Books published by Nova Science Publishers Inc

Before the ACA, sick people often couldn''t get health insurance due to a pre-existing condition. If they were able to get coverage, they often paid significantly more for it than someone without a pre-existing condition. Today, millions of Americans no longer have to worry about large bills due to annual or lifetime limits on benefits. Yet, there is still a serious affordability problem in the individual market, especially for those who rely on the individual market for coverage but are not eligible for financial assistance and those facing rising deductibles. Chapters 1 discuss ways to stabilize premiums and help individuals obtain affordable insurance through the individual insurance market. Healthcare reform should empower individuals and families to make decisions for themselves based on what fits their needs and their budget. One of the best tools we have to accomplish this goal is consumer-directed health plans that are paired with health savings accounts, or HSAs. These plans offer lower premiums and a higher deductible to encourage better use of healthcare services as examined in chapter 2 IHS provides care to American Indians and Alaska Natives through a system of health care facilities. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provided states with the option to expand their Medicaid programs, and created new coverage options beginning in 2014, including for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Chapter 3 describes (1) trends in health insurance coverage and third-party collections at federally operated and tribally operated facilities from fiscal years 2013 through 2018, and (2) the effects of any changes in coverage and collections on these facilities.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act authorized the Food and Drug Administration to collect user fees from industry to support the approval of new drugs and biologics. The Prescription Drug User Fee Agreement has been a success bringing safe and effective new products to patients in a timely manner as reported in chapter 1. Chapter 2 provides an overview of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), including their operation, enforcement mechanisms, costs, and financing. It also examines the effectiveness of PDMPs and outlines federal grants supporting PDMPs. Finally, it discusses relevant considerations for policymakers including interstate data sharing, interoperability, protection of health information, and the possible link between the crackdown on prescription drug abuse and rise in heroin abuse. Chapter 3 examines federally recommended and other available methods patients may use to dispose of unused prescription opioids, and what is known about patients'' use of these methods. Monitoring prescription drug use patterns at the population level can inform research and clinical practice. These patterns may shift over time in response to changing health needs, updated clinical guidelines, policy changes, and other factors. Chapters 4 and 5 examine statistics pertaining to drug use monitoring. Chapter 6 examines bill (H.R. 5675) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare program to establish drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries.

The main function of the Leydig cells is to synthesize testosterone, but growing evidence supports the idea that Leydig cells are important in regulating the testicular immune environment. As such, Leydig Cells: Structure, Functions and Clinical Aspects discusses Leydig cells serving as immunological sentinels in the testis. Next, the authors explore the commercially available immortalized Leydig cell lines (TM3, R2C, MA-10 and MLTC-1) derived from rat or mouse and the results of studies using these cells. Additionally, the effects of the most commonly used environmental contaminants on Leydig cell function are discussed in the context of the impaired of steroidogenic pathway. The results of several studies are presented which demonstrate that lycopene supplementation improves and maintaines the normal level of testosterone by improving the expression of StAR protein and steroidogenic enzymes in the Leydig cells of polychlorinated biphenyl exposed rats.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Environmental Health Mission Area (EHMA) is providing comprehensive science on sources, movement, and transformation of contaminants and pathogens in watershed and aquifer drinking-water supplies and in built water and wastewater infrastructure in the Greater Chicago Area. The focus of chapter 1 is on assessing point-of-use (tapwater) drinking-water exposure pathways for a broad range of potential environmental contaminants and exploring infrastructure-related factors that could alter or transform chemical constituents or microbial communities in drinking water (such as treatment plant technology, distribution system characteristics, private plumbing components, and point-of-use treatment) Pennsylvania has the second highest number of residential wells of any state in the Nation with approximately 2.4 million residents that depend on groundwater for their domestic water supply. The groundwater used for domestic water supply in Bradford County is obtained primarily from shallow bedrock and from unconsolidated (glacial) deposits that overlie the bedrock. As reported in chapter 2, data for 72 domestic wells were collected and analyzed for a wide range of constituents that could be evaluated in relation to drinking water health standards, geology, land use, and other environmental factors. The occurrence of arsenic and uranium in groundwater at concentrations that exceed drinking-water standards is a concern because of the potential adverse effects on human health. The Connecticut Department of Public Health reported that there are about 322,600 private wells in Connecticut. The State does not require that existing private wells be routinely tested for arsenic, uranium, or other contaminants. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an assessment in 2016 on the distribution of concentrations of arsenic and uranium in groundwater from bedrock in Connecticut. Chapter 3 presents the major findings for arsenic and uranium concentrations from water samples collected from 2013 to 2015 from private wells. The circumstances and response to Flint''s drinking water contamination involved implementation and oversight lapses at the EPA, the state of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the city of Flint. Chapter 4 evaluates additional matters concerning the agency''s management controls when responding to the Flint contamination incident. Federal agencies have identified several billion dollars in existing and future tribal drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs. Chapter 5 examines the extent to which selected federal agencies identified tribes'' drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs and funded tribal water infrastructure projects, including tribes'' most severe sanitation deficiencies.

A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels by Robert Kerr is an 18 volume set that contains the complete history of the origin and progress of navigation, discovery, and commerce, by sea and land. In determining upon an era for the commencement of this work, Kerr was led, from a consideration of the accidental discovery of Iceland by the Norwegians in the ninth century, to adopt that period as the beginning of the series, both because the commencement of modern maritime discovery took place during the reign of a British sovereign, and because we derive the earliest written accounts of any of these discoveries from the pen of that excellent prince. It is true that the first accidental discovery of Iceland appears to have been made in 861, eleven years before the accession of Alfred to the throne; yet, as the actual colonization of that island did not take place till the year 878, the seventh of his glorious reign, we have been induced to distinguish the actual commencement of maritime discovery by the modern European nations as coinciding with his era.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the volunteer organization of the United States Coast Guard. In that role they support the United States Coast Guard in their non-law enforcement and boating safety missions to protect the homeland of the United States. In this timely publication you will explore the brief history of the United States Coast Guard and the origins of the United State Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as their homeland security missions. Through examination of the organization, membership and training requirement of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary you will have an understanding of what it takes to be a member of this patriotic organization and the important role these volunteers play in support of the United States Coast Guard and the homeland security of the nation. Through the United States Coast Guard America''s Waterway Watch program that is run by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, you will learn about the signs of criminal activity and terrorism on or near the nation''s waterways and ports and role of the maritime industry in this effort.

This book compiles original and review advances from a number of different focuses and latest developments in the important field of plant biology/science from around the world. The publication will be a beneficial and valuable resource for many people and groups related to plant growth and development as well as teachers, researchers, commercial growers and advanced students of plant biological science. The proposed publication can be used in some interesting and unusual places such as biofuels, edible vaccine, phytoremediation and cosmetics.