A Bayes comparison of Weibull extension and modified Weibull models for data showing bathtub hazard rate

A number of models have been proposed in the literature to model data reflecting bathtub-shaped hazard rate functions. Mixture distributions provide the obvious choice for modelling such data sets but these contain too many parameters and hamper the accuracy of the inferential procedures particularly when the data are meagre. Recently, a few distributions have been proposed which are simply generalizations of the two-parameter Weibull model and are capable of producing bathtub behaviour of the hazard rate function. The Weibull extension and the modified Weibull models are two such families. This study focuses on comparing these two distributions for data sets exhibiting bathtub shape of the hazard rate. Bayesian tools are preferred due to their wide range of applicability in various nested and non-nested model comparison problems. Real data illustrations are provided so that a particular model can be recommended based on various tools of model comparison discussed in the paper.     

Co-dependency and myth

Timmen Cernak’s use of Ovid’s mythological account of Narcissus and Echo as a classic case of co-dependence is critically analyzed against other interpretations. Simultaneous consideration is given to whether and to what extent the clinical concept of co-dependency has been confounded with the psychology of women in a male-oriented society. The complex and ambiguous symbolism of myth demands separation of myth from reality in describing the symptoms, etiology, and treatment of clinical co-dependence.     

Clubs and the Market

This paper defines a general equilibrium model with exchange and club formation. Agents trade multiple private goods widely in the market, can belong to several clubs, and care about the characteristics of the other members of their clubs. The space of agents is a continuum, but clubs are finite. It is shown that (i) competitive equilibria exist, and (ii) the core coincides with the set of equilibrium states. The central subtlety is in modeling club memberships and expressing the notion that membership choices are consistent across the population.     

Unmet mental health and substance abuse treatment needs of sexual minority elders

In a survey exploring the reliability and validity of a screening tool, we explored the substance abuse and mental health issues among 371 elders; 74 were sexual minorities. Analyses by age group indicated that elders 55-64 years had significantly more problems with substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts compared to those 65 and older. Bisexuals reported significantly greater problems with depression, anxiety, and suicidality than either heterosexual or lesbian or gay elders. Mental health and substance abuse treatment utilization was low among all elders with problems. Implications for assessment, access to care, and group-specific services delivery are discussed.     

Toward Understanding the Adjustment Problems of Foreign Families in the College Community: The Case of Japanese Wives at the Harvard University Health Services

Abstract

Four hundred fifty-six undergraduates at a Scottish university completed the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, an instrument widely used in the United States to examine the nature, scope, and consequences of alcohol and other drug use on college campuses. The Scottish students were found to drink more frequently, consume more alcohol, and engage in binge drinking more often than their American counterparts. The Scottish students also demonstrated higher rates of hangovers, missed classes, and blackouts than the Americans, but the percentage of American students who had driven while intoxicated was greater than that of the Scots. Focus groups of students in Scotland and interviews with student affairs personnel and local officials indicated that student drinking is not generally viewed as a problem because extensive alcohol use appears to be part of Scottish culture and is readily accepted. Students reported that their drinking, other than in pubs, was spread out over time and was associated with eating and social activities. At student social events where alcohol was served, there was little evidence of loud, inappropriate, aggressive, or otherwise rowdy behavior; drinking appeared to be handled in a more controlled, safe, and responsible way than among US college students.     

Getting Beyond the Productivity Gap

Although contemporary definitions of scholarship describe diverse activities through which faculty develop, verify, and advance knowledge of their profession, evaluations of social work program productivity have continued to emphasize the quantity of full-length articles published in selected social work journals. For this study, the authors applied a conceptual framework based on the intended audience and the function of over 1,700 articles and book reviews published from 1990-1993 by faculty of professorial rank at 45 social work doctoral programs. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed four qualitatively distinct patterns of scholarly productivity, none of which was associated with quantitative productivity. Implications for social work practice and for knowledge development are identified and discussed.     

An Exploratory Study of Older Adults' Engagement with Virtual Volunteerism

Virtual volunteering refers to the use of the Internet for volunteer services. It is an emerging phenomenon among every age group; however, the current study examines if it is a viable option for older people. Older adults are the fastest growing Internet users. They are also more civic minded than younger generations, thus the purpose of this study is to explore this relatively new area research. Data for this study have been collected using qualitative tools such as semistructured, partly open-ended interviews with older virtual volunteers affiliated with SeniorNet, an organization that facilitates virtual volunteering exclusively for older people. The study ends with suggestions for future research directions. Implications of this study include reconceptualization of virtual volunteering as a strategic tool to recruit older adults and greater usage of information communication technologies to promote civic engagement among older people and, thus, positively influence their health and well-being.     

The Post-Washington Consensus and Economic Representations of Women in Development at the World Bank

In the past few years, the neoliberal Washington consensus has given way to a "post-Washington consensus' aimed at integrating social and economic dimensions of development, paying attention to broader goals such as sustainability, and challenging the old state versus market dichotomy. Among its other effects, this shift in development thinking has contributed to a greater emphasis on gender concerns in development institutions such as the World Bank. This article examines the recent innovations in economic theory that have informed these efforts. Through an analysis of the ways that these theories construct meanings about gender equity and development, the article concludes that the post-Washington consensus maintains the economistic and colonial discourses of neoliberalism, and thus provides little space for the meaningful social transformations called for by feminists working in development.     

The Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults

The present study reports on the construction of a dimensional measure of gender identity (gender dysphoria) for adolescents and adults. The 27-item gender identity/gender dysphoria questionnaire for adolescents and adults (GIDYQ-AA) was administered to 389 university students (heterosexual and nonheterosexual) and 73 clinic-referred patients with gender identity disorder. Principal axis factor analysis indicated that a one-factor solution, accounting for 61.3% of the total variance, best fits the data. Factor loadings were all ≥ .30 (median, .82; range, .34–.96). A mean total score (Cronbach's alpha, .97) was computed, which showed strong evidence for discriminant validity in that the gender identity patients had significantly more gender dysphoria than both the heterosexual and nonheterosexual university students. Using a cut-point of 3.00, we found the sensitivity was 90.4% for the gender identity patients and specificity was 99.7% for the controls. The utility of the GIDYQ-AA is discussed.