Bayesian Parametric Accelerated Failure Time Spatial Model and its Application to Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American men and the second leading cause of death from malignancies. There are large geographical variation and racial disparities existing in the survival rate of prostate cancer. Much work on the spatial survival model is based on the proportional hazards model, but few focused on the accelerated failure time model. In this paper, we investigate the prostate cancer data of Louisiana from the SEER program and the violation of the proportional hazards assumption suggests the spatial survival model based on the accelerated failure time model is more appropriate for this data set. To account for the possible extra-variation, we consider spatially-referenced independent or dependent spatial structures. The deviance information criterion (DIC) is used to select a best fitting model within the Bayesian frame work. The results from our study indicate that age, race, stage and geographical distribution are significant in evaluating prostate cancer survival.     

Mechanisms underlying parent–child occupational consistency: a critical review

Parents’ and children’s occupations are often similar on a variety of dimensions, including income, gender typicality, and Holland’s job types [Whiston, S. C., & Keller, B. K. (2004). The influences of the family of origin on career development: A review and analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 32, 493–568]. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not well understood, limiting both research and application to real-world contexts such as career counseling settings. The present article has three main goals: (1) To critically examine individual mechanisms underlying parent–child occupational consistency; (2) To propose a multiple mechanisms model that accounts for the limitations and assumptions of individual mechanisms; and (3) To propose future research directions while critically examining implicit assumptions of past research and research methodology. By addressing these goals, this paper has the potential to inform future research on parent–child occupational consistency and vocational intervention efforts.     

An evaluation of likelihood-based bandwidth selectors for spatial and spatiotemporal kernel estimates

Spatial point pattern data sets are commonplace in a variety of different research disciplines. The use of kernel methods to smooth such data is a flexible way to explore spatial trends and make inference about underlying processes without, or perhaps prior to, the design and fitting of more intricate semiparametric or parametric models to quantify specific effects. The long-standing issue of ‘optimal’ data-driven bandwidth selection is complicated in these settings by issues such as high heterogeneity in observed patterns and the need to consider edge correction factors. We scrutinize bandwidth selectors built on leave-one-out cross-validation approximation to likelihood functions. A key outcome relates to previously unconsidered adaptive smoothing regimens for spatiotemporal density and multitype conditional probability surface estimation, whereby we propose a novel simultaneous pilot-global selection strategy. Motivated by applications in epidemiology, the results of both simulated and real-world analyses suggest this strategy to be largely preferable to classical fixed-bandwidth estimation for such data.     

The Medicare Part D Coverage Gap: Implications for Non-Dually Eligible Older Adults With a Mental Illness

This study examines how the Medicare Part D coverage gap impacts non-dually eligible older adults with a mental illness. Qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 case managers from community-based agencies serving persons, age 55 and over, with a mental disorder. Five themes illustrating the central difficulties associated with the Part D gap emerged: medication affordability, beneficiary understanding, administrative barriers, Low-Income Subsidy income and asset guidelines, and medication compliance. Although the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gradually reduces cost sharing within the gap, findings suggest that medication access and adherence may continue to be impacted by the benefit's structure.     

Least Restrictive or Least Understood? Waist Restraints,Provider Practices,and Risk of Harm

Since implementation of The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, restraint use in American nursing homes has reduced dramatically. The reduction in vest restraints has resulted in an increase in “least restrictive” devices such as waist restraints. Although this analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting Data Files found that waist devices pose the same potential risk for asphyxial death as vest restraints, few health professionals and consumers are aware of this outcome. Post-marketing device reporting needs better data quality and surveillance, which can certainly benefit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in their efforts to regulate and enforce standards of care that reduce deaths and injuries to vulnerable nursing home residents.     

Depth Accessibility Difficulties: An Alternative Conceptualisation of Autism Spectrum Conditions

John Lawson, Depth Accessibility Difficulties: An Alternative Conceptualisation of Autism Spectrum Conditions, pp. 189–202.
Autism and Asperger syndrome are psychiatric conditions diagnosed primarily on the basis of deficits and problems in social behaviour; interaction and communication. At present the explanation of these behavioural features is dominated by three cognitive models. However, it is a characteristic of each of these models that they only explain a sub-set of the overall features.
The aim of this paper is to suggest an alternative conceptual theory of autism and Asperger syndrome that unites the current three models. Thus, the aim is to situate the existing models as special cases of the one being proposed here. This alternative conceptualisation draws heavily on distinctions and ideas present in the philosophy of science, most especially in the area of critical realism. Central to the theory is the idea that the core "problem" in autism and Asperger syndrome concerns ontological depth. More specifically, that people with these conditions find it difficult to cope with phenomena characterised by depth (underlying needs, motives beliefs etc.), open systems (rapidly changing, multiple causes) and high internal relationality (converging or changing roles and demands).