Introdução - A maioria dos estudos sobre a teoria da renda relativa tem encontrado associação estatísticamente significativa entre alta desigualdade de renda e piores condições de saúde em grandes regiões como estados norte-americanos ou países. Por outro lado, análises realizadas em municípios e áreas fora dos EUA tem apresentado resultados no mínimo conflitantes. Os maiores obstáculos para que se atinja consenso na área são a inexistência de elevada desigualdade em regiões menores e a dificuldade de controlar pelo conjunto de variáveis de confusão que podem ter efeito na saúde além da desigualdade de renda. O presente estudo objetiva auxiliar na solução desse problema ao analisar o Município de São Paulo por meio de uma metodologia estatística chamada propensity score matching. Metodologia - A análise abordou os 96 distritos da cidade. Foram incluídas 16 variáveis no modelo para identificar distritos comparáveis. Do total de 96 distritos, 27 foram pareados com algum outro (alguns mais de uma vez), formando 17 pares, dos quais apenas um foi composto por distritos que fazem fronteira entre si. Resultados - Após a aplicação do propensity score matching, distritos mais desiguais apresentaram maior mortalidade geral ajustada por idade (41,58 por 10.000 hab; IC 95por cento : 8,85 73,3 por 10.000 hab). Foram também estatísticamente significativas as diferenças de mortalidade para homicídios (8,57 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 2,60 14,53), doença isquêmica do coração (5,47 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,76 10,17), aids (3,58 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,58 6,57), doença respiratória (3,56 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,18 6,94) e mortalidade infantil (2,8 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,86 4,74). As dez causas 9 básicas mais frequentes foram responsáveis por 72,3por cento do total da diferença de mortalidade entre os distritos mais e menos desiguais. Conclusões - A metodologia estatística foi eficaz para diminuir as diferenças sociais e demográficas, possibilitando a comparação entre distritos semelhantes. A presença de alta desigualdade de renda no Município de São Paulo permitiu a análise do seu efeito na mortalidade / Introduction - The majority of studies on the relative income theory has detected statistically significant associations between high income inequality and worse health conditions for larger areas such as countries or USA states. Nevertheless, for smaller areas such as municipalities or regions outside the USA, the results have been, at best, mixed. The biggest hindrances to a consensus are the lack of high inequalities within smaller areas and the difficulty to control for the many variables that may also affect health beyond the effect of income inequality. This analysis aims to help to solve these problems by applying a statistical analysis known as propensity score matching and by focusing on a very diverse and unequal city such as São Paulo. Methodology - The analysis was done for the 96 distritos of the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. The statistical model included 16 variables to account for local heterogeneity. Of the 96 distritos, 27 were matched with a similar one (sometimes, more than once), making a total of 17 pairs (of those, only one pair was made out of two bordering distritos). Results - After the propensity score matching approach, higher inequality distritos had higher age-adjusted overall mortality rate (41.58 per 10,000, 95per cent CI: 8.85 73.3). The difference between high and low inequality was also statistically significant for homicide (8.57 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 2.60 14.53), ischemic heart disease (5.47 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.76 10.17), HIV/AIDS (3.58 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.58 6.57), respiratory diseases (3.56 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.18 6.94) and infant mortality (2.8 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.86 4.74). The ten most common causes of death accounted for 72.3per cent of total difference in mortality. 11 Conclusion - The statistical methodology was effective to control for local social and demographic heterogeneity, allowing the comparison of only similar distritos. The use of a large and diverse city such as São Paulo made it possible to analyze the effects of income inequality on health

Introdução - A maioria dos estudos sobre a teoria da renda relativa tem encontrado associação estatísticamente significativa entre alta desigualdade de renda e piores condições de saúde em grandes regiões como estados norte-americanos ou países. Por outro lado, análises realizadas em municípios e áreas fora dos EUA tem apresentado resultados no mínimo conflitantes. Os maiores obstáculos para que se atinja consenso na área são a inexistência de elevada desigualdade em regiões menores e a dificuldade de controlar pelo conjunto de variáveis de confusão que podem ter efeito na saúde além da desigualdade de renda. O presente estudo objetiva auxiliar na solução desse problema ao analisar o Município de São Paulo por meio de uma metodologia estatística chamada propensity score matching. Metodologia - A análise abordou os 96 distritos da cidade. Foram incluídas 16 variáveis no modelo para identificar distritos comparáveis. Do total de 96 distritos, 27 foram pareados com algum outro (alguns mais de uma vez), formando 17 pares, dos quais apenas um foi composto por distritos que fazem fronteira entre si. Resultados - Após a aplicação do propensity score matching, distritos mais desiguais apresentaram maior mortalidade geral ajustada por idade (41,58 por 10.000 hab; IC 95por cento : 8,85 73,3 por 10.000 hab). Foram também estatísticamente significativas as diferenças de mortalidade para homicídios (8,57 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 2,60 14,53), doença isquêmica do coração (5,47 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,76 10,17), aids (3,58 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,58 6,57), doença respiratória (3,56 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,18 6,94) e mortalidade infantil (2,8 por 10.000; IC 95por cento : 0,86 4,74). As dez causas 9 básicas mais frequentes foram responsáveis por 72,3por cento do total da diferença de mortalidade entre os distritos mais e menos desiguais. Conclusões - A metodologia estatística foi eficaz para diminuir as diferenças sociais e demográficas, possibilitando a comparação entre distritos semelhantes. A presença de alta desigualdade de renda no Município de São Paulo permitiu a análise do seu efeito na mortalidade / Introduction - The majority of studies on the relative income theory has detected statistically significant associations between high income inequality and worse health conditions for larger areas such as countries or USA states. Nevertheless, for smaller areas such as municipalities or regions outside the USA, the results have been, at best, mixed. The biggest hindrances to a consensus are the lack of high inequalities within smaller areas and the difficulty to control for the many variables that may also affect health beyond the effect of income inequality. This analysis aims to help to solve these problems by applying a statistical analysis known as propensity score matching and by focusing on a very diverse and unequal city such as São Paulo. Methodology - The analysis was done for the 96 distritos of the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil. The statistical model included 16 variables to account for local heterogeneity. Of the 96 distritos, 27 were matched with a similar one (sometimes, more than once), making a total of 17 pairs (of those, only one pair was made out of two bordering distritos). Results - After the propensity score matching approach, higher inequality distritos had higher age-adjusted overall mortality rate (41.58 per 10,000, 95per cent CI: 8.85 73.3). The difference between high and low inequality was also statistically significant for homicide (8.57 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 2.60 14.53), ischemic heart disease (5.47 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.76 10.17), HIV/AIDS (3.58 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.58 6.57), respiratory diseases (3.56 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.18 6.94) and infant mortality (2.8 per 10,000; 95per cent CI: 0.86 4.74). The ten most common causes of death accounted for 72.3per cent of total difference in mortality. 11 Conclusion - The statistical methodology was effective to control for local social and demographic heterogeneity, allowing the comparison of only similar distritos. The use of a large and diverse city such as São Paulo made it possible to analyze the effects of income inequality on health

Le score de propension s'est progressivement imposé comme l’une des méthodes de référence dans l'analyse des données observationnelles afin de prendre en compte le biais potentiel lié à l’existence de facteurs de confusion dans l'estimation de l'effet du traitement sur le critère de jugement. Parmi les recommandations de bonnes pratiques d'utilisation, le processus de sélection des variables à inclure dans le score final utilisé est essentiel, ainsi que l'évaluation de l'équilibre obtenu sur les covariables après appariement ou pondération sur ce score. Dans l'objectif de prioriser l'inclusion et l'équilibre des variables ayant une relation avec le critère de jugement une nouvelle mesure d'équilibre est proposée dans ce travail de thèse. Une première partie de ce travail a eu pour objectif de développer une mesure globale pondérée permettant d'évaluer l'équilibre global des covariables obtenu après appariement et ainsi d'aider à la sélection d’un modèle de propension le plus parcimonieux possible, en éliminant notamment les variables instrumentales. En effet ces variables ne doivent pas être introduites dans le modèle de score de propension au risque de majorer le biais final d'estimation. Lors des étapes d'évaluation de l'équilibre final obtenu, les différentes mesures d'équilibres disponibles ne prennent le plus souvent pas en compte cette information et concluent souvent à l'intérêt d'inclure une telle variable afin de réduire au maximum le déséquilibre entre les groupes. L'évaluation des performances de cette mesure a dans un premier temps fait appel à des simulations de type Monte Carlo. Dans une seconde partie, une mise en application sur des données réelles issues de la médecine d'urgence a permis de préciser la pratique d'utilisation d'une telle mesure / Propensity score (PS) methods have become increasingly used to analyze observational data and take into account confusion bias in final estimate of treatment effects. The goal of the PS is to balance the distribution of potential confounders across treatment groups. The performance of the PS strongly relies on variable selection in PS construction and balance assessment in PS analysis. Specifically, the choice of the variables to be included in the PS model is of paramount importance. In order to priorize inclusion and balance of variables related to the outcome, a new balance measure was proposed in this thesis. First, a new weighted balance measure was studied to help in construction of PS model and to obtain the most parsimonious model, by excluding instrumental variables known to be related with increasing bias in final treatment estimate. Several balances measures are proposed to assess final balance, but none of them help researchers to not include instrumental variables. We propose a new weighted balance measure that takes into account, for each covariate, its strength of association with the outcome. This measure was evaluated using a simulation study to assess whether minimization of the measure coincided with minimally biased estimates. Secondly, we propose to apply this measure to a real data set from an observational cohort study.

The emotion of disgust is understudied. It has been implicated in various forms of psychopathology, but its overall influence remains unclear. New and improved methods and constructs are required if we are to better understand the relationship of disgust in attitude formation and psychological functioning. This study was an investigation of a measure referred to herein as the Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Evolutionary Scale (DPSES). A total of 655 participants were recruited from a private university in the southeastern United States to complete a pencil -and-paper version of the measure in exchange for course credit. Exploratory factor analysis revealed an adequate five-factor structure that was further evaluated and supported through confirmatory factor analysis. The five-factor structure of the DPSES was determined to assess properties of disgust propensity, disgust sensitivity, sexual, moral, and pathogen disgust. Women's scores were significantly higher than males' across all subscales (Cohen's d = 0.59 for disgust propensity, d = 0.62 for disgust sensitivity, d = 1.73 for sexual disgust, d = 0.37 for moral disgust, and d = 0.70 for pathogen disgust). Women are repeatedly demonstrated to have stronger reactions to disgust than men, most particularly in relation to sexual associations. A better overall understanding of reactions, gender differences, and ways that maladaptive responses to disgust influence various psychological disorders and dysfunctions increases the potential for advancements in corresponding diagnostic and treatment strategies.

In one of the largest and most important industries in Sweden, the construction industry, the success of the projects can be closely related to how uncertainties of outcomes or risk are managed. For a construction project to be successful, different individuals and organizations need to provide their knowledge and experience to fulfill the project scope. Risk is something that, if properly managed, will make the project achieve and perhaps surpass these goals and if not, make the project underperform. There exist frameworks for how risk should be managed and also theories for how past experience influence future decisions. How risk within construction projects are managed is related to the experience of the team members as well as top management’s insight in the risk management process. Through a qualitative approach, based on literature as well as interviews, this master thesis provides an insight into how the key project participants are managing risk. Further, this study examines possible shortcomings with risk management practices and proposes management strategies for these. In this study, consultants working with both developers and contractors have been included to share their view. The results of this study show that current risk management practices deviate from the practice proposed within research and industry related literature. This makes the construction projects to rely heavily on individual’s knowledge and there is a risk that lessons learned will not be spread within the organization or the society. Further, risk and opportunities are often managed within the same framework which does not provide for risk to be managed accordingly and opportunities to be exploited. It is proposed that professionals within the industry have a risk propensity that is rather unchanged by gaining more experience but there exists a shift in how risk is perceived. These findings are closely related to how much insight top management within the organization have. Today, most efforts are concentrated on how the project is performing in relation to the budget and schedule which makes risk management a reactive rather than a proactive measure. / I en av Sveriges största och viktigaste branscher, byggbranschen, kan byggprojektens resultat vara nära relaterat till hur osäkerheter samt risk hanteras. För att ett byggprojekt ska bli framgångsrikt måste alla inblandande parter bidra med sina kunskaper och erfarenheter för att uppfylla projektets mål. Risk är någonting som genom en bra hantering antingen kan överträffa dessa mål eller istället göra att projektet misslyckas att nå dessa. Det finns ramverk för hur risker ska hanteras samt teorier för hur tidigare erfarenheter påverkar framtida beslut. Hur risker inom byggprojekt hanteras är relaterat till projektgruppernas erfarenhet samt företagsledningens insyn i riskhanteringsprocessen. Genom en kvalitativ studie baserad på såväl litteratur som intervjuer ger denna masteruppsats en inblick i hur de viktigaste projektdeltagarna hanterar risk. Vidare undersöker denna uppsats även vilka risker själva riskhanteringsprocessen har samt föreslår åtgärder för dessa. I denna studie har konsulter med erfarenheter av att arbeta med både beställare och byggentreprenörer inkluderats för att få en så bred syn som möjligt på hanteringen från de olika parterna. Resultatet av denna studie visar att den nuvarande riskhanteringsprocessen inom flera av organisationerna avviker från den modell som förespråkas av forskning och branschorganisationer. Detta gör att organisationerna ofta förlitar sig på individernas kunskap och att lärdomar sprids dåligt inom organisationen och samhället. Vidare så hanteras risker och möjligheter ofta på samma sätt vilket innebär att risker inte hanteras rätt och möjligheter utnyttjas inte. Dessutom verkar yrkesverksamma inom branschen ha en riskbenägenhet som är relativt oförändrad av erfarenhet men deras uppfattning av risk förskjuts. Resultaten är nära relaterade till hur stor insyn och delaktighet organisationernas ledning har i själva riskhanteringsprocessen. Idag handlar det mycket om att ledningen har en reaktiv inställning till risker, efter att dessa fallit ut, istället för att ta till proaktiva åtgärder.

Employing the causal inference methods (matching for binary and continuous treatments), I examined the impact of conservation payments on corn yield. I used the propensity score and covariate distance matching and generalized propensity score methods to manage the problem of selection bias since the enrollment of conservation programs (i.e., receiving conservation payments) is not a randomized experiment. Using USDA Economic Research Service – Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ERS-ARMS) field-level data, I assessed whether receiving conservation payments had harm on corn yield in the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta. The findings from the two binary matchings showed that receiving conservation payments didn’t decrease corn yield. The generalized propensity approach revealed that lower conservation payments received held higher corn yield while higher conservation payments led to lower corn yield.

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No / The conformational propensities of amino acids are an amalgamation of sequence effects, environmental effects and underlying intrinsic behavior. Many have attempted to investigate neighboring residue effects to aid in our understanding of protein folding and improve structure prediction efforts, especially with respect to difficult to characterize states, such as disordered or unfolded states. Host-guest peptide series are a useful tool in examining the propensities of the amino acids free from the surrounding protein structure. Here, we compare the distributions of the backbone dihedral angles (φ/ψ) of the 20 proteogenic amino acids in two different sequence contexts using the AAXAA and GGXGG host-guest pentapeptide series. We further examine their intrinsic behaviors across three environmental contexts: water at 298 K, water at 498 K, and 8 M urea at 298 K. The GGXGG systems provide the intrinsic amino acid propensities devoid of any conformational context. The alanine residues in the AAXAA series enforce backbone chirality, thereby providing a model of the intrinsic behavior of amino acids in a protein chain. Our results show modest differences in φ/ψ distributions due to the steric constraints of the Ala side chains, the magnitudes of which are dependent on the denaturing conditions. One of the strongest factors modulating φ/ψ distributions was the protonation of titratable side chains, and the largest differences observed were in the amino acid propensities for the rarely sampled αL region. / NIH