Measurement Error In Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Labor Market Surveys: Results From Two Validation Studies

This paper reports evidence on the error properties of survey reports of labor market variables such as earnings and work hours. Our primary data source is the PSID Validation Study, a two-wave panel survey of a sample of workers employed by a large firm which also allowed us access to its very detailed records of its workers earnings. etc. The second data source uses individuals' 1977 and 1978 (March Current Population Survey) reports of earnings, matched to Social Security earnings records. In both data sets, individuals: reports of earnings are fairly accurately reported, and the errors are negatively related to true earnings. The latter property reduces the bias due to measurement error when earnings are used as an independent variable, but (unlike the classical-error case) leads to some bias when earnings are the dependent variable. Measurement-error-induced biases when change in earnings is the variable of interest are larger, but not dramatically so. Various measures of hourly earnings were much less reliable than annual earnings. Retrospective reports of unemployment showed considerable under-reporting, even of long spells.

Associations between breast cancer subtype and neighborhood socioeconomic and racial composition among Black and White women

PURPOSE: Studies of Black-White differences in breast cancer subtype often emphasize potential ancestry-associated genetic or lifestyle risk factors without fully considering how the social or economic implications of race in the U.S. may influence risk. We assess whether neighborhood racial composition and/or socioeconomic status are associated with odds of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) diagnosis relative to the less-aggressive hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative subtype (HR+ /HER-), and whether the observed relationships vary across women\u27s race and age groups. METHODS: We use multilevel generalized estimating equation models to evaluate odds of TNBC vs. HR+ /HER2- subtypes in a population-based cohort of 7291 Black and 74,208 White women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2006 to 2014. Final models include both neighborhood-level variables, adjusting for individual demographics and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Relative to the HR+ /HER- subtype, we found modestly lower odds of TNBC subtype among White women with higher neighborhood median household income (statistically significant within the 45-64 age group, OR = 0.981 per $10,000 increase). Among Black women, both higher neighborhood income and higher percentages of Black neighborhood residents were associated with lower odds of TNBC relative to HR+ /HER2-. The largest reduction was observed among Black women diagnosed at age ≥ 65 (OR = 0.938 per$10,000 increase; OR = 0.942 per 10% increase in Black residents). CONCLUSION: The relationships between neighborhood composition, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and odds of TNBC differ by race and age. Racially patterned social factors warrant further exploration in breast cancer subtype disparities research

Pricing in Online Auction Procurement: A Review of Empirical Methods and Current Understandings

The online auction has become an important channel for procurement and sourcing management. As firms often expect lower procurement prices through online auctions, how the prices are determined in online auctions should be of major interest to procurement managers and supply chain researchers. Despite the abundant empirical studies on online auction prices, an aggregated view is still absent. This study fills this gap with a review of extant studies. More specifically, this study provides summaries of all major theories behind online auction pricing, defines and analyzes often encountered econometric issues, and discusses how the treatments of these issues have been operationalized. Towards the end, existing findings on determinants of online auction prices are integrated and examined. The purpose of this study is to provide a convenient and precise package of current studies for researchers and professional

The Leeds Evaluation of Efficacy of Detoxification Study (LEEDS) Prisons Project Study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial comparing methadone and buprenorphine for opiate detoxification

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the United Kingdom (UK), there is an extensive market for the class 'A' drug heroin and many heroin users spend time in prison. People addicted to heroin often require prescribed medication when attempting to cease their drug use. The most commonly used detoxification agents in UK prisons are currently buprenorphine and methadone, both are recommended by national clinical guidelines. However, these agents have never been compared for opiate detoxification in the prison estate and there is a general paucity of research evaluating the most effective treatment for opiate detoxification in prisons. This study seeks to address this paucity by evaluating the most routinely used interventions amongst drug users within UK prisons.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This study uses randomised controlled trial methodology to compare the open use of buprenorphine and methadone for opiate detoxification, given in the context of routine care, within three UK prisons. Prisoners who are eligible and give informed consent will be entered into the trial. The primary outcome will be abstinence status eight days after detoxification, as determined by a urine test. Secondary outcomes will be recorded during the detoxification and then at one, three and six months post-detoxification.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN58823759</p

Artificial sweeteners have no effect on gastric emptying, glucagon-like peptide-1, or glycemia after oral glucose in healthy humans

Tongzhi Wu, Michelle J. Bound, Scott D. Standfield, Max Bellon, Richard L. Young, Karen L. Jones, Michael Horowitz, and Christopher K. Rayne

A Protein Preload Enhances the Glucose-Lowering Efficacy of Vildagliptin in Type 2 Diabetes

Ranking and judging political misbehaviours: the benefits of focus group approach and of quantitative method for analysing qualitative dataQualitative researches based on focus group offer valuable insights in analyzing moral conflicts. This article suggests they also prove very useful to explore citizens’ perceptions of political misbehaviours. Moral expectations regarding politicians’ behaviours are ambiguous judgements because of the various criteria that underpin their perceptions of politics. This article is based on the analysis of eight different, socio-culturally homogeneous focus groups. Collected arguments are analysed through a quantitative method examining discursive contents. The existence of a common grid for ranking political misbehaviours is emphasized. The moderating effects of collective discussion on judgements are also outlined. The article emphasizes variations in judgments, differentiating groups according to their social and occupational experiences. At last, different “repertoires of arguments” are identified relying on different principles.Les enjeux de probité publique se prêtent bien aux recherches qualitatives menées par focus group, habituellement utilisées dans l’exploration des conflits moraux et normatifs. La démarche est ici mobilisée pour explorer l’ambiguïté des jugements portés par les citoyens sur les pratiques et transgressions des élus. Elle repose sur huit groupes socio-culturellement différenciés et sur une exploitation originale à partir d’une méthode de quantification du contenu des discours recueillis. L’article montre l’existence d’une échelle homogène de qualification et de classification des pratiques politiques qui graduent les jugements de réprobation. La discussion collective favorise l’expression de formes de modération dans les jugements. L’exploitation pointe des différences liées aux caractéristiques sociales des groupes. Elle identifie des « répertoires argumentatifs », mobilisant des principes de jugement divergents