Blood Money: Bayer’s Inventory of HIV-Contaminated Blood Products and Third World Hemophiliacs

This article presents an overlooked case of research misconduct and violations of basic principles of medical and business ethics. When Bayer’s Cutter Laboratories realized that their blood products, Factor VIII and IX or antihemophiliac factor (AHF), were contaminated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the financial investment in the product was considered too high to destroy the inventory. Cutter misrepresented the results of its own research and sold the contaminated AHF to overseas markets in Asia and Latin America without the precaution of heat treating the product recommended for eliminating the risk. As a consequence, hemophiliacs who infused the HIV-contaminated Factor VIII and IX tested positive for HIV and developed AIDS.     

Heterogeneity in Parent‐reported Social Skill Development in Early Elementary School Children

Despite known risks associated with aberrant social skill development, there has been a relative dearth of literature on typical developmental changes in social skills over time. In this study, we examine systematic changes in social skills from kindergarten (typical age of 5–6 years) to third grade (typical age of 8–9 years), and focus on systematic heterogeneity across these developmental trajectories. Data came from the National Head Start—Public School Early Childhood Transition Demonstration Project (N = 6964). Mixture models provide evidence for multiple classes of individuals representing heterogeneity in the development of social skills. Classes were defined as a majority class (whose trajectories remained relatively stable over time), an increasing class (whose trajectories increased at a faster rate than the majority class), and a decreasing class (whose trajectories decreased at a faster rate than the majority class). Developmental trends accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in social skill components. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.     

Poor Hemodialysis Outcome Identifying Social Risk Factors in Elderly and Non-elderly Patients in Singapore

Little is known about the social determinants that predispose hemodialysis patients to poor treatment outcome. Using a clinical data mining method, this study aims to identify differences in social risk factors for hospitalization between elderly and non-elderly patients. The sample consists of 100 elderly and 219 non-elderly patients who started hemodialysis at the National Kidney Foundation from October 2007 to September 2008 and were followed through up to one year of hemodialysis to examine their hospitalization status then. Bivariate analysis revealed differences in the risk profiles between the two groups. The study has implications for funding policy and also draws attention to how clinical interventions ought to be tailored between the two age groups.     

Unbiastld estimation of parametric functions in sampling from two two-truncation parameter families

We consider the problem of UMVU estimation of a U-estimable function of four unknown truncation parameters based on two independent random samples from two two-truncation parameter families. In particular, we obtain the UMVU estimator of functional, P (Y > X). Also the confidence intervals for some parametric functions are obtained.     

Taking into account the rescheduling problem during the scheduling phase

The scheduling problem in production management has been studied for a considerable time, and several types of software are used. A problem arises in updating the production planning, or ‘rescheduling’, when an unexpected event occurs in the shop control. Solving this problem is difficult because the implications of such events are usually impossible to forecast. To prevent this problem, we propose to manipulate a set of equivalent schedules during the short time schedule. Then, if an unexpected event prevents realization of a given schedule, it will be possible to find an equivalent one, without full rescheduling. The primary requirement is to find a formal representation of a set of schedules. This has already been explored using CPM graphs with nodes associated to a set of tasks. We propose in this paper to use an extension of such graphs, PQR trees, that represent both precedence and group constraints. We first reiterate the notion of PQR trees. We present methods to take into account date constraints in such a structure, and we give a model for the general job-shop problem.     

Predictors of HIV Sexual Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men,Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women,and Transgender Women

ABSTRACT

Men who have sex with men, men who have sex with men and women, and transgender women are at high risk for HIV infection. This study seeks to clarify which known HIV risk factors (partner type, sex location, serodiscordance, multiple sex partners, substance use during sex) contribute to engagement in high-risk (unprotected receptive anal) sex in each population. Data collected from June 2005 through June 2008 indicate all three populations display different HIV sexual risk profiles. The data suggest that HIV-prevention interventions should be individually tailored to address the specific needs of these three highly vulnerable and impacted populations.     

Planning for the 1950 Censuses of Population and Agriculture

The change from the z of “Student's” 1908 paper to the t of present day statistical theory and practice is traced and documented. It is shown that the change was brought about by the extension of “Student's” approach, by R.A. Fisher, to a broader class of problems, in response to a direct appeal from “Student” for a solution to one of these problems.     

Parameter estimation in nonlinear regression models 1

Fisher information contained in record values, inter-record times and their concomitants from a sample of fixed size is derived in general and explicit expressions are deduced for some specific known bivariate classes of distributions. A comparison between fixed sampling and inverse sampling schemes with equal number of records and concomitants is also carried out. We also consider parameter estimation based on bivariate records and a small simulation study is done.     

Engendering Government Budgets in the Context of Globalization(s)

This article considers the strengths and weaknesses of attempts to 'engender' government budgets in the context of globalization, drawing on my own personal engagement in such attempts, and on the work of many gender budget initiatives (GBIs) all around the world. GBIs have sought to improve the distribution, adequacy and impact of government budgets at national, regional and local levels; and to secure greater transparency in the use of public money; and greater accountability to women as citizens. Their spread has itself been an example of globalization, in this case the globalization of action for gender justice; facilitated by e-mail, the Internet and air travel; supported by international foundations and international development cooperation funds. But, it may be argued, GBIs have begun to engage with government budgets just at the time when governments, especially in the South, have less and less control over public finance decisions, due to other aspects of globalization. This article considers whether there is any point in GBIs if economic power lies in international markets, rather than in the Ministry of Finance, and draws on examples from a wide variety of countries.     

Taking a Leap Forward: Adult Protective Services and the Elder Justice Act

ABSTRACT

The author outlines factors in the current environment for Adult Protective Services programs in the United States of America in the spring of 2003 and the significance of the Elder Justice Act to those programs. The commentary notes key strengths and challenges in the bill and warns against relying on legislation alone to address the root causes of elder abuse.