bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The changing association between prenatal participation in WIC and birth outcomes in New York City
Authors: Joyce Ted , Gibson Diane , Colman Silvie 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe analyze the relationship between prenatal WIC participation and birth outcomes in New York City from 1988—2001. The analysis is unique for several reasons. First, we have over 800,000 births to women on Medicaid, the largest sample ever used to analyze prenatal participation in WIC. Second, we focus on measures of fetal growth distinct from preterm birth, since there is little clinical support for a link between nutritional supplementation and premature delivery. Third, we restrict the primary analysis to women on Medicaid who have no previous live births and who initiate prenatal care within the first four months of pregnancy. Our goal is to lessen heterogeneity between WIC and non‐WIC participants by limiting the sample to highly motivated women who have no experience with WIC from a previous pregnancy. Fourth, we analyze a large sub‐sample of twin deliveries. Multifetal pregnancies increase the risk of anemia and fetal growth retardation and thus may benefit more than singletons from nutritional supplementation. We find no relationship between prenatal WIC participation and measures of fetal growth among singletons. We find a modest pattern of association between WIC and fetal growth among U.S.‐born Black twins. Our findings suggest that prenatal participation in WIC has had a minimal effect on adverse birth outcomes in New York City. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Poverty, food programs, and childhood obesity
Authors: Hofferth Sandra L. , Curtin Sally 
Published: September 2005

AbstractSixteen percent of children 6–11 years of age were classified as overweight in 1999–2002, four times the percentage in 1965. Although poverty has traditionally been associated with underweight as a result of poor diet, researchers have recently pointed to a paradox in the U.S., which is that low income and obesity can coexist in the same population. This paper first examines whether income is linked to overweight in school‐age children. Second, it explores whether food programs such as the Food Stamp Program, the National School Lunch Program, and the School Breakfast Program are associated with overweight among children in different income groups. The data come from the nationally representative 1997 Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement. No evidence either that poor children are more likely to be overweight or that food programs contribute to overweight among poor children was found. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Morbid obesity and the transition from welfare to work
Authors: Cawley John , Danziger Sheldon 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis paper utilizes a rich longitudinal data set—the Women's Employment Study (WES)—to investigate whether obesity, which is common among women of low socioeconomic status, is a barrier to employment and earnings for current and former welfare recipients. We find that former welfare recipients who are both White and morbidly obese have been less successful in transitioning from welfare to work. These women are less likely to work at any survey wave, spend a greater percentage of months between waves receiving cash welfare, and have lower monthly earnings at each wave. The magnitude of the difference in labor market outcomes between the morbidly obese and those who are less heavy is in some cases similar in magnitude to the differences in these labor market outcomes between high school dropouts and graduates. In contrast, we find no such labor market differences associated with morbid obesity for African‐American respondents.This paper documents the relationship between weight and labor market outcomes for the first time among the welfare population. In addition, it investigates whether the correlation for White females is due to unobserved heterogeneity. We find that after controlling for individual fixed effects, the point estimate of the correlation of morbid obesity and each of the labor market outcomes falls considerably and is no longer statistically significant. These results are consistent with unobserved heterogeneity causing the correlation between morbid obesity and labor market outcomes. Findings are similar after controlling for the respondent's mental and physical health. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Covenants with weak swords: ISO 14001 and facilities' environmental performance
Authors: Potoski Matthew , Prakash Aseem 
Published: September 2005

AbstractVoluntary environmental programs are codes of progressive environmental conduct that firms pledge to adopt. This paper investigates whether ISO 14001, a voluntary program with a weak sword—a weak monitoring and sanctioning mechanism—can mitigate shirking and improve participants' environmental performance. Sponsored by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 14001 is the most widely adopted voluntary environmental program in the world. Our analysis of over 3,000 facilities regulated as major sources under the U.S. Clean Air Act suggests that ISO 14001‐certified facilities reduce their pollution emissions more than non‐certified facilities. This result persists even after controlling for facilities' emission and regulatory compliance histories as well as addressing potential endogeneity issues between facilities' environmental performance and their decisions to join ISO 14001. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Can public policy deter smoking escalation among young adults?
Authors: Tauras John A. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIn the wake of significant budget shortfalls, 37 states and the District of Columbia have recently increased cigarette excise taxes to boost revenues. This study examines the impact of increasing the price of cigarettes, which will occur as a consequence of cigarette excise tax increases, and implementing restrictions on smoking in private worksites, restaurants, government worksites, healthcare facilities, and other public places on young adult smoking progression. This paper employs nationally representative longitudinal data on young adults from the Monitoring the Future Surveys matched with information on site‐specific prices and smokefree air laws. The estimates clearly indicate that increasing the price of cigarettes would substantially decrease the number of young adults who progress into higher intensities of smoking. In addition, private worksite restrictions and restrictions on smoking in other public places are found to decrease moderate smoking uptake among young adults. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
The effects of state R&D tax credits in stimulating private R&D expenditure: A cross‐state empirical analysis
Authors: Wu Yonghong 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis is a cross‐state empirical study which examines the effects of state research and development (R&D) tax credits on private R&D expenditure in the states. Other explanatory variables include federal R&D subsidies, public services in higher education and R&D‐targeted programs as well as other control variables. The statistical result shows that the establishment of state R&D credit programs is effective in stimulating more industrial R&D expenditure. In addition, state services in higher education and R&D‐targeted programs also matter in private decision of R&D investment. This policy assessment sends a positive message to state policymakers because it shows the great potential in using R&D policy instruments to promote innovation‐based economic development. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Optimal compensating wages for military personnel
Authors: Carrell Scott E. , West James E. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe current U.S. military pay structure offers inequitable and inefficient wages across locations. Military personnel are paid less competitive wages in high‐cost and/or low‐amenity locations compared to low‐cost and/or high‐amenity locations. This pay system results in unequal reenlistment rates across locations, which leads to production inefficiencies caused by short‐term manning shortages in highturnover locations. Wages set according to local civilian compensating wage differentials would result in a more stabilized force (across locations) by equalizing the opportunity cost of staying in the military at each location. Additionally, more personnel would volunteer to serve in the high‐cost and/or low‐amenity locations because wages would be more commensurate with local costs and amenities. This would result in fewer non‐volunteer assignments to undesirable locations and a minimized opportunity cost for personnel serving at each location. Reenlistment simulations on first‐term Air Force personnel show that the proposed wage structure would better equalize reenlistment rates across locations. This proposal could be implemented at no cost to the government by cutting wages in low‐cost and/or high‐amenity locations. A gradual implementation in which such wages are frozen or increased slowly may be more politically palatable. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Interdisciplinarity and the teaching of public policy
Authors: Szostak Rick 
Published: September 2005

AbstractDe Leon and Steelman (2001) addressed three deficiencies in public policy programs. This paper focuses on the first of these, arguing that public policy students can and should be exposed to a comprehensive classification of types of ethical analysis. It then briefly addresses the two other deficiencies, again with recourse to recent interdisciplinary scholarship. Students can and should be exposed to the full range of types of ethical evaluation, theories, methods, and possible side effects of policies. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Using the Kaldor‐Hicks tableau format for cost‐benefit analysis and policy evaluation
Authors: Krutilla Kerry 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis note describes the Kaldor‐Hicks (KH) tableau format as a framework for distributional accounting in cost‐benefit analysis and policy evaluation. The KH tableau format can serve as a heuristic aid for teaching microeconomics‐based policy analysis, and offer insight to policy analysts and decisionmakers beyond conventional efficiency analysis. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Fingerprinting of Cretaceous higher plant resins by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry
Authors: Chaler Roser , Grimalt Joan O. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAmbers from Peñacerrada (Basque Country, North Spain) have been analysed by IR spectroscopy and GC‐MS in order to study the polymeric and solvent‐soluble GC‐amenable fractions, respectively. All samples showed branched monoalkybenzenes, bicyclic sesquiterpenoids and tricyclic diterpenoids related to pimaric acids precursors, suggesting a paleobotanic origin from araucarian species. Molecules containing oxygenated polar functionalities were not found, which is in agreement with the Cretaceous origin of the samples and in good correspondence with the IR spectra and with the low oxygen content estimated from elemental composition analysis. In addition, no IR bands for exocyclic double bonds and very few GC‐amenable monounsaturated molecules were found, which provides further evidence of the loss of olefinic groups. Theses features show that the age‐dependent loss of oxygenated and olefinic functions is a general process affecting the whole amber structure, not only the solvent soluble fraction. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accuracy and validity of using medical claims data to identify episodes of hospitalizations in patients with COPD
Authors: Monfared Amir Abbas Tahami , LeLorier Jacques 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPurposeIn Quebec, MED‐ECHO database can be used to estimate inhospital length of stay (LOS) and number of hospitalizations (NOH) both accurately and reliably. However, access to MED‐ECHO database is time‐consuming. Quebec medical claims database (RAMQ) can be used as an alternative source to estimate these measures. Considering MED‐ECHO as the ‘gold standard,’ this study examined the validity of using RAMQ medical claims to estimate LOS and NOH.MethodsWe used a cohort of 3768 elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) between 1990 and 1996 and identified those with inhospital claims. Inhospital LOS was defined as the total number of days with inhospital claims. Various grace periods (1–15 days) between consecutive claims were considered for the estimation of LOS and NOH. RAMQ and MED‐ECHO databases were linked using unique patient identifiers. Estimates obtained from RAMQ data were compared to those from MED‐ECHO using various measures of central tendency and predictive error estimates.ResultsOverall, 32.7% of patients were hospitalized at least once during the study period based on RAMQ claims, as compared to 32.0% in MED‐ECHO ( p‐value = 0.51). The best estimates [mean (p‐value)] were found to be those obtained when using a 7‐day grace period. RAMQ versus MED‐ECHO estimates were: 12.2 versus 13.5 days (< 0.001) for LOS and 3.6 versus 3.7 times (0.36) for NOH.ConclusionsRAMQ medical claims can be used as a reliable source to estimate LOS and NOH, particularly when time and resources are restricted. RAMQ, however, should be used with caution since slight underestimations may occur. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of recall of over‐the‐counter and prescription non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug exposure
Authors: Lewis James D. , Strom Brian L. , Kimmel Stephen E. , Farrar John , Metz David C. , Brensinger Colleen , Nessel Lisa , Localio A. Russell 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPurposeBecause of the difficulty in establishing a gold standard, data on accuracy of recall of over‐the‐counter (OTC) medication use are sparse.MethodsWe studied a cohort of 1889 persons living in the Philadelphia area to assess recall of non‐aspirin non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NANSAID) use during the preceding 8 weeks. Our analyses were based on the assumption that among the group of subjects, on average, the reported usage of NANSAIDs should not vary over the previous 8 weeks. To model the effect of time on reported usage while allowing for the inherent correlation of responses within subjects over time, we employed alternating logistic regression.ResultsWe documented a significant decline in reported use of OTC NANSAIDs but not prescription NANSAIDs during the 8‐week study period (p = 0.3 for frequent prescription NANSAIDs, p = 0.2 for infrequent prescription NANSAIDs, p < 0.001 for frequent OTC NANSAIDs, and p < 0.001 for infrequent OTC NANSAIDs). Reported rates of frequent and infrequent OTC NANSAID consumption declined from 6.3 to 4.6% and from 17.1 to 12.8% between the most recent week and eight weeks prior, respectively.ConclusionsInterviews focusing on medications used on an as needed basis should be performed as close as possible to the index date. Likewise, data on frequent use of OTC NANSAIDs may be more reliable than that on infrequent use, particularly when subjects are asked to recall more than a few weeks back in time. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Population antibiotic susceptibility for Streptococcus pneumoniae and treatment outcomes in common respiratory tract infections
Authors: Furuno Jon P. , Metlay Joshua P. , Harnett James P. , Wilson Jerome , Langenberg Patricia , McGregor Jessina C. , Zhu Jingkun , Perencevich Eli N. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPurposeAntibiotic‐resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae potentially threatens the successful treatment of common respiratory tract infections (RTIs); however, the relationship between antibiotic resistance and treatment outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to test the hypothesis that higher in vitro penicillin and erythromycin nonsusceptibility levels among clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae are associated with higher risk of treatment failure in suppurative acute otitis media (AOM), acute sinusitis, and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB).MethodsWe conducted a population‐level analysis using treatment outcomes data from a national, managed‐care claims database, and antibiotic susceptibility data from a national repository of antimicrobial susceptibility results between 1997 and 2000. Treatment outcomes in patients with suppurative AOM, acute sinusitis, or AECB receiving selected macrolides or beta‐lactams were assessed. Associations between RTI‐specific treatment outcomes and antibiotic nonsusceptibility were determined using Spearman correlation coefficients with condition‐specific paired outcome and susceptibility data for each region and each year.ResultsThere were 649 552 available RTI outcomes and 7252 susceptibility tests performed on S. pneumoniae isolates. There were no statistically significant trends across time for resolution proportions following treatment by either beta‐lactams or macrolides among any of the RTIs. Correlation analyses found no statistically significant association between S. pneumoniae susceptibility and RTI treatment outcomes apart from a significant positive association between of erythromycin nonsusceptibility in ear isolates and macrolide treatment resolution for suppurative AOM.ConclusionOn the population level, in vitro S. pneumoniae nonsusceptibility to macrolide or beta‐lactam antibiotics was not associated with treatment failure in conditions of probable S. pneumoniae etiology. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of characteristics of treated and non‐treated patients with Hepatitis C infection
Authors: Hare C. Bradley , Morris Jonathan A. , Chu Alice , Gotz Vincent , Loveland Jacqueline J. , Hodes David , Klaskala Winslow 
Published: September 2005

AbstractObjectivesThis study compares the characteristics of treated and non‐treated patients with Hepatitis C (HCV) infection.MethodsInformation on patient demographics, clinical data, and treatment regimens were collected from a retrospective medical record review of 998 patients diagnosed with HCV, representing a diverse geographic sample of 200 U.S. physicians including 130 gastroenterologists, 50 infectious disease physicians, and 20 hepatologists. A total of 551 patients were randomly selected and 447 were provided as an augmented sample in an intent‐to‐treat analysis based on treatment decisions. Pretreatment factors examined included age, gender, race, weight, HCV genotype, HCV viral load, serum ALT levels, liver biopsy results, cirrhosis, HIV co‐infection, HBV co‐infection, IV drug use, and insurance status. Univariate analyses were performed using Chi‐squared or ANOVA tests. Factors that were significant in univariate analyses were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model with HCV treatment as the outcome variable.ResultsOf the 998 patients reviewed, 778 were treated for HCV and 220 were not treated. In univariate analyses, non‐treated patients were more likely to be African American, HBV co‐infected, HIV co‐infected, IDUs, alcoholics, Medicaid insured, and were less likely to have had biopsies. The multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that performance of a liver biopsy, treatment with psychiatric medications (antidepressants and anxiolytics), and patient weight were independently associated with treatment, while Medicaid insurance and HIV co‐infection were independently associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving HCV therapy.ConclusionThis study suggests that it is not the clinical stage of HCV infection but the patient's demographic characteristics and co‐morbid conditions that impact the decision to initiate HCV therapy. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frequency estimates from prescription drug datasets (revision of #04‐11‐066A)
Authors: Lin Swu‐Jane , Lambert Bruce , Tan Hiangkiat , Toh Sengwee 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPurposeAccurate information about the number of times a drug is prescribed or dispensed annually is important to marketers, pharmacoepidemiologists, and patient safety researchers. Yet there is no standard reference for prescribing frequency data. The multiple sources that do exist vary in their sampling methods, target populations, nomenclature, and methods of tallying individual medications prescribed or dispensed. These differences are likely to create ambiguity and contradictions in the scientific literature, but they are not well understood.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive study to examine the similarities and differences between five well‐known sources of prescribing frequency data: the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS, emergency department and outpatient department), the IMS National Prescription Drug Audit, the Solucient outpatient dataset, and the Solucient inpatient dataset. We compared survey methods, costs, overall frequencies, number of unique names in each database, correlations between frequency estimates from different databases, the extent of overlap in the databases, and nomenclature differences between and within datasets.ResultsAll the correlations between frequency estimates derived from different datasets were significant, but the frequency estimates differed considerably. The lowest correlation (0.17) was found between the IMS and emergency department of the NHAMCS, and the highest correlation (0.93) was between IMS and Solucient outpatient data.ConclusionsAlthough there were significant correlations between frequency estimates for comparable datasets, sampling methods and nomenclature choices resulted in important differences both for individual drug products and for overall frequency statistics. Researchers need to be aware of the differences when deriving drug frequency with these datasets. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ionic liquids in the synthesis and modification of polymers
Authors: Kubisa Przemysław 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIonic liquids are organic salts that are liquid at ambient temperatures, preferably at room temperature. They are nonvolatile, thermally and chemically stable, highly polar liquids that dissolve many organic, inorganic, and metallo‐organic compounds. Many combinations of organic cations with different counterions are already known, and the properties of ionic liquids may be adjusted by the proper selection of the cation and counterion. In the last decade, there has been increasing interest in using ionic liquids as solvents for chemical reactions. The interest is stimulated not only by their nonvolatility (green solvents) but also by their special properties, which often affect the course of a reaction. In recent years, ionic liquids have also attracted the attention of polymer chemists. Although the research on using ionic liquids in polymer systems is still in its infancy, several interesting possibilities have already emerged. Ionic liquids are used as solvents for polymerization processes, and in several systems they indeed show some advantages. In radical polymerization, the kp/kt ratio (where kp is the rate constant of propagation and kt is the rate constant of termination) is higher than in organic media, and thus better control of the process can be achieved. Ionic liquids, as electrolytes, have also attracted the attention of researchers in the fields of electrochemical polymerization and the synthesis of conducting polymers. Finally, the blending of ionic liquids with polymers may lead to the development of new materials (ionic liquids may act as plasticizers, electrolytes dispersed in polymer matrices, or even porogens). In this article, the new developments in these fields are briefly discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4675–4683, 2005