Moment inequalities and their application

This paper provides conditions under which the inequality constraints generated by either single agent optimizing behavior, or by the Nash equilibria of multiple agent problems, can be used as a basis for estimation and inference. We also add to the econometric literature on inference in models defined by inequality constraints by providing a new specification test and methods of inference for the boundaries of the model's identified set. Two applications illustrate how the use of inequality constraints can simplify the problem of obtaining estimators from complex behavioral models of substantial applied interest.

Physician incentives introduced by the new Accountable Care Organizations could reduce costs of care by 5 percent

The U.S. spends more on healthcare as a percentage of GDP and on a per capita basis, than any other country in the world, something that aspects of 2010’s Affordable Care Act aim to alleviate. Kate Ho and Ariel Pakes take a close look at the likely effects of Accountable Care Organizations: groups of providers whose payment arrangements give physicians incentives to control costs. They find that through capitation (flat, fixed payments) and the sharing of savings, these new organizations could reduce healthcare costs by between 4.5 and 5 percent without corresponding quality reductions

Is health insurance competition good for consumers?

Less insurer competition can lower hospital prices, but savings may not reach consumers, write Kate Ho and Robin S. Le

Moment inequalities and their application

This paper provides conditions under which the inequality constraints generated by either single agent optimizing behavior, or by the Nash equilibria of multiple agent problems, can be used as a basis for estimation and inference. We also add to the econometric literature on inference in models defined by inequality constraints by providing a new specification test and methods of inference for the boundaries of the model's identified set. Two applications illustrate how the use of inequality constraints can simplify the problem of obtaining estimators from complex behavioral models of substantial applied interest

Practicality in POCUS: Benefits of Ultrasound Training in Medical Education

As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) becomes an integral component of healthcare, both undergraduate and graduate medical POCUS education is urgently necessary in curricula. Despite the apparent need of POCUS curricula, there remains a lingering question: Are there evidence-based benefits to POCUS training in undergraduate and/or graduate medical education settings? This systematic review utilized PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to identify articles of interest that met the inclusion criteria and relevance to undergraduate and/or graduate medical education. Qualitative evaluation of research was conducted to identify common themes for benefits of POCUS and the requirements or characteristics for effective POCUS educational curricula. Results for undergraduate medical education were separated into pre-clinical and clinical education. In pre-clinical POCUS education, POCUS education improves anatomy education and physical examination skills for sonographic assessment of abdominal, reproductive, cardiovascular, and renal structures. Further enhancement can be achieved via simulation devices that are generalized ultrasound simulation mannequins, one defined body region such as the abdomen, or local regions of interest such as the femoral triangle. In clinical undergraduate POCUS education, benefits involved greater performance on knowledge tests and general ultrasound competency in emergency medicine, surgical, family medicine, and physical medicine and rehabilitation clerkships. These studies also found improved comprehension of specific POCUS examinations such as those for ultrasound-guided injections, FAST, eFAST, and RUSH. Further integration of POCUS education into graduate medical education was found to successfully improve ultrasound knowledge and competency in both academic and military internal medicine residencies. One limitation of this study is that this article is a review resulting in no specific intervention being introduced. The resultant hypothesis of this systematic review cannot be tested; rather evidence-based recommendations are restricted to the currently available literature within the searched databases. From this review, it was found that the inclusion of a properly integrated POCUS curriculum can result in greater confidence in ultrasound use, increased knowledge of anatomy and basic sciences for various organ systems, improved ultrasound knowledge and performance in clinical clerkships, and offers improved confidence and knowledge in ultrasound during residency

Post Project Appraisal for Stoney Creek Off-channel Habitat Pond: Hydrological Suitability for Juvenile Salmonids

Habitat restoration is an important process in protecting the iconic salmon in British Columbia. Specific criteria must be met in order to provide a successful salmon habitat. Water quality within the off-channel pond at Stoney Creek was analyzed with data collected from six essential parameters: turbidity, velocity, depth, as well as copper, nitrogen and iron. These were tested over two days under different weather conditions. Turbidity, velocity, iron and nitrates presented preferable conditions while depth could potentially be improved for the salmon’s wellbeing. Copper testing was determined to be inconclusive. We conclude that the Stoney Creek off-channel pond is an appropriate water habitat for juvenile salmonids to rest and develop. Possible future management strategies include increasing the overall depth, continued monitoring by the Stoney Creek Environment Committee, future copper testing with more sensitive equipment after a first flush event, and an increase in public outreach and education

Partial identification in applied research: benefits and challenges

Advances in the study of partial identification allow applied researchers to learn about parameters of interest without making assumptions needed to guarantee point identification. We discuss the roles that assumptions and data play in partial identification analysis, with the goal of providing information to applied researchers that can help them employ these methods in practice. To this end, we present a sample of econometric models that have been used in a variety of recent applications where parameters of interest are partially identified, highlighting common features and themes across these papers. In addition, in order to help illustrate the combined roles of data and assumptions, we present numerical illustrations for a particular application, the joint determination of wages and labor supply. Finally we discuss the benefits and challenges of using partially identifying models in empirical work and point to possible avenues of future research

Outcomes of implementation of team of ‘Medicaid Application Counselors’ at UM Student-Run Free Clinic to increase health insurance enrollment

Medical Schoolhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149395/1/HillaryPaulsen_1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149395/2/HillaryPaulsen_2.ppt

Where do UK clinicians find information at the point of care? A pragmatic, exploratory study

Funding: CSO Fellowship (MM).Aim To describe where clinical information is contemporarily and commonly found in UK primary care, what is favoured by clinicians, and whether this is (1) publicly funded (2) has commercial potential conflicts of interest. Design and setting A mixed methods study, consisting of (1) site visits to general practices in Scotland, (2) online questionnaire, focused on UK general practice (3) analysis of materials cited by professionals. Methods Data about sources of clinical information used was obtained verbally, visually and via search histories on computers from visits. This was used to inform a questionnaire in which primary care clinicians in the four nations of the UK were invited to participate. This obtained data about the information sources used and preferred by clinicians. This information was searched for data about funding and conflicts of interest. Results Over 2022, four practices were visited. 337 clinicians, 280 of whom were general practitioners completed an online questionnaire. 136 different resources were identified. These were mainly websites but sources of information included colleagues, either in practice or through online networks, apps, local guidelines, health charities, and learning resources aimed at GPs. Of these, 70 were not publicly funded, and were a mixture of membership organisations, charities, or sponsored venues. Conclusions Primary care clinicians obtain information for themselves and patients from a wide variety of sources. Funding is from a variety of sources and some contain advertising and/or sponsorship, risking commercial bias. Protocol Pre-published at https://osf.io/wrzqk.Peer reviewe

The REFOLD database: a tool for the optimization of protein expression and refolding

A large proportion of proteins expressed in Escherichia coli form inclusion bodies and thus require renaturation to attain a functional conformation for analysis. In this process, identifying and optimizing the refolding conditions and methodology is often rate limiting. In order to address this problem, we have developed REFOLD, a web-accessible relational database containing the published methods employed in the refolding of recombinant proteins. Currently, REFOLD contains >300 entries, which are heavily annotated such that the database can be searched via multiple parameters. We anticipate that REFOLD will continue to grow and eventually become a powerful tool for the optimization of protein renaturation. REFOLD is freely available at