Detecting Discrimination: Analyzing Racial Disparities in Public Contracting

ObjectivesHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures have been increasingly used in economic evaluations for policy guidance. We investigate the impact of 11 self-reported long-standing health conditions on HRQoL using the EQ-5D in a UK sample.MethodsWe used data from 13,955 patients in the South Yorkshire Cohort study collected between 2010 and 2012 containing the EQ-5D, a preference-based measure. Ordinary least squares (OLS), Tobit and two-part regression analyses were undertaken to estimate the impact of 11 long-standing health conditions on HRQoL at the individual level.ResultsThe results varied significantly with the regression models employed. In the OLS and Tobit models, pain had the largest negative impact on HRQoL, followed by depression, osteoarthritis and anxiety/nerves, after controlling for all other conditions and sociodemographic characteristics. The magnitude of coefficients was higher in the Tobit model than in the OLS model. In the two-part model, these four long-standing health conditions were statistically significant, but the magnitude of coefficients decreased significantly compared to that in the OLS and Tobit models and was ranked from pain followed by depression, anxiety/nerves and osteoarthritis.ConclusionsPain, depression, osteoarthritis and anxiety/nerves are associated with the greatest losses of HRQoL in the UK population. The estimates presented in this article should be used to inform economic evaluations when assessing health care interventions, though improvements can be made in terms of diagnostic information and obtaining longitudinal data.

The purpose of this study is twofold, based on the macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis. On the one hand, it is attempted to interpret and analyze the effects of fiscal consolidation in the countries-members of Eurozone while at the same time consumer behavior regarding current economic policy is estimated. On the other hand the research’s focus is on consumer behavior regarding specific categories of consumption. The interpretation of the effects of austerity measures in Greece during the period 2010-2011 is one of a high interest. The question of the research hypothesis is based on two fundamental theories about fiscal policy; the Keynesian and Ricardian theory. According to the first theory, a tax cut or an increase in government spending, results to higher income and higher consumption. Keynesian model is also the base of the theory of twin deficits. A fiscal expansion leads simultaneously to the deterioration of the current account deficit (CA). On the contrary, the proponents of Ricardian Equivalence Theorem claim that the aforementioned economic policies lead to an increase in private savings (precautionary savings). Consumers predict the government’s future fiscal adjustment in order to reduce deficits; thus they do not perceive the reduction of the taxes as additional income.As regard to the macroeconomic analysis, the econometric methodology of fixed-effects estimators and Arrelano-Bond models was investigated and based on country data from 12 Eurozone countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain). According to the results, fiscal adjustment has led to a decline in private consumption. More specifically, empirical research found that a high fiscal consolidation (above 2.5% of structural deficit) leads to a higher drop in private consumption. Especially for Greece, the impact of austerity has led to a higher drop in private consumption. The results of this research support Keynesian theory, confirming additionally the negative relationship between the volatility of government revenues and the growth of individual consumption. Furthermore, unemployment rate is negatively related to growth of individual consumption.As far as microeconomic analysis is concerned, the aim of this thesis is to identify the factors that influence consumers’ behavior regarding to private saving, consumers’ response to the first package of austerity measures in Greece and the level of consumption for food, heating and entertainment. In order to achieve this goal, we used a sample of 800 consumers from Athens and Crete. A questionnaire was distributed during the period August-November 2011. Previous studies on consumer’s behavior were used for the preparation of the questionnaire and the methodological approach. Moreover, Ordinary Least Square (OLS), Logit models, Ordered-Logit models, Tobit models and Quantile regressions were used.Generally, a high drop in private consumption is revealed. This result is supported on a macro and micro-economic level. Simultaneously, austerity measures have led consumers to save less. The study of consumer behavior is a valuable basis for the adoption and implementation of an effective policy in order to stimulate economic recovery.

Censored outcome data are commonly encountered in criminology. Criminologists sometimes use the tobit model to address these censored data. While tobit models make more realistic demands of censored outcome data than ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, they require the researcher to make strong distributional assumptions. When these assumptions are not met, as is often the case in criminological data, tobit models yield biased and inconsistent estimates. We seek to demonstrate this substantial bias in simulation analyses and present easily applied alternative methods. The tobit model and semiparametric alternatives for censored outcome data are applied with simulated data under varying conditions. These simulations are followed with an empirical example using sentencing data. The bias from tobit can be corrected through application of semiparametric alternatives. Criminologists should begin their analyses of censored outcome data with the least restrictive of the available models (CLAD) before progressing to more efficient, but potentially biased, estimators.

BackgroundThe Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) is the most commonly used scale for assessing quality of life in patients with breast cancer. The lack of preference-based measures limits the cost-utility of breast cancer in China. The goal of this study was to explore whether a mapping function can be established from the FACT-B to the EQ-5D-5 L when the EQ-5D health-utility index is not available.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of adults with breast cancer was conducted in China. All patients included in the study completed the EQ-5D-5 L and the disease-specific FACT-B questionnaire, and demographic and clinical data were also collected. The Chinese tariff value was used to calculate the EQ-5D-5 L utility scores. Five models were evaluated using three different modelling approaches: the ordinary least squares (OLS) model, the Tobit model and the two-part model (TPM). Total scores, domain scores, squared terms and interaction terms were introduced into models. The goodness of fit, signs of the estimated coefficients, and normality of prediction errors of the model were also assessed. The normality of the prediction error is determined by calculating the root mean squared error (RMSE), the mean absolute deviation (MAD), and the mean absolute error (MAE). Akaike information criteria (AIC) and Bayes information criteria (BIC) were also used to assess models and predictive performances. The OLS model was followed by simple linear equating to avoid regression to the mean.ResultsThe performance of the models was improved after the introduction of the squared terms and the interaction terms. The OLS model, including the squared terms and the interaction terms, performed best for mapping the EQ-5D-5 L. The explanatory power of the OLS model was 70.0%. The AIC and BIC of this model were the smallest (AIC = -705.106, BIC = -643.601). The RMSE, MAD and MAE of the OLS model, Tobit model and TPM were similar. The MAE values of the 5-fold cross-validation of the multiple models in this study were 0.07155~0.08509; meanwhile, the MAE of the TPM was the smallest, followed by that of the OLS model. The OLS regression proved to be the most accurate for the mean, and linearly equated scores were much closer to observed scores.ConclusionsThis study establishes a mapping algorithm based on the Chinese population to estimate the EQ-5D-5 L index of the FACT-B and confirms that OLS models have higher explanatory power and that TPMs have lower prediction error. Given the accuracy of the mean prediction and the simplicity of the model, we recommend using the OLS model. The algorithm can be used to calculate EQ-5D scores when EQ-5D data are not directly collected in a study.

In project management, project plan is made based on the prediction results of the project. Predicting the number of defects is one of important prediction. To enhance the prediction accuracy of the number of defects, many studies proposed various prediction models. The model is built using a dataset collected in past projects, and the number of defects is predicted using the model and the data of the current project. Datasets sometimes have many data points where the dependent variable, i.e., the number of defects is zero. When a multiple linear regression model is made using the dataset, the model may not be built properly. To build proper model, we use the Tobit model as software defect prediction. The model assumes that the range of a dependent variable is limited, e.g., the minimum value of the variable is zero, and the model is built based on the assumption. In the experiment, we applied the regression model based on ordinary least squares and the Tobit model to fault prediction. Also, we evaluated models applied log-transformation. In the experiment, the Tobit model applied log-transformation was the highest accuracy in the models. Median BRE of the model was 14% improvement, and Pred25 was 7% improvement, compared with other models.

This method considers the problem of predicting already censored values of the dependent variable in the Tobit model. Assuming normality, it suggests a prediction formula that is equivalent to the classical correction using the inverse Mills ratio (IMR). The main contribution is providing an alternative derivation linking Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) approaches, providing additional practical implementation insights. An extensive experimental investigation and robustness checks demonstrate the method's performance.

In Indonesian tobacco, excise tax policy never decrease every year. As a result, the number of tobacco industries sharply declines, however the prevalence of tobacco smoking steadily increase since 1995. Therefore, this research aims to estimate the increase of tobacco excise tax and its impact on cigarette consumption, government revenue, and the possibility of cigarette sold illegally. There are two analytical model, Logit and Tobit. Logit model is used to estimate the impact of cigarette price towards the probability of household member to smoke or not, and Tobit model is used to estimate the impact of price change towards the amount of cigarette consumption. Tobit model is employed since it include non-smoker household, covering 40% of total household. The estimation is based on SUSENAS published on March 2017. The result suggests increasing cigarette prices does not lessen people desire to be smokers; indicating that most Indonesian consider cigarette as basic needs. Consequently, the increase of tobacco excise tax leads to the growth of government revenue and number of illegally sold cigarette. Therefore, it conclude that large-scale industries benefit the most, when this result is linked to the decrease of tobacco industries data. Meanwhile, Indonesian people may get the benefit, if the government revenue is appropriately allocated to stimulate economic and development.

PurposeGeneric preferenced-based measures, such as EQ-5D-3L, that are used to estimate quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for economic evaluation are not always available in clinical trials. Predicting EQ-5D-3L values from the commonly used Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) would allow estimation of QALYs from such trials. The aim was to provide mapping functions to estimate EQ-5D-3L from PHQ-9 and GAD-7 to facilitate economic evaluation.MethodsData was drawn from four trials of patients with symptoms of depression testing collaborative care or computerised cognitive behavioural therapy. Patients completed PHQ-9, GAD-7, and EQ-5D-3L at different timepoints. Mapping was undertaken using adjusted limited dependent variable mixture models (ALDVMM), ordinary least squares (OLS), and Tobit models based on PHQ-9, GAD-7 scores or questions, and age to predict EQ-5D-3L utilities. Models were selected based on mean error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), model goodness of fit, and visual inspection of the predictions.ResultsThere were 5583 and 3942 observations for EQ-5D-3L combined with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 respectively. ALDVMM models had low ME ( ≤|0.0018|) and MAE ranging from 0.189 to 0.192, while RMSE was from 0.251 to 0.254 and had better predictions than OLS and Tobit models. ALDVMM models with four components based on PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores are recommended for estimating EQ-5D-3L utilities.ConclusionsRecommended mapping functions provide users with an approach to estimate EQ-5D-3L utilities for economic evaluation using PHQ-9, GAD-7, or both scores where they have been used together.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in arterial stiffness and intima media thickness among adolescents

Unravelling the Relationship Between Food Security, Financial Management and Household Food Waste: The Case of Lebanon During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Evidence suggests that some developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), are caused by errors in brain plasticity. Given the important role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and neurotrophins (NTs) in neuroplasticity, amniotic fluid samples for 331 ASD cases and 698 frequency-matched controls were analyzed for levels of MMP-9, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, NT-4 and transforming growth factor-β utilizing a Danish historic birth cohort and Danish nationwide health registers. Laboratory measurements were performed using an in-house multiplex sandwich immunoassay Luminex xMAP method, and measurements were analyzed using tobit and logistic regression. Results showed elevated levels of MMP-9 in ASD cases compared with controls (crude and adjusted tobit regression P-values: 0.01 and 0.06). Our results highlight the importance of exploring the biologic impact of MMP-9 and potential therapeutic roles of its inhibitors in ASD and may indicate that neuroplastic impairments in ASD may present during pregnancy.

ObjectivesWe assess the cigarette price that would motivate smokers to quit. We also explore the factors associated with the required price, including exposures to non-tax tobacco control policies.MethodsCross-sectional analysis was...

Results of our study suggest that contemporary changes in beverage patterns, particularly the increase in soda pop consumption, have the potential to increase dental caries rates in children. Consumption of regular soda pop, regular powdered beverages, and, to a lesser extent, 100% juice was associated with increased caries risk. Milk had a neutral association with caries. Associations between different types of sugared beverages and caries experience were not equivalent, which could be attributable to the different sugar compositions of the beverages or different roles in the diet. Our data support contemporary dietary guidelines for children: consume 2 or more servings of dairy foods daily, limit intake of 100% juice to 4 to 6 oz daily, and restrict other sugared beverages to occasional use. Pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners, and dietitians are in a position to support pediatric dentists in providing preventive guidance to parents of young children.

Exposure to coal ash and depression in children aged 6–14 years old

ObjectiveAs the ageing process in China further accelerates and the average life expectancy increases, chronic disease prevalence and multimorbidity rates are constantly rising, especially among elderly individuals. However, few previous studies have explored the impacts of chronic diseases and multimorbidity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate this association among community-dwelling elderly individuals in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in communities in three cities (Suzhou, Qingdao, and Guangzhou). The basic characteristics, chronic diseases and HRQoL of participants were collected, and HRQoL was measured by the EuroQol 5-Dimensions 3-Level version (EQ-5D-3L). Logistic regression, Tobit regression and generalized linear models were used to assess the impacts of chronic diseases and multimorbidity on HRQoL.ResultsApproximately 83.2 percent of the 1,218 respondents had chronic conditions, with 30 percent having multimorbidity. After controlling for sociodemographic and health behaviour factors, patients with stroke were more likely to report problems in all five dimensions of the EQ-5D and had a lower EQ-5D utility index (UI) (b = -0.342) than patients with other chronic conditions. Patients with chronic pulmonary obstruction had a lower EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) (b = -11.169) than patients with other chronic conditions. Furthermore, patients with multimorbidity had worse HRQoL (P < 0.001).ConclusionsBoth chronic condition probability and multimorbidity rates were high among Chinese community-dwelling elderly individuals. Different disease types had varying degrees of impact on HRQoL, and patients with multimorbidity had worse HRQoL. This study proposes that the government enhance the quality of life of community-dwelling elderly individuals with multimorbidity by establishing long-term care insurance and expanding comprehensive community-based home health care services.