Statistics Population Data Research Articles

A new method for extracting built-up urban areas using DMSP-OLS nighttime stable lights: a case study in the Pearl River Delta, southern China

The nighttime stable light (NSL) images on board the Operational Line-scan System (OLS) of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) are useful for extracting large-scale built-up urban areas. However, most NSL-based studies are presently empirical threshold-based approaches. They always overestimate the areas of built-up land in urban regions because of the ‘blooming’ effect of NSL; and overlook small patches in developing towns where the NSL is much lower. In this study, a neighborhood statistics analysis (NSA) method is developed on the basis of the relative spatial variations between neighboring built-up and non-built-up pixels in DMSP-OLS images. It is applied to extract the built-up areas of eight cities in the Pearl River Delta in 1996, 2000, 2005, and 2009. The validations indicate that the total areas of the NSA-mapped results are highly correlated with those from Landsat TM/ETM+ data (R2 = 0.94; p < 0.001). The comparison results, which are evaluated by landscape indices (the landscape shape index (LSI), the contiguity index (CONTIG), and the perimeter area ratio (PARA)), also show good correlations (R2 > 0.46; p < 0.001). In addition, the total NSL of the built-up urban areas is significantly correlated with the statistical population data (R2 = 0.62; p < 0.001), which indirectly confirms the effectiveness of our proposed method.

Application Research on Predictive Analysis Model of the Relationship between China Grain Production and Consumption and Population Based on Marquardt Optimization Algorithm

In this study, the Marquardt method (Yuan and Sun, 1997) which can solve known nonlinear function estimation problem effectively is applied and a predictive analysis is built based on the analysis of the nonlinear relationship cases between China's grain production statistical data of population, production and consumption from 1978 to 2010 and through the example to show that the method is practical and feasible with high curve fitting degree.

Assessment of the applications to Kocaeli Derince Research and Education Hospital in 2012 and 2013 to obtain disabled children’s health board report

In this study, it is aimed to determine the neurodevelopmental disorders of children and adolescents applied to health committee for the disability, in a definite period. Cases of 0-18 aged 1512 children and adolescents who applied to health committee of our hospital between January 2012-December 2013 were analysed retrospectively. The study included cases whose 37.6% (569) were female and 62.4% (943) were male. The mean age was 7.66±3.8. 36.3% (549) of the cases were in the range of 0-6 years of age, 63.7% (963) of the cases were in the range of 7-18 years of age. The most common diagnoses were developmental delays in the range of 0-6 years of age and intellectual disability in the range of 7-18 years of age. Results of such studies investigating the applications will contribute to the statistical data of disabled population in our country, and will faciliate the organisation of social and educational rights of disabled children and adolescents applied to the health committees.

State level variations in nephrology workforce and timing and incidence of dialysis in the United States among children and adults: a retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundMultiple factors influence timing of dialysis initiation. The impact of supply of nephrology workforce on timing and incidence of dialysis initiation is not well known.MethodsWe determined the number of pediatric and adult nephrologists in each state using data from the American Medical Association and American Boards of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. We ascertained state population data from the 2010 US Census. United States Renal Data System (USRDS) data were used to determine estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis initiation and dialysis incidence for adults (≥18 years) in 2008 and children (<18 years) in 2007–2009 by state.ResultsAcross all states, there were a median of 3.0 (IQR 2.3 to 3.4) adult nephrologists per 100,000 adults and 0.5 (IQR 0.2 to 0.9) pediatric nephrologists per 100,000 children. The median eGFR at start of dialysis was 9.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 (IQR 7.1-13.1) in adults and 8.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 (IQR 6.2-11.4) in children. Neither the number of adult (Spearman r of 0.02 [95% CI −0.26-0.30], p = 0.88) nor pediatric (Spearman r of −0.13 [95% -0.39-0.15], p = 0.38) nephrologists per state population was associated with mean eGFR across states. The number of nephrologists per state population was associated with incident dialysis cases per state population in adults (Spearman r of 0.50 [95% CI 0.26-0.68], p = 0.0002), but not in children (Spearman r of −0.06 [95% CI −0.33-0.22], p = 0.67). In linear regression models, the association between nephrologists per state population and incident dialysis cases per state population remained statistically significant (p = 0.006) after adjustment for provider characteristics.ConclusionsNephrology workforce supply is aligned with demand but does not appear to be associated with timing of dialysis initiation.

Research on the hierarchical structure of the metropolitan system and economic development of the provincial capital urban circle in Shandong

Regional development is the trend for future urbanization, and the urban circle is a highly efficient economic spatial pattern of regional development. This study selects statistical data of urban area population, GDP, and the output value of tertiary industry for seven cities in China – Jinan, Zibo, Tai’an, Laiwu, Dezhou, Liaocheng, and Binzhou – in the Shandong provincial capital urban circle from 2005 to 2009. It uses the principles and Zipf model, rank-size rule, and Lotka logarithmic model to analyze and study the hierarchical structure of the metropolitan system and economic development of the Shandong provincial capital urban circle. Based on the above research, this paper provides references for decision-making on enhancement of the metropolitan system structure, improvement in core city primacy index, the optimal adjustment of industrial structure and the optimal allocation of essential resources.

Public Health Burden of Sudden Cardiac Death in the United States

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of death in the United States, but the relative public health burden is unknown. We estimated the burden of premature death from SCD and compared it with other diseases. Analyses were based on the following data sources (using most recent sources that provided appropriately stratified data): (1) leading causes of death among men and women from 2009 US death certificate reporting; (2) individual cancer mortality rates from 2008 death certificate reporting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Program of Cancer Registries; (3) county, state, and national population data for 2009 from the US Census Bureau; and (4) SCD rates from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (SUDS) population-based surveillance study of SCD between 2002 and 2004. Cases were identified from multiple sources in a prospectively designed surveillance program. Incidence, counts, and years of potential life lost for SCD and other major diseases were compared. The age-adjusted national incidence of SCD was 60 per 100 000 population (95% confidence interval, 54-66 per 100,000). The burden of premature death for men (2.04 million years of potential life lost; 95% uncertainty interval, 1.86-2.23 million) and women (1.29 million years of potential life lost; 95% uncertainty interval, 1.13-1.45 million) was greater for SCD than for all individual cancers and most other leading causes of death. The societal burden of SCD is high relative to other major causes of death. Accordingly, improved national surveillance with the goal of optimizing and monitoring SCD prevention and treatment should be a high priority.

Epidemiology of biopsy‐proven giant cell arteritis in South Australia

To determine the epidemiology and clinical features of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) in South Australia (SA). Patients with biopsy-proven GCA were identified from pathology reports of temporal artery biopsies at SA Pathology laboratories, from 1 January 1992, to 31 July 2011. Epidemiological data were collected through patient questionnaires and standardised case note reviews. Incidence was estimated using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data for SA. Seasonality was analysed by Cosinor analysis, and time-to- event analysis was performed for the duration of steroid use. There were 314 cases of biopsy-proven GCA (72% female). The mean age at diagnosis of GCA was 78 years (interquartile range 72-82). The estimated population incidence for people over 50 was 3.2 per 100,000 person years. The female : male incidence ratio was 2.3 (P < 0.001), and incidence increased with each age decade. There was evidence of seasonal variation (P = 0.015), with higher rates observed in the summer months. Clinical data were available for 163 patients (68% female, median age 78 years). The most common presenting clinical features were temporal headache (74%), visual disturbance (68.4%), jaw claudication (59.3%) and symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (56%). The median initial steroid dose was 60 mg, with median duration of steroid use 4.5 years. Corticosteroid side-effects were common, affecting 89%, with 34% reporting five or more. This is the first epidemiological study of Australian biopsy-proven GCA patients. Age at onset and gender associations were similar to other Western populations. There was a high burden of steroid use in these patients.

Late causes of death in children treated for CNS malignancies

As the outcome for pediatric central nervous system (CNS) malignancies improves, data regarding long term effects and risk of early mortality are needed. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we evaluated the causes of mortality in 5-year survivors of a CNS tumor diagnosed prior to the age of 20years. Using United States population data, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated to compare number of deaths observed to the expected number for the cohort. Cumulative incidence of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and standardized incidence ratios of observed to expected SMNs were calculated. 3,627 patients were included in the study. 20-year overall survival (OS) was 85.7% compared to an expected rate of 98.5% (p<0.001). Death from the primary brain tumor accounted for 51% of deaths, while death from a SMN accounted for 10% of deaths. Patients were at an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (SMRs=2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-4.8 and 7.9, 2.6-19.0, respectively). Cumulative incidence of SMN at 30years was 6.4% (95% CI 4.8-7.7). Patients treated after 1986 enjoyed a small improvement in mortality (20-year OS 86.5 vs 83.8%, p=0.005). Five-year survivors of a childhood CNS tumor experienced a nearly 13-fold increased risk of death compared to their peers. Patients were at an increased risk of death due to recurrent disease, SMNs, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events.

A Comprehensive Examination of the Influence of State Tobacco Control Programs and Policies on Youth Smoking

We examined the influence of tobacco control policies (tobacco control program expenditures, smoke-free air laws, youth access law compliance, and cigarette prices) on youth smoking outcomes (smoking susceptibility, past-year initiation, current smoking, and established smoking). We combined data from the 2002 to 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health with state and municipality population data from the US Census Bureau to assess the associations between state tobacco control policy variables and youth smoking outcomes, focusing on youths aged 12 to 17 years. We also examined the influence of policy variables on youth access when these variables were held at 2002 levels. Per capita funding for state tobacco control programs was negatively associated with all 4 smoking outcomes. Smoke-free air laws were negatively associated with all outcomes except past-year initiation, and cigarette prices were associated only with current smoking. We found no association between these outcomes and retailer compliance with youth access laws. Smoke-free air laws and state tobacco control programs are effective strategies for curbing youth smoking.

The Impact of Family History on the Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia: Don’t Change the Guidelines Just Yet!

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most familial of all malignancies. Adenomatous polyps, the precursors of most CRCs, segregate with colon cancer in families and are found in excess in relatives of those with CRC.1 The screening colonoscopy study by Tsai and Strum in this issue failed to find a statistically significant increased risk of advanced adenomas in persons with a first-degree relative with CRC compared to persons with no family history of CRC.2 The results should be viewed with caution, however, in view of some of the subject exclusion criteria applied. Use of these criteria may also explain why the results of this study are at variance with similar studies that do demonstrate an excess of colonic neoplasia when a family history of CRC is present.

Relationship of testicular cancer incidence and cellular phone use.

e12008 Background: Because of the ubiquitous usage of cellphones, any health consequences, if found, would be of paramount importance. Many have questioned the relationship of cellphone radiofrequency waves and malignancies such as brain tumors. Because men usually store their phones in close proximately to the testicles, we analyzed the relationship between cell phone usage and testicular cancer. Methods: Testicular cancer data was obtained from SEER-9 United States Population Data Base of the National Cancer Institute. Cell phone subscription data was obtained from the World Health Organization publication. Initial data analysis was done from 1991 to 2008, with subsequent age specific and other analyses performed from 1999 to 2008. Trends over time were calculated as Annual Percentage Change of incidence rates (APC) by using log linear models. Results: Rates of United States mobile subscriptions increased exponentially since the late 1990’s reaching 88.87 percent of the population by 2008. There was no statistically significant change in incidence rates of all testicular tumors (APC 0.7; CI -0.2, 0.7), Seminoma (APC 0.2; CI 0.8, 1.1) and non-Seminoma (APC 1.4; CI -0.6, 3.4) from 1999 to 2008. In the age specific analysis, three groups showed an increase in incidence rates: all testicular cancer age 25-34 (APC 2; CI 0.6, 3.4), All testicular cancer age greater than 45 (APC 1.7; CI 0.1, 3.3) and Seminoma age 25-34 (APC 2.1; CI 0.6, 3.7). All these changes were only minor percentage increase when compared to mobile subscriptions. Conclusions: Based on incidence data, there is no convincing evidence of increased risk of testicular cancer from cell phone use. Given possible lag time incidence, continued monitoring is needed.

Beverage-Specific Mortality Relationships in United States Population Data

Nearly all countries regulate distilled spirits differently from beer and wine. However, the scientific basis for this differential treatment has not been clearly established. This review covers beverage-specific relationships with alcohol-related mortality causes at the population level in the US and includes a new analysis of motor vehicle accident mortality. Spirits were found to be more strongly related to, or the only beverage type with a significant positive association with, cirrhosis, IHD and head and neck cancer mortality. Spirits sales, along with beer, were also implcated in motor vehicle accident mortality and homicde. While all three beverage types were found to be associated with suicide mortality, only spirits had a significant unlagged association. These associations were found under policy arrangements where spirits were discouraged with relatively higher taxes, lower availability and more restricted marketing opportunities. This suggests that the differential policy treatment found in the US and most other countries is justified on the basis of differential harm relationships.

Spatial Down-scaling Analysis and Simulation of Population Density in Maotiaohe Basin, Guizhou Province

Population census is based on administrative unit,therefore,the data accuracy can not meet the high-er resolution analysis of the spatial structure and is difficult to match the data of physical elements in a compre-hensive analysis of geographic features.Thus,spatialization of population density becomes an important re-search direction in geography.Based on the statistical population data of villages in the Maotiaohe basin,this re-search first analyzed the relationship between population density and spatial factors,and then established a spa-tial down-scaling model of population density by means of multiple variables regression analysis and GIS tech-nique.The correlation coefficient between population density and spatial factors is 0.577.For testing and verify-ing the model,we calculated the population of every village with modeling results and compared it with statisti-cal data.The correlation coefficient almost reached 1.The result shows that the main spatial factors of popula-tion density are the built-up area,farmland index and the distance to road.

Utilization of anti‐Parkinson drugs in Australia: 1995–2009

To examine trends in the prescribing of anti-Parkinsonian drugs (APD) in Australia from 1995 to 2009. We analyzed the Medicare Australia and Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC) databases for prescription data for overall APD dispensed use from 1995. We were able to examine prescribing by gender, age, and type of prescriber between 2002 and 2009. Prescriptions were converted to defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 population/day using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data. Dispensed use of levodopa + carbidopa remained steady from 1995 to 2009 (0.76-0.82 DDD/1000 population/day); levodopa + benserazide use increased from 0.34 to 0.55 DDD/1000 population/day. Since 2005 dispensed use of levodopa + carbidopa + entacapone has steadily increased, from 0.03 to 0.10 DDD/1000 population/day. In July 2009 levodopa + carbidopa was the most widely used agent, followed by levodopa + benserazide, then benztropine. Cabergoline increased from 1999, peaked in 2006, and thereafter declined. APD use peaked in males and females aged 60-69 years. Age-adjusted utilization was slightly higher in males than females. The amount of levodopa dispensed has slowly increased with levodopa + benserazide increasing faster than levodopa + carbidopa. Use of cabergoline fell when pramipexole became available and the risk of ergot-related serosal adverse effects was more widely appreciated. Use of centrally acting anti-cholinergics decreased over a period of time when use of atypical anti-psychotic agents increased.

Long-term population, productivity, and energy use trends in the sequence of leading capitalist nations

There are many theories on why sustainable science, technology, and commerce emerged first in Western Europe rather than elsewhere. A general theory is that the geography of Europe facilitated the development of diverse and independent states and resultant competition among them. Over the past 500 years, the sequence of leading states began with Portugal and the Netherlands on the edge of continental Western Europe, then moved to the British Isles, and finally moved across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. The transitions of leadership from one state to another occurred about every 100 years. This sequence suggests that leadership moves from smaller states to larger states (although not to the largest existing state at the time), perhaps because larger states have the flexibility to develop more complex organizational processes and adapt new technology. To explore this theory further, this paper analyzes state population data at the beginning and end of each leadership period. The data reveal an accelerating initial population sequence. Further understanding is gained from comparing the populations of the preceding and succeeding states at the time of each transition: the succeeding state's population is usually about two times larger than that of the preceding state. It is also seen that over time, the new organizational processes and technologies developed by the leading state are diffused and adapted by other states. Evidence of the effects of this diffusion should be seen in the dynamics of relative productivity and energy use (since the relative advantage of new ideas and technology can be maintained for a short period of about 100 years). This paper investigates these trends in population, trade, and resources to provide insight on possible future transitions.

Patterns of Antipsychotic Medication Use in Australia 2002–2007

Atypical antipsychotic medications that are primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder cost the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) AUD$334.4m in 2007. There are indications that they have also been used outside the approved indications to treat behavioural disturbances in the elderly. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine (i) trends in prescribing of subsidized atypical antipsychotic drugs in the Australian population from 2002 to 2007; and (ii) gender and age differences in the utilization of these drugs. Government (Medicare Australia) data on numbers of prescriptions, quantity and doses for atypical and typical antipsychotics from 2002 to 2007 were analysed. Defined daily dose per 1000 population per day were estimated for age and sex groups using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data. The proportion of prescribed antipsychotics that were atypical increased from 61% in 2002 to 77% in 2007. In male subjects, olanzapine was most often prescribed between the ages of 25 and 55 years. In female subjects, in contrast, the highest rates of prescribing were in those > or = 75 years. Lower doses of these drugs were prescribed in older adults. Atypical antipsychotic drugs were most commonly used to treat schizophrenia in younger men and behavioural disturbances in older women with dementia. They appear to have been used outside of the approved indication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with significant financial costs to the PBS. Research into the reasons for their extensive use in elderly women is needed to inform more rational prescribing of these medicines.

Anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative medication use in Australia

New sedative drugs have been marketed in Australia in the last few years. We examined the trends in the prescribing of subsidised anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative (AHS) medication use in the Australian population from 2002 to 2007. We analysed the Medicare Australia and Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee databases for AHS script data from 2002 to 2007 by source, class of prescriber, gender and 5-year age groups. Scripts were converted to defined daily dose per 1000 population per day (DDD/1000 population/day) using Australian Bureau of Statistics population data. Overall use of AHS increased from 23.76 to 24.11 DDD/1000 population/day between 2002 and 2007. Anxiolytic medication utilisation increased as hypnotic medication utilisation decreased. Diazepam was the most widely used anxiolytic followed by alprazolam and oxazepam. Temazepam was the most widely used hypnotic followed by nitrazepam. Medication use was concentrated in those aged > or = 65 years with peak use in those aged 85-89 years. There was substantial use of anxiolytics in those aged 30-65 years. Age-adjusted utilization was higher in females than males. The prescribing of AHS medications increased slightly over the last half decade. There is growing use of zolpidem on private prescription. The gender differences in use reflect the higher prevalence of anxiety and sleep disorders in women. The very high use of these drugs in elderly people warrants further exploration because of the concomitant increased risks of mortality and morbidity.

A fast approach to regional earthquake hazard evaluation based on population statistical data

In the prediction process of large-scale earthquake damage occurred in urban and rural regions, new models and approaches, which are different from traditional ones, should be adopted to rapidly predict earthquake damage. This article utilizes sampled population and buildings data that is easily available from the statistical database to conduct vulnerability analysis of buildings on the basis of earthquake damage of existing urban buildings in an analogical way, so as to provide a relation model between population data and disaster losses. In virtue of this model, the average vulnerability matrix of buildings of different structures in Fujian Province is established, the matrix adjustment coefficient of different decades is developed in accordance with the economic conditions, and the rapid evaluation system is set up as well. The result shows: this evaluation model, based on the population statistical data has merits as small investment, automatic data prediction, regular updates, as well as the advantage of easy accessibility.

Study on Simulating Spatial Distribution and Varying Patterns of Urumqi's Population

Abstract In this paper, an approach to simulate the spatial distribution of urban population is proposed using urban land use and population statistical data through the geographical information systems (GIS). Then, the spatial population distribution of Urumqi as a case is simulated by the approach mentioned above and its varying patterns are analyzed by the raster population surface. As a result, producing raster population surface is more accurate and natural than the traditional choropleth map of population density. Concerning the spatial population distribution of Urumqi, the population density declines from south to north and the population distribution mainly presents “T-type”, the population distribution presents multi-centre agglomeration and the population distribution of the districts shows different features. The population density varies significantly with the increase in the distance from central business district (CBD). Finally, it is found in this paper that the development history of dist...

The Scope and Impact of Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in the United States and Canada

The scope of treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the United States and Canada is unknown. Identifying the types of clinics that administer such treatment and patients who receive it could guide resource utilization and improve treatment initiation and completion. Estimate the number of persons started on LTBI treatment; describe the types of clinics that treat LTBI. The Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium, consisting of 19 United States and 2 Canadian sites, conducted a survey among clinics that initiated LTBI treatment for>or=10 patients in 2002. Study catchment areas from the 19 United States sites represented 8.6% of the United States population and 12.7% of all tuberculosis cases in 2000. An estimated 37,857 patients started LTBI treatment during 2002 at 244 clinics surveyed. Of these treatment starts, 29,970 (79%) occurred at general public health clinics; immigrant/refugee clinics (2,409; 6.4%) and correctional/detention facilities (2,325; 6.1%) were the next most common sites. Based on these data, United States tuberculosis case rates, and United States population data, the estimated total number of LTBI treatment starts in the United States was 291,000-433,000. When the 37,145 persons who initiated LTBI treatment in the United States were extrapolated to the entire United States population, with a 5% lifetime risk of tuberculosis without treatment, and 20-60% treatment effectiveness, approximately 4,000-11,000 tuberculosis cases were prevented in the United States. LTBI treatment is initiated among a substantial number of persons in the United States and Canada, primarily in the public sector. Treatment of LTBI can significantly decrease the tuberculosis burden.