinese Americans and emphasize the importance of developing intervention programs to foster social connection and resilience among an understudied population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A pioneering study exploring stop sign running at all-way stop-controlled intersections with naturalistic driving data. • Verifies the widespread presence of stop sign running in practice. • Identifies the effects of various factors on influencing drivers' stopping decisions at stop signs by quantitative analysis. • Identifies the few but critical high-risk drivers/intersections by their random effects. All-way stop control (AWSC) has been widely used at unsignalized intersections in the United States for its safety effects. However, many drivers do not make a complete stop before stop signs in practice (i.e., stop sign running), which presents safety concerns. This study explores driver behaviors at AWSC intersections with the SHRP2 naturalistic driving data. First, it is found that the full-stop rate is only 20.2% at AWSC intersections. Then, the study quantitatively analyzes what factors might influence the stop sign running decisions at AWSC intersections, where driver, vehicle, intersection geometry, maneuver, and environmental features are taken into account. In addition, considering the possible unobserved heterogeneities across drivers and intersections, a logistic regression model with both driver and intersection random effects is adopted. The results show that young and older drivers are less likely to fully stop, but there is no gender difference found. SUVs and vans are less likely to fully stop, drivers are less likely to fully stop at 3-leg intersections, and drivers are more likely to fully stop in daytime and weekdays. In terms of maneuvers, left-turn traversals are more likely to make a complete stop. In addition, both the driver and intersection random effects are found to be significant, vary greatly by individuals, and can be used to identify the few but critical high-risk drivers/intersections. The findings are expected to provide new insights for transportation agencies to formulate effective measures to deter stop sign running. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐amplitude ridges can enforce heat‐trapping systems that persist through an entire season, contributing to drought events. However, the impacts of day‐to‐day weather system changes at the meso‐ and synoptic‐scale are also important, albeit less well studied. We identify five weather types (WTs) from 500‐hPa geopotential height anomalies. These categories include WT4, which represents ridges and associated dry and warm anomalies, and WT3, which characterizes troughs and associated wetter‐ and colder‐than‐normal conditions and is the largest contributor to precipitation in the western U.S. While no discernable trend is evident for WT4 conditions, WT3 conditions have undergone a distinctive decrease in frequency at both annual and seasonal scales, thus a general drying trend across the west during this time period may be more significantly associated with fewer troughs rather than more ridges. Attribution analysis reveals that this decrease in wetter and colder weather is a likely result of anthropogenic forcing. Plain Language Summary: While it is well known that large, persistent areas of high pressure can trap heat in a region for an entire season, contributing to droughts, the impacts of day‐to‐day weather system changes at smaller scales have remained less studied. In this study, we learned that dry‐ and hot‐weather‐inducing ridge conditions did not significantly change during a period of generalized drying between 1980 and 2018. What did change during those years was the pattern of troughs, which are associated with wetter‐ and colder‐than‐normal conditions; these conditions became less common during those years. This trend is likely to have occurred in response to human‐caused factors. Key Points: No discernable trend is evident for dry‐ and warm‐weather‐inducing ridge conditionsTrough conditions‐the largest contributor to annual precipitation in the western U.S.‐have undergone a distinctive decrease in frequencyThe decreasing trend in western troughs is likely to have occurred in response to external forcing rather than natural forcing alone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine how immigrant status and family relationships are associated with advance care planning (ACP) engagement and end-of-life (EOL) preference in burial planning among older Chinese Americans, the largest subgroup of Asian Americans. Cross-sectional survey. Communities in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Participants were 430 older Chinese Americans aged 55 years and older. Measures included ACP contemplation, ACP discussion, and EOL preference in burial planning, immigrant status, family cohesion, family conflict, demographic information, and health status. Results show that in comparison to foreign-born Chinese Americans, US-born Chinese Americans were more likely to have ACP contemplation [odds ratio (OR) 2.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-5.63], ACP discussion (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.50-6.08), and preferences for burial plans at the end of life (OR 4.56, 95% CI 2.04-10.18). Family conflict increased the possibility of having ACP contemplation (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.38), ACP discussion (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.39), and EOL preference in burial planning (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.42), whereas family cohesion was not associated with these study outcomes. This study suggests that ACP should be adapted to be more culturally appropriate, especially in a time of coronavirus and xenophobia, such as framing ACP as a tool to help families reduce stress while fulfilling filial obligations, in order to ensure equitable access to ACP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While major advances have been made toward understanding flooding across the central United States, little is known about the linkage between heat stress, characterized by high temperature and humidity, and flooding during the summer in this area. Here, we focus on a compound event that relates these two hazards; we find that a high percentage of floods are preceded by a heat stress event. The potential impacts are significant, leading to overwhelming the current infrastructure (e.g., damaged roads, hospitals, and power grid) and to a high number of fatalities and economic damage. We show that heat stress is tied to high surface temperatures, sensible heat flux, and humidity, which all tend to enhance convective available potential energy (CAPE) and stormy weather, frequently resulting in flooding. Given that heat stress is projected to become more frequent and intense, our findings point to an associated enhanced risk of flooding throughout this area. Key Points: Summer floods in the central United States are often preceded by a heat stress eventHeat stress is tied to high temperatures, sensible heat flux, and humidity, which all tend to enhance convective available potential energyThe conditions associated with heat stress lead to storm weather, heavy precipitation, and then flooding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Convalescent plasma is a potential therapeutic option for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but further data from randomized clinical trials are needed.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of convalescent plasma therapy for patients with COVID-19.Design, Setting, and Participants: Open-label, multicenter, randomized clinical trial performed in 7 medical centers in Wuhan, China, from February 14, 2020, to April 1, 2020, with final follow-up April 28, 2020. The trial included 103 participants with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 that was severe (respiratory distress and/or hypoxemia) or life-threatening (shock, organ failure, or requiring mechanical ventilation). The trial was terminated early after 103 of a planned 200 patients were enrolled.Intervention: Convalescent plasma in addition to standard treatment (n = 52) vs standard treatment alone (control) (n = 51), stratified by disease severity.Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcome was time to clinical improvement within 28 days, defined as patient discharged alive or reduction of 2 points on a 6-point disease severity scale (ranging from 1 [discharge] to 6 [death]). Secondary outcomes included 28-day mortality, time to discharge, and the rate of viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results turned from positive at baseline to negative at up to 72 hours.Results: Of 103 patients who were randomized (median age, 70 years; 60 [58.3%] male), 101 (98.1%) completed the trial. Clinical improvement occurred within 28 days in 51.9% (27/52) of the convalescent plasma group vs 43.1% (22/51) in the control group (difference, 8.8% [95% CI, -10.4% to 28.0%]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.40 [95% CI, 0.79-2.49]; P = .26). Among those with severe disease, the primary outcome occurred in 91.3% (21/23) of the convalescent plasma group vs 68.2% (15/22) of the control group (HR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.07-4.32]; P = .03); among those with life-threatening disease the primary outcome occurred in 20.7% (6/29) of the convalescent plasma group vs 24.1% (7/29) of the control group (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.30-2.63]; P = .83) (P for interaction = .17). There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality (15.7% vs 24.0%; OR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.22-1.59]; P = .30) or time from randomization to discharge (51.0% vs 36.0% discharged by day 28; HR, 1.61 [95% CI, 0.88-2.95]; P = .12). Convalescent plasma treatment was associated with a negative conversion rate of viral PCR at 72 hours in 87.2% of the convalescent plasma group vs 37.5% of the control group (OR, 11.39 [95% CI, 3.91-33.18]; P < .001). Two patients in the convalescent plasma group experienced adverse events within hours after transfusion that improved with supportive care.Conclusion and Relevance: Among patients with severe or life-threatening COVID-19, convalescent plasma therapy added to standard treatment, compared with standard treatment alone, did not result in a statistically significant improvement in time to clinical improvement within 28 days. Interpretation is limited by early termination of the trial, which may have been underpowered to detect a clinically important difference.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000029757. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the differential associations of activity engagement and perceived neighborhood characteristics (i.e., cohesion, disorder, sense of community) with cognitive measures. Using data of 2,713 Chinese older adults in Chicago, who completed two interviews between 2011 and 2015, we identified three activity domains: reading, social, and games. In general, engagement in more reading and social activities was associated with better baseline cognitive function, but the positive effects tapered off over time in some cases. Neighborhood cohesion had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive function. Engagement in social activities mediated the neighborhood cohesion effects, that is, living in a cohesive neighborhood promoted social activities and consequently benefited cognitive function. Findings speak to the importance of activity engagement and neighborhood cohesion for cognition among the U.S. Chinese older adults. Future research is needed to investigate the longitudinal relationships of activity engagement and environmental factors with cognitive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to changing weather patterns, catastrophic natural disasters are expected to happen more frequently and cause dramatic life and economic losses worldwide. The United States experienced a historically high record of weather disasters in 2017, with the economic losses exceeding 300 billion dollars. A major contributor to economic loss and threat to public safety is damage, destruction, and failure of civil structures in the strong-wind dominated disasters. There is a pressing need for reconstruction and redesign of critical civil structures to better cope with high winds to mitigate the loss of lives and properties. This paper takes a biomimetic perspective to link problem areas with potential solutions for future bio-inspired technology development, by identifying the most vulnerable aspects of civil structures in strong winds on one side and wind-resilient examples of biological systems on the other side. Of particular interest are plants that thrive in high winds, as they have likely adapted to manage the harsh environment under pressure of natural selection. Specific biological examples include the Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantean Britton & Rose), reed grass, and shape reconfiguration of leaves. A review of problem areas, abstracted principles, and exemplary biological role models shall inform and guide towards new designs of wind-resilient civil structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines racial/ethnic disparities of dental service utilization for foreign-born and U.S.-born dentate residents aged 50 years and older. Generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM) were used to perform longitudinal analyses of five-wave data of dental service utilization from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We used stratified analyses for the foreign-born and U.S.-born and assessed the nonlinear trend in rates of dental service utilization for different racial/ethnic groups. Findings indicate that Whites had higher rates of service utilization than Blacks and Hispanics regardless of birthplace. For all groups, the rates of service utilization decreased around age 80, and the rates of decline for Whites were slower than others. The U.S.-born showed the trend of higher rates of service utilization than the foreign-born for all racial/ethnic groups. These findings suggest the importance of developing culturally competent programs to meet the dental needs of the increasingly diverse populations in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The projected increase in the population of older adults in the United States entails a pressing need to examine risk and protective factors associated with cognitive function. This study aims to examine the association between neighborhood social cohesion and cognitive function among older Chinese adults in the United States. Method: Using the first epidemiological survey of older Chinese Americans and applying ordinary least squares and quantile regressions, this study examines the association between neighborhood social cohesion and various domains of cognitive function. Results: Results show that neighborhood social cohesion is independently associated with most domains of cognitive function (i.e. global cognition score, and its components such as the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination and executive function and episodic memory measures). Conclusion: This study represents one of a few initial efforts that examined the association between neighborhood social cohesion and cognitive function for Chinese older adults in the United States. Our findings suggest that socially cohesive neighborhoods can provide enriched environments where active lifestyles can be encouraged, and cognitive skills and abilities can be stimulated, practiced, and preserved for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to examine the association between oral health and the decline in functional status among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Method: Generalized estimation equation (GEE) Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used to analyze the longitudinal panel data (2008-2014) from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,243). Oral health was evaluated using self-rated oral health, poor mouth condition, and tooth loss. Decline in functional status was assessed by disabilities in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Results: Respondents with poor oral health were more likely to experience decline in ADLs/IADLs. Adjusting for sociodemographics and comorbidities attenuated the effects of oral health. Discussion: Findings suggest that oral health might be one of the important predictors of functioning decline in late life, after adjusting sociodemographics and comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the many impacts of COVID-19, the pandemic led to improved air quality conditions in the countries under quarantine due to the shutdown of industries, drastically reduced traffic, and lockdowns. Meanwhile, the western United States, particularly the coastal areas from Washington to California, received much less precipitation than normal during early 2020. Is it possible that this reduction in precipitation was driven by the reduced aerosols due to the coronavirus? Here we show that the reduction in aerosols resulted in higher temperatures (up to ∼0.5 °C) and generally lower snow amounts but cannot explain the observed low precipitation amounts over this region. In addition to an assessment of the effects of the coronavirus-related reduction in aerosols on precipitation across the western United States, our findings also provide basic information on the potential impacts different mitigation efforts aimed at reducing anthropogenic aerosols would have on the regional climate. • We focus on the reduced precipitation across the western US during early 2020. • The reduced aerosols due to COVID-19 cannot explain these low precipitation values. • Lower aerosol concentrations led to warmer temperatures (up to ∼0.5 °C). • Lower aerosol concentrations led to lower amounts of solid precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine variations in life satisfaction by education, gender, and race/ethnicity over a period of eight years among middle-aged and older Americans. Methods Mixed-effects models were used to analyze five waves (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014) of longitudinal data from 16,163 participants born 1890–1953 in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Results Life satisfaction was higher in older adults, and the Great Recession had great impact on life satisfaction. Crossover interactions were found by gender, education, and race/ethnicity. Higher education was associated with higher life satisfaction for both genders, with stronger effects for females. Hispanics had the higher level of life satisfaction than non-Hispanic Whites and African Americans. Discussion Longitudinal evidence revealed disparities in life satisfaction. The racial/ethnic differences in the impact of education suggest that the economic and health returns of education vary by social group. Researchers should continue to examine reasons for these disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unseasonal winter heavy rainfall and flooding that occurred during December 2015–January 2016 had large socio-economic impacts for the central United States. Here we examine the climatic conditions that led to the observed extreme precipitation, and compare and contrast them with the 1982/1983 and 2011/2012 winters. The large precipitation amounts associated with the 1982/1983 and 2015/2016 winter flooding were linked to the strongly positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), with large moisture transported from the Gulf of Mexico. The anomalous upper-level trough in the 1982- and 2015- Decembers over the western United States was also favorable for strong precipitation by leading the cold front over the central United States. In contrast, the extremely positive NAO in December 2011 did not lead to heavy rainfall and flooding because the Azores High center shifted too far westward (like a blocking high) preventing moisture from moving towards the central and southeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the stress process paradigm and data from the first national epidemiological survey of Asian Americans, we investigate whether social support from family and friends buffers the stress of discrimination to protect psychological well-being. Results suggest that perceived emotional support from family for a serious problem buffers the stress of high levels of everyday discrimination, controlling for sociodemographics, acculturation, and community factors. Contrary to our expectations, perceived emotional support from family about worries and received social support from regularly talking on the phone and getting together with family are not statistically significant stress buffers. Moreover, perceived and received social support from friends do not buffer the stress of any level of discrimination. Overall, our study has broader implications for research on the influence of social relationships on mental health and advances our knowledge of the social psychological process of coping with discrimination in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Studies have shown that the micronutrients, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se) are associated with the HPV-associated cervical cancer, yet between dietary Zn/Cu/Se intake and high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection remain unclear. We obtained publicly available data in the present cross-sectional study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) performed between 2011 and 2016. Dietary Zn, Cu, and Se intakes were assessed from two 24-h diet recalls. A total of 4628 female with the age of 18–59 years were included in this secondary analysis. Comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of Zn intake, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for hrHPV infection was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54–0.98). The aOR upon comparison of the quartile three with the lowest quartile of Cu intake was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.50–0.90). Whereas no significant association was found between intakes of Se and hrHPV infection in multivariate analysis. Moreover, compared with those below the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), hrHPV infection risk was significantly decreased among women who met the RDA for Cu (aOR: 0.74; 95% CI = 0.60–0.92), but not for Zn and Se. In conclusion, high dietary Zn and moderate copper intakes were independently and negatively associated with hrHPV infection in addition to Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study, this work examines if and how perceived everyday discrimination is associated with psychological distress among Asian Americans and whether this association varies by important structural factors as education and place of education. Findings reveal that perception of discrimination is associated with increased levels of psychological distress. Most importantly, education moderates the discrimination-distress association such that the detrimental effect of discrimination is stronger for Asian Americans with college or more levels of education than for Asian Americans with less than college levels of education. Place of education further conditions the moderating effect of education: The foreign-educated Asian Americans with higher levels of education are affected most negatively by discrimination compared to others. This study highlights (1) the significant joint role of education and place of education in conditioning the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress, and (2) unique features of education in improving our understanding of Asian Americans' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the estimation of insurers' cost-efficiency in a longitudinal context. The current practice ignores the tails of the cost distribution, where the most and least efficient insurers belong to. To address this issue, we propose a copula regression model to estimate insurers' cost frontier. Both time-invariant and time-varying efficiency are adapted to this framework and various temporal patterns are considered. In our method, flexible distributions are allowed for the marginals, and the subject heterogeneity is accommodated through an association matrix. Specifically, when fitting to the insurance data, we perform a GB2 regression on insurers total cost and employ a t-copula to capture their intertemporal dependencies. In doing so, we provide a nonlinear formulation of the stochastic panel frontier and the parameters are easily estimated by likelihood-based method. Based on a translog cost function, the X-efficiency is estimated for US property-casualty insurers. An economic analysis provides evidences of economies of scale and the consistency between the cost-efficiency and other performance measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To profile hospitals by survival rates of colorectal cancer patients in multiple periods after initial treatment. California Cancer Registry data from 50,544 patients receiving primary surgery with curative intent for stage I-III colorectal cancer in 1994-1998, supplemented with hospital discharge abstracts. We estimated a single Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify associations of survival to 30 days, 30 days to 1 year, and 1-5 years by hospital, adjusted for patient age, sex, race, stage, tumor site, and comorbidities. We compared two profiling methods for 30-day survival and four longer-term profiling methods by the fractions of hospitals with demonstrably superior survival profiles and of hospital pairs whose relative standings could be established confidently. Interperiod correlation coefficients of the random effects are (95 percent credible interval 0.27, 0.85), (0.20, 0.76), and (0.19, 0.82). The three-period model ranks 5.4 percent of pairwise comparisons by 30-day survival with at least 95 percent confidence, versus 3.3 percent of pairs using a single-period model, and 15-20 percent by weighted multiperiod methods. The quality of care for colorectal cancer provided by a hospital system is somewhat consistent across the immediate postoperative and long-term follow-up periods. Combining mortality profiles across longer periods may improve the statistical reliability of outcome comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies in technology acceptance have explicitly addressed the acceptance of replacement technologies, technologies that replace legacy ones that have been in use. This article explores this issue through the theoretical lens of mental models. We contend that accepting replacement technologies entails both mental model maintenance and mental model building: mental model maintenance enables users to apply their knowledge of the legacy technologies, and mental model building helps users acquire new knowledge and reform their understanding to use replacement technologies. Both processes affect user perceptions about replacement technologies, which in turn affect user intentions to use them. In addition, this study explores how perceived compatibility between replacement and legacy technologies affects both mental model processes. A research model was developed and empirically tested with survey data. The results in general support our arguments. Based on the findings, we offer a few suggestions that can promote user acceptance of replacement technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Focusing on Asian Americans, this study examines how self-rated physical and mental health depends on the layered social connections (including 4 types: family cohesion, relative support, friend support, and neighborhood cohesion), socioeconomic status, and immigration-related factors (including nativity, length of residence in the U.S., and proficiency of the English language). It draws on the 2002–2003 National Latino and Asian American Study, a nationally representative household survey of Latino and Asian Americans. Findings of this study include: (1) there are significant differences in self-rated physical health among Asian Americans of different national origin, but their self-rated physical health differences diminish after indicators of socioeconomic status and immigration-related factors are considered; (2) four types of social connections are all related to the self-rated physical and mental health of Asian Americans, but the patterns of the associations as well as the mechanisms linking the associations vary; and (3) family cohesion has independent and direct effects on both self-rated physical and mental health over and above controls and mediators, whereas the effects of other social connection measures are partially mediated by socioeconomic status and immigration-related factors. In sum, this study indicates the significant effects of social connections, socioeconomic status, and immigration-related factors on the self-rated physical and mental health of Asian Americans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Changes in the translational speed of tropical cyclones (e.g., sluggish tropical cyclones) are associated with extreme precipitation and flash flooding. However, it is still unclear regarding the spatial and temporal variability of extreme tropical cyclone translation events in the North Atlantic and underlying large-scale drivers. This work finds that the frequencies of extreme fast- and slow-translation events of Atlantic tropical cyclones exhibited a significant rising trend during 1980–2019. The extreme fast-translation events of Atlantic tropical cyclones are primarily located in the northern part of the North Atlantic, while the extreme slow-translation events are located more equatorward. There is a significant rising trend in the frequency of extreme slow-translation events over ocean with no trend over land. However, there is a significant rising trend in the frequency of extreme fast-translation events over ocean and over land. The extreme slow-translation events are associated with a strong high-pressure system in the continental United States (U.S.). By contrast, the extreme fast-translation events are related to a low-pressure system across most of the continental U.S. that leads to westerly steering flow that enhances tropical cyclone movement. This study suggests that it might be useful to separate tropical cyclone events into fast-moving and slow-moving groups when examining the translational speed of North Atlantic tropical cyclones, instead of examining regional or global mean translational speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have examined the profitability of European index options arbitrage. This paper adds to the literature by investigating the arbitrage profitability of American index options - the Nikkei 225 index futures options traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX). Using the real-time bid-ask prices, we find evidence of profitable arbitrage opportunities, while the frequency of observations violating no-arbitrage bounds and the magnitude of arbitrage profits decrease with the level of transaction costs. Our results have implications for the analysis of American options market efficiency. Failure to use bid-ask prices may lead to biased conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web searchers signal their geographic intent by using place-names in search queries. They also indicate their flexibility about geographic specificity by reformulating their queries. By examining this data we can learn to understand web searcher flexibility with respect to geographic intent. We examine aggregated data of queries with locations, and locations identified from IP addresses, to identify overall distance preferences, as well as distance preferences by search topic. We also examine query rewriting: both deliberate query rewriting, conducted in web search sessions, and automated query rewriting, with manual relevance judgments of geo-modified queries. We find geo-specification in 12.7% of user query rewrites in search sessions, and show the breakdown into sub-classes such as same-city, same-state, same-country and different-country. We also measure the dependence between US-state-name and distance-of-modified-location-from-original-location, finding that Vermont web searchers modify their locations greater distances than California web searchers. We find that automatically-modified queries are perceived as much more relevant when the geographic component is unchanged. We look at the relationship between the non-location part of a query and the distance from the user. We see that people search for child day-care near their locations and maps far from where they are located. We also give distance profiles for the top topics which cooccur with place-names in queries, which could be used to set document priors based on document proximity and query topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green buildings have gained increasing momentum during the past decade, evidenced by an uptick in green building construction worldwide. To facilitate green building development, it is crucial to understand the current geographical distribution of green buildings, thereby identifying emerging markets and opportunities for future growth. However, very few studies investigated the spatial characteristics of the green building market and the factors influencing the distribution of green buildings. By examining the national green building market in the United States, we studied the spatial distribution patterns and significant influencing factors of the county-level US green building markets. Cluster mapping and hot spots of the green building markets were identified through spatial autocorrelation analysis. A spatial regression model with high performance (R2 of 0.83) was developed to identify the significant influencing factors. We found a statistically significant clustering phenomenon of county-level US green building markets. The spatial error model reveals that three factors, namely, the number of housing units, gross domestic product, and the local green building company index, significantly influence the number of green buildings at the county level. We also found that the county-level green building market is influenced by these factors of not only the host county, but also the neighboring counties. Our findings provide a useful reference for stakeholders' decision-making process concerning local green building market development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Negative effects of anxiety about aging on individual health for older adults have been taken into consideration. • Resilience not only relates to individual health, but also buffers the negative health consequences of anxiety about aging. • A comparison of Chinese older adults in US and China is conducted to examine cultural differences in the focal relationships. A growing body of literature found that anxiety about aging is related to health and well-being of older adults. However, very few studies have been conducted on Chinese older adults residing in different countries and examined the role of resilience. Using the Pearlin's Stress Process Model, this study aims to fill in this gap by examining the relationship between anxiety about aging as the stressor and health status among Chinese older adults living in Honolulu, the United States (N = 292) and Wuhan, China (N = 532). The survey data were collected through June 2017 to September 2018, using snowball and convenience sampling strategy. The moderating role of resilience on the focal relationship is also explored. Results showed that for both samples, the negative relationship between anxiety about aging and self-rated health was significantly moderated by resilience (18 % and 13 %, respectively), implying the stress-buffering role of resilience. Although both mean levels of resilience and anxiety about aging were lower for the Honolulu sample, the moderating effect appeared to be stronger, implying that older adults in the Honolulu sample might rely more on psychological resources such as resilience in coping with stressors, compared with their counterparts in Wuhan. However, the moderating effect of resilience did not work for the association between anxiety about aging and number of chronic conditions for both samples. Our findings suggest that future research needs to take into account both social and psychological resources when examining anxiety about aging and health status among Chinese older adults residing in different cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is currently known about the effect of smoking on osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between smoking and OA in the United States (US) general population. Cross-sectional study. Level of evidence, 3. 40,201 eligible participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018 were included and divided into OA and non-arthritis groups. Participants demographics and characteristics were compared between the two groups. Then the participants were divided into non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers based on their smoking status, also demographics and characteristics among the three groups were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between smoking and OA. The current and former smoking rate in the OA group (53.0%) was significantly higher than that in the non-arthritis group (42.5%; p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis including body mass index (BMI), age, sex, race, education level, hypertension, diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease showed that smoking was an association for OA. This large national study highlights a positive association between smoking and OA prevalence in the general US population. It is necessary to further study the relationship between smoking and OA in order to determine the specific mechanism of smoking on OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze variation in medical care use attributable to Medicare's decentralized claims adjudication process as exemplified in home hemodialysis (HHD) therapy.Data Sources/study Setting: Secondary data analysis using 2009-2012 paid Medicare claims for HHD and in-center hemodialysis (IHD).Study Design: We compared variation across Medicare administrative contractors (MACs) in predicted paid treatments per standardized patient-month for HHD and IHD patients. We used ordinary least-squares regression to determine whether higher paid HHD treatment counts expanded HHD programs' presence among dialysis facilities.Data Collection: We identified HHD and IHD treatments using procedure, revenue center, and claim condition codes on type 72x claims.Principal Findings: MACs varied persistently in predicted HHD treatments per patient-month, ranging from 14.3 to 21.9 treatments versus 10.9 to 12.4 IHD treatments. The presence of facilities' HHD programs was uncorrelated with average HHD payment counts.Conclusions: Medicare's claims adjudication process promotes variation in medical care use, as we observe among HHD patients. MACs' discretionary decision making, while potentially facilitating innovation, may admit inefficiency in care practice as well as inequitable access to health care services. Regulators should weigh the benefits of flexibility in local coverage decisions against those of national standards for medical necessity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the contribution of North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) to flooding and heavy rainfall across the continental United States. Analyses highlight the spatial variability in these hazards, their temporal changes in terms of frequency and magnitude, and their connection to large-scale climate, in particular to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We use long-term stream and rain gage measurements, and our analyses are based on annual maxima (AMs) and peaks-over-threshold (POTs). TCs contribute to ∼20–30% of AMs and POTs over Florida and coastal areas of the eastern United States, and the contribution decreases as we move inland. We do not detect statistically significant trends in the magnitude or frequency of TC floods. Regarding the role of climate, NAO and ENSO do not play a large role in controlling the frequency and magnitude of TC flooding. The connection between heavy rainfall and TCs is comparable to what observed in terms of flooding. Unlike flooding, NAO plays a significant role in TC-related extreme rainfall along the U.S. East Coast, while ENSO is most strongly linked to the TC precipitation in Texas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterans may be especially susceptible to increased alcohol consumption following the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to evaluate trends in alcohol use among US Veterans prior to, during, and following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. All US Veterans utilizing Veterans Affairs health care facilities in the United States from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2023 with ≥1 AUDIT-C score were categorized into 1) No alcohol use (AUDIT-C = 0), 2) Low-risk alcohol use (AUDIT-C 1-2 for women, 1-3 for men), and 3) High-risk alcohol use (AUDIT-C ≥ 3 for women, ≥ 4 for men). Trends in the proportion of Veterans reporting high-risk alcohol use, stratified by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and urbanicity were evaluated. Among a cohort of 2.15 to 2.60 million Veterans, 15.5% reported high-risk alcohol use during March 2018-February 2019, which decreased to 14.6% during the first year of the pandemic, increased to 15.2% in the second year, and then decreased to 14.9% from March 2022-February 2023. Among non-Hispanic whites, African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics, the proportion of women reporting high-risk alcohol use surpassed that of men during the onset of the pandemic and beyond. The greatest proportion of high-risk alcohol use was observed among young Veterans ages 18-39 years (17%-27%), which was consistent across all race/ethnic groups. High-risk alcohol use among US Veterans has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic onset, and in the third year following pandemic onset, 15% of Veterans overall and over 20% of young Veterans ages 18-39 years reported high-risk alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to arsenic (As) has been associated with a number of diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and neurological disorders. To explore the possible underlying epigenetic mechanisms, a nested case-control study was conducted within the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study by randomly selecting 46 non-smoker and non-diabetic White participants with low (N=23) and high (N=23) As exposure based on toenail total As measures at examination year 2. We conducted methylomic profiling of white blood cell (WBC) DNA collected at examination year 15 using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, and performed association tests using multiple linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, and estimated WBC proportions. We observed 22 CpG sites with methylation levels associated with high As exposure at a nominal significance level of 10−4. However, the statistical significance disappeared after correction for multiple testing. Some genes annotated by these 22 CpG sites are known to be involved in As-associated diseases. Replication in larger samples of individuals with low levels of As exposure will be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the trends in blood pressure (BP), and the prevalence, awareness, management, and control of hypertension in U.S. adults (≥20 years of age) from 1999 to 2010, and to assess the efficacy of current clinical measures in diagnosing and adequately treating hypertensive patients. Background: Hypertension is a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Recent data indicate a decreasing trend in hypertension prevalence, along with improvements in hypertension awareness, management, and control. Methods: The study used regression models to assess the trends in hypertension prevalence, awareness, management, and control from 1999 to 2010 among 28,995 male and female adults with BP measurements from a nationally representative sample of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES] 1999 to 2010), with special attention given to 5,764 participants in NHANES 2009 to 2010. Results: In 2009 to 2010, the prevalence of hypertension was 30.5% among men and 28.5% among women. The hypertension awareness rate was 69.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 62.0% to 77.4%) among men and 80.7% (95% CI: 74.5% to 86.8%) among women. The hypertension control rate was 40.3% (95% CI: 33.7% to 46.9%) for men and 56.3% (95% CI: 49.2% to 63.3%) for women. From 1999 to 2010, the prevalence of hypertension remained stable. Although hypertension awareness, management, and control improved, the overall rates remained poor (74.0% for awareness, 71.6% for management, 46.5% for control, and 64.4% for control in management); worse still, no improvement was shown from 2007 to 2010. Conclusions: From 1999 to 2010, prevalence of hypertension remained stable. Hypertension awareness, management, and control were improved, but remained poor; nevertheless, there has been no improvement since 2007. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A compact planar microstrip ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) with notched band has been proposed and implemented in this letter for the use in UWB wireless communication applications set by Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Three coupled lines and quarter-wave short-circuited shunt stubs are used to realize a high selectivity filtering characteristic. By employing embedding open stubs, the narrow notched band was introduced to reject the undesired wireless local-area network (WLAN) radio signals. The bandwidth of the notched filter can be controlled by adjusting the width or length of the slot. The proposed component has been designed, simulated, and fabricated for verification. Simulation results are confirmed via experiment, showing good wideband filtering performance with notched band. The measured insertion loss is less than 1.2 dB, the return loss is more than 18 dB, and the variation of group delay is lessthan 0.4 ns throughout the passband except for the notched band. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 280–283, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24934 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We used a U.S. model of health care costs to examine the cost effectiveness of enoxaparin compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) as adjunctive therapy for fibrinolysis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: The ExTRACT–TIMI 25 (Enoxaparin and Thrombolysis Reperfusion for Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 25) study, a large, randomized, multinational trial, demonstrated a reduction in death or nonfatal myocardial infarction when enoxaparin was used instead of UFH as adjunctive therapy for fibrinolysis in patients with STEMI. Methods: We used patient-level clinical outcomes and resource use from the ExTRACT–TIMI 25 trial and estimates of life expectancy gains as a result of the prevention of the clinical events on the basis of the Framingham Heart Study. Results: Index hospitalization costs trended lower by $126 in the enoxaparin group (95% confidence interval [CI]: −$295 to $49). Thirty-day costs trended higher by $102 for enoxaparin (95% CI: $108 to $314). Patients receiving enoxaparin gained an average of 0.12 life-years relative to patients given UFH. Estimated total lifetime costs were $1,207 higher in the enoxaparin group (95% CI: $491 to $1,923). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of enoxaparin compared with UFH was $5,700 per life-year gained, with 99.9% of bootstrap-derived estimates <$50,000 per life-year gained. Using a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, there is a 90% probability that enoxaparin is cost effective for lifetime, provided that the willingness-to-pay value exceeds $50,000. Conclusions: Based on a U.S. model of health care economics, the strategy of using enoxaparin instead of UFH as adjunctive therapy for fibrinolysis in patients with STEMI is cost effective according to commonly used benchmarks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The United States experienced three surges of COVID-19 community infection since the World Health Organization declared the pandemic on March 11, 2020. The prevalence of psychological distress among U.S. adults increased from 11 % in 2019 to 35.9 % in April 2020 when New York City become the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. Analyzing 21 waves of the Household Pulse Survey data collected between April 2020 and December 2020, this study aimed to examine the distress level in the 15 most populated metropolitan areas in the U.S. Our study found that, as the pandemic swept from East to South and soared in the West, 39.9%–52.3 % U.S. adults living in these 15 metropolitan areas reported symptoms of psychological distress. The highest distress levels were found within the Western areas including Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (52.3 % in July 2020, 95 % CI: 44.9%–59.6 %) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (49.9 % in December 2020, 95 % CI: 44.5%–55.4 %). The lowest distress level was observed in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ranging from 29.1 % in May 2020 to 39.9 % in November 2020. COVID-19 and its complex ecology of social and economic stressors have engaged high levels of sustained psychological distress. Our findings will support the efforts of local, state and national leadership to plan interventions by addressing not only the medical, but also the economic and social conditions associated with the pandemic. • In 2020, the prevalence of psychological distress tripled compared to that of 2019. • The national pattern of distress followed the trend of COVID-19 in waves 1 and 2. • The prevalence of distress stabled even the COVID-19 cases surged in wave 3. • Distress level of Riverside, LA, and Miami metro areas was above the national level. • Distress level of the Washington metro area was substantially below the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has been a popular alternative medicine in the United States for several decades. Its therapeutic effects on pain have been validated by both basic and clinical researches, and it is currently emerging as a unique non-pharmaceutical choice for pain against opioid crisis. However, the full spectrum of acupuncture indications remains unexplored. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 419 acupuncturists nation-wide to investigate the top 10 and top 99 acupuncture indications in private clinics in the United States. We found the top 10 indications to be: lower back pain, depression, anxiety, headache, arthritis, allergies, general pain, female infertility, insomnia, neck pain and frozen shoulder. Among the top 99 indications, pain represents the largest category; and mental health management, especially for mood disorders, is in greatest demand. The following popular groups are: immune system dysfunctions, gastrointestinal diseases, gynecology and neurology. In addition, specialty index, commonality index, and the potential to become medical specialties were estimated for each indication. Demographic analysis suggests that China trained acupuncturists tend to have broader indication spectrums, but the top conditions treated are primarily decided by local needs. Also, gender, resident states, age and clinical experience all affect indication distributions. Our data for the first time outlines the profile of acupuncture treatable conditions in the US and is valuable for strategic planning in acupuncture training, healthcare administration and public education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies of racial disparities in total joint replacement, particularly total knee arthroplasty, in the U.S. have predominantly focused on disparities between blacks and whites and were limited to Medicare patients or veterans, populations that are not representative of the entire U.S.Population: We sought to study racial disparities in the utilization of total knee arthroplasty, the use of high-volume hospitals, and total knee arthroplasty outcomes, including mortality and complications, using all-payer databases.Methods: We analyzed data from 8 years and 8 racially diverse states in the State Inpatient Databases (SID). Patient race was categorized according to the SID as white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and mixed race. Both crude and adjusted racial and/or ethnic disparities were evaluated.Results: In comparison with whites (4.65 per 1000 population per year), black (3.90), Hispanic (3.71), Asian (3.89), Native American (4.40), and mixed-race (3.69) populations had lower rates of total knee arthroplasty utilization (p < 0.0001). After risk adjustment, the rate of total knee arthroplasty utilization was significantly lower for blacks (odds ratio [OR] = 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.85 to 0.89]; p < 0.0001), Hispanics (OR = 0.76 [95% CI, 0.68 to 0.83]; p < 0.0001), Asians (OR = 0.83 [95% CI, 0.78 to 0.89]; p < 0.0001), Native Americans (OR = 0.87 [95% CI, 0.81 to 0.93]; p < 0.0001), and mixed race (OR = 0.84 [95% CI, 0.79 to 0.90]; p < 0.0001) compared with the rate for whites. Lower rates of total knee arthroplasty utilization for blacks, Hispanics, and mixed-race groups became worse over the years. Patients from minority groups were less likely to undergo total knee arthroplasty in high-volume hospitals than were whites. Moreover, the rates of mortality were significantly higher for blacks (OR = 1.52 [95% CI, 1.17 to 1.97]; p = 0.0017), Native Americans (OR = 6.52 [95% CI, 4.63 to 9.17]; p < 0.0001), and mixed-race patients (OR = 4.35 [95% CI, 3.24 to 5.84]; p < 0.0001). Blacks (OR = 1.08 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.15]; p = 0.01) and mixed-race patients (OR = 1.17 [95% CI, 1.001 to 1.36]; p = 0.04) had higher rates of complications than whites.Conclusions: Minorities had lower rates of total knee arthroplasty utilization but higher rates of adverse health outcomes associated with the procedure, even after adjusting for patient-related and health-care system-related characteristics. Utilization rates were based on overall population as the proportion of the population with osteoarthritis requiring arthroplasty is unknown. Future studies that consider specific patient-level information with psychosocial and behavioral factors are needed.Level Of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a growing understanding of the prevalence and impact of psychological disorders on COPD. However, the role of these disorders in early readmission is unclear.Methods: We analyzed data from 5% fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with COPD (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code, 491.xx, 492.xx, 493.xx, and 496.xx) between 2001 and 2011 who were hospitalized with a primary discharge diagnosis of COPD or a primary discharge diagnosis of respiratory failure (518.xx and 799.1) with secondary diagnosis of COPD. We hypothesized that such psychological disorders as depression, anxiety, psychosis, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse are independently associated with an increased risk of 30-day readmission in patients hospitalized for COPD.Results: Between 2001 and 2011, 135,498 hospitalizations occurred for COPD in 80,088 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. Of these, 30,218 (22.30%) patients had one or more psychological disorders. In multivariate analyses, odds of 30-day readmission were higher in patients with COPD who had depression (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.29-1.39), anxiety (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.37-1.50), psychosis (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10-1.27), alcohol abuse (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.15-1.47), and drug abuse (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.11-1.50) compared with those who did not have these disorders. These psychological disorders increased amount of variation in 30-day readmission attributed to patient characteristics by 37%.Conclusions: Psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, psychosis, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse are independently associated with higher all-cause 30-day readmission rates for Medicare beneficiaries with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article asserts that the rise of a global middle class in countries such as China and India will not be sustainable if it translates to the demotion of the middle class in the U.S. in 2007. It also includes an analysis of the American middle class' role as the core of the U.S. consumption engine that has brought economic development to the global trade partners of the U.S.