Recent, post-1980, immigration patterns have had a dramatic effect on U.S. labor markets, leading to considerable debate about the impact of immigration on native-born black workers. This research examines immigrant and black labor markets, across metropolitan areas, using Public Use Microdata and Summary File data from Census 2000 to generate low, mid, and high classifications of immigrant and black occupations based on socio-economic index (SEI). Multivariate findings indicate that the effect of recent immigration on black labor market outcomes differs by occupational level. Competition for low-skilled jobs is identified for native-born blacks in low-level jobs while a “bump-up” effect is identified for blacks in mid-level jobs. For example, production occupations with low language and skill requirements are shown to be contested among the groups. On the other hand, service and administrative functions emerge as bump-up mechanisms that create opportunity for black workers who amass the human capital required of these occupations. Thus, the ramifications of immigration for native-born blacks are shown to be quite different for low- and mid-SEI jobs.

American black duck (Anas rubripes) populations declined throughout North America from 1950–1990, but the breeding population since has stabilized. However, limited information exists on black ducks in the Mississippi Flyway, where wintering populations continue to decline. I radiomarked 111 female black ducks at Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) in winters 2010–2012 to estimate winter survival and investigate patterns of habitat selection. Winter survival (83–85%) was greater than or comparable to previous estimates for black duck populations in North America. Interval survival increased 0.6% with a 100 g increase in body mass, but survival differed between years and waterfowl hunting seasons relative to body mass. Black ducks selected habitats on TNWR and emergent/scrub-shrub wetlands throughout winter regardless of hunting season or time of day. High winter survival rates and consistent use of TNWR suggest the refuge provides an important complex of habitats for black ducks wintering in Tennessee.

<p> Asthma is a multifactorial chronic disease that has shown a marked increase in prevalence over the past few decades, both in Canada and worldwide. Basic knowledge gaps remain about the pathways through which risk factors influence adult asthma. More adult women than men have asthma, and a growing body of research suggests that associations between certain risk factors and asthma may differ by sex. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the socioeconomic, environmental and personal correlates of asthma in men and women.</p> <p> Data for this thesis were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2003 in the rural Canadian town of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. The survey response rate was 71% of the resident target population, with 1177 females and 913 males aged 18 to 79 participating in the study. Researchers collected objective data on atopy (skin prick test), and body mass index. Exposures and history of physician-diagnosed asthma in the past year (current asthma) and during the participants lifetime (ever asthma) were self-reported. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, atopy, and parental asthma history were used to evaluate associations of correlates with asthma. The model building process was based on a conceptual framework of three categories: socioeconomic variables, home and work environment, and personal factors. </p> <p> The prevalence of asthma was higher in women than men (ever asthma: 10.2% of women versus 5.8% of men; current asthma: 6.2% of women versus 2.8% of men). The logistic regression models for ever asthma and current asthma showed several sex differences. The sequential addition of each category of socioeconomic, environmental, and personal variables contributed significantly to model fit in women, but not in men. Living in a mobile, attached or multiple-family home, household dampness, and overweight/obesity were strong risk factors for female asthma, while farm living, occupational grain dust exposure, and regular alcohol use emerged as protective factors. Male models revealed a strong significant association between household dampness and current asthma. A significant interaction between home type and age was found only in females. Women living in homes other than single-family detached dwellings were more likely to have asthma, an association that decreased in strength with increasing age. </p> <p> These results suggest that several risk factors for adult asthma may be sex-specific, therefore emphasizing the importance of considering sex as a potential effect modifier in future adult asthma epidemiology studies.</p>

<p> Asthma is a multifactorial chronic disease that has shown a marked increase in prevalence over the past few decades, both in Canada and worldwide. Basic knowledge gaps remain about the pathways through which risk factors influence adult asthma. More adult women than men have asthma, and a growing body of research suggests that associations between certain risk factors and asthma may differ by sex. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the socioeconomic, environmental and personal correlates of asthma in men and women.</p> <p> Data for this thesis were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2003 in the rural Canadian town of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. The survey response rate was 71% of the resident target population, with 1177 females and 913 males aged 18 to 79 participating in the study. Researchers collected objective data on atopy (skin prick test), and body mass index. Exposures and history of physician-diagnosed asthma in the past year (current asthma) and during the participants lifetime (ever asthma) were self-reported. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, atopy, and parental asthma history were used to evaluate associations of correlates with asthma. The model building process was based on a conceptual framework of three categories: socioeconomic variables, home and work environment, and personal factors. </p> <p> The prevalence of asthma was higher in women than men (ever asthma: 10.2% of women versus 5.8% of men; current asthma: 6.2% of women versus 2.8% of men). The logistic regression models for ever asthma and current asthma showed several sex differences. The sequential addition of each category of socioeconomic, environmental, and personal variables contributed significantly to model fit in women, but not in men. Living in a mobile, attached or multiple-family home, household dampness, and overweight/obesity were strong risk factors for female asthma, while farm living, occupational grain dust exposure, and regular alcohol use emerged as protective factors. Male models revealed a strong significant association between household dampness and current asthma. A significant interaction between home type and age was found only in females. Women living in homes other than single-family detached dwellings were more likely to have asthma, an association that decreased in strength with increasing age. </p> <p> These results suggest that several risk factors for adult asthma may be sex-specific, therefore emphasizing the importance of considering sex as a potential effect modifier in future adult asthma epidemiology studies.</p>

In recent years, people pay much attention to derivative pricing subject to credit risk. In this paper, we proposed an autoregressive time series model of log odds ratios to price derivatives. Examples of the proposed model are given via the structural and reduced form approaches. Pricing formulae of the proposed time series models are derived for bonds and options. Furthermore, simulation studies are performed to confirm the accuracy of derived formulae.

This study assessed the link between financial literacy and levels of debt among junior permanent bank employees. Based on the mixed purposive and simple random sampling approach, a structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from a sample of 275 junior permanent bank employee participants. Frequencies, descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression techniques were applied to analyse data using the SPSS 23 statistical package. The Cronbach’s alpha criterion and Keiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy results indicate that the research instrument’s items were statistically reliable and statistically valid. The descriptive statistics results on the financial behaviour and attitude dimension indicate that permanent junior bank employees on average pay reasonable attention to their financial affairs. The classification summary statistics indicate that financial literacy and financial behaviour and attitudes were significant predictors of the debt level. The Nagelkerke R-square indicates that some significant amount of overall variation in debt level was accounted for by financial literacy and financial behaviour and attitudes. Based on the odds ratios results, a statistically significant relationship between financial literacy and debt level was found in the study. Conversely, the estimated odds ratios results indicate a statistically significant negative relationship between financial behaviour and attitudes, and the level of debt / Business Management / M.Com. (Business Management)