Worker Sorting, Taxes and Health Insurance Coverage

We develop a model in which firms hire heterogeneous workers but must offer all workers insurance benefits under similar terms. In equilibrium, some firms offer free health insurance, some require an employee premium payment and some do not offer insurance. Making the employee contribution pre-tax lowers the cost to workers of a given employee premium and encourages more firms to charge. This increases the offer rate, lowers the take-up rate, increases (decreases) coverage among high (low) demand groups, with an indeterminate overall effect. We test the model using the expansion of section 125 plans between 1987 and 1996. The results are generally supportive.

Lyme Disease: An Influential Outdoor Hazard

Lyme disease is an important, common illness in New England. A relatively new illness, it was discovered about forty years ago in the town of Lyme, Connecticut. Now, it has become the most common vector-transmitted illness in the United States, with over 30,000 cases annually. Lyme disease arises when a bacterium is transmitted to a human via deer tick bite, so those of us involved in outdoor sports are most likely to contract the disease. Inhabitants of New England and the northeastern U.S. are most vulnerable to the disease, as 95% of Lyme Disease cases occur in only 14 out of 50 states. The most common season for the sickness is from Spring to Fall. The disease is becoming increasingly common as the deer population expands. The disease is also becoming increasingly common in Canada and temperate regions of Europe

Investigation of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging signal in the tonsillar region of dogs

At The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University (TAHMU), an abnormal signal was observed in the tonsillar region of two dogs on brain MRI. Both dogs did not present with or demonstrate clinical signs of oropharyngeal disease. The abnormal signal in the two cases was interpreted as possible foreign bodies by veterinary teleradiologists. However, despite the abnormal signal in both cases demonstrating similar MRI features, the interpretation of the nature of the foreign body was different. In one of the two cases, the veterinary teleradiologist suspected that the abnormal signal in the tonsillar region was a metallic foreign body and likely a component of the endotracheal (ET) tube. Objectives: (1) Describe and characterise the appearance of the tonsillar region of dogs on brain MRI examinations. (2) Describe and characterise any abnormal signal detected in the tonsillar region of dogs on brain MRI examinations at TAHMU. (3) Investigate if any detected abnormality is associated with the ET tube used in anaesthetised dogs. Material and Methods: Retrospectively, all canine brain MRI examinations performed from 2017 to 2021 at TAHMU were reviewed. Prospectively, 20 dogs undergoing brain MRI for clinical investigation of neurological disease were included. An oral examination was performed at intubation, and details regarding the ET tube were recorded (ET tube diameter and manufacturer). During the review of the MRI images, the tonsillar region was evaluated for the presence of an abnormal signal (termed tonsillar abnormality; TA). If TA was detected, its location, size, shape, margin and signal intensity in pre-and post-contrast sequences were evaluated. Results: Foci of signal void in one or both tonsillar regions, consistent with gas, were detected in 160/170 retrospective studies. In 3/170 studies, TA was observed in the right tonsillar region at the level of the temporomandibular joint. All three TA exhibited a peripheral hyperintense rim and a less intense centre that was hypointense to the medial pterygoid muscle on T1-weighted sequences; and mildly hyperintense to the medial pterygoid muscle on T2-weighted and T2 FLAIR sequences. All three TA displayed signal void and excessive magnetic susceptibility artefact on T2* gradient echo sequences. No gas was detected in the tonsillar region in the remaining 7/170 studies. Gas was detected in one or both tonsillar regions in 19/20 prospective studies, but 0/20 demonstrated a TA. Conclusion: TA was infrequently detected in our study population and appeared unrelated to the ET tube. TA may be due to a larger volume of gas trapped in the tonsillar region or represent an atypical appearance of gas trapped in the tonsillar region

Assessment of rhomboid flap scars: A patient reported outcome study. A case series

Introduction and importance: Local skin flap techniques, including rhomboid flap, have been developed to reconstruct cutaneous defects. Rhomboid flap advantages include easy design, excellent contour, texture, thickness, color match, and long-term good cosmesis. There is no patient reported outcome study in literature detailing patients’ perception of appearance and satisfaction of scar appearance. Methods: We studied 100 consecutive rhomboid flaps performed in 73 patients by a single surgeon. After at least one year from flap completion, a validated published Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ) by Durani et al. was completed for each flap. Results: The median age was 73 years, with a range of 21 years–94 years. Gender breakdown was 65 flaps in males and 35 flaps in females. For appearance, there were significantly greater frequency of “very well-matched scar” patients compared to “well-matched scar” patients (p \u3c 0.001). There were no “a little matched” or “poorly matched” patients. For satisfaction of appearance scores, there were significantly greater frequency of “very satisfied” patients compared to “satisfied” patients (p \u3c 0.001). There were no “dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” patients. Although size of primary defect was not statistically significant (p 0.071), there was a trend towards better appearance scar match and scar satisfaction for smaller defects. Age was not statistically significant (p 0.086), there was a trend towards better appearance scar match and scar satisfaction among older patients. There was no significant difference in appearance match and satisfaction scores based on the gender (p 0.733). There were no post-operative complications. Conclusions: Our study confirms, in experienced hands, the long-term patient perception of well-matched scar appearance and scar satisfaction with rhomboid flap technique. A significantly greater frequency of patients were “very satisfied” than “satisfied”, with no “dissatisfied” patients. There was no statistically significant difference based on age, gender, and size of the primary defect

"Valuing Beach Closures on the Padre Island National Seashore"

In this paper we estimate the economic loss of hypothetical beach closures on the Padre Island National Seashore on the Gulf Coast of Texas. We use a travel cost random utility maximization (RUM) model with data from a random phone survey of Texas residents completed in 2001. We simulate realistic closures that may occur in event of an oil spill or other disruption. For comparison we valued the loss of beach closures in the heavily populated Galveston area. The aggregate losses on Padre Island were highest on weekend days in July estimated at $171,000 per day of closure(2001$). They were lowest on weekdays in September at $25,000. Per trip losses were about$28. A similar closure of beaches near Galveston resulted in losses of $263,000 (week day) and$852,000 (weekend day) with a per trip loss of $30.random utility model, beach use, non-market valuation