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Relationships between frequency and quantity of marijuana use and last year proxy dependence among adolescents and adults in the United States.

The association between levels of marijuana use and last year dependence is investigated in a nationally representative sample of adolescents and adults, who used marijuana within the last year (n = 9284). Data are aggregated from three surveys (1991-1993) of the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. A proxy measure of DSM-IV dependence criteria was developed from self-reported symptoms of dependence and drug-related problems. Both frequency and quantity of marijuana use within the last year are linearly associated with the logit of the probability of being dependent on marijuana. The associations vary significantly by age but not gender. Adolescents are dependent at a lower frequency and quantity of use than adults: the differences diverge as level of use increases. Twice as many adolescents as adults who used marijuana near-daily or daily within the last year were identified as being dependent (35% versus 18%). Frequency and quantity of use each retained a unique effect on dependence, but frequency appeared to be more important than quantity in predicting last year dependence. These results provide insight into the processes underlying the age and sex differentials observed in the prevalence of marijuana dependence. The implications of the findings for the epidemiology of marijuana use and dependence are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Fractal fluctuations in cardiac time series.

Human heart rate, controlled by complex feedback mechanisms, is a vital index of systematic circulation. However, it has been shown that beat-to-beat values of heart rate fluctuate continually over a wide range of time scales. Herein we use the relative dispersion, the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean, to show, by systematically aggregating the data, that the correlation in the beat-to-beat cardiac time series is a modulated inverse power law. This scaling property indicates the existence of long-time memory in the underlying cardiac control process and supports the conclusion that heart rate variability is a temporal fractal. We argue that the cardiac control system has allometric properties that enable it to respond to a dynamical environment through scaling.

Adult↗

Compliance with oral HRT in postmenopausal women in clinical trials--meta analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess compliance with oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) over time in postmenopausal women in clinical trials and to examine aspects of study conduct (e.g. randomized vs. nonrandomized design) that might be associated with observed compliance rates. METHODS: Aggregation of data from the available published studies using meta-analysis. Eligible studies had to be clinical trials reporting compliance with oral HRT among postmenopausal women and have a sample size of at least 20. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were used through January 1998 to find studies that assessed compliance with oral HRT in postmenopausal women in clinical trials. Summary estimates of compliance, and of associations between compliance and features of study conduct, were computed allowing for clustering of data within studies. RESULTS: Thirty reports met the inclusion criteria. Overall compliance at about 1 year on average was 83.4%. In a multivariable model, one variable, whether compliance was the primary objective of the study or not, remained statistically significant, even after adjustment for clustering (odds ratio=0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.22-1.00, P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the importance of using appropriate methods for measuring compliance, if valid estimates of compliance are a serious objective of an investigation. There has been much discussion about the need for increased medication compliance, particularly for those medications used for prevention, but the means and methods to improve compliance remain elusive.

Administration, Oral↗

The clinical management database.

The clinical management database utilizes ICU patient data in aggregate to examine quality of care and resource utilization at the population level. As clinicians become accountable for efficiency and quality, this type of database is essential to understand the results of care. This article reviews the challenges of evaluating cost and quality including the potential for bias and measurement error. A practical approach to starting a database is outlined with examples and suggestions.

APACHE↗

Changes in the phamacologic treatment of hypertension in the Department of Veterans Affairs 1997-1999: decreased use of calcium antagonists and increased use of beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics.

Older studies of antihypertensive treatment have shown that prescribing patterns are not consistent with recommendations from expert national panels. We determined whether prescribing patterns for antihypertensive drugs changed recently in the largest integrated health care system in the United States. Specifically, we determine 1) patterns of antihypertensive medication use at all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for fiscal years 1997 to 1999, 2) the cost of this care, and 3) savings associated with changes in treatment patterns. Data were aggregated by individual medication as well as by antihypertensive drug class. Estimates of VA national antihypertensive drug costs are based on the median cost and the number of units for each dosage form of each medication dispensed at all facilities. At VA medical facilities, calcium antagonist use went from 33% to 29.3% of antihypertensive treatment days between 1997 and 1999, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use from 36.4% to 36.8%, beta-blockers from 19.1% to 21.1%, and thiazide diuretic use from at 11.5% to 12.8%. If treatment patterns had remained the same between 1997 and 1999 in terms of the proportion of medications from each drug class, an additional six million dollars would have been spent on antihypertensive medications in 1999. Although calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors/ARB remained the most commonly dispensed antihypertensives at VA facilities from 1997 to 1999, there was a proportional decrease in calcium antagonist use and an increase in the use of thiazide diuretics and beta-blockers. These changes were consistent with improved compliance with VA national guidelines. The cost implications of these changes in practice patterns were considerable.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Pharmacologic treatment of hypertension in the Department of Veterans Affairs during 1995 and 1996.

Patterns of antihypertensive drug use, the cost of this care and potential savings with changes of treatment patterns, were studied for all hypertensives treated at US Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for fiscal years 1995 and 1996. Data was aggregated by individual medication as well as by antihypertensive drug class. Cost estimates were based on median cost and number of units for each dosage form of each medication dispensed at all facilities. Potential savings were estimated by substituting beta-blockers or diuretics for calcium antagonists. In a subset of patients the prevalence of hypertension, and among hypertensives the prevalence of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus, was determined. For these patients, patterns of treatment by antihypertensive drug class was examined. For all VA facilities, of the 10 most frequently prescribed antihypertensives in 1995, four were calcium antagonists, two angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, two beta-blockers, and two diuretics. In 1996, this was changed by the addition of an ACE inhibitor and the subtraction of a diuretic combination. Calcium antagonists accounted for 37% of treatment days in 1995 and 35% in 1996, ACE inhibitor use went from 34% to 36%, beta-blockers from 17% to 18%, and diuretic use remained at 12%. In 1996, approximately 86.6 million dollars were spent on calcium antagonists, 51.8 million on ACE inhibitors, 7.9 million on beta-blockers, and 3.6 million on diuretics. The estimated annual cost savings for each 1% conversion of calcium antagonists to beta-blockers would be $713,000 and to diuretics $758,000. In a subset of 7526 hypertensive patients with known comorbid conditions, calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors were also the most commonly used drug classes for all categories of patients, including those without coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus. Calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors were the most commonly dispensed antihypertensives at VA facilities for both 1995 and 1996, with a small decrease in calcium antagonist use from 1995 to 1996. The cost implications of these practice patterns as compared with the primary use of diuretics and beta-blockers are enormous.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Seasonal influences on admissions in schizophrenia and affective disorder in Ireland.

Although the seasonal patterns of admissions of affective disorder have been extensively studied, less attention has been given to the seasonal admission patterns of schizophrenia. The traditional method of aggregating the data over a study period, rather than analysing by year of admission may obscure potentially relevant fluctuations in the seasonal pattern. We examined the year-to-year variation in the admission patterns of schizophrenia and affective disorder in Ireland. Using the National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS), individuals admitted with an ICD-9/10 diagnosis of a first episode of schizophrenia or affective disorder during the 6-year period 1989-1994 were identified. Seasonal variations in their admission patterns were examined statistically and graphically. There was a significant seasonal variation in the monthly admission patterns of both schizophrenia and affective disorder. This pattern was more marked for individuals with affective disorder. However, the seasonal pattern was not constant from year to year, particularly for schizophrenia.

Humans↗

GenePath: a system for inference of genetic networks and proposal of genetic experiments.

A genetic network is a formalism that is often used in biology to represent causalities and reason about biological phenomena related to genetic regulation. We present GenePath, a computer-based system that supports the inference of genetic networks from a set of genetic experiments. Implemented in Prolog, GenePath uses abductive inference to elucidate network constraints based on background knowledge and experimental results. Additionally, it can propose genetic experiments that may further refine the discovered network and establish relations between genes that could not be related based on the original experimental data. We illustrate GenePath's approach and utility on analysis of data on aggregation and sporulation of the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.

Animals↗

Using mortality rates as a screening tool: the experience of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread agreement that outcome analyses should be followed by in-depth review of the care provided by outlier providers, there are few, if any, reports in the literature describing the effectiveness of this approach to quality improvement. In 1991, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) completed a study to measure hospital-specific mortality rates for VA facilities and to use these rates as a screening tool for focused medical record reviews. METHODS: The first phase of the project consisted of a comparison of fiscal year 1986 mortality rates for each VA medical center with aggregated VA data, using logistic regression analysis to adjust for patient characteristics related to mortality. In the second phase, medical record reviews of cases from hospitals with elevated levels of mortality were conducted. RESULTS: The mortality rate analysis identified 44 facilities with rates that were significantly elevated overall or within specific patient categories. Both the mortality rate analysis and the medical record review suggested that quality concerns were more common in predominantly psychiatric medical centers than in other facilities. CONCLUSION: The study uncovered important opportunities for improvement, particularly regarding the quality of medical care provided in VA psychiatric hospitals, suggesting there is value in performing intensive review of outlier providers in outcome analyses. However, serious questions remain concerning the validity of the use of administrative data-bases to assess hospitalwide mortality.

Cause of Death↗

Measurement of child mortality in association with a multipurpose birth certificate programme in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

A simple and inexpensive method for monitoring child mortality in association with birth registration was introduced into the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Eight thousand two hundred and one newborn infants were registered in 1988, approximately 77% of all children born in that year. The risk of death by age 2 was determined from reports given by the mother on the present status of a previously born child at the time of a recent delivery or during clinic registration of the current birth. This was 91 per 1000 for the province and corresponds to a risk of death by age 1 of 77/1000 by extrapolation using standard lifetables. This method was validated by comparison with a continuing demographic surveillance system covering 30,000 people in the western part of the province. The new birth certificate has been an incentive to increase supervised delivery rates and to generate a register that can be used to increase vaccination coverage.

Birth Certificates↗

Tubulin-G protein interactions involve microtubule polymerization domains.

It has been suggested that elements of the cytoskeleton contribute to the signal transduction process and that they do so in association with one or more members of the signal-transducing G protein family. Relatively high-affinity binding between dimeric tubulin and the alpha subunits of Gs and Gi1 has also been reported. Tubulin molecules, which exist in solution as alpha beta dimers, have binding domains for microtubule-associated proteins as well as for other tubulin dimers. This study represents an attempt to ascertain whether the association between G proteins and tubulin occurs at one of these sites. Removal of the binding site for MAP2 and tau from tubulin by subtilisin proteolysis did not influence the association of tubulin with G protein, as demonstrated in overlay studies with [125I]tubulin. A functional consequence of that association, the stable inhibition of synaptic membrane adenylyl cyclase, was also unaffected by subtilisin treatment of tubulin. However, ring structures formed from subtilisin-treated tubulin were incapable of effecting such inhibition. Stable G protein-tubulin complexes were formed, and these were separated from free tubulin by Octyl-Sepharose chromatography. Using this methodology, it was demonstrated that assembled microtubules bound G protein quite weakly compared with tubulin dimers. The alpha subunit of Gi1 and, to a lesser extent, that of Go were demonstrated to inhibit microtubule polymerization. In aggregate, these data suggest that dimeric tubulin binds to the alpha subunits of G protein at the sites where it binds to other tubulin dimers during microtubule polymerization. Interaction with signal-transducing G proteins, thus, might represent a role for tubulin dimers which is independent of microtubule formation.

Affinity Labels↗

Importance of the conserved Walker B glutamate residues, 556 and 1201, for the completion of the catalytic cycle of ATP hydrolysis by human P-glycoprotein (ABCB1).

The human MDR1 (ABCB1) gene product, P-glycoprotein (Pgp), functions as an ATP-dependent efflux pump for a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we assessed the role of conserved glutamate residues in the Walker B domain of the two ATP sites (E556 and E1201, respectively) during the catalytic cycle of human Pgp. The mutant Pgps (E556Q, E556A, E1201Q, E1201A, E556/1201Q, and E556/1201A) were characterized using a vaccinia virus based expression system. Although steady-state ATP hydrolysis and drug transport activities were abrogated in both E556Q and E1201Q mutant Pgps, [alpha-(32)P]-8-azidoADP was trapped in the presence of vanadate (Vi), and the release of trapped [alpha-(32)P]-8-azidoADP occurred to a similar extent as in wild-type Pgp. This indicates that these mutations do not affect either the first hydrolysis event or the ADP release step. Similar results were also obtained when Glu residues were replaced with Ala (E556A and E1201A). Following the first hydrolysis event and release of [alpha-(32)P]-8-azidoADP, both E556Q and E1201Q mutant Pgps failed to undergo another cycle of Vi-induced [alpha-(32)P]-8-azidoADP trapping. Interestingly, the double mutants E556/1201Q and E556/1201A trapped [alpha-(32)P]-8-azidoADP even in the absence of Vi, and the occluded nucleotide was not released after incubation at 37 degrees C for an extended period. In addition, the properties of transition state conformation of the double mutants generated in the absence of Vi were found to be similar to that of the wild-type protein trapped in the presence of Vi (Pgp x [alpha-(32)P]-8-azidoADP xVi). Thus, in contrast to the single mutants, the double mutants appear to be defective in the ADP release step. In aggregate, these data suggest that E556 and E1201 residues in the Walker B domains may not be critical as catalytic carboxylates for the cleavage of the bond between the gamma-P and the beta-P of ATP during hydrolysis but are essential for the second ATP hydrolysis step and completion of the catalytic cycle.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Active site loop motion in triosephosphate isomerase: T-jump relaxation spectroscopy of thermal activation.

As for many enzymes, the enzymatic pathway of triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) includes the partially rate determining motion of an active site loop (loop 6, residues 166-176), which must remain closed during chemistry but must open just before product release. The motion of this loop was monitored using laser induced temperature-jump relaxation spectroscopy at nanosecond to millisecond time resolution. Trp168 in the hinge of the mobile loop served as a fluorophore reporter in a mutant of the yeast enzyme. The opening rate was studied as a function of the concentration of glycerol 3-phosphate, a substrate surrogate. Monoexponential kinetics were observed; assuming a simple two-step ligand release mechanism involving an encounter complex intermediate, the time scales of loop opening and closing were derived. The opening rate of the loop at 25 degrees C was determined to be 2500 +/- 1000 s(-1), in remarkable agreement with solution and solid state NMR measurements. The closing rate at the same temperature was 46,700 +/- 1800 s(-1). The rates were also studied as a function of the sample temperature following the jump. Enthalpies of activation of the loop motion, DeltaH(close) and DeltaH(open), were estimated to be 13.8 and 14.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The enthalpy of dissociation estimated from the kinetic studies is in reasonable agreement with steady-state values. Moreover, the enthalpy was dissected, for the first time, into components associated with ion binding and with protein conformational change. The enthalpy of the release reaction appeared to have a substantial contribution from the dissociation of the ligand from the encounter complex, found to be endothermic at 6 kcal/mol. In contrast, the population ratio of the open to closed loop conformations is found to favor the closed conformation but to be substantially less temperature dependent than the release step. Preliminary data of other ligands show that G3P behavior resembles that of the substrate but differs from 2-phosphoglycolate, a tight binding inhibitor, and phosphate. This study represents one of the first detailed comparisons between NMR and fluorescence based probes of protein motion and results in good agreement between the methods. The data in aggregate support a model in which the rate of the loop opening for TIM is dependent on the ligand and results in opening rates in the presence of the product that are comparable to enzymatic throughput, kcat.

Binding Sites↗

No need to be HAMLET or BAMLET to interact with histones: binding of monomeric alpha-lactalbumin to histones and basic poly-amino acids.

The ability of a specific complex of human alpha-lactalbumin with oleic acid (HAMLET) to induce cell death with selectivity for tumor and undifferentiated cells was shown recently to be mediated by interaction of HAMLET with histone proteins irreversibly disrupting chromatin structure [Duringer, C., et al. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 42131-42135]. Here we show that monomeric alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) in the absence of fatty acids is also able to bind efficiently to the primary target of HAMLET, histone HIII, regardless of Ca(2+) content. Thus, the modification of alpha-LA by oleic acid is not required for binding to histones. We suggest that interaction of negatively charged alpha-LA with the basic histone stabilizes apo-alpha-LA and destabilizes the Ca(2+)-bound protein due to compensation for excess negative charge of alpha-LA's Ca(2+)-binding loop by positively charged residues of the histone. Spectrofluorimetric curves of titration of alpha-LA by histone H3 were well approximated by a scheme of cooperative binding of four alpha-LA molecules per molecule of histone, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 1.0 microM. Such a stoichiometry of binding implies that the binding process is not site-specific with respect to histone and likely is driven by just electrostatic interactions. Co-incubation of positively charged poly-amino acids (poly-Lys and poly-Arg) with alpha-LA resulted in effects which were similar to those caused by histone HIII, confirming the electrostatic nature of the alpha-LA-histone interaction. In all cases that were studied, the binding was accompanied by aggregation. The data indicate that alpha-lactalbumin can be used as a basis for the design of antitumor agents, acting through disorganization of chromatin structure due to interaction between alpha-LA and histone proteins.

Amino Acids, Basic↗

"Designing out" disulfide bonds: thermodynamic properties of 30-51 cystine substitution mutants of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.

We have used a combination of spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques to assess the thermodynamic and extrathermodynamic consequences of paired amino acid substitutions at positions 30 and 51 in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Correctly folded, wild type BPTI contains a disulfide at the 30-51 positions, with the nonbackbone atoms of this cystine being relatively solvent inaccessible. Mutants missing this buried 30-51 disulfide adopt a conformation very similar to that of the native state of wild type BPTI (Eigenbrot et al., 1990, 1992), although they are severely destabilized relative to the wild type molecule (Hurle et al., 1990). We have conducted a systematic effort to find the energetically most favorable substitution for this buried 30-51 disulfide in BPTI. To this end, we have studied and characterized the thermally induced and guanidine hydrochloride-induced denaturation transitions for a family of mutants in which the amino acid residue(s) at positions 30 and/or 51 have been systematically altered. Specifically, we studied the unfolding transitions of the following series of residue 30/residue 51 paired substitution mutants: C30A/C51A, C30V/C51A, C30G/C51A, C30S/C51A, C30T/C51A, C30A/C51S, C30S/C51S, and C30G/C51M. For this series of mutants, comparisons between the relative stabilization free energies, derived from analysis of the denaturation profiles, allow us to reach the following conclusions: (a) side chains containing polar moieties (Ser and Thr) are destabilizing, with this effect being position dependent (i.e., a serine substitution is more destabilizing at position 51 than at position 30); (b) the destabilizing effects of two serine substitutions are approximately additive, suggesting that side chain-side chain hydrogen bonds between the two serine hydroxyl groups probably are weak or nonexistent; (c) the thermodynamic impact of a Gly30 substitution is consistent with a glycine-induced increase in the configurational entropy of the unfolded state; (d) the C30G/C51M mutant is highly destabilized relative to the C30A/C51A mutant despite the fact that, based on considerations of hydrophobicity and steric fit, substitution of a buried disulfide by Gly30 and Met51 would be expected to be optimal. Methionine may be particularly ill-suited as a buried disulfide substitute due to the large loss of side chain conformational entropy it undergoes during the transition from the unfolded to the native state. In the aggregate, our data provide insight into the residue-, position-, and context-dependent consequences on protein stability of "designing out" the buried 30-51 disulfide bond in the BPTI molecule. These data also suggest that a previously unrecognized component of disulfide bridge stabilization of proteins is the relatively minor penalty in side chain conformational entropy incurred by cystine residues during folding due to their severely restricted rotation even in the unfolded state.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modeling crude oil droplet-sediment aggregation in nearshore waters.

This paper describes a modeling approach that simulates changes in particle size distribution and density due to aggregation by extending the Smoluchowski aggregation kinetic model to particles of different density. Batch flocculation studies were conducted for clay, colloidal silica, crude oil, clay-crude oil, and silica-crude oil systems. A parameter estimation algorithm was used to estimate homogeneous collision efficiencies (alphaHOMO) for single-particle-type systems and heterogeneous collision efficiencies (alphaHET) for two-particle-type systems. Homogeneous collision efficiency values (alphaHOMO) were greater for clay (0.7) and for crude oil (0.3) than for silica (0.01). Thus, clay and crude oil were classified as cohesive particles while silica was classified as noncohesive. Heterogeneous collision efficiencies were similar for oil-clay (0.4) and oil-silica (0.3) systems. Thus, crude oil increases the aggregation of noncohesive particles. Data from the calibrated aggregation model were used to estimate apparent first-order flocculation rates (K') for oil, clay, and silica and apparent second-order flocculation rates (K'') for oil and clay in oil-clay systems and for oil and silica in oil-silica systems. For oil or clay systems, aggregation Damköhler numbers ranged from 0.1 to 1.0, suggesting that droplet coalescence and clay aggregation can occur on the same time scales as oil resurfacing and clay settling, respectively. For mixed oil-clay systems, the relative time scales of clay settling and clay-oil aggregation were also within an order of magnitude. Thus, oil-clay aggregation should be considered when modeling crude oil transport in nearshore waters.

Aluminum Silicates↗

A Steeply Pyramidal Silylamine: N,O-Dimethyl-N-silylhydroxylamine.

N,O-Dimethyl-N-silylhydroxylamine (H(3)SiMeNOMe) has been prepared by reaction of HMeNOMe with H(3)SiBr and 2,6-lutidine as an auxiliary base. Its identity has been proved by gas-phase IR and solution NMR spectroscopy of the nuclei (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, (17)O, and (29)Si and by mass spectrometry. The solution NMR data indicate aggregation of the compound in solution. H(3)SiMeNOMe decomposes within weeks at ambient temperature, and an extrusion of methylnitrene is probably the mechanistic pathway involved. The final products of this decomposition are an insoluble precipitate and SiH(4). The energy of H(3)SiMeNOMe relative to its potential rearrangement isomer MeHN-H(2)Si-OMe has been estimated by ab initio calculations to be 289 kJ mol(-)(1). The molecular structure of H(3)SiMeNOMe has been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction and by ab initio calculations. The results show H(3)SiMeNOMe to possess a steeply pyramidal nitrogen atom and to adopt a trans conformation. It is thus the first silyl nitrogen compound that adopts a typically pyramidal nitrogen coordination for purely electronic reasons. The Si-N bond is found to be only slightly elongated with respect to those of comparable compounds with planar nitrogen coordination. Important bond length and angles are Si-N 1.742(1), N-O 1.449(4), N-C 1.460(3), and O-C 1.425(4) Å and Si-N-C 121.8(5), Si-N-O 104.3(4), C-N-O 106.2(12), and N-O-C 103.2(12) degrees. Results of an NBO analysis show the silyl group to be bound by a nitrogen sp(2) hybrid, the d-orbital contribution at silicon to be less than 2%, and the N-O bond to comprise mainly p-orbital contribution. The presence of a marked p(lp-N)-sigma(Si-H) hyperconjugation in the NBO description shows that this effect cannot be solely responsible for the generally observed flattening of the nitrogen coordination in silylamines.

Journal Article↗

Labor force status transitions at older ages in the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, 1970-1990.

While there is considerable evidence of a trend toward earlier retirement in the United States and Europe, trends in rapidly growing economies in other parts of the world have not been closely examined. This paper traces the labor force participation rates of older men and women in four Asian countries, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, over the period of 1970 to 1990. Aggregate census data are used to calculate net transitions into and out of the labor force so as to permit the analysis of differences by country and cohort as well as change over time. Results show that, although men exhibit a general trend toward earlier net labor force exit, labor force participation rates at older ages remain high. Older women are found to be increasingly engaged in economic activity, especially in Singapore and Taiwan.

Journal Article↗