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Salimi A, Saed Aldien A, ElHawary H, Ambikkumar A, Kapusta MA. Canadian legal cases in ophthalmology: a closer look at 40 years' worth of data. Can J Ophthalmol 2024; 59:83-88. [PMID: 36931321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the characteristics of malpractice lawsuits against Canadian ophthalmologists and the predisposing factors leading to claims. DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS A systematic search of the 2 largest Canadian online legal databases, LexisNexis Canada and Westlaw Canada, was performed to collect cases against ophthalmologists in Canadian courts from 1977 to 2021. RESULTS This study comprised 68 legal cases, including 52 lawsuits, 14 cases appealed once, and 2 cases appealed twice. Most cases concerned surgical procedures (46.2%), followed by misdiagnoses or lack thereof (32.7%) and nonsurgical procedures (21.2%). Half the cases (n = 26) were immediately dismissed by the judge in favour of the ophthalmologist, though among the remaining half that proceeded to trial the majority (88.5%) were won by the patients. All appeals by patients were dismissed by the judge. The median monetary value of damages awarded was $308,202. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to report on ophthalmology-involved medical litigation cases in Canada. Most cases were ruled in favour of the ophthalmologist, but most of those that were not immediately dismissed by the judge were ruled in favour of the plaintiff. Notably, a plurality of these cases argued for a lack of informed consent, and every case in which a lack was successfully pleaded was ruled in favour of the plaintiff, highlighting the importance of appropriate informed consent. The findings of this study give Canadian ophthalmologists insight into areas of practice that commonly lead to litigation and can aid in improving clinical practice and risk management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Salimi
- Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal, QC.
| | - Ammar Saed Aldien
- School of Law, New York University, New York, NY; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC
| | - Hassan ElHawary
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC
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2
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Peet ED, Schultz D, Lovejoy S, Tsui FR. The infant health effects of doulas: Leveraging big data and machine learning to inform cost-effective targeting. Health Econ 2024. [PMID: 38462670 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Doula services represent an underutilized maternal and child health intervention with the potential to improve outcomes through the provision of physical, emotional, and informational support. However, there is limited evidence of the infant health effects of doulas despite well-established connections between maternal and infant health. Moreover, because the availability of doulas is limited and often not covered by insurers, existing evidence leaves unclear if or how doula services should be allocated to achieve the greatest improvements in outcomes. We use unique data and machine learning to develop accurate predictive models of infant health and doula service participation. We then combine these predictive models within the double machine learning method to estimate the effects of doula services. We show that while doula services reduce risk on average, the benefits of doula services increase as the risk of negative infant health outcomes increases. We compare these benefits to the costs of doula services under alternative allocation schemes and show that leveraging the risk predictions dramatically increases the cost effectiveness of doula services. Our results show the potential of big data and novel analytic methods to provide cost-effective support to those at greatest risk of poor outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan D Peet
- RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Fuchiang Rich Tsui
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Silverio-Murillo A, Hoehn-Velasco L, Balmori de la Miyar JR, Méndez Méndez JS. The (temporary) Covid-19 baby bust in Mexico. Popul Stud (Camb) 2024; 78:113-126. [PMID: 36728210 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2168298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we investigate whether fertility and newborn health changed during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico. We use national administrative data and an event-study design to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on fertility and newborn health characteristics. Our findings suggest that Mexico's fertility declined temporarily as measured by conceptions that likely occurred during the stay-at-home order. Initially, the general fertility rate fell by 11-12 per cent but quickly rebounded and returned close to its original levels by the end of 2021. Newborn health also deteriorated during the pandemic. Instances of low birthweight and prematurity substantially increased, with both remaining elevated over the entire pandemic period.
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4
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Žofčák J, Šíma J. Using the Synthetic Control Method to Evaluate the Impact of a Land-Based Gambling Ban on Crime. J Gambl Stud 2024:10.1007/s10899-024-10281-y. [PMID: 38427266 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-024-10281-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
We use the synthetic control method to examine whether land-based gambling ban has an effect on crime in a given city. In a sample of four Czech cities where the ban was introduced, we show that these cities had roughly the same crime rate development in the years after the ban as the control cities without the ban, showing that there is no significant impact. As this is, to our knowledge, the first use of the synthetic control method in the context of gambling, the main contribution of this study lies in demonstrating the possibilities in its use. Employing this versatile method may improve the current situation where many gambling impact studies suffer from the absence of a control group or an identification strategy to confirm causal relationship. Last but not least, the results of this study make an important contribution to the debate on blanket measures in gambling regulation; although pathological gambling is linked to crime, banning this activity may not lead to the expected consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Žofčák
- Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí Nad Labem, Czech Republic.
| | - Josef Šíma
- Department of International Business, Metropolitan University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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5
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Kan-Tor Y, Ness L, Szlak L, Benninger F, Ravid S, Chorev M, Rosen-Zvi M, Shimoni Y, Fisher RS. Comparing the efficacy of anti-seizure medications using matched cohorts on a large insurance claims database. Epilepsy Res 2024; 201:107313. [PMID: 38417192 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2024.107313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a severe chronic neurological disease affecting 60 million people worldwide. Primary treatment is with anti-seizure medicines (ASMs), but many patients continue to experience seizures. We used retrospective insurance claims data on 280,587 patients with uncontrolled epilepsy (UE), defined as status epilepticus, need for a rescue medicine, or admission or emergency visit for an epilepsy code. We conducted a computational risk ratio analysis between pairs of ASMs using a causal inference method, in order to match 1034 clinical factors and simulate randomization. Data was extracted from the MarketScan insurance claims Research Database records from 2011 to 2015. The cohort consisted of individuals over 18 years old with a diagnosis of epilepsy who took one of eight ASMs and had more than a year of history prior to the filling of the drug prescription. Seven ASM exposures were analyzed: topiramate, phenytoin, levetiracetam, gabapentin, lamotrigine, valproate, and carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine (treated as the same exposure). We calculated the risk ratio of UE between pairs of ASM after controlling for bias with inverse propensity weighting applied to 1034 factors, such as demographics, confounding illnesses, non-epileptic conditions treated by ASMs, etc. All ASMs exhibited a significant reduction in the prevalence of UE, but three drugs showed pair-wise differences compared to other ASMs. Topiramate consistently was associated with a lower risk of UE, with a mean risk ratio range of 0.68-0.93 (average 0.82, CI: 0.56-1.08). Phenytoin and levetiracetam were consistently associated with a higher risk of UE with mean risk ratio ranges of 1.11 to 1.47 (average 1.13, CI 0.98-1.65) and 1.15 to 1.43 (average 1.2, CI 0.72-1.69), respectively. Large-scale retrospective insurance claims data - combined with causal inference analysis - provides an opportunity to compare the effect of treatments in real-world data in populations 1,000-fold larger than those in typical randomized trials. Our causal analysis identified the clinically unexpected finding of topiramate as being associated with a lower risk of UE; and phenytoin and levetiracetam as associated with a higher risk of UE (compared to other studied drugs, not to baseline). However, we note that our data set for this study only used insurance claims events, which does not comprise actual seizure frequencies, nor a clear picture of side effects. Our results do not advocate for any change in practice but demonstrate that conclusions from large databases may differ from and supplement those of randomized trials and clinical practice and therefore may guide further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Kan-Tor
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lior Ness
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel
| | - Liran Szlak
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel
| | - Felix Benninger
- Department of Neurology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sivan Ravid
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michal Chorev
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel; Centre for Applied Research, IBM Australia, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michal Rosen-Zvi
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yishai Shimoni
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences Department, IBM Research, Haifa, Israel
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Abstract
Background: High Body Mass Index (BMI) has a two times greater risk of developing type II diabetes compared to low BMI. The results showed that general obesity had a risk of 2.24 times while abdominal obesity had a risk of 2.44 times for the occurrence of diabetes. Aim: Based on the background described, the researcher was interested in examining the influence of BMI on the lipid profile of type II diabetes patients. Methods: A considerably large sample of 500 type II diabetes patients who attended the outpatient department of Endocrinology wing of NIMS Medicity (NICER-Noorul Islam Centre for Endocrinology Research), Kerala, India were selected to the macrosample pool following purposive random sampling method. Height and weight of the patients were taken following standard methods and BMI of the patients was computed. Biochemical investigations such as their lipid profile along with Fasting, Post Prandial Blood Glucose values and HbA1C were obtained from patients' medical records. Finally, the hypothesized model was developed and tested by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique using SPSS AMOS 22.0. Results: The results show that height and weight highly influenced the BMI, among which weight, as shown by Standardized Regression Weights (SRW) Estimate- 1.102, Statistically Significant) influenced more than height (SRW Estimate:-0.683, Statistically Significant), weight had a positive influence, whereas height had a negative influence in selected Type II Diabetes patients. The model could not establish any relationship between BMI and lipid profile (SRW Estimate:-0.037, Statistically not Significant). Conclusion: The findings suggest that in diabetes patients increase in BMI alone does not lead to any alterations in their lipid profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathry Cp
- Department of Home Science HHMSPB NSS College for Women (Affiliated to University of Kerala), Neeramankara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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Sharma S, Hale JM, Myrskylä M, Kulu H. Cognitive impairment and partnership status in the United States, 1998-2016, by sex, race/ethnicity, and education. Popul Stud (Camb) 2024; 78:167-177. [PMID: 36812934 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2174267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Cognitively impaired adults without a partner are highly disadvantaged, as partners constitute an important source of caregiving and emotional support. With the application of innovative multistate models to the Health and Retirement Study, this paper is the first to estimate joint expectancies of cognitive and partnership status at age 50 by sex, race/ethnicity, and education in the United States. We find that women live a decade longer unpartnered than men. Women are also disadvantaged as they experience three more years as both cognitively impaired and unpartnered than men. Black women live over twice as long as cognitively impaired and unpartnered compared with White women. Lower-educated men and women live around three and five years longer, respectively, as cognitively impaired and unpartnered than more highly educated men and women. This study addresses a novel facet of partnership and cognitive status dynamics and examines their variations by key socio-demographic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhankar Sharma
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
- University of St Andrews
| | - Jo Mhairi Hale
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
- University of St Andrews
| | - Mikko Myrskylä
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
- University of Helsinki
- Max Planck - University of Helsinki Center for Social Inequalities in Population Health
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Hsiao WC, Yip W. Financing and provision of healthcare for two billion people in low-income nations: Is the cooperative healthcare model a solution? Soc Sci Med 2024; 345:115730. [PMID: 36803450 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The international consensus in support of universal health coverage (UHC), though commendable, thus far lacks a clear mechanism to finance and deliver accessible and effective basic healthcare to the two billion rural residents and informal workers of low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). Importantly, the two preferred financing modes for UHC, general tax revenue and social health insurance, are often infeasible for LLMICs. We identify from historical examples a community-based model that we argue shows promise as a solution to this problem. This model, which we call Cooperative Healthcare (CH), is characterized by community-based risk-pooling and governance and prioritizes primary care. CH leverages communities' existing social capital, such that even those for whom the private benefit of enrolling in a CH scheme is outweighed by the cost may choose to enroll (given sufficient social capital). For CH to be scalable, it needs to demonstrate that it can organize delivery of accessible and reasonable-quality primary healthcare that people value, with management accountable to the communities themselves through structures that people trust, combined with government legitimacy. Once LLMICs with CH programs have industrialized sufficiently to make universal social health insurance feasible, CH schemes can be rolled into such universal programs. We defend cooperative healthcare's suitability for this bridging role and urge LLMIC governments to launch experiments testing it out, with careful adaptation to local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Hsiao
- Emeritus, Global Health and Population, 104 Mount Auburn St., 303, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Winnie Yip
- Health Policy and Economics, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Krajewski T, Hudgens M. The augmented synthetic control method in public health and biomedical research. Stat Methods Med Res 2024; 33:376-391. [PMID: 38320801 DOI: 10.1177/09622802231224638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Estimating treatment (or policy or intervention) effects on a single individual or unit has become increasingly important in health and biomedical sciences. One method to estimate these effects is the synthetic control method, which constructs a synthetic control, a weighted average of control units that best matches the treated unit's pre-treatment outcomes and other relevant covariates. The intervention's impact is then estimated by comparing the post-intervention outcomes of the treated unit and its synthetic control, which serves as a proxy for the counterfactual outcome had the treated unit not experienced the intervention. The augmented synthetic control method, a recent adaptation of the synthetic control method, relaxes some of the synthetic control method's assumptions for broader applicability. While synthetic controls have been used in a variety of fields, their use in public health and biomedical research is more recent, and newer methods such as the augmented synthetic control method are underutilized. This paper briefly describes the synthetic control method and its application, explains the augmented synthetic control method and its differences from the synthetic control method, and estimates the effects of an antimalarial initiative in Mozambique using both the synthetic control method and the augmented synthetic control method to highlight the advantages of using the augmented synthetic control method to analyze the impact of interventions implemented in a single region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Krajewski
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michael Hudgens
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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10
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Lazic A, Tilford JM, Davis VP, Brown CC. Association of copayments with healthcare utilization and expenditures among Medicaid enrollees with a substance use disorder. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2024; 161:209314. [PMID: 38369244 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the association between copayments and healthcare utilization and expenditures among Medicaid enrollees with substance use disorders. METHODS This study used claims data (2020-2021) from a private insurer participating in Arkansas's Medicaid expansion. We compared service utilization and expenditures for enrollees in different Medicaid program structures with varying copayments. Enrollees with incomes above 100 % FPL (N = 10,240) had copayments for substance use treatment services while enrollees below 100 % FPL (N = 2478) did not. Demographic, diagnostic, utilization, and cost information came from claims and enrollment information. The study identified substance use and clinical comorbidities using claims from July through December 2020 and evaluated utilization and costs in 2021. Generalized linear models (GLM) estimated outcomes using single equation and two-part modeling. A gamma distribution and log link were used to model expenditures, and negative binomial models were used to model utilization. A falsification test comparing behavioral health telemedicine utilization, which had no cost sharing in either group, assessed whether differences in the groups may be responsible for observed findings. RESULTS Substance use enrollees with copayments were less likely to have a substance use or behavioral health outpatient (-0.04 PP adjusted; p = 0.001) or inpatient visit (-0.04 PP; p = 0.001) relative to their counterparts without copayments, equal to a 17 % reduction in substance use or behavioral health outpatient services and a nearly 50 % reduction in inpatient visits. The reduced utilization among enrollees with a copayment was associated with a significant reduction in total expenses ($954; p = 0.001) and expenses related to substance use or behavioral health services ($532; p = 0.001). For enrollees with at least one behavioral health visit, there were no differences in outpatient or inpatient utilization or expenditures between enrollees with and without copayments. Copayments had no association with non-behavioral health or telemedicine services where neither group had cost sharing. CONCLUSION Copayments serve as an initial barrier to substance use treatment, but are not associated with the amount of healthcare utilization conditional on using services. Policy makers and insurers should consider the role of copayments for treatment services among enrollees with substance use disorders in Medicaid programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonije Lazic
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - J Mick Tilford
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Victor P Davis
- Actuarial Services & Enterprise Underwriting, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
| | - Clare C Brown
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
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11
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Esposti R. Non-monetary motivations of the EU agri-environmental policy adoption. A causal forest approach. J Environ Manage 2024; 352:119992. [PMID: 38194870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
This paper investigates the non-monetary motivations of farmers' adoption of agri-environmental policies. Unlike the monetary (income) motivations, non-monetary drivers can not be directly observed but can be identified from observational data within appropriate quasi-experimental designs. A theoretical justification of farmers' choices is first formulated and a consequent natural experiment setting is derived. The latter admits heterogeneous, i.e. Individual, Treatment Effects (ITE) that, in turn, can be interpreted in terms of more targeted and tailored policy expenditure. A Causal Forest (CF) approach is adopted to estimate these ITEs for both the treated and not treated units. The approach is applied to two balanced panel samples of Italian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) farms observed over the 2008-2018 period and concerns agri-environmental policies delivered through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Results show how heterogeneous the farmers' response and the associated non-monetary motivations can be, thus indicating room for a more efficient policy design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Esposti
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences - Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Piazzale Martelli 8, 60121, Ancona, Italy.
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12
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Vanzella-Yang A, Vergunst F, Domond P, Vitaro F, Tremblay RE, Bégin V, Côté S. Childhood behavioral problems are associated with the intergenerational transmission of low education: a 16-year population-based study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:595-603. [PMID: 36932229 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02193-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
The intergenerational transmission of low educational attainment is well-documented, but little is known about how behavioral problems in childhood explain this association. Drawing upon a population-based cohort study (n = 3020) linked to administrative records, we investigated the extent to which inattentive, internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behaviors at child ages 6-8 years accounted for associations between parental education and child's risk of failing to graduate from high school. We adjusted for economic, demographic, cognitive, and perinatal factors, as well as parental mental health. Using logistic regressions and the Karlson-Holm-Breen decomposition method, we found that childhood behaviors together explained 19.5% of the association between mother's education and child's high school graduation status at age 22/23, and 13.7% of the association between father's education and this same outcome. Inattentive behaviors were most strongly associated with failure to graduate from high school, while the role of other behaviors was modest or negligible. Inattentive behaviors may represent a mediational pathway between parental education and child education. Early interventions targeting inattentive behaviors could potentially enhance the prospects of intergenerational educational mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Vanzella-Yang
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
| | - Francis Vergunst
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pascale Domond
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Frank Vitaro
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Richard E Tremblay
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vincent Bégin
- Department of Psychoeducation, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Sylvana Côté
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
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13
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Daoud A, Johansson FD. The impact of austerity on children: Uncovering effect heterogeneity by political, economic, and family factors in low- and middle-income countries. Soc Sci Res 2024; 118:102973. [PMID: 38336420 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2023.102973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Which children are most vulnerable when their government imposes austerity? Research tends to focus on either the political-economic level or the family level. Using a sample of nearly two million children in 67 countries, this study synthesizes theories from family sociology and political science to examine the heterogeneous effects on child poverty of economic shocks following the implementation of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. To discover effect heterogeneity, we apply machine learning to policy evaluation. We find that children's average probability of falling into poverty increases by 14 percentage points. We find substantial effect heterogeneity, with family wealth and governments' education spending as the two most important moderators. In contrast to studies that emphasize the vulnerability of low-income families, we find that middle-class children face an equally high risk of poverty. Our results show that synthesizing family and political factors yield deeper knowledge of how economic shocks affect children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Daoud
- Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston MA, USA; Institute for Analytical Sociology, Linköping University, Sweden; The Division of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, The Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
| | - Fredrik D Johansson
- The Division of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, The Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
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DeVerna MR, Guess AM, Berinsky AJ, Tucker JA, Jost JT. Rumors in Retweet: Ideological Asymmetry in the Failure to Correct Misinformation. Pers Soc Psychol Bull 2024; 50:3-17. [PMID: 36047663 DOI: 10.1177/01461672221114222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We used supervised machine-learning techniques to examine ideological asymmetries in online rumor transmission. Although liberals were more likely than conservatives to communicate in general about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings (Study 1, N = 26,422) and 2020 death of the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein (Study 2, N = 141,670), conservatives were more likely to share rumors. Rumor-spreading decreased among liberals following official correction, but it increased among conservatives. Marathon rumors were spread twice as often by conservatives pre-correction, and nearly 10 times more often post-correction. Epstein rumors were spread twice as often by conservatives pre-correction, and nearly, eight times more often post-correction. With respect to ideologically congenial rumors, conservatives circulated the rumor that the Clinton family was involved in Epstein's death 18.6 times more often than liberals circulated the rumor that the Trump family was involved. More than 96% of all fake news domains were shared by conservative Twitter users.
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15
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Wulczyn F, Kaligotla C, Hummel J, Wagner A, MacLeod A. Agent-based simulation and child protection systems: Rationale, implementation, and verification. Child Abuse Negl 2024; 147:106578. [PMID: 38128373 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Simulation models are an important tool used in health care and other disciplines to support operational research and decision-making. In the child protection literature, simulation models are an under-utilized source of research evidence. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING In this paper, we describe the rationale for and the development of an agent-based simulation of a child protection system in the US. Using the investigation, prevention service, and placement histories of 600,000 children served in an urban child welfare system, we walk the reader through the development of a prototype known as OSPEDALE. METHODS The governing equations built into OSPEDALE probabilistically simulate the onset of investigations. Then, drawing from empirical survival distributions, the governing equations trace the probability of subsequent interactions with the system (recurrence of maltreatment, service referrals, and placement) conditional on the characteristics of children, their assessed risk level, and prior child protection system involvement. RESULTS As an initial test of OSPEDALE's utility, we compare empirical admission counts with counts generated from OSPEDALE. Though the verification step is admittedly simple, the comparison shows that OSPEDALE replicates the empirical count of new admissions closely enough to justify further investment in OSPEDALE. CONCLUSIONS Management of public child protection systems is increasingly research evidence-dependent. The emphasis on research evidence as a decision-support tool has elevated evidence acquired through randomized clinical trials. Though important, the evidence from clinical trials represents only one type of research evidence. Properly specified, simulation models are another source of evidence with real-world relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Wulczyn
- Center for State Child Welfare Data, Chapin Hall, University of Chicago, United States of America.
| | | | - John Hummel
- Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, United States of America
| | - Amanda Wagner
- Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, United States of America
| | - Alex MacLeod
- Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Canada
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16
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Ahmad US, Safdar S, Azam M. An assessment of bilateral debt swap financing indispensable for economic growth and environment sustainability: a policy implication for heavily indebted countries. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:5716-5734. [PMID: 38123777 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31577-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Bilateral debt swap is an innovative global financing mechanism designed to support heavily indebted countries (HICs). It is a debt-restructuring process involving donor countries forgiving debt owed by HICs in exchange for commitments to undertake projects on environment and socio-economic development. It is a unique approach designed to help heavily indebted countries get back on their feet. Effective debt swap financing can lead to both economic growth and environment sustainability, but they are challenging to implement. This study examines the impact of bilateral debt swap financing on economic growth and environment sustainability. For the purpose, we have used debt swap index developed with Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) methodology. KMO widely used approach of Principle Component Analysis (PCA) to solve the problem of "over-identification" and make strong correlation among endogenous variables of interest. In order to validate the nexus empirically between bilateral debt swap financing with economic growth and environment sustainability, we have employed the Two-Step System Generalized Method of Moments (SYS-GMM) approach in 25 countries for the period of 2002 to 2021. This modern econometric method addresses endogeneity issues and controls for unobserved heterogeneity in panel data. At the same time, the technique addresses the simultaneity problem, reverse causality, and remove selection bias. Findings of the study shows that effective bilateral debt swap financing can boost economic growth and environment sustainability by investing domestic resources for targeted activities along with reduced debt burden. Empirical results reveal that 1% change in debt swap financing can lead to a maximum of 0.23% growth in the economy and 0.28% improvement in environment sustainability. However, it is important to note that in most empirical specifications, results are inconclusive. One possible reason for this is often ineffective debt swap practices coupled with inadequate monitoring and evaluation in HICs. Policymakers should focus on enhancing debt swap policies to promote economic growth and environment sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Suffian Ahmad
- Department of Economics, Science and Technology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Department of Economics, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan.
| | - Sadia Safdar
- Department of Economics, Science and Technology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Azam
- Department of Economics, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
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17
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Goyanka R, Garg CC. Patient perception of attributes of primary care: a study of Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics in Delhi, India. Fam Pract 2023; 40:707-713. [PMID: 36656076 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmac154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMC) are the community level public primary care facilities recently introduced to strengthen primary care in Delhi, India by bringing affordable healthcare close to home. OBJECTIVES This study looks at the primary care attributes of AAMC from a patient perspective, to assess their features, strengths and weaknesses. METHODS Using a primary care survey tool, a cross-sectional survey of 360 users was conducted at 18 facilities across 9 districts of Delhi to gather information on six dimensions of primary care delivery. Thematic analysis of responses to quantitative, multiple-choice and Likert scale questions using percentage of respondents in each category; and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and suggestions (SWOS) framework, was used to examine the primary care attributes. RESULTS AAMCs have done well in improving proximity, availability, physical and financial access to primary care with respondents reporting their residence within 1 kilometre of AAMCs (95%), physician being available (100%), free drugs in stock (99%). Service delivery is however not comprehensive with missing preventive care. Respondents reported missing gatekeeping, weak referral mechanism (6-19%), and low physician's familiarity with their overall health (2%). CONCLUSION AAMCs have brought affordable healthcare with free medicines and diagnostics to neighbourhood. There is an opportunity for attaining universal healthcare that is responsive to user needs through provision of comprehensive care. Compulsory enrolment of neighbourhood population with an electronic database of patients has an immense potential to improve longitudinality and coordination of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopali Goyanka
- Department of Economics, Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi, India
| | - Charu C Garg
- Population, Health and Nutrition-Research Programme, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi, India
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18
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Messerle R, Schreyögg J. Country-level effects of diagnosis-related groups: evidence from Germany's comprehensive reform of hospital payments. Eur J Health Econ 2023:10.1007/s10198-023-01645-z. [PMID: 38051399 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-023-01645-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Hospitals account for about 40% of all healthcare expenditure in high-income countries and play a central role in healthcare provision. The ways in which they are paid, therefore, has major implications for the care they provide. However, our knowledge about reforms that have been made to the various payment schemes and their country-level effects is surprisingly thin. This study examined the uniquely comprehensive introduction of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) in Germany, where DRGs function as the sole pricing, billing, and budgeting system for hospitals and almost exclusively determine hospital revenue. The introduction of DRGs, therefore, completely overhauled the previous system based on per diem rates, offering a unique opportunity for analysis. Using aggregate data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and recent advances in econometrics, we analyzed how hospital activity and efficiency changed in response to the reform. We found that DRGs in Germany significantly increased hospital activity by around 20%. In contrast to earlier studies, we found that DRGs have not necessarily shortened the average length of stay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Messerle
- Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University of Hamburg, Esplanade 36, 20354, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Schreyögg
- Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University of Hamburg, Esplanade 36, 20354, Hamburg, Germany.
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19
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Kennedy A, Zmijewski PV, Bahl D, Banerjee R, Buczek E, Fazendin J, Chen H, Lindeman B. Can a Multidisciplinary Endocrine Clinic be Beneficial for Patients and Surgeons? Am Surg 2023; 89:5501-5504. [PMID: 36796451 DOI: 10.1177/00031348231157870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multidisciplinary clinics are expected to improve patient care by enhancing efficiency for both patients and care providers. We hypothesized that while these clinics are an efficient use of time for patients, they can limit a surgeon's productivity. METHODS A retrospective review was performed for patients evaluated in a Multidisciplinary Endocrine Tumor Clinic (MDETC) and Multidisciplinary Thyroid Cancer Clinic (MDTCC) from 2018 to 2021. Time from evaluation to surgery and prevalence of surgery were evaluated. Patients were compared to those evaluated in a surgeon-only endocrine surgery clinic (ESC) from 2017 to 2021. Chi-square and t-tests were used to test significance. RESULTS Patients referred to the ESC underwent surgery more often than those referred to either multidisciplinary clinic (ESC 79.5%, MDETC 24.6%, MDTCC 7%; P < .001) but had a significantly longer delay between appointment and operation (ESC 19.9 days, MDETC 3.3 days, MDTCC 16.4 days; P < .001). Patients had a longer wait from referral to appointment for the MDCs (ESC 22.6 days, MDETC: 44.5, MDTCC 33; P < .05). There was no significant difference in miles traveled by patients to any clinic. CONCLUSION Multidisciplinary clinics can provide fewer appointments and faster time to surgery for patients but may lead to longer wait time from referral to appointment and fewer overall surgeries than endocrine surgeon-only clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Kennedy
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Polina V Zmijewski
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Deepti Bahl
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Ronadip Banerjee
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Erin Buczek
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jessica Fazendin
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Herbert Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Brenessa Lindeman
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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20
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Erdem O, Erdem S, Monson K. Children, vaccines, and financial incentives. Int J Health Econ Manag 2023; 23:537-552. [PMID: 36853572 PMCID: PMC9973241 DOI: 10.1007/s10754-023-09343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have been analyzing and measuring the efficacy of the use of financial incentives to increase the Covid-19 vaccine uptake. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the only study available in the literature that aims to measure the effect of financial incentives on vaccine rates among children. This paper explores the effects of a specific financial incentive on parents' vaccination decisions for their children. Using data from a regional practice, where students aged 12 and older received $50 gift cards per Covid-19 vaccination dose, we use various methodologies (synthetic control, linear regression, and difference-in-differences) to approximate the effects of financial incentives on vaccine rates. Our analysis reveals that gift cards increase vaccination rates by 2.64-4.23 percentage points from a baseline rate of 38 percent, concluding that financial incentives, in conjunction with other incentives and policies, can be considered to increase the rate of vaccines for 12- to 17-year-olds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orhan Erdem
- Puri School of Business, Rockford University, 5100 E State St., Rockford, IL, 61108, USA.
| | - Sukran Erdem
- University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave, Rockford, IL, 61107, USA
| | - Kelly Monson
- Department of Education, Rockford University, 5050 E State St., Rockford, IL, 61108, USA
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21
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Shin H, Antonelli J. Improved inference for doubly robust estimators of heterogeneous treatment effects. Biometrics 2023; 79:3140-3152. [PMID: 36745745 DOI: 10.1111/biom.13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
We propose a doubly robust approach to characterizing treatment effect heterogeneity in observational studies. We develop a frequentist inferential procedure that utilizes posterior distributions for both the propensity score and outcome regression models to provide valid inference on the conditional average treatment effect even when high-dimensional or nonparametric models are used. We show that our approach leads to conservative inference in finite samples or under model misspecification and provides a consistent variance estimator when both models are correctly specified. In simulations, we illustrate the utility of these results in difficult settings such as high-dimensional covariate spaces or highly flexible models for the propensity score and outcome regression. Lastly, we analyze environmental exposure data from NHANES to identify how the effects of these exposures vary by subject-level characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejun Shin
- Department of Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph Antonelli
- Department of Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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22
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Sohail MT. Green development in BRICS: unraveling the effects of environmental technology, R&D spending, and green investment in the context of COP21. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:120000-120009. [PMID: 37932613 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30696-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The BRICS countries are renowned for their rapidly developing economies and growing populations. However, the environmental challenges associated with their economic growth have raised concerns about sustainability and the need for green growth strategies. In recent times, empirics have started to analyze the determinants of green growth, but very few have focused on environmental technological capital, R&D, and green investment. This study examines the impact of environmental technological capital, R&D, and green investment on green growth in BRICS economies from 1995 to 2020 using a panel ARDL model. The study found that green investment, environmental technology, and R&D positively facilitate green growth in the BRICS economies in the long run. The long-run country-wise estimate of green investment is positively significant in Brazil and Russia. On the other side, the estimated coefficient of environmental technology is positive in Brazil, India, and China. However, the estimated coefficient of R&D is positive in China only. In the short run, the results are a mix, whether group-wise or country-wise. Based on the results, the study will recommend policy suggestions for green R&D, development of environmental technology, and green investment that help in enhancing green growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tayyab Sohail
- School of Public Administration, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China.
- South Asia Research Center, School of Public Administration, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China.
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23
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Bühler D, Sharma R, Stein W. The Big Five model in rural Southeast Asia: Validation, stability, and its role in household income. J Pers 2023; 91:1364-1380. [PMID: 36660803 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigate the applicability of the Big Five model in rural Southeast Asia and thereby challenge recent concerns about the validity of the model in developing countries. METHOD We use a novel data set on personality traits from rural Thailand and Vietnam (N = 3811 individuals). In our analysis, we (i) assess the factor structure of the data, (ii) test the internal consistency of the items, (iii) compare the traits across two consecutive survey waves, and (iv) employ regressions to demonstrate the economic relevance of the traits. RESULTS The results demonstrate a five-factor structure that fits the Big Five model. We observe changes in personality traits over time but Cohen's d coefficients only range between 0.06 and 0.21. The average rank-order stability, measured by the test-retest correlation of the Big Five between the two consecutive waves, lies at 0.21. Individual changes in personality traits over time relate to experienced shocks and appear to be largely independent of age, gender, and education. We further find that openness and emotional stability positively correlate with rural incomes. CONCLUSIONS While there is skepticism, pertaining to the use of personality trait models in developing countries, our study demonstrates that their importance and usage cannot be rejected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Bühler
- Regional Development and Energy, Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Munich, Germany
- Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rasadhika Sharma
- Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wiebke Stein
- Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany
- German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Economic Policy & RTG 1723 Globalization and Development, Hannover, Germany
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24
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Schwartz CR. Robert Mare's Legacy: Advances in the Study of Assortative Mating. Res Soc Stratif Mobil 2023; 88:100804. [PMID: 38089446 PMCID: PMC10713356 DOI: 10.1016/j.rssm.2023.100804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
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25
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Aleemi AR, Javaid F, Hafeez SS. Finclusion: The nexus of Fintech and financial inclusion against banks' market power. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22551. [PMID: 38213587 PMCID: PMC10782171 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The banking literature does not provide consensus over the impact of Fintech on banks. On the one hand, Fintech advancements are poised to enhance the accessibility of financial services; on the other, it can lead to alterations in market structure. Thus, it is important to ascertain the impact of Fintech entry from both perspectives. We examine the impact of Fintech entry on financial inclusion (FI) and banking competition by introducing conditionalities and non-linearity to uncover the potential transmission channels for Fintech to affect inclusion and market structure. Findings suggest episodes of low and medium inclusion from 2005 till 2018. However, post 2018, there has been a significant increase in FI. Similarly, persistent monopolistic tendencies were observed with most banks enjoying higher Lerner margins. The extent of Fintech reveals highly sluggish growth over 2005 to 2015. However, post 2016, drastic increase is observed commensurate with the central bank's regulatory push. Further, Fintech is inversely related to banks' market power indicating a diminishing effect. We propose three transmission mechanisms for Fintech effects: the inclusion channel, the growth channel, and the regulatory environment. In addition, we find a significant and positive impact of Fintech on FI however, the relationship is essentially non-linear.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatima Javaid
- Institute of Business Management (IoBM), Karachi, Pakistan
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26
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Karaye IM, Knight G, Kyriacou C. Association Between the New York SAFE Act and Firearm Suicide and Homicide: An Analysis of Synthetic Controls, New York State, 1999‒2019. Am J Public Health 2023; 113:1309-1317. [PMID: 37939334 PMCID: PMC10632839 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To assess the association between the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (NY SAFE Act) and firearm suicide and homicide rates. Methods. We employed a synthetic controls approach to investigate the impact of the NY SAFE Act on firearm suicide and firearm homicide rates. We collected state-level data on firearm mortality from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database for the period 1999-2019. We derived statistical inference by using a permutation-based in-place placebo test. Results. The implementation of the NY SAFE Act was associated with a significant reduction in firearm homicide rates, demonstrating a decrease of 63%. This decrease corresponds to an estimated prevention of 1697 deaths between 2013 and 2019. However, there was no association between the NY SAFE Act and firearm suicide rates. Conclusions. As the responsibility for enacting firearm policies increasingly falls on states instead of the federal government, this study provides valuable information that can assist states in making evidence-based decisions regarding the development and implementation of firearm policies that prioritize public safety and aim to prevent firearm-related fatalities. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(12):1309-1317. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307400).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibraheem M Karaye
- Ibraheem M. Karaye, Gaia Knight, and Corinne M. Kyriacou are with the Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
| | - Gaia Knight
- Ibraheem M. Karaye, Gaia Knight, and Corinne M. Kyriacou are with the Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
| | - Corinne Kyriacou
- Ibraheem M. Karaye, Gaia Knight, and Corinne M. Kyriacou are with the Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
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27
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Song C, Liu B, Cheng K, Cole MA, Dai Q, Elliott RJR, Shi Z. Attribution of Air Quality Benefits to Clean Winter Heating Policies in China: Combining Machine Learning with Causal Inference. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:17707-17717. [PMID: 36722723 PMCID: PMC10666544 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Heating is a major source of air pollution. To improve air quality, a range of clean heating policies were implemented in China over the past decade. Here, we evaluated the impacts of winter heating and clean heating policies on air quality in China using a novel, observation-based causal inference approach. During 2015-2021, winter heating causally increased annual PM2.5, daily maximum 8-h average O3, and SO2 by 4.6, 2.5, and 2.3 μg m-3, respectively. From 2015 to 2021, the impacts of winter heating on PM2.5 in Beijing and surrounding cities (i.e., "2 + 26" cities) decreased by 5.9 μg m-3 (41.3%), whereas that in other northern cities only decreased by 1.2 μg m-3 (12.9%). This demonstrates the effectiveness of stricter clean heating policies on PM2.5 in "2 + 26" cities. Overall, clean heating policies caused the annual PM2.5 in mainland China to reduce by 1.9 μg m-3 from 2015 to 2021, potentially avoiding 23,556 premature deaths in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congbo Song
- School of
Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Bowen Liu
- Department
of Economics, University of Birmingham, BirminghamB15 2TT, U.K.
- Department
of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham, BirminghamB15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Kai Cheng
- Department
of Economics, University of Birmingham, BirminghamB15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Matthew A. Cole
- Department
of Economics, University of Birmingham, BirminghamB15 2TT, U.K.
| | - Qili Dai
- State
Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Urban Ambient Air Particulate
Matter Pollution Prevention and Control, College of Environmental
Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin300350, China
| | | | - Zongbo Shi
- School of
Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
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28
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Ma L, Graham DJ, Stettler MEJ. Using Explainable Machine Learning to Interpret the Effects of Policies on Air Pollution: COVID-19 Lockdown in London. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:18271-18281. [PMID: 37566731 PMCID: PMC10666281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Activity changes during the COVID-19 lockdown present an opportunity to understand the effects that prospective emission control and air quality management policies might have on reducing air pollution. Using a regression discontinuity design for causal analysis, we show that the first UK national lockdown led to unprecedented decreases in road traffic, by up to 65%, yet incommensurate and heterogeneous responses in air pollution in London. At different locations, changes in air pollution attributable to the lockdown ranged from -50% to 0% for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 0% to +4% for ozone (O3), and -5% to +0% for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10), and there was no response for PM2.5. Using explainable machine learning to interpret the outputs of a predictive model, we show that the degree to which NO2 pollution was reduced in an area was correlated with spatial features (including road freight traffic and proximity to a major airport and the city center), and that existing inequalities in air pollution exposure were exacerbated: pollution reductions were greater in places with more affluent residents and better access to public transport services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J. Graham
- Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Marc E. J. Stettler
- Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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Wu X, Sverdrup E, Mastrandrea MD, Wara MW, Wager S. Low-intensity fires mitigate the risk of high-intensity wildfires in California's forests. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadi4123. [PMID: 37948522 PMCID: PMC10637742 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The increasing frequency of severe wildfires demands a shift in landscape management to mitigate their consequences. The role of managed, low-intensity fire as a driver of beneficial fuel treatment in fire-adapted ecosystems has drawn interest in both scientific and policy venues. Using a synthetic control approach to analyze 20 years of satellite-based fire activity data across 124,186 square kilometers of forests in California, we provide evidence that low-intensity fires substantially reduce the risk of future high-intensity fires. In conifer forests, the risk of high-intensity fire is reduced by 64.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 41.2 to 77.9%] in areas recently burned at low intensity relative to comparable unburned areas, and protective effects last for at least 6 years (lower bound of one-sided 95% CI: 6 years). These findings support a policy transition from fire suppression to restoration, through increased use of prescribed fire, cultural burning, and managed wildfire, of a presuppression and precolonial fire regime in California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erik Sverdrup
- Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael W. Wara
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Wager
- Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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30
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Nag A, Privara A, Gavurova B, Pradhan J. Does club convergence matter in health outcomes? Evidence from Indian states. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2154. [PMID: 37924059 PMCID: PMC10625292 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16972-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population health is vital to a nation's overall well-being and development. To achieve sustainable human development, a reduction in health inequalities and an increase in interstate convergence in health indicators is necessary. Evaluation of the convergence patterns can aid the government in monitoring the health progress across the Indian states. This study investigates the progressive changes in the convergence and divergence patterns in health status across major states of India from 1990 to 2018. METHODS Sigma plots (σ), kernel density plots, and log t-test methods are used to test the convergence, divergence, and club convergence patterns in the health indicators at the state level. RESULTS The result of the sigma convergence suggests that life expectancy at birth has converged across all states. After 2006, however, the infant mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, and total fertility rate experienced a divergence pattern. The study's findings indicate that life expectancy at birth converges in the same direction across all states, falling into the same club (Club One). However, considerable cross-state variations and evidence of clubs' convergence and divergence are observed in the domains of infant mortality rate, neonatal death rate, and total fertility rate. As suggested by the kernel density estimates, life expectancy at birth stratifies, polarizes, and becomes unimodal over time, although with a single stable state. A bimodal distribution was found for infant, neonatal, and total fertility rates. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, healthcare strategies must consider each club's transition path while focusing on divergence states to reduce health variations and improve health outcomes for each group of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Nag
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Andrej Privara
- Faculty of National Economy University of Economics in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Beata Gavurova
- Center for Applied Economic Research, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlín, Czech Republic.
| | - Jalandhar Pradhan
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
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31
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Gallagher CM, Stevenor BA, Samo A, McAbee ST. A Short Measure of the Big Five Aspects: Development and Validation of the BFAS-40. J Pers Assess 2023; 105:719-732. [PMID: 36480596 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2022.2153690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We present psychometric evidence for the BFAS-40, an abbreviated measure of the Big Five Aspects Scale (DeYoung et al., 2007). In Study 1, we developed the BFAS-40 using metaheuristic algorithms and cross-validated the factor structure of the shortened measure. In Study 2, we demonstrated that the BFAS and BFAS-40 correlate with external criteria in similar ways. In Studies 3 and 4, we provide convergent validity evidence by examining correlations between the BFAS-40 and other measures of typical and clinically relevant personality. Finally, in Study 5, we provide evidence of test-retest reliability as well as additional construct validity evidence. Across these five studies, we demonstrate that the BFAS-40 is a short, reliable, and valid measure of the Big Five Aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brent A Stevenor
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
| | - Andrew Samo
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
| | - Samuel T McAbee
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
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32
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Adams Z, Osman M, Bechlivanidis C, Meder B. (Why) Is Misinformation a Problem? Perspect Psychol Sci 2023; 18:1436-1463. [PMID: 36795592 PMCID: PMC10623619 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221141344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade there has been a proliferation of research on misinformation. One important aspect of this work that receives less attention than it should is exactly why misinformation is a problem. To adequately address this question, we must first look to its speculated causes and effects. We examined different disciplines (computer science, economics, history, information science, journalism, law, media, politics, philosophy, psychology, sociology) that investigate misinformation. The consensus view points to advancements in information technology (e.g., the Internet, social media) as a main cause of the proliferation and increasing impact of misinformation, with a variety of illustrations of the effects. We critically analyzed both issues. As to the effects, misbehaviors are not yet reliably demonstrated empirically to be the outcome of misinformation; correlation as causation may have a hand in that perception. As to the cause, advancements in information technologies enable, as well as reveal, multitudes of interactions that represent significant deviations from ground truths through people's new way of knowing (intersubjectivity). This, we argue, is illusionary when understood in light of historical epistemology. Both doubts we raise are used to consider the cost to established norms of liberal democracy that come from efforts to target the problem of misinformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë Adams
- Department of Linguistics, School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, Queen Mary University London
| | - Magda Osman
- Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge
- Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
- Leeds Business School, University of Leeds
| | | | - Björn Meder
- Department of Psychology, Health and Medical University, Potsdam, Germany
- Max Planck Research Group iSearch, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
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33
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Guo B, Wang Y, Zhou H, Hu F. Can environmental tax reform promote carbon abatement of resource-based cities? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:117037-117049. [PMID: 36287368 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23669-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
China is entering a new period characterized by reaching peak and carbon neutralization, and environmental taxes are increasingly crucial for breaking the "carbon curse" of resource-based cities. Accordingly, using the implementation of China's Environmental Protection Tax Law (EPT Law) as a quasi-natural experiment, this study utilizes the DID model to assess this environmental tax reform's effect in terms of reducing carbon emissions. The research results are as follows: (1) The environmental tax reform (ETR) reduced the intensity of carbon emissions; it additionally promoted reducing total carbon emissions from resource-based cities. (2) The carbon abatement effect can also be achieved by upgrading industrial structures and improving innovation in the area of green technology. (3) The ETR has impacted carbon abatement in resource-based cities more significantly in China's eastern region than in the central or western regions. In contrast, it had less effect on resource-based cities in the regenerative stage than on cities in other stages. (4) The spatial spillover effect of the ETR was significantly positive, aggravating the level of carbon emissions in neighboring cities. Thus, the "pollution haven hypothesis" was tested. Overall, this study deepens the knowledge of ETR and carbon emissions and provides theoretical support and policy suggestions for supporting resource-based cities in a green transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingnan Guo
- School of Humanity & Social Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Humanity & Social Science, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212000, China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Institute of Digital Economy and Green Development, Chifeng University, Chifeng, 024000, China
| | - Feng Hu
- Institute of International Business and Economics Innovation and Governance, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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34
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Hart W, Kinrade C, Lambert JT, Breeden CJ, Witt DE. A Closer Examination of the Integrity Scale's Construct Validity. J Pers Assess 2023; 105:743-751. [PMID: 36507664 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2022.2152346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
People's commitment to moral principles affects how they self-regulate and directs people down different ethical paths. The Integrity Scale was designed to assess the strength of people's commitment to moral principles. Here, we sought to contribute to evaluating the construct validity of the Integrity Scale. We related the scale to various theoretically relevant criteria including low antagonism features, social-cognitive foundations for morality, self-control, rationality, and self-presentation behavior. Suggestive of the scale's construct validity, the present research showed that scores on the Integrity Scale related to (a) reduced antagonistic-personality features relevant to exploitation and dishonesty more so than immodesty, tough-heartedness, fearlessness, or cynicism; (b) enhanced social-cognitive skills (e.g., cognitive empathy processes); (c) enhanced self-control; (d) enhanced capacities for and reliance on rationality in decision making (e.g., intelligence and cognitive-reflection skill); and (e) enhanced reliance on self-presentation tactics that portray an identity based in high levels of integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Hart
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Charlotte Kinrade
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Joshua T Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | | | - Danielle E Witt
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
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35
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Di Nallo A, Ivanova K, Balbo N. Repartnering of women in the United States: The interplay between motherhood and socio-economic status. Popul Stud (Camb) 2023; 77:399-416. [PMID: 36617422 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2022.2152478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We examine the socio-economic differentials in mothers' and non-mothers' repartnering behaviours following the dissolution of a co-residential (marital or cohabiting) union. Based on five waves of the National Survey of Family Growth (N = 11,479), we use discrete-time event history models, jointly modelling exit from a partnership and entry into a new union. Few differences are found for entry into direct marriage, which is a rarely observed event. However, when we examine women's entry into cohabitation (a possible stepping stone to marriage), we observe: (1) a motherhood gap, where mothers are less likely to repartner than non-mothers; (2) a negative association between educational attainment and repartnering probability; and (3) the motherhood gap existing only for low-educated women. Supplementary analyses on the impact of the Great Recession demonstrate that whereas the economic cycle mattered for the repartnering of low-educated women, it made no difference for more highly educated women.
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36
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Rahman S. Myth of objectivity and the origin of symbols. Front Sociol 2023; 8:1269621. [PMID: 37885904 PMCID: PMC10598666 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.1269621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
An age-old challenge in epistemology and moral philosophy is whether objectivity exists independent of subjective perspective. Alfred North Whitehead labeled it a "fallacy of misplaced concreteness"; after all, knowledge is represented elusively in symbols. I employ the free energy principle (FEP) to argue that the belief in moral objectivity, although perhaps fallacious, amounts to an ancient and universal human myth that is essential for our symbolic capacity. To perceive any object in a world of non-diminishing (perhaps irreducible) uncertainty, according to the FEP, its constituent parts must display common probabilistic tendencies, known as statistical beliefs, prior to its interpretation, or active inference, as a stable entity. Behavioral bias, subjective emotions, and social norms scale the scope of identity by coalescing agents with otherwise disparate goals and aligning their perspectives into a coherent structure. I argue that by declaring belief in norms as objective, e.g., expressing that a particular theft or infidelity was generally wrong, our ancestors psychologically constructed a type of identity bound only by shared faith in a perspective that technically transcended individual subjectivity. Signaling explicit belief in what were previously non-symbolic norms, as seen in many non-human animals, simulates a top-down point of view of our social interactions and thereby constructs our cultural niche and symbolic capacity. I demonstrate that, largely by contrasting with overly reductive analytical models that assume individual rational pursuit of extrinsic rewards, shared belief in moral conceptions, i.e., what amounts to a religious faith, remains a motivational cornerstone of our language, economic and civic institutions, stories, and psychology. Finally, I hypothesize that our bias for familiar accents (shibboleth), plausibly represents the phylogenetic and ontogenetic contextual origins of our impulse to minimize social surprise by declaring belief in the myth of objectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shagor Rahman
- Independent Researcher, Westfield, NJ, United States
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37
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Pownall M, Talbot CV, Kilby L, Branney P. Opportunities, challenges and tensions: Open science through a lens of qualitative social psychology. Br J Soc Psychol 2023; 62:1581-1589. [PMID: 36718588 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a focus in social psychology on efforts to improve the robustness, rigour, transparency and openness of psychological research. This has led to a plethora of new tools, practices and initiatives that each aim to combat questionable research practices and improve the credibility of social psychological scholarship. However, the majority of these efforts derive from quantitative, deductive, hypothesis-testing methodologies, and there has been a notable lack of in-depth exploration about what the tools, practices and values may mean for research that uses qualitative methodologies. Here, we introduce a Special Section of BJSP: Open Science, Qualitative Methods and Social Psychology: Possibilities and Tensions. The authors critically discuss a range of issues, including authorship, data sharing and broader research practices. Taken together, these papers urge the discipline to carefully consider the ontological, epistemological and methodological underpinnings of efforts to improve psychological science, and advocate for a critical appreciation of how mainstream open science discourse may (or may not) be compatible with the goals of qualitative research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Kilby
- Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Peter Branney
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Management, Law & Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
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38
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van Gameren E, Enciso N. The Impact of Seguro Popular on the Progression of Disabilities Among Older Adults With Chronic Degenerative Diseases in Mexico. Res Aging 2023; 45:599-608. [PMID: 36515312 PMCID: PMC10597644 DOI: 10.1177/01640275221146283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In a context of population aging, poverty, and inequalities including in the access to healthcare services, in 2004 Mexico initiated Seguro Popular (SP), a non-contributory health insurance providing coverage for informal sector workers excluded from social security. We analyze the impact of SP on the progression of functional limitations among adults aged over 50 with chronic degenerative diseases previously without stable health insurance. Panel data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) permit a difference-in-difference propensity score matching approach, comparing respondents before (2003) and after (2015) the implementation of SP. Findings suggest that SP affiliation in (or shortly before) 2012 has (weakly) slowed the progression of mobility, IADL, and ADL limitations, with a clearer effect in large urban centers. Reforms in the healthcare sector should address underlying structural barriers, reduce existing inequities, and provide effective access to high-quality services. with increased attention for long-term care needs, to guarantee healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin van Gameren
- El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos. Carretera Picacho Ajusco 20, Col. Ampliación Fuentes del Pedregal, C.P. 14110 Tlalpan, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Níobe Enciso
- El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos. Carretera Picacho Ajusco 20, Col. Ampliación Fuentes del Pedregal, C.P. 14110 Tlalpan, CDMX, Mexico
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39
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Baum MA, Braun MN, Hart A, Huffer VI, Meßmer JA, Weigl M, Wennerhold L. The first author takes it all? Solutions for crediting authors more visibly, transparently, and free of bias. Br J Soc Psychol 2023; 62:1605-1620. [PMID: 35945695 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
With the seventh edition of the publication manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), the APA style now prescribes bias-free language and encourages accessibility even to non-academic audiences. However, even with the newest guidelines, the way we credit authors in psychology remains anachronistic, intransparent, and prone to conflict. It still relies on a sequence-determines-credit approach in the byline, which concurrently is contradicted by the option to consider the last author as the position of the principal investigator depending on the field or journal. Scholars from various disciplines have argued that relying on such norms introduces a considerable amount of error when stakeholders rely on articles for career-relevant decisions. Given the existing recommendations towards a credit-based system, ignoring those issues will further promote bias that could be avoided with rather minor changes to the way we perceive authorship. In this article, we introduce a set of easy-to-implement changes to the manuscript layout that value contribution rather than position. Aimed at fostering transparency, accountability, and equality between authors, establishing those changes would likely benefit all stakeholders in contemporary psychological science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam A Baum
- Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Moritz N Braun
- Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Alexander Hart
- Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | | | - Julia A Meßmer
- Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Michael Weigl
- Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Lasse Wennerhold
- Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
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40
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Janssens S, Clipperton S, Simon R, Lowe B, Griffin A, Beckmann M, Marshall S. Coleadership in Maternity Teams, a Randomized, Counterbalanced, Crossover Trial in Simulation. Simul Healthc 2023; 18:299-304. [PMID: 35940597 DOI: 10.1097/sih.0000000000000680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to measure the effect of a coleadership model on team performance compared with singular leadership model in simulated maternity emergencies. METHODS A randomized, counterbalanced, crossover trial was performed at 2 tertiary maternity hospitals. Teams of obstetric physicians and nurse/midwives responded to 2 simulated maternity emergencies in either a singular or coleadership model. The primary outcome measure was teamwork rated with the Auckland Team Behavior tool. Secondary outcome measures included clinical performance (completion of critical tasks, time to critical intervention, documentation), self-rated teamwork (TEAM tool) and workload. Participants also answered a survey assessing their views on the coleadership model. Paired t tests and mixed-effects linear regression considering team as a random effect were used to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted associations between leadership model and the outcomes of interest. RESULTS There was no difference between leadership models for the primary outcome of teamwork (5.3 vs. 5.3, P = 0.91). Clinical outcome measures and self-rated teamwork scores were also similar. Team leaders reported higher workload than other team members, but these were not different between the leadership models. Participants viewed coleadership positively despite no measured objective evidence of benefit. CONCLUSIONS A coleadership model did not lead to a difference in team performance within simulated maternity emergencies. Despite this, participants viewed coleadership positively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Janssens
- From the Mater Misericordiae Ltd (S.J., M.B.), Australia; Monash University, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine (S.J., S.M.), Melbourne, Australia; University of Queensland, School of Medicine (S.J.), Brisbane, Australia; Mater Education Ltd. (S.C.), Australia; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (retired) (R.S.); Gold Coast University Hospital (B.L.), Southport, Australia; Bond University (B.L.), Southport, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (A.G.), Brisbane, Australia; Mater Research (M.B.), University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia; and University of Melbourne, Department of Critical Care (S.M.), Melbourne, Australia
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41
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Han G, Alfredsson E, Cox L, Psouni E. Variation in coparenting quality in relation to child age: Links to coparents' relationship satisfaction and education. Scand J Psychol 2023; 64:632-643. [PMID: 36942554 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Coparenting, denoting shared responsibilities in caring for a child, is a core component of parenthood for most parents. Research has linked quality in the coparenting relationship to several child outcomes as well as parent relationship satisfaction and mental health, yet whether and how these links may differ depending on child age is unclear. Here, we investigated links between coparenting quality, relationship satisfaction, parents' education, and child age, after assessing the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the 35-item Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) in a sample of 206 parents in Sweden. Participants completed the full 35-item CRS, alongside the Parenting Alliance Measure (PAM) and a relationship satisfaction measure. Our findings reveal good psychometric qualities and construct validity for both the CRS and PAM used with Swedish parents. Consistent with other adaptations of the CRS, we found four composite factors for the CRS, all demonstrating high reliability and convergence with the PAM. In relation to child age, parents of older children reported poorer coparenting quality than parents of younger children. The link between relationship satisfaction and coparenting quality was stronger for highly educated parents. Education also predicted partner endorsement in parents of children in early and middle childhood, but not parents of infants. Together, our findings expand the empirical base for understanding coparenting and its links to relationship satisfaction in parents with children of different ages, and they highlight a moderating role of parental education in these links.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Han
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elin Alfredsson
- Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Laura Cox
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elia Psouni
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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42
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Kim S, Beck MR, Cho YS. Loss aversion in the control of attention. Psychon Bull Rev 2023; 30:1887-1894. [PMID: 37040019 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-023-02287-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Loss aversion is a psychological bias where an increase in loss is perceived as being larger than an equivalent increase in gain. In the present study, two experiments were conducted to explore whether attentional control reflects loss aversion. Participants performed a visual search task. On each trial, a red target and a green target were presented simultaneously, and participants were free to search for either one. Participants always gained points when they searched for a gain color target (e.g., red). However, they gained or lost points when they searched for a gain-loss color target (e.g., green). In Experiment 1, the expected values of the gain color and the gain-loss color were equal. Therefore, for maximizing the reward, participants did not need to preferably search for a particular color. However, results showed that participants searched for the gain color target more than the gain-loss color target, suggesting stronger attentional control for the gain color than the gain-loss color. In Experiment 2, even though the expected value of the gain-loss color was greater than that of the gain color, attention was allocated to the gain color more than to the gain-loss color. The results imply that attentional control can operate in accordance with the loss aversion principle when the boundary conditions for loss aversion in a repeated binary decision-making task were met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunghyun Kim
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
| | - Melissa R Beck
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Yang Seok Cho
- School of Psychology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea
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Nazaret A, Sapiro G. A large-scale observational study of the causal effects of a behavioral health nudge. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadi1752. [PMID: 37738345 PMCID: PMC10516489 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi1752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Nudges are interventions promoting healthy behavior without forbidding options or substantial incentives; the Apple Watch, for example, encourages users to stand by delivering a notification if they have been sitting for the first 50 minutes of an hour. On the basis of 76 billion minutes of observational standing data from 160,000 subjects in the public Apple Heart and Movement Study, we estimate the causal effect of this notification using a regression discontinuity design for time series data with time-varying treatment. We show that the nudge increases the probability of standing by up to 43.9% and remains effective with time. The nudge's effectiveness increases with age and is independent of gender. Closing Apple Watch Activity Rings, a visualization of participants' daily progress in Move, Exercise, and Stand, further increases the nudge's impact. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of behavioral health interventions and introduces tools for investigating their causal effect from large-scale observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achille Nazaret
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Barry LE, Kee F, Woodside J, Cawley J, Doherty E, Clarke M, Crealey GE, Duggan J, O’Neill C. An umbrella review of the acceptability of fiscal and pricing policies to reduce diet-related noncommunicable disease. Nutr Rev 2023; 81:1351-1372. [PMID: 36857083 PMCID: PMC10494142 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Poor diet has been implicated in a range of noncommunicable diseases. Fiscal and pricing policies (FPs) may offer a means by which consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages with links to such diseases can be influenced to improve public health. OBJECTIVE To examine the acceptability of FPs to reduce diet-related noncommunicable disease, based on systematic review evidence. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, SCI, SSCI, Web of Science, Scopus, EconLit, the Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and the Campbell Collaboration Library were searched for relevant studies published between January 1, 1990 and June 2021. DATA EXTRACTION The studies included systematic reviews of diet-related FPs and: used real-world evidence; examined real or perceived barriers/facilitators; targeted the price of food or non-alcoholic beverages; and applied to entire populations within a jurisdiction. A total of 9996 unique relevant records were identified, which were augmented by a search of bibliographies and recommendations from an external expert advisory panel. Following screening, 4 systematic reviews remained. DATA ANALYSIS Quality appraisal was conducted using the AMSTAR 2 tool. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, with outcomes grouped according to the WHO-INTEGRATE criteria. The findings indicated a paucity of high-quality systematic review evidence and limited public support for the use of FPs to change dietary habits. This lack of support was related to a number of factors that included: their perceived potential to be regressive; a lack of transparency, ie, there was mistrust around the use of revenues raised; a paucity of evidence around health benefits; the deliberate choice of rates that were lower than those considered necessary to affect diet; and concerns about the potential of such FPs to harm economic outcomes such as employment. CONCLUSION The findings underscore the need for high-quality systematic review evidence on this topic, and the importance of responding to public concerns and putting in place mechanisms to address these when implementing FPs. This study was funded by Safefood [02A-2020]. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021274454.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke E Barry
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Kee
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jayne Woodside
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - John Cawley
- Brooks School of Public Policy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Edel Doherty
- John E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, County Galway, Ireland
| | - Mike Clarke
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne E Crealey
- John E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, County Galway, Ireland
| | - Jim Duggan
- John E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, County Galway, Ireland
| | - Ciaran O’Neill
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Wang Z, Xie R, Wu X, Xia Y, Yu Y, Nguyen TP, Cheng Z. Unpacking the relation between morphological awareness and reading comprehension in Chinese children. Br J Educ Psychol 2023; 93:773-789. [PMID: 36774949 DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Morphological awareness is an essential ability for successful reading. This study aimed to explore the contribution of morphological awareness to reading comprehension (RC) in Chinese. Particularly, this study sought to determine whether the relation between morphological awareness and RC differs across various facets of morphological awareness (homophone awareness, homonym awareness, and compounding awareness), grades, or ability levels. SAMPLES AND METHODS A total of 148 Chinese students were evaluated on a battery of tests from third to sixth grade. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the unique roles of homophone, homonym, and compounding awareness on RC in different grades. Quantile regression analyses were conducted to investigate the more or less influences of facets of morphological awareness on RC across the ability range. RESULTS A series of multiple and quantile regressions revealed that (1) compounding awareness rather than homophone awareness and homonym awareness, directly and uniquely explained the development of RC, (2) the effect of compounding awareness on RC increased with grade level, and (3) the contribution of compounding awareness to RC decreased as children move from poor to better readers. CONCLUSIONS The findings reveal a developmental shift in the relation between morphological awareness and RC, as well as clarify when and for whom to enhance which facet of morphological awareness is particularly important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenliang Wang
- School of Psychology, Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Parent Education Research Center, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Ruibo Xie
- School of Psychology, Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Parent Education Research Center, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xinchun Wu
- Research Center of Children's Reading and Learning, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- School of Applied Psychology, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yue Xia
- School of Psychology, Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Parent Education Research Center, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yanling Yu
- School of Psychology, Intelligent Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Parent Education Research Center, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Thi Phuong Nguyen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment for Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zizhuo Cheng
- School of Education, American University, Washington, DC, USA
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Schweinsberg M, Thau S, Pillutla M. Research-Problem Validity in Primary Research: Precision and Transparency in Characterizing Past Knowledge. Perspect Psychol Sci 2023; 18:1230-1243. [PMID: 36745743 PMCID: PMC10475212 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221144990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Four validity types evaluate the approximate truth of inferences communicated by primary research. However, current validity frameworks ignore the truthfulness of empirical inferences that are central to research-problem statements. Problem statements contrast a review of past research with other knowledge that extends, contradicts, or calls into question specific features of past research. Authors communicate empirical inferences, or quantitative judgments, about the frequency (e.g., "few," "most") and variability (e.g., "on the one hand," "on the other hand") in their reviews of existing theories, measures, samples, or results. We code a random sample of primary research articles and show that 83% of quantitative judgments in our sample are vague and do not have a transparent origin, making it difficult to assess their validity. We review validity threats of current practices. We propose that documenting the literature search, reporting how the search was coded, and quantifying the search results facilitates more precise judgments and makes their origin transparent. This practice enables research questions that are more closely tied to the existing body of knowledge and allows for more informed evaluations of the contribution of primary research articles, their design choices, and how they advance knowledge. We discuss potential limitations of our proposed framework.
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Satran S. From Craft to Labor: How Automation is Transforming the Practice of Psychotherapy. Cult Med Psychiatry 2023; 47:605-625. [PMID: 35192170 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-022-09771-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
I argue that the emergence of ICBT (Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), a novel computerized psychotherapeutic intervention, heralds a shift in the status of psychotherapy from craft to labor. Psychotherapy, as is practiced commonly today, retains its status as craft; therapists in managed settings still work within what I term an opaque bubble, their work invisible and uninterrupted, even by their immediate supervisors and managers. The therapists participating in the Israeli Ministry of Health's course training the first cohort of 'online therapists' find themselves in uncharted territory: The automation of psychotherapy in the form of ICBT constitutes the profession's first major 'division of labor,' not only minimizing the role of the human therapists, but rendering their craft transparent and controllable in ways previously unimaginable. This shift is theorized as a transition from a workmanship of risk, to a workmanship of certainty, and the potential degradation of therapists' skills and status is explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai Satran
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Joyce DD, Dusetzina SB. Financial toxicity of oral therapies in advanced prostate cancer. Urol Oncol 2023; 41:363-368. [PMID: 37029039 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
The treatment landscape of advanced prostate cancer (CaP) has evolved significantly over the past 20 years. As the number of oral anticancer treatment options continues to increase, so do the costs of these drugs. Furthermore, payment responsibility for these treatments is increasingly shifted from insurers to patients. In this narrative review, we sought to summarize existing assessments of financial toxicity (FT) associated with oral advanced CaP treatments, describe efforts targeted at limiting FT from these agents, and identify areas in need of further investigation. FT is understudied in advanced CaP. Oral treatment options are associated with significantly higher direct costs to patients compared to standard androgen deprivation therapy or chemotherapy. Financial assistance programs, Medicare low-income subsidies, and recent health policy changes help offset these costs for some patients. Physicians are reluctant to discuss treatment costs with patients and further work is needed to better understand best practices for inclusion of FT discussions in shared decision-making. Oral therapies for advanced CaP are associated with significantly higher patient out-of-pocket costs which may contribute to FT. Currently, little is known regarding the extent and severity of these costs on patients' lives. While recent policy changes have helped reduce these costs for some patients, more work is needed to better characterize FT in this population to inform interventions that improve access to care and lessen the harms associated with the cost of novel treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stacie B Dusetzina
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
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Bhattacharya N, Cahill DM, Yang W, Kochar M. Graphene as a nano-delivery vehicle in agriculture - current knowledge and future prospects. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023; 43:851-869. [PMID: 35815813 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2090315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Graphene has triggered enormous interest in, and exploration of, its applications in diverse areas of science and technology due to its unique properties. While graphene has displayed great potential as a nano-delivery system for drugs and biomolecules in biomedicine, its application as a nanocarrier in agriculture has only begun to be explored. Conventional fertilizers and agricultural delivery systems have a number of disadvantages, such as: fast release of the active ingredient, low delivery efficiency, rapid degradation and low stability that often leads to their over-application and consequent environmental problems. Advanced nano fertilizers with high carrier efficiency and slow and controlled release are now considered the gold standard for promoting agricultural sustainability while protecting the environment. Graphene's attractive properties include large surface area, chemical stability, mechanical stability, tunable surface chemistry and low toxicity making it a promising material on which to base agricultural delivery systems. Recent research has demonstrated considerable success in the use of graphene for agricultural applications, including its utilization as a delivery vehicle for plant nutrients and crop protection agents, as well as in post-harvest management of crops. This review, therefore, presents a comprehensive overview of the current status of graphene-based nanocarriers in agriculture. Additionally, the review outlines the surface functionalization methods used for effective molecular delivery, various strategies for nano-vehicle design and the underlying features necessary for a graphene-based agro-delivery system. Finally, the review discusses directions for further research in optimization of graphene-based nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Bhattacharya
- TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gual Pahari, Haryana, India
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - David M Cahill
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wenrong Yang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mandira Kochar
- TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gual Pahari, Haryana, India
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Chen S, Skidmore S, Ferrigno BN, Sade RM. The second victim of unanticipated adverse events. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023; 166:890-894. [PMID: 36202662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Chen
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Savannah Skidmore
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Brittany N Ferrigno
- Thought Leadership & Advancement, Human Trafficking Institute, Washington, DC
| | - Robert M Sade
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
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