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Objective We analyzed application and match rates for pain medicine training in the United States and hypothesized that there would be (1) greater growth in the number of training positions than applicants, (2) higher match rates among US allopathic graduates relative to non-US allopathic graduates, and (3) greater number of unfilled training positions over time. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study of all applicants for pain medicine training in the United States. Method National Resident Matching Program data were obtained over a ten-year period (2014-2023). Match rates and applicant-to-position ratios were calculated and compared over time with linear regression. Comparisons were made with chi-square tests. Results Growth in the number of annual training positions (261-377, 44% increase) exceeded growth in the number of interested applicants (398-415, 4% increase) (P  < .001). Annual applicant-to-training position ratios decreased (1.5-1.1, P  < .001). The representation of US allopathic graduates among incoming pain medicine fellows decreased over the study period (73%-58%, P  < .001) while US osteopathic graduates increased (9%-28%, P  < .001). Match rates increased for both US allopathic graduates (71%-91%, P  < .001) and non-US allopathic graduates (51%-81%, P  < .001). From 2018 to 2023, US allopathic graduates (79%) had higher match rates than US osteopathic graduates (60%, P  < .001) and international medical graduates (57%, P  < .001). More available annual training positions went unfilled over the study period (2%-5%, P  = .006). Conclusions Stagnant annual applicant volume and increasing number of available training positions have led to increasing match rates for pain medicine fellowship training. Fewer US allopathic graduates are pursuing pain medicine training. The increasing percentage of unfilled training positions warrants ongoing surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen reconstructions of tree genera in North America since glaciation are available, but species distributions predicted for paleoclimate based on tree inventories may inform knowledge gaps. Here I examined the distributions of 25 species or species groups from 20 000 years ago (ka) to 5 ka to give potential paleoecological ranges of boreal and temperate tree species. I also assessed the effects of correlated climate variables on species distribution models for current and past climate, which were modeled with the non‐linear random forests classifier. Climate change alone was enough to create unique, species‐specific paths that did not run directly north. At 20 ka, black spruce (Picea mariana) occurred as far north as the ice sheet and most boreal species generally may have extended as far south as 32°N, or the northern southeastern United States. Temperate eastern species may have extended as far north as 39°N in low‐elevation locations and temperate eastern species displayed both continuous and clustered distributions across the southeastern United States. Rate of movement was 5.5 km per century between 20 and 14 ka, 13.3 km per century between 14 and 10 ka, and 3.25 km per century between 10 and 5 ka. Species retreated southward between 7 and 5 ka. Regarding correlation, models with all variables had greater accuracy than models with the two most important variables, which had greater accuracy than models with two variables of intermediate importance, demonstrating both reduced accuracy with omission of relevant variables and isolation of important variables that improve accuracy in models with correlated climate variables. Models from different climates identified the same two most important variables and ranked the remaining variables similarly, revealing robustness in the models over time. Distribution models agreed with pollen reconstructions regarding timing and rate of change, while generating detailed species‐specific information about movement trajectories and velocities, latitudinal extents, and distribution continuities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the buffered autoregressive model to the buffered vector error-correction model (VECM). Least squares estimation and a reduced-rank estimation are discussed, and the consistency of the estimators on the delay parameter and threshold parameters is derived. We also propose a supWald test for the presence of buffer-type threshold effect. Under the null hypothesis of no threshold, the supWald test statistic converges to a function of Gaussian process. A bootstrap method is proposed to obtain the p-value for the supWald test. We investigate the effectiveness of our methods by simulation studies. We apply our model to study the monthly Federal bond rates of United States. We find the evidences of buffering regimes and the asymmetric error-correction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent studies have suggested that Kaposi sarcoma (KS) rates might be increasing in some racial/ethnic groups, age groups, and US regions. We estimated recent US trends in KS incidence among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). Methods Incident KS patients aged 20–59 years were obtained from 36 cancer registries and assumed to be living with HIV. The number of PLWH was obtained from national HIV surveillance data from 2008 to 2016. Age-standardized KS rates and annual percent changes (APCs) in rates were estimated by age, sex, race/ethnicity, state, and region. Results Between 2008 and 2016, the age-adjusted KS rate among PLWH was 116/100 000. Rates were higher among males, in younger age groups, and among white PLWH. Washington, Maine, and California had the highest KS rates among PLWH. KS rates among PLWH decreased significantly (average APC = −3.2% per year, P  < .001) from 136/100 000 to 97/100 000 between 2008 and 2016. There were no statistically significant increases in KS rates in any age, sex, or racial/ethnic group or in any geographic region or state. However, there were nondecreasing trends in some states and in younger age groups, primarily among black PLWH. Conclusions KS incidence rates among PLWH have decreased nationally between 2008 and 2016. Though there were no statistically significant increases in KS rates in any demographic or geographic group, nondecreasing/stagnant KS trends in some states and among younger and black PLWH highlight the need for early diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of internet information on COVID-19 vaccination rates across U.S. states. Does greater information on the internet about COVID-19 vaccine access increase the number of vaccines administered? Does greater information about COVID-19 vaccine reliability facilitate vaccine administration? To gauge the COVID-19 related information on the world-wide-web we created two cross-state datasets using Google search. One search dealt with searching for information on vaccination availability and scheduling in each state, while the other search involved information on vaccine reliability and its side effects. The estimation results showed that greater availability of the relevant information on the internet increased vaccine administration rates, and this was true for both types of internet searches, resulting in an affirmative answer to the questions above. In contrast, the diffusion of internet access and the digital divide across states did not have a significant impact on vaccination rates. Whereas supply chain issues have garnered most of the attention in terms of the limitations of quickly vaccinating the public, our results show that internet information might be acting as a (largely unheralded) enabler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States has ceded to the rest of the world managing the dollar's value. For a generation, the U.S. authorities have all but withdrawn from the foreign exchange market. Yet the dollar does not float freely as a result of this hands-off U.S. policy. Instead, other authorities manage the dollar exchange rates, albeit separately. These authorities make heavier purchases of dollars in its downswings than in the upswings, damping its decline. Thus, the Fed finds that accommodative monetary policy transmits less to U.S. manufacturing and traded services, and relies on still lower rates to stimulate interest-sensitive housing and auto demand. The current U.S. dollar policy of naming and shaming surplus-running countries accumulating foreign exchange reserves does not seem to work. Three alternatives warrant consideration. First, the U.S. could reinstate its withholding tax on interest income received by non-residents and even add policy criteria to bilateral tax treaties. Second, the U.S. authorities could retaliate by selling dollars against the currencies of dollar-buying jurisdictions running chronic surpluses. However, either the withholding tax or such retaliatory foreign exchange intervention pose huge practical challenges. Third, the U.S. authorities could re-enter the foreign exchange market, making large-scale asset purchases in foreign currency when the dollar rises sharply against its average value. Such a policy would encourage private investment in U.S. traded goods and service production. The challenge is to set ex ante foreign exchange intervention rules to guide market participants' expectations, even positioning them to do the authorities' work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the consistency under inversion of jump diffusion processes in the foreign exchange market. That is, if the EUR/USD exchange rate follows a given type of dynamics, under which conditions will USD/EUR follow the same type of dynamics? After giving a numerical description of this property, we establish a suitable local volatility structure ensuring consistency. We subsequently introduce jumps and analyze both constant and random jump size. While in the first scenario consistency is automatically satisfied, the second case is more involved. A fairly general class of admissible densities for the jump size in the domestic measure is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are found as fatalities at most wind energy facilities around the world, creating a challenge for wind developers to predict risk to bats in an area before building a new facility. Bat echolocation activity surveys are the standard method for assessing risk, but their effectiveness has not been demonstrated. Sites with relatively low pre-construction bat activity rates are predicted to yield relatively low post-construction fatality rates (i.e., low risk), and vice-versa. To test this hypothesis, we ran simple linear regressions on bat activity rates and fatality rates from 49 paired pre- and post-construction studies across the United States and Canada. Bat activity rates did not predict bat fatality rates at wind energy facilities by detector height, by call frequency category of bats, or by season (P > 0.10). One possible explanation for the lack of a predictive relationship is that bat activity patterns may change between the pre- and post-construction periods if bats are attracted to turbines. Indeed, we found support that bat activity rates increased across call frequency category and season at four wind facilities that had measured bat activity rates before (x̄ = 1.89 bat passes/detector-night) and after turbines were built (x̄ = 4.84 bat passes/detector-night). However, simple linear regressions of post-construction activity rates and fatality rates from 25 studies found no correlation between activity and fatality rates collected concurrently by detector height (ground, raised, nacelle) or by call frequency category (P > 0.05). We conclude that the current pre-construction survey methods of collecting bat activity rates at proposed wind energy facilities do not provide reliable information on how many bat fatalities there may be once the facility is built, and advocate exploring other methods for assessing risk to bats prior to wind development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current U.S. orthopaedic residency application process is becoming increasingly impersonal in the wake of an increasing number of applications. Through an analysis of orthopaedic surgery residency application statistics, we have highlighted the effect that the number of orthopaedic applications has on match rate, and we have suggested methods for a more personalized application process.Methods: Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for United States orthopaedic residency applicants from 2008 to 2018 were collected. These data included the average number of applications submitted per applicant, the average number of applications received per program, the total number of residency positions offered in the U.S., the total number of U.S. applicants, and the total number of U.S. applicants who matched to a U.S. orthopaedic surgery residency program. U.S. applicant match rates and the average number of applications received per residency position offered were calculated. Linear regression models were used to determine the rate at which these variables changed over time.Results: The average number of applications submitted by an applicant increased from 46.5 in 2008 to 74.9 in 2018. The average number of applications received per residency position offered increased from 54.1 in 2008 to 85.7 in 2018. The number of U.S. applicants was 740 in 2008 and 849 in 2018. The number of U.S. orthopaedic residency programs only slightly increased from 160 in 2008 to 171 in 2018. The match rate for U.S. medical school applicants has remained stable from 2008 to 2018 at a mean of 76.9% and a standard deviation of 2.3%.Conclusions: The match rate has remained stable from 2008 to 2018 despite an increase in the number of applications per position. This discrepancy suggests that increasing the number of submitted applications may not correlate with applicant success. We address this discrepancy and suggest methods that can potentially allow for a more targeted orthopaedic application experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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]

Gray seals were historically distributed along the northeastern coast of the United States, but bounties and lack of protection reduced numbers and they were rarely observed for most of the 20th century. Once protections were enacted, the population started to rebound. Here, we describe the recolonization and recovery of gray seals in the United States, focusing on the re-establishment of pupping sites. We fit individual generalized linear models to various time series (1988–2019) to estimate rates of increase in observed pup counts at four of the more data-rich sites. Annual rate of increase at individual sites ranged from −0.2% (95% CI : −2.3–1.9%) to 26.3% (95% CI : 21.6–31.4%). The increase in sites and number of pups born in the United States is driven by population growth and immigration from Canadian colonies and is part of a larger recovery of the Northwest Atlantic population. Wildlife protection, a healthy source population, habitat availability, and species traits that allow for dispersal and high productivity were all important factors in this recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the nexus between Asian and the US short-term financing rates and compare them between pre- and post-Asian financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach: The short-term financing rate is used in the estimation by employing two-stage cointegration test. Findings: The result of the empirical study shows several outcomes; the short-term financing rates among the selected Asian countries are not highly correlated during pre-crisis period, but the rates become strongly associated during the post-crisis period. The US financing rate has significant influence on the Asian rate during both periods. Asian financing rates are not integrated by the influence of the USA, rather regional cooperation and financial initiatives lead the regional financing rate to be integrated. Originality/value: The empirical finding of the study offers significant policy implications for strengthening regional economic bonding and developing the financial systems. [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]

Purpose: Despite advances in biologic therapy, approximately 10–15% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients require surgery. We aimed to (1) examine the rates of emergent colectomy and elective ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) over time among UC patients in the USA and (2) investigate disparities in surgery rates by patient demographics. Methods: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2000 to 2014 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were admissions with a primary UC ICD-9-CM diagnosis code and age > 18. Emergent cases were defined as those admitted through the emergency room with an outcome ICD-9-CM code for subtotal colectomy. Elective IPAA cases were defined with an outcome ICD-9-CM code for IPAA, used as a surrogate measure of colectomy. Patient and hospital-level demographics were analyzed. Temporal trends of colectomy were analyzed utilizing joinpoint-regression analysis with calculation of annual percentage change (APC). Results: A total of 470,708 admissions were included over the 14-year period. Emergent colectomy rate significantly declined (APC − 7.35%, p = 0.0002), while the rate of elective IPAA remained stable (APC − 0.21%, p = 0.8). Emergent colectomy rates declined similarly across all demographics, though not as marked among patients age 50 and older and Medicare patients. Elective IPAA rates were significantly lower among blacks and patients with public insurance. Conclusions: There has been a significant decline in emergent UC colectomy rates in the USA; however, the overall need for surgery appears unchanged given stable IPAA rates. This suggests a limited impact on overall surgery rates with a shift from emergent to elective procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifies and discusses some of the outcomes of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in its three years of implementation in the United States. Purpose of the Telecom Act; Impact on cable television rates and in-state long distance-rates; Effect on schools and libraries.

Purpose: We investigated the association between county-level trends in opioid prescribing rates, a proxy for opioid misuse, and rates of reported gonorrhea (GC) among males in the United States.Methods: We used linear mixed-model regression analyses to evaluate the association between county-level trends in opioid prescribing rates and rates of reported GC among males during 2010-2015.Results: There was a positive association between trends in county-level opioid prescribing rates and rates of GC among males (β = 0.068, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.030, 0.105) during 2010-2015. However, the magnitude of this association decreased significantly over time in counties where opioid prescribing rates decreased (β = -0.018, 95% CI = -0.030, -0.006) and remained stable (β = -0.020, 95% CI = -0.038, -0.002) but was unchanged in counties where opioid prescribing rates increased (β = -0.029, 95% CI = -0.058, 0.001).Conclusions: During 2010-2015, we found a positive association between increases in county-level opioid prescribing rates, a proxy for opioid misuse, and rates of reported GC among males especially in counties most affected by the opioid crisis. Integrating sexual health with opioid misuse interventions might be beneficial in addressing the GC burden in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testosterone supplementation has been widely used in those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for hypogonadism, and wasting. But with effective antiretroviral therapy and increasing recognition of atherosclerotic disease and adults infected with HIV, the risks of inappropriate testosterone use in HIV-infected patients are far better recognized than previously. Testosterone use has expanded among U.S. males, but few studies have examined prescribing in those infected with HIV. In a national cohort of males with at least one outpatient prescription in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), we examined 9475 HIV-infected males, including 2484 who had received testosterone and a randomly selected 6991 who had not. For comparison, we identified 1,387,241 uninfected males (189,369 had received testosterone and a randomly selected 1,197,872 had not). We determined rates of new and prevalent testosterone use, and also examined the adequacy of the diagnostic evaluation that had preceded testosterone initiation among our HIV-infected and uninfected testosterone groups. Our main results were as follows. HIV-infected men had higher rates of initiation (0.8% vs. 0.4% in FY09; p < 0.001) and prevalence of testosterone use (2.2% vs. 0.8% in FY08; p < 0.001) compared to the uninfected men across the entire period. Trends of prescribing for both groups followed a similar pattern, rising from FY08, reaching a peak in FY13, and then dipping in FY 14. Only 1.1% of HIV-infected patients had a fully guideline-concordant workup before starting testosterone therapy, compared to 3.5% of uninfected patients (p < 0.001). In conclusion, testosterone use among HIV-infected patients in the VHA system rose to a peak in FY13 and has decreased somewhat since. Only a small minority of HIV-infected patients who receive testosterone therapy from VHA have undergone an appropriate workup before starting therapy, suggesting an opportunity for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A capital budgeting procedure is applied in developing a real price index for life insurance over three decades. Individual life policies of three types are analyzed. The analysis reveals that although the cost of whole life insurance, measured in nominal values, has decreased over the past thirty years, when properly measured in present value or constant dollar terms, the cost has risen substantially. Term life insurance has been characterized by decreasing costs in both nominal and real terms. The amounts of the cost variations attributable to improving survival rates, changing policy terms, varying discount rates and differing tax status are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article re-examines the conclusion of previous studies that price dispersion is extreme in the American whole life insurance market. We take an axiomatic approach to the problem of measuring "price" dispersion in the market for the multiparameter whole life contracts, studying the distribution across contract offers of a price index which is uniquely determined by two conditions. In contrast to the accepted wisdom, we find that the derived measure of price dispersion is only 3.6% and that much of this dispersion can be accounted for by measurement error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare military suicide rates with civilian suicide rates, adjusting for age and sex differences that exist between the two populations. The number of active component (AC) service members whose manner of death was certified as suicide was determined for specific age and sex groups for each year from 2005 to 2014. Indirect standardization was then used to determine the expected number of suicides for each age/sex group, based on the U.S. suicide rates for the corresponding age/sex groups obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. Although suicide rates among U.S. active duty Service Members were found to increase between 2005 and 2009, overall age- and sex-adjusted AC suicide rates were lower than or comparable to civilian rates every year of the study period. When suicide numbers were analyzed within specific age and sex categories, there was a significant association between higher suicide incidence and AC military status for 17-29-yr-old females in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and a significant association between lower suicide incidence and AC military status for 25-49 -yr-old males in some years. [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]

By 1970, regulation of railroads under the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 had resulted in an industry that was in financial ruin and unresponsive to changes in the marketplace. Subsequent legislation, which culminated in the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, was intended to resurrect the industry and did so. A Congressionally-mandated National Academy of Sciences study examined trends in the industry and the current regulatory regime and offered a number of recommendations, arguing that modernization can yield substantial benefits by modernizing what has become an outdated and ineffective system. This paper summaries some of the main findings of that study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that at least $1 trillion will be required over the next 25 years to maintain the current level of water service in the United States. A pay-as-you-go approach is expected to allow water utilities to pay for these expenses using water price increases. These price increases encourage water conservation, decreasing overall water demand. Financial forecasts that fail to consider this effect will therefore overstate anticipated system revenues and potentially lead to realized shortfalls. Therefore, understanding changes in water demand is crucial for accurate price forecasting. This article combines simple relationships that are relevant to water supply services to develop an implicit model of time-dependent system revenues, water prices, and water demand. The implicit model provides a theoretical basis for water rate-setting to generate financially sustainable water utility revenues. Results suggest that a comprehensive physical infrastructure model is critical for precision and accuracy in model forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To inform public health efforts to prevent epilepsy-related deaths, we used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER; Wonder.cdc.gov ) to examine any-listed epilepsy deaths for the period 2005–2014 by age groups (≤ 24, 25–44, 45–64, 65–84, ≥ 85 years), sex, and race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native). Epilepsy deaths were defined by the International Classification of Diseases , Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes G40.0–G40.9. The total number of deaths per year with epilepsy as any listed cause ranged from 1760 in 2005 to 2962 in 2014. Epilepsy was listed as the underlying cause of death for about 54% of all deaths with any mention of epilepsy in 2005 and for 43% of such deaths in 2014. Age-adjusted epilepsy mortality rates (as any-listed cause of death) per 100,000 significantly increased from 0.58 in 2005 to 0.85 in 2014 (47% increase). In 2014, deaths among the non-Hispanic Black population (1.42 deaths per 100,000) were higher than among non-Hispanic White (0.86 deaths per 100,000) and Hispanic populations (0.70 deaths per 100,000). Males had a higher mortality rate than females (1.01 per 100,000 versus 0.74 per 100,000 in 2014), and those aged 85 years or older had the highest mortality among age groups. Results highlight the need for heightened action to prevent and monitor epilepsy-associated mortality. [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. Where population subgroups have distinctly 'young' or 'old' adult age distributions, their observed overall rates of political participation may differ for this demographic reason. Age standardization can quantify the proportion of an observed difference in registration rates attributable to age structural differences between two populations, thereby facilitating comparison of political participation across subgroups. Methods. I illustrate the derivation and interpretation of an age-standardized registration rate. This rate weights a set of observed age-specific registration rates with a standard age distribution to create a hypothetical total (all-ages) registration rate, to afford an undistorted comparison of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white voter registration. Results. For seven communities studied here, differences in adult age structure account for as much as one-third of the observed difference in the voter registration rates of adult Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in a community. The effect of age structure is most apparent in those communities registering substantial influxes of young-adult Hispanics. Conclusion. Age standardization is a useful technique to control for differences in population structure that may obscure a comparison of political participation across subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have now been over three decades of experience with rate-making freedom for all modes of intercity freight transport in the United States. Most evidence suggests that regulatory change has been beneficial for the rail industry and its users. Despite evidence of positive impacts of regulatory reform of U.S. freight transport, there is limited evidence related to long-term pricing trends by commodity in the deregulated era. Moreover, U.S. shipper groups have called for increased regulation of U.S. railroads, citing increased rates and profits, and monopoly pricing to 'captive shippers.' This study estimates U.S. railroad revenue-marginal cost ratios for seven different commodities between 1986 and 2008. Interestingly, we find no significant increase in revenue-cost margins for commodities thought to be 'most captive' (coal and chemicals), while finding large increases for some commodities thought to be 'non-captive.' These results may provide insight into the impacts of regulatory reform in other countries, where there are similar concerns of equitable pricing and financial viability. They suggest that a move toward a more market-based pricing system can enhance railroad viability without harming those with fewer transport options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to describe trends in the diagnostic rates for anxiety disorders (ADs) types in the U.S. military from 2000 to 2009. Data for the numbers of diagnosed cases for the first documented occurrence of ADs during ambulatory visits while serving in the military were obtained from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database for all active duty service members and examined across branch of service and by gender. Results indicate that Anxiety Not Otherwise Specified (ANOS) was the most frequently diagnosed AD type in each of the 10 years between 2000 and 2009, with an average rate of 0.8 per 100 service members for first service occurrence, followed by PTSD at a rate of 0.5 out of every 100. Starting in 2002, the yearly first occurrence rates of ANOS and PTSD were significantly higher (p <0.001) compared to each proceeding year, with the same pattern present among males and females separately. The majority of first occurrence AD diagnoses were diagnosed in the Army (47% of Anxiety NOS and 60% of PTSD cases) compared to the other service branches (i.e., Navy, Air Force, and Marines). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study on the rates of occupational injury disparities of hotel employees in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) log incidents of five unionized hotels over a three-year period were analyzed to estimate job-related injury in which room cleaning work is concerned. Results show that there were 5.2% injury rate per 100-worker years which led to the conclusion that injuries based on sex and ethnicity were partially due to the nature of the job.

Unlike other areas of the financial services industry, such as trading or settlement, the automation of a corporate action throughout its lifecycle — from announcement, through election, to entitlement and payment — has not yet been realised. The straight-through processing (STP) rates, which indicate the degree of automation, for corporate actions are poor and the management of corporate actions data remains highly manual. The result is that corporate actions are risky and costly — even simply getting hold of good, 'clean' data that is comprehensive is very challenging. Can a roadmap that achieves high STP rates for announcements be built and realised? This paper argues that for the USA — the largest market in the world, covering about 65 per cent of all global corporate action volume alone — the answer is 'yes', and the course has already been set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the results of a sequential cross-sectional analysis to document vertebroplasty rates and costs in the U.S. It shows that nationwide vertebroplasty volumes and inflation-adjusted charges doubled from 2001 to 2005 in this Medicare population. The article further shows that almost all cases involved fluoroscopic guidance and that procedures treating multiple vertebral levels were not uncommon.

The article examines incomplete exchange-rate pass-through into into the prices of imported goods. In the U.S. opinions differ on the matter, with some arguing that that imports reflect exchange-rate fluctuations on a decreasing basis, while others assert any determination depends on whether or not commodities are included. The authors presents a structural approach to the matter, taking into consideration markups, marginal costs, and price rigidities. In their view, nontraded costs are among factors that account for a substantial proportion of incomplete pass-through.

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]

Automobile depreciation rates and dealer markups in the United States and Britain during the 1950s and 1960s provide evidence on the effect of asymmetric information on market structures. Initial depreciation was not exceptional, and trade was not disabled. The risk of asymmetric information was not large, and was largely covered by dealer warranties. Adverse selection kicked in as cars aged: markups increased and fixed selling costs caused dealers to withdraw from trading older cars. Despite their lower quality, British makes depreciated less, probably due to different novelty signals and longer styling cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract--The labor market prospects of young, unskilled men fell dramatically in the 1980s and improved in the 1990s. Crime rates show a reverse pattern: increasing during the 1980s and falling in the 1990s. Because young, unskilled men commit most crime, this paper seeks to establish a causal relationship between the two trends. Previous work on the relationship between labor markets and crime focused mainly on the relationship between the unemployment rate and crime, and found inconclusive results. In contrast, this paper examines the impact of both wages and unemployment on crime, and uses instrumental variables to establish causality. We conclude that both wages and unemployment are significantly related to crime, but that wages played a larger role in the crime trends over the last few decades. These results are robust to the inclusion of deterrence variables, controls for simultaneity, and controlling for individual and family characteristics. [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.

Examines the use of occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room in measuring performance of hotels in the U.S. Calculation of occupancy based on the number of rooms sold by the number of rooms available; Significance of median and modal values of industry performance indicators; Use of data from Smith Travel Research database.

Explores the relationship between newspaper competition and advertising rates in the United States. Markets served by newspapers; Factor that may contribute in the setting of advertising rates; Impact of competition on advertising rates; Comparison between metropolitan and non-metropolitan dailies.

Examines the value of smoking prohibitions in vacation rental properties in North Carolina. Rent differential between smoking and non-smoking properties; Finding that vacationers are willing to pay substantial additional rent for properties that prohibit smoking; Other factors that influence weekly rental rates of vacation rental properties.

Many utilities are offering real-time pricing (RTP) to their large industrial customers. Under RTP, hourly rates change with real-time supply and demand. As compared to fixed rates, RTP shifts price risk from the utility to the customer. With such a change, it is natural to ask if there is an optimal level of advance notice of prices. This paper contains a simulation of real-time rates for industrial customers with and without advance notice of prices. Advance notice is valuable to customers who can increase elasticity of substitution. This value must be weighed against the cost to the electric utility from an increase in demand forecast error. The simulation suggests that day-ahead advance notice increases welfare for reasonable magnitudes of customer elasticity and utility forecast error. (JEL L94) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many credit card issuers charge "fixed rates" that remain the same for three to five years, while the rest charge "variable rates" that are indexed to market rates. The presence of these two distinct rate types forces prices at firms selling an otherwise identical product to move asynchronously; variable rates move one-for-one with the index, while fixed rates stay constant. Empirical and theoretical analysis shows that this pricing structure provides an explanation for the simultaneous (yet seemingly contradictory) existence of high rate-cost margins and aggressive non-price competition for new customers, a phenomenon that existed in the credit card market in the early 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the efforts of the American Physical Society (APS) to provide offerings to library customers in the United States. Development of subscription libraries offering full text-SGML; Collaboration with the US Naval Research Laboratory in the TORPEDO Ultra project; Services offered by APS; Changes made by APS in their library operations and information processing.

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]

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.

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.

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.

Provides information on a study that outlined the strips program for conventional treasuries in the United States. Difficulties in making treasury inflation-protection securities; Explanation on how fungibility will be maintained when the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers is rebased after the year 2000 to another reference period; Discussion on the results of the study; Conclusion.

Exemplifies the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision in El Pas Natural Gas Co., Order Following Technical Conference and on Rebearing about rate negotiations. Provisions of the commission's Alternative Rates Policy Statement negotiated by pipelines with the marketers; Concerns of FERC over the problems of capacity turnback and the need to address the problem of giving pipelines flexibility; Policy of Order 636 by FERC for pipelines.