Energy Choices Revisited : An Examination of the Costs and Benefits of Maine\u27s Energy Policy

https://digitalmaine.com/mainewatch_publications/1003/thumbnail.jp

Shifting Gears : 20 Tools for Reducing Global Warming Pollution from New England\u27s Transportation System

https://digitalmaine.com/nrcm_reports/1003/thumbnail.jp

Epidemiology and risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in children in the post-PCV7 era

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of community-associated methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) has risen dramatically in the U.S., particularly among children. Although <it>Streptococcus pneumoniae </it>colonization has been inversely associated with <it>S. aureus </it>colonization in unvaccinated children, this and other risk factors for <it>S. aureus </it>carriage have not been assessed following widespread use of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). Our objectives were to (1) determine the prevalence of <it>S. aureus </it>and MRSA colonization in young children in the context of widespread use of PCV7; and (2) examine risk factors for <it>S. aureus </it>colonization in the post-PCV7 era, including the absence of vaccine-type <it>S. pneumoniae </it>colonization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Swabs of the anterior nares (<it>S. aureus</it>) were obtained from children enrolled in an ongoing study of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization of healthy children in 8 Massachusetts communities. Children 3 months to <7 years of age seen for well child or sick visits in primary care offices from 11/03–4/04 and 10/06–4/07 were enrolled. <it>S. aureus </it>was identified and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. Epidemiologic risk factors for <it>S. aureus </it>colonization were collected from parent surveys and chart reviews, along with data on pneumococcal colonization. Multivariate mixed model analyses were performed to identify factors associated with <it>S. aureus </it>colonization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 1,968 children, the mean age (SD) was 2.7 (1.8) years, 32% received an antibiotic in the past 2 months, 2% were colonized with PCV7 strains and 24% were colonized with non-PCV7 strains. The prevalence of <it>S. aureus </it>colonization remained stable between 2003–04 and 2006–07 (14.6% vs. 14.1%), while MRSA colonization remained low (0.2% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.09). Although absence of pneumococcal colonization was not significantly associated with <it>S. aureus </it>colonization, age (6–11 mo vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.39 [95% CI 0.24–0.64]; 1–1.99 yrs vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.35 [0.23–0.54]; 2–2.99 yrs vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.45 [0.28–0.73]; 3–3.99 yrs vs. ≥5 yrs, OR 0.53 [0.33–0.86]) and recent antibiotic use were significant predictors in multivariate models.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Massachusetts, <it>S. aureus </it>and MRSA colonization remained stable from 2003–04 to 2006–07 among children <7 years despite widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. <it>S. aureus </it>nasal colonization varies by age and is inversely correlated with recent antibiotic use.</p

Regulating solid waste externalities through tax/fee systems

This dissertation analyzes the use of taxes or fees to regulate the external costs of solid waste. Such costs include the environmental impacts of producing and disposing the materials that become waste, and the monetary costs of collecting and disposing trash. A theoretical model estimates the welfare impacts of imposing externality taxes while varying supply and demand conditions, the size of the external costs, and the error in estimating those costs. The impacts on consumers, producers, government tax revenues, and external costs are shown separately. Two chapters extract empirical information from the literature. First, evidence on the market structure in one relevant industry--plastics--is summarized. Second, studies on price elasticities of demand for final consumers and industry purchasers of materials are reviewed. Next I summarize recent research that estimates the external costs, in dollars per ton, of the materials in solid waste--glass, ferrous metal, aluminum, paper, and plastic. I then combine this information with my own survey data on the prices of consumer products, and the weights of materials contained in those products. Assuming that a tax is set equal to the external costs, this procedure yields the average tax as a percent of price for categories of consumer goods (food, beverages, appliances, etc.). The (tax/price) results are combined with elasticity data to estimate the responses by consumers and industries to imposition of a tax. Such responses include reduced sales of products, less material used per product, conversion from one material to another, and conversion from virgin to recycled materials. Finally, I investigate the impacts of such a tax on households, and ways of mitigating these impacts. The average dollar cost per U.S. household, divided into income quintiles, is estimated. This tax incidence is compared to the incidence of income, sales, and property taxes. I conclude that an externalities tax would significantly affect materials use, principally in those industries where it is a large percentage of costs to consumers and producers. The tax would be regressive, and so equity would require compensating reductions in a tax with similar incidence, such as property taxes

Real world macro

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