Estimating Individual-Level Risk in Spatial Epidemiology Using Spatially Aggregated Information on the Population at Risk

We propose a novel alternative to case-control sampling for the estimation of individual-level risk in spatial epidemiology. Our approach uses weighted estimating equations to estimate regression parameters in the intensity function of an inhomogeneous spatial point process, when information on risk-factors is available at the individual level for cases, but only at a spatially aggregated level for the population at risk. We develop data-driven methods to select the weights used in the estimating equations and show through simulation that the choice of weights can have a major impact on efficiency of estimation. We develop a formal test to detect non-Poisson behavior in the underlying point process and assess the performance of the test using simulations of Poisson and Poisson cluster point processes. We apply our methods to data on the spatial distribution of childhood meningococcal disease cases in Merseyside, U.K. between 1981 and 2007.     

Solidarity.com? Class and collective action

conclusion In detailing the evolution of the economic landscape from factory town to electronic vil-lage and in discussing how class and collective action may be analyzed in the context of the electronic village, my goal has been to provide a framework that researchers can use to develop meaningful studies of class and collective action in the electronic village.     

Some sampling effects of pairwise correlated observations on likelihood ratio tests for the difference between two means

We study the effects of the inclusion of pairs of correlated observations in a sample on likelihood ratio tests for the difference in two means. In particular, we assess how the inclusion of correlated data pairs (e.g., such as data inadvertently collected from sib-pairs) affects the sample size requirements necessary for the implementation of a Likelihood Ratio (LR) test for the difference between two means. Our results suggest that correlated data pairs beneficially or adversely effect sample size requirements for an LR test to a degree functionally related to the mixture parameters dictating their relative frequencies in the larger sample on which the test will be performed, the strength of the correlation between the observations, and the size of imbalances in the sample with respect to the number of observations in each group. The relevance and implications of the results for genetic and epidemiologic research are discussed.     

Inference for general parametric functions in box‐Cox‐type transformation models

The authors propose a simple but general method of inference for a parametric function of the Box‐Cox‐type transformation model. Their approach is built upon the classical normal theory but takes parameter estimation into account. It quickly leads to test statistics and confidence intervals for a linear combination of scaled or unsealed regression coefficients, as well as for the survivor function and marginal effects on the median or other quantité functions of an original response. The authors show through simulations that the finite‐sample performance of their method is often superior to the delta method, and that their approach is robust to mild departures from normality of error distributions. They illustrate their approach with a numerical example.     

Becoming an American and Liking It as Functions of Social Distance and Severity of Initiation

This paper examines the effects of social distance among a sample of immigrants in the process of becoming United States citizens. Using the Bogardus Social Distance Scale, a positive relationship was found between the degree of social distance and the likelihood of becoming a citizen. Social distance also serves as an important indicator of severity of initiation; the findings suggest that severity of initiation had a positive influence on reported satisfaction with life in America for those who became U. S. citizens. For those who did not become citizens, however, social distance had an inverse affect on satisfaction.     

Credit Unions: A Partial Solution to the Consumer Credit Problems of Low Income Families

An anomaly of Australia's economic system is that those who can least afford to pay dearly for consumer credit (low income families), are the ones who must pay more. It is suggested that a partial solution to the consumer credit problems of low income families lies in the use of credit unions. This paper examines the consumer credit problems of such families, illustrates how credit unions function and indicates where they may be useful in providing cheap credit to low income families.