Featured Research

The Monetary Costs of Dementia in the United States — Apr 24, 2013

an elderly woman with a caretakerIdentifying the costs of dementia is challenging because persons who have it are likely to have co-existing chronic health problems, making isolating the costs among other costs difficult. Also, it is unclear how to attribute a monetary cost to informal caregiving.

Peer Review Not the Only Option for Selecting Research Projects to Fund — Apr 18, 2013

reviewing papersPeer review is considered the gold standard for reviewing research proposals, but it is not always the best method for every research funding process. RAND Europe has updated its folio of cards highlighting a set of established approaches that offer unique alternatives to traditional peer review.

Insomnia: Can't Sleep, Can't Get Diagnosed — Apr 15, 2013

insomniaInsomnia is very common, but most of its sufferers don't receive a diagnosis or treatment. However, educating primary care providers and other professionals about insomnia can help.

The Relationship between Natural Resources and China's Maritime Disputes — Apr 4, 2013

South China Sea mapMedia and policy sources often cite natural resources as a primary driver of tensions in the South and East China Seas. In reality, the region’s hydrocarbon potential is moderate. Resource issues function primarily as focal points for more powerful underlying drivers of domestic political legitimacy, popular nationalism, and regional order.

Cost of Dementia Tops $157 Billion Annually in the United States — Apr 3, 2013

an elderly couple, man possibly with dementiaThe monetary cost of dementia in the United States ranges from $157 billion to $215 billion annually, making the disease more costly to the nation than either heart disease or cancer. The greatest cost is associated with providing institutional and home-based long-term care rather than medical services.

The Effect of Career Magnet Schools — Apr 2, 2013

chemistry student pouring green liquidThe career focus at magnet high schools seems to help students move through the indecision of adolescence and build a career identity. However, career magnet schools had a higher dropout rate than comprehensive high schools, and many of the programs were of poor quality.

The Economic Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Pennsylvania — Mar 28, 2013

Pennsylvania state flagIf Pennsylvania opts into Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, more residents would have health coverage and the state would enjoy a positive economic effect. However, benefits would have a long-term cost, with uneven regional results.

Voting Patterns in Post-Mubarak Egypt — Mar 22, 2013

voting_ink_shubra_egyptAn analysis of regional voting trends in Egypt—where Islamist parties run strongest, and where non-Islamists are most competitive—indicates that Egypt is headed toward a much more competitive political environment in which Islamists will be increasingly challenged to maintain their electoral edge.

Managing September 12th in Cyberspace — Mar 20, 2013

Red network cablesThe U.S., while worried about a "9/11 in cyberspace," also ought to worry about what a "9/12 in cyberspace" would look like. The consequences of the reaction to a cyberattack could be more serious than the consequences of the original action itself.

Helping Families Raise Healthy Children — Mar 19, 2013

parent with happy childSimultaneous developmental delays among young children and depression among parents can create serious challenges for many families. However, results from the Helping Families Raise Healthy Children initiative suggest that aligning early intervention and behavioral health systems can help.

After the Withdrawal: A Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan — Mar 19, 2013

Tarin Kot, Afghanistan chief of policeAt the time of the U.S. withdrawal, there are several militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan that threaten U.S. security and its interests overseas. How can we avoid the inherent risks in the drawdown?

Discounts on Healthy Foods Can Improve Diet Quality; First Result from a National Program — Mar 19, 2013

fruits and vegetablesLowering the costs of healthy foods in supermarkets increases the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods that people eat, while also appearing to reduce consumption of nutritionally less-desirable foods.

Syria as an Arena of Strategic Competition — Mar 18, 2013

free_syrian_army_soldier_pre_baath_flag_6957563747_7e520af1f0_zLess than two years since the beginning of the uprising in Syria, localized protests have morphed into full-blown civil conflict, and external actors have become involved as well. RAND conducted an analytic exercise to generate a greater understanding of the parties and issues in play, including the actors, their motivations, and potential impact of their activities.

The Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Coronary Heart Disease in Women — Mar 13, 2013

housing sprawlWomen living in more compact communities had a lower probability of experiencing a coronary heart disease (CHD) event or dying as a result of CHD.

Military Caregivers Aid Injured Warriors, but Little Is Known About Their Needs — Mar 7, 2013

Spouses, family members, and others who provide informal care to U.S. military members after they return home from conflict often toil long hours with little support, putting them at risk for physical, emotional, and financial harm.

Land-Use Zoning Shown to Affect Crime Rates in Los Angeles — Mar 5, 2013

Using zoning laws to shape the type of development and activity that occur in a neighborhood may be one way to reduce crime in urban areas. Single-use commercially zoned blocks in Los Angeles have crime rates that are 45 percent higher than similar blocks that include residential uses.

Measuring Army Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan — Mar 2, 2013

Afghan artillerymen certified and ready to leadThe Army has provided the bulk of U.S. troops to Iraq and Afghanistan: over 1.5 million troop-years as of December 2011, and 54 percent of all active component troop-year deployments within the area of operations.

Reducing the Cost and Risk of Major Acquisitions at the Department of Homeland Security — Mar 1, 2013

Widespread cost, schedule, and performance shortfalls point to ongoing and expensive problems in the Department of Homeland Security acquisition process. Providing a common problem definition, conceptual framework, and recommendations that DHS officials can use should help improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Addressing the Global Cataract Problem — Feb 21, 2013

Most of the millions of cataract cases worldwide can be cured by quick, inexpensive procedures. But a shortage of trained surgeons remains a challenge. The HelpMeSee approach, a high-volume training and development system, could help close this gap.

Capabilities-Based Planning Can Enhance Energy Security at DoD Installations — Feb 20, 2013

Energy security strategies are needed because DoD installations rely on the U.S. commercial electricity grid which is vulnerable to disruption from natural hazards and actor-induced outages, such as physical or cyber attacks.

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