Living Arrangements of American Urban Widows

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the examination of the residential arrangements of widows and of the reasons they do not live with married children. It is based on interviews with a modified area probability sample of 301 widows, aged 50 and over, residing in metropolitan Chicago. The conclusion of the analyses is that older widows expect problems in living with married children or are enjoying the ease and independence of living alone sufficiently to offset its disadvantages. Although one-quarter of the widows live in arrangements which they do not like, in terms of sharing a residence, most express satisfaction with their current location. The tendency toward, and satisfaction with, independent living is associated with age, education, and attitudes toward selected social relations, particularly toward children. Widows sharing a residence tend to be with never married children or those undergoing a disorganization of their marriage and to be the head of such a household. Very few Chicago area widows live in three-generation families.     

Methylmercury Risks and EPA + DHA Benefits Associated with Seafood Consumption in Europe

The intake of methyl‐Hg and EPA + DHA through consumption of seafood in Europe as well as the associated probability of exceeding the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) and the recommended daily intake (RDI), respectively, were estimated by combining methyl‐Hg and EPA + DHA contents in the five most consumed seafood species with hypothesized consumption distributions for eight European countries, chosen on the basis of size and representative significance. Two estimators were used: plug‐in (PI) and tail estimation (TE). The latter was based on the application of the extreme value theory to the intakes distribution curves. Whereas contents data were collected from own database and published scientific papers, consumption data were obtained from statistical sources of the various countries. Seafood consumption levels varied considerably between countries, from 140 in the United Kingdom to 628.5 g/(person.week) in Iceland. The main consumed species were also different between countries. The probability of exceeding the methyl‐Hg PTWI ranged from 0.04% in the United Kingdom to 9.61% in Iceland. Concerning the probability of exceeding the RDI of EPA + DHA, Iceland was third, after Portugal (66.05%) and Spain (61.05%) and the United Kingdom was the last (0.32%). While TE was most accurate for small probabilities, PI yielded best estimates for larger probabilities.     

Market Access and Manufacturing Wages: Evidence for the Enlarged EU

This paper shows that the establishment of market access to the new EU member countries can favour manufacturing wages in larger EU members, but not in smaller ones, although within the latter some sectors may have gains. Hence the impact of market access is country and sector-specific. The variation in country size, as measured by GDP, is highly correlated with the variation in the impact of market access to the new EU member countries on manufacturing wages.     

Pseudo-likelihood inference for clustered binary data

The maximum likelihood procedure to estimate paraneters of a model has scveral attractive properties including the existence of the covariance matrix which yield asymptotic covariances: for a sample size N the asymptotics are in general of order 1/N. Here we give an asymptotic for the skewness of the distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator of a parameter; this is of order 1/ n2 and this expression is new. Applications relate to the parameters of (i) the Poisson, binomial, and normal density. (ii) the gamna density and (iii) the Beta debsity. Other application are being considered. The expression for the asymptotic skowness at one phase of the study tured out to be unusually complicated involving the asymptotic expressions for variance and bias. When these were identified a much simpler compact expression appeared which we now describe. The work is a much improved treatment of the subject described in Shenton and Bowman (Mariunm likelihood estimation in small samples, Griffin. 1977).     

Marginal Correlation in Longitudinal Binary Data Based on Generalized Linear Mixed Models

This work aims at investigating marginal correlation within and between longitudinal data sequences. Useful and intuitive approximate expressions are derived based on generalized linear mixed models. Data from four double-blind randomized clinical trials are used to estimate the intra-class coefficient of reliability for a binary response. Additionally, the correlation between such a binary response and a continuous response is derived to evaluate the criterion validity of the binary response variable and the established continuous response variable.     

Psychotropic drug classification based on sleep–wake behaviour of rats

Summary.  The aim of the paper is to present methodology for the classification of potential psychotropic drugs on the basis of their activity. We first sketch the background of this class of drugs and then zoom in on so-called pharmacoelectroencephalogram studies. These data pose some statistical challenges. For classification purposes, we propose a flexible hierarchical discriminant analysis tool, allowing us to take the specific nature of the drug class into account, as well as the features of the mixed models, in combination with fractional polynomials, fitted to the electroencephalogram data. The method is evaluated against the background of existing methods. The method's performance is studied by using a comprehensive analysis of a large electroencephalogram data set.     

Estimating herd-specific force of infection by using random-effects models for clustered binary data and monotone fractional polynomials

Summary.  In veterinary epidemiology, we are often confronted with hierarchical or clustered data. Typically animals are grouped within herds, and consequently we cannot ignore the possibility of animals within herds being more alike than between herds. Based on a serological survey of bovine herpes virus type 1 in cattle, we describe a method for the estimation of herd-specific rates at which susceptible animals acquire the infection at different ages. In contrast with the population-averaged force of infection, this method allows us to model the herd-specific force of infection, allowing investigation of the variability between herds. A random-effects approach is used to account for the correlation in the data, allowing us to study both population-averaged and herd-specific force of infection. In contrast, generalized estimating equations can be used when interest is only in the population-averaged force of infection. Further, a flexible predictor model is needed to describe the dependence of covariates appropriately. Fractional polynomials as proposed by Royston and Altman offer such flexibility. However, the flexibility of this model should be restricted, since only positive forces of infection have a meaningful interpretation.     

A kap study on malaria in Zanzibar: implications for prevention and controlA study conducted for unicef Sub-Office Zanzibar

This study was a collaborative undertaking between UNICEF Sub-Office Zanzibar and Zanzibar Ministries of Health and Education between December 1996 and February 1997.The overall objective of the KAP study was to obtain and interpret detailed grassroots information about Zanzibaris understanding of the causation and transmission of malaria so as to select priority interventions to improve home-based management and prevention of childhood malaria. This information now forms the basis for designing various interventions targeting care-takers risk behaviors, household ability to take informed decisions, and both private and public sector provision of adequate advice and support to households.The assumption underlying the study was that communities will welcome change if they see the need for it, and they will develop the determination and capacity to bring about change to the extent that it seems worthwhile. This KAP profile, then, was to be a key component in a programme to induce beneficial change through public, especially school childrens, participation.The key findings of the study were: (a) although public health messages about malaria were technically correct, they did not address the common cultural myths and perceptions about causation and transmission of malaria; (b) there was a clear distinction made by respondents in defining malaria, i.e., fever, and malarias severe complications, convulsions and fits; (c) decisions concerning treatment were usually taken, with inputs from the family (especially grandparents), by the husbands (where they existed); and (d) treatment involved traditional medicine more frequently than the use of a modern health facility and services.