Health Dynamics Through Psychometric Networks in Gynecology, Obstetrics, Reproductive Health And COVID-19 Research

Network analysis offers a valuable methodological and practical contribution to research in gynecology, obstetrics and reproductive health. This analysis enables clinicians to interpret and translate the information derived from their research into better integrated care in the clinical population of interest, allowing them to focus a concrete intervention based on network results, from the perspective of complex model systems. The evaluation of the network reinforces a better explanation of the functioning of various reproductive and maternal health conditions to explain how their etiological mechanisms and concomitant variables interact with each other, of major clinical importance in the current COVID-19 pandemic context.

An Explanation of a Gender Earnings Gap in the Veterinary Profession

Analysis of a unique data set of U.S. veterinary firms and veterinarians provides evidence of significant differences in earnings between self-employed males and females. After controlling for important concomitant variables, including training and experience, self-employed female veterinarians generally own smaller clinics and have lower earnings than their male counterparts. This study considers which demographic/economic factors may be associated with observed gender differences in earnings. The gender gap for average earnings is about 44 percent; however, when controlling for certain characteristics, the gap narrows to as little as 23 percent, depending on the model specification. Firm size was found to be the strongest contributing factor in explaining the gender gap in earnings, and so, possible explanations for differences in firm size have also been discussed. Whilst the analysis is not conclusive, there is evidence that self-employed females may face customer discrimination, which may constrain the growth and size of female-owned firms. (JEL D21) Keywords: Gender differences, salaries, self-employment, veterinarians

Application of a Latent Transition Model to Estimate the Usual Prevalence of Dietary Patterns

Background: This study aims to derive habitual dietary patterns of the Portuguese adult population by applying two methodological approaches: a latent class model and a latent transition model. The novel application of the latent transition model allows us to determine the day-to-day variability of diet and to calculate the usual prevalence of dietary patterns. Methods: Participants are from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese population, 2015–2016 (2029 women; 1820 men, aged ≥18 years). Diet was collected by two 24 h dietary recalls (8–15 days apart). Dietary patterns were derived by: (1) a latent class model using the arithmetic mean of food weigh intake, with concomitant variables (age and sex); (2) a latent transition model allowing the transition from one pattern to another, with the same concomitant variables. Results: Six dietary patterns were identified by a latent class model. By using a latent transition model, three dietary patterns were identified: “In-transition to Western” (higher red meat and alcohol intake; followed by middle-aged men), “Western” (higher meats/eggs and energy-dense foods intake; followed by younger men), and “Traditional-Healthier” (higher intake of fruit, vegetables and fish, characteristic of older women). Most individuals followed the same pattern on both days, but around 26% transited between “In-transition to Western” and “Western”. The prevalence of the dietary patterns using a single recall day (40%, 27%, 33%, respectively) is different from the usual prevalence obtained by the latent transition probabilities (48%, 36%, 16%). Conclusion: Three dietary patterns, largely dependent on age and sex, were identified for the Portuguese adult population: “In-transition to Western” (48%), “Western” (36%), and “Traditional-Healthier” (16%), but 26% were transient between patterns. Dietary patterns are, in general, deviating from traditional habits.

Deepening Knowledge on Volunteers Using a Marketing Perspective: Segmenting Turkish Volunteers According to Their Motivations

A steady increase in the marketing-based managerial point of view by the third sector manifests itself when exploring the question of what motivates volunteers to make unpaid contributions to a nonprofit organization (NPO). An in-depth investigation into volunteer motivations can be approached by looking at the quantitative marketing method of market segmentation. In this context, the purpose of the present study is to conduct a segmentation analysis of volunteers in Istanbul based on their motivations to volunteer and to enrich these segments with concomitant variables. Findings from the segmentation analysis identified five distinct segments of volunteers: self-improver, career-driven, benevolent soul, social networker, and faithful spirit. For theorists, this study presents an application of segmenting and a profile of volunteers based on the motivations to volunteer, whereas on the management side, the study provides knowledge constructed on empirical findings that shall serve to contribute to the recruitment and retention efforts of NPOs.

Computer technology of accounting of confounders in the risk assessment in comparative studies on the base of the method of standardization

Here was performed an analysis of the accounting of the impact of concomitant variables (confounders), introducing a systematic error in the assessment of the impact of risk factors on the resulting variable. The analysis showed that standardization is an effective method for the reduction of the shift of risk assessment. In the work there is suggested an algorithm implementing the method of standardization based on stratification, providing for the minimization of the difference of distributions of confounders in groups on risk factors. To automate the standardization procedures there was developed a software available on the website of the Institute of Industrial Ecology, UB RAS. With the help of the developed software by numerically modeling there were determined conditions of the applicability of the method of standardization on the basis of stratification for the case of the normal distribution on the response and confounder and linear relationship between them. Comparison of results obtained with the help of the standardization with statistical methods (logistic regression and analysis of covariance) in solving the problem of human ecology, has shown that obtaining close results is possible if there will be met exactly conditions for the applicability of statistical methods. Standardization is less sensitive to violations of conditions of applicability.

Board Indicators, Managerial Ownership, Intellectual Capital and Earnings Quality in Consumer Goods of Indonesia and Malaysia

This paper studies the influence of the board of director with earnings quality, using intellectual capital as a mediating variable. Also, it takes account of concomitant variables such as firm size and leverage. The subject of the study focuses on companies in the consumer goods sector listed in the stock exchange of Indonesia and Malaysia is 2011-201. Board of director (BOD) is found to have a negative impact on earnings quality (EQ) in Indonesia, whereas it has no impact on earnings quality in Malaysia companies. On contrary, the board of director has a positive influence on intellectual capital (IC) in Indonesia. The opposite influence has been found in Malaysia where BOD is negatively correlated to IC. IC has a significant influence towards EQ in both countries. IC has a positive impact on EQ in Indonesia, but the effect is found to be negative in Malaysian firms. In both cases, IC has failed to become a mediation variable towards the impact of BOD to EQ. Therefore, the optimization of BOD is crucial in enhancing EQ in Indonesia. At the same time, IC has prominence in influencing EQ in Indonesia and Malaysia thus raising the importance of its optimization.

A latent class analysis towards stability and changes in breadwinning patterns among coupled households

A latent class model is proposed to examine couples’ breadwinning typologies and explain the wage differentials according to the socio-demographic characteristics of the society with data collected through surveys. We derive an ordinal variable indicating the couple’s income provision-role type and suppose the existence of an underlying discrete latent variable to model the effect of covariates. We use a two-step maximum likelihood inference conducted to account for concomitant variables, informative sampling scheme and missing responses. The weighted log-likelihood is maximised through the Expectation-Maximization algorithm and information criteria are used to develop the model selection. Predictions are made on the basis of the maximum posterior probabilities. Disposing of data collected in Japan over thirty years we compare couples’ breadwinning patterns across time. We provide some evidence of the gender wage-gap and we show that it can be attributed to the fact that, especially in Japan, duties and responsibilities for the child care are supported exclusively by women.

Adapting Hellwig’s method for selecting concomitant variables under a certain growth curve model

SummaryThis paper presents an application of Hellwig’s method for selecting concomitant variables under a growth curve model, where the values of the concomitant variables change over time and are the same for all experimental units. The authors present a simple adaptation of the growth curve model to the multiple regression model for which Hellwig’s method applies. The theoretical considerations are applied to the selection of significant concomitant variables for raspberry fruiting.

LINKS BETWEEN MATERNAL AND ADOLESCENTS’ CANNABIS USE AMONG THE INUIT OF NUNAVIK

BACKGROUND Inuit from Nunavik, Northern Quebec, show some of the highest prevalence of cannabis use in the world, particularly for youths. Based on the ecological system theory, family (the more proximal unit to adolescents) is susceptible to influence their behaviors the most. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine, among the Inuit population from Nunavik, the association between maternal use of cannabis and the subsequent use of this substance by their children while adolescents. DESIGN/METHODS This study was based on longitudinal data from the Nunavik Child Development Study (endorsed by community and public health stakeholders; approved by ethic research boards from 2 North American Universities). We use data from two follow-ups, between 2005 and 2010 (T1: time 1 – children aged between 8–15 years-old), and between 2012 and 2016 (T2: time 2 – adolescents aged 16–21 years-old). Structured interviews were used to assess cannabis use and other concomitant variables among mothers at T1, and for adolescents at T2. Our final sample included 184 mother-adolescent dyads. Hypotheses that exposure to an increased frequency of maternal cannabis use at the end of childhood will be associated with 1) earlier initiation of cannabis during adolescence, and 2) will increase the frequency of cannabis use by youths, were tested with Cox regression analyses and ordinal regressions, taking into account socioeconomic status (T1), gender, and student status of adolescents(T2). RESULTS About seven out of ten Inuit adolescent participants reported having used cannabis during the previous year of T2, and about 45% of users consumed daily. Among the adolescents who answered the initiation age question, 60% had used it before reaching 14 years. Associations between mother’s frequency of cannabis use at T1 and 1) adolescents’ initiation age to cannabis and 2) adolescents’ frequency of cannabis use were not statistically significant. Higher socioeconomic status and student status were associated with lower risk of cannabis use by youths. CONCLUSION Among a group of adolescents where cannabis use is highly prevalent, we were unable to highlight the impact from maternal substance use on subsequent behavior of their children while adolescents. Yet, key determinants already known to influence cannabis use among southern populations seem to be also relevant to the Inuit population from Nunavik. Common Aboriginal wisdom that it takes a village to raise a child seems to apply to cannabis use as well.