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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends screening populations at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB), including persons born in countries with high TB rates. This approach assumes that TB risk for expatriates living in the United States is representative of TB risk in their countries of birth. We compared US TB rates by country of birth with corresponding country rates by calculating incidence rate ratios (IRRs) (World Health Organization rate/US rate). The median IRR was 5.4. The median IRR was 0.5 for persons who received a TB diagnosis <1 year after US entry, 4.9 at 1 to <10 years, and 10.0 at >10 years. Our analysis suggests that World Health Organization TB rates are not representative of TB risk among expatriates in the United States and that TB testing prioritization in the United States might better be based on US rates by country of birth and years in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Firearm-related death rates and years of potential life lost (YPLL) vary widely between population subgroups and states. However, changes or inflections in temporal trends within subgroups and states are not fully documented. We assessed temporal patterns and inflections in the rates of firearm deaths and %YPLL due to firearms for overall and by sex, age, race/ethnicity, intent, and states in the United States between 1999 and 2016. Methods: We extracted age-adjusted firearm mortality and YPLL rates per 100,000, and %YPLL from 1999 to 2016 by using the WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database. We used Joinpoint Regression to assess temporal trends, the inflection points, and annual percentage change (APC) from 1999 to 2016. Results: National firearm mortality rates were 10.3 and 11.8 per 100,000 in 1999 and 2016, with two distinct segments; a plateau until 2014 followed by an increase of APC = 7.2% (95% CI 3.1, 11.4). YPLL rates were from 304.7 and 338.2 in 1999 and 2016 with a steady APC increase in %YPLL of 0.65% (95% CI 0.43, 0.87) from 1999 to an inflection point in 2014, followed by a larger APC in %YPLL of 5.1% (95% CI 0.1, 10.4). The upward trend in firearm mortality and YPLL rates starting in 2014 was observed in subgroups of male, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanic whites and for firearm assaults. The inflection points for firearm mortality and YPLL rates also varied across states. Conclusions: Within the United States, firearm mortality rates and YPLL remained constant between 1999 and 2014 and has been increasing subsequently. There was, however, an increase in firearm mortality rates in several subgroups and individual states earlier than 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatments for pulmonary embolism are numerous and often complex. Current data on surgical thrombectomy are important but are not readily available. We studied the National Inpatient Sample to evaluate trends in the performance rates and outcomes of surgical thrombectomy in the United States from 2003 through 2014. We think that our findings have meaningful application to the triage and risk stratification of patients who have hemodynamically significant pulmonary embolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many health care facilities have developed electronic reporting systems for identifying and reporting adverse events (AEs), so that measures can be taken to improve patient safety. Although several studies have examined AEs in surgical settings, there has not previously been a systematic assessment of the variations in adverse event rates among different types of surgery, nor an identification of the particular types of AEs that are most common within each surgical category. Additionally, this study will identify the AE severity level associated with each of the AE category types. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted at three Midwestern hospitals that are part of a large integrated healthcare system. Data from 2006 through 2009 were analyzed to determine the rates of reported adverse events (per 1,000 hospitalizations involving a surgical procedure) for 96 categories of surgery as classified according to the ICD-9-CM procedural coding system. Univariate and bivariate summary statistics were compiled for AEs by type, severity, and patient age. Results During the four-year study period, there was a total of 82,784 distinct hospitalizations involving at least one surgical procedure at these three hospitals. At least one adverse event was reported at 5,368 (6.5%) of those hospitalizations. The mean rate of AEs among all surgical procedure groups was 82.8 AEs per 1,000 hospitalizations. Adverse event rates varied widely among surgical categories with a high of 556.7 AEs per 1,000 hospitalizations for operations on the heart and pericardium. The most common type of adverse event involved care management, followed by medication events and events related to invasive procedures. Conclusions Detecting variations in AEs among surgical categories can be useful for surgeons and for hospital quality assurance personnel. Documenting the specific AE incidence rates among the most common types of surgical categories, and determining AE severity and age distributions within surgical categories will enable officials to better identify specific patient safety needs and develop appropriately targeted interventions for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the association between a tobacco control index (TCI) for 1992-93 for each US state and lung and bronchus cancer mortality and incidence rates by state for younger adults, as the best indicator of the effects of recent progress in tobacco control on lung cancer control. Design: For all 51 US areas (50 states and the District of Columbia), correlation coefficients between the state's TCI and lung cancer rate were analysed. Multiple linear regression models (MLR) predicting cancer rates included sociodemographic variables by state (from the 2000 census). In addition, the 51 areas also were divided into tertiles, from highest to lowest TCI, and means for lung cancer rates were compared. Subjects and settings: All areas with available data on lung cancer mortality and incidence rates. Main outcome measures: Age-standardised mortality rates were available for all 51 areas (50 states and the District of Columbia) for 1989-93, 1994-98 and 1999- 2003 for lung cancer at age 15-44 years. Lung cancer incidence rates for 1999-2002 were available for age 20- 44 years for 44 states. Results: The correlation between the TCI and lung cancer mortality rate increased in magnitude from 1989-93 to 1999-2003, and the association was statistically significant in MLR models for 1994-98 and 1999-2003 (but not 1989- 93). The TCI was statistically significantly correlated with the lung cancer incidence rate in 1999-2002 by state, and the association persisted in an MLR model. Conclusions: Within the limitations of ecologic analyses, findings are consistent with effects of state tobacco control efforts on reducing state-wide lung cancer rates in younger adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the deregulation of wholesale electricity prices in the United States. Purpose of the deregulation; Implications for the avoidance of the upward price hike of electricity supplies; Feasibility of decentralizing the demand side of the electricity market.

Presents charts on finance and banking in the United States, as of May 2001. Terms of lending at commercial banks; Data on assets and liabilities of United States branches and agencies of foreign banks.

The article analyzes the behavior of oil pipeline rates in the U.S. between 1978 and 1994. Oil pipelines are the last major segment of the domestic transportation industry to remain under extensive economic regulation by the federal government. For much of the past twenty years, regulatory reform of oil pipeline transport was extensively debated. Reform was anticipated, but uncertainty about its character remained. Moreover, the actions of the industry's regulator, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), served to increase the uncertainty. FERC assumed jurisdiction over the industry from the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1977; and between that time and 1992 when Congress finally mandated guidelines for reform, FERC proposed three very different sets of rate-making standards. By the end of 1994 FERC had complied with the congressional mandate and issued a series of rule-making orders which made important changes to standards and procedures for regulating oil pipeline rates.

Describes the analysis of Medicaid dental reimbursements and eligibility records from July 1995 through June 1996 for children aged 1-5 years in Louisiana. Demographic data collection; Types of services received by the children; Calculation for the average caries-related cost per Medicaid-eligible child; Difference in treatment costs per Medicaid-eligible child residing in fluoridated parishes from those in nonfluoridated.

The wave of electricity market restructuring both within the United States and abroad has brought the issue of horizontal market power to the forefront of energy policy. Traditionally, estimation and prediction of market power has relied heavily on concentration measures. In this paper, we discuss the weaknesses of concentration measures as a viable measure of market power in the electricity industry, and we propose an alternative method based on market simulations that take advantage of existing plant level data. We discuss results from previous studies the authors have performed, and present new results that allow for the detection of threshold demand levels where market power is likely to be a problem. In addition, we analyze the impact of that recent divestitures in the California electricity market will have on estimated market power. We close with a discussion of the policy implications of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addresses the issues surrounding the pricing of local phone services to long distance rivals in the United States. Issue underlying law and economic theory; Formula for compensation; Timing of the compensation inquiry; Stranded costs in local telephony; Conclusion.

Discusses why the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) needs to start using or modifying current precedents in ratemaking. Ratemaking method of FERC; Principles of the FERC Transmission Pricing Policy Statement; Why FERC should apply incentives only to transmission companies; Conclusion.

Discusses the effect of pragmatic transportation costs on the purchase lot order decision. Anomalous weight breaks in less-than-truckload (LTL) pricing; Demographic patterns of anomalous weight breaks; Implications for logistics management.

Discusses the operation of capital market in the United States during the late nineteenth century. Argument on the persistence of a substantial regional differentials in farm and home mortgage rates throughout the postbellum period; Reason for favoring a more substantial market imperfections in the analysis of farm mortgage interest rates; Relationship between land values and mortgage interest rates.

Describes an error-correction model of the long-term bond rate in the United States. Long-run economic determinant of the bond rate; Monetary policy actions; Behavior of the bond rate from 1971 to 1993; Unpredictability of the rates.

Describes the foreign exchange operations of the US Treasury and System for the period from October through December 1997. Average intraday trading range of dollars against yen; Development of currency market in Asia; Recovery of the dollar against the German mark; Where did US monetary authorities invested their foreign currency balances.

Describes the quarterly report of the Treasury and System foreign exchange operations from January through March, 1997. Data on market volatility; Movement of dollar in market volatility; Influence of Japanese capital repatriations.

Introduces a model-based measure of the equilibrium United States federal funds rate and examines the indicator properties of the spread between observed and equilibrium rates. Rationale for using term-structure spreads as monetary policy indicators; Differences between the funds-rate spread and term spread; Structure of the model; Proposed computational approach.

Estimates a monetary policy reaction function in United States that explains the behavior of the federal funds rate during the period of 1979 to 1992. Discussion of the determinants of the federal funds rate; Results of the short-run funds rate equation; Predictive ability of the federal funds-rate equation; Concluding observations of the study.

Examines the impacts of increased entrance fees on the National Park Service. Arguments for and against entrance fee increases; Policy formulation authorizing entrance fee increase; Impact of increased revenue generation; National Forest Grazing Fees (1906-1926); National Rangeland Grazing Fees (1934-1946); Congressional intervention in agency behavior.

Discusses two cases arising out of the attempt of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under the Packers and Stockyards Act to regulate the rates of marketing agencies in the Kansas City Stockyards. Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse and remand the judgment of the lower court to deny injunction; Statutory requirement of a hearing; Administrative duties of a Secretary and an assistant secretary.

This article analyses the power of a public utility to fix its rates and charges in the absence of regulatory legislation. According to the author, during the last half-century, courts have become so accustomed to legislative exercise of the power to regulate rates and charges of public utilities that when they are confronted with a legal failure of the legislative plan, because of unconstitutionality or other reason, there is some danger that fundamentals will be forgotten. An examination of the position at common law as that term is here used is deemed important, for in the absence of applicable legislative regulation it is submitted that the common law applies.

Discusses the establishment of the legislative power to restrict rates charged for services of public utilities in the U.S. Result of a constitutional guaranty of a fair return upon a value based upon present earnings; Variation in the market quotations of railroad stocks from day to day; Fluctuation of actual value.

Discusses whether the electric restructuring in Rhode Island is working. Failure of the Energy Council of Rhode Island (TEC-RI) to set the rates for industrial users at the same level of rates available to customers; Inability of industrials to get the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission to set the rates at the standard offer rate; Comments from TEC-RI.

Analyzes the miscalculations on golf fees in Chicago, Illinois area. Questions concerning the miscalculations; Hints and solutions to the miscalculations. INSETS: It cost more, of course;Table on golf course fee.

The article focuses on the anticipated increase of illiteracy rates in the U.S. The Educational Testing Service Inc. (ETS) foresees the deteriorating literacy of American workers to continue through 2030. It adds that the illiteracy rate of Hispanics, the biggest working population of high school undergraduates, will increase from 14% to 20% in 2030. It likewise states that the complex problems of illiteracy has resulted from the confluence of various economic and demographic factors. Meanwhile, Hispanics and African Americans achieved their highest number of high school graduates in 1969.