Featured Research

Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Logistics Applications — Feb 7, 2012

An evaluation of potential logistics applications for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) determines whether they are technically feasible, operationally feasible, and more cost-effective than other options. Six factors are identified that can be used to compare UAS and non-UAS based solutions to logistics tasks.

California Workplace Safety Program Can Reduce Injuries When Inspectors Enforce It — Jan 26, 2012

The first evaluation of the California Injury and Illness Prevention Program found that it reduces workplace injuries, but only at businesses that had been cited for not addressing the regulation's more-specific safety mandates. Having inspectors conduct more in-depth assessments and linking the violations and injuries to the program would have more impact.

Israeli Mistakes Against Hybrid Adversaries Serve as Cautionary Tale for U.S. Military — Jan 20, 2012

A review of recent Israeli military conflicts indicates the United States may be ill-prepared for "hybrid" warfare against state-sponsored adversaries who have a modicum of training and small force numbers, but possess advanced weapons and enough expertise to challenge the U.S. military.

Technology Grant Helps Dallas Police Department Modernize Operations — Jan 19, 2012

The Dallas Police Department received a $5 million grant in 2006 to install laptops and video recorders in patrol cars and thus modernize its operations. RAND evaluated the initiative and found it to be generally successful, despite some implementation problems.

Tracking Public Sentiment in Iran After the Contested 2009 Election with Twitter — Jan 17, 2012

Social media was used in the 2009 protests to organize and communicate under government censorship. An anaylsis of more than 2.5 million tweets discussing the Iran election holds promise for such policy uses as assessing public opinion and forecasting events such as large-scale protests.

Measuring Consumer Preferences for Postal Services in Europe — Jan 16, 2012

Different market segments have varying postal service needs, according to RAND Europe research conducted for the European Commission. All consumers value parcel services, reliability, and low levels of loss, but big businesses value letter services more than small or medium businesses or the public.

Promoting Vaccines in Office-Based Medical Settings Is Needed to Boost Adult Immunization Rates — Jan 11, 2012

Promoting immunizations as a part of routine office-based medical practice is needed to improve adult vaccination rates, a highly effective way to curb the spread of diseases across communities, prevent needless illness and deaths, and lower health care costs.

How Will Migration Impact UK Transport and Congestion? — Jan 10, 2012

The UK Migration Advisory Committee asked RAND Europe to examine how migration is likely to impact transport networks and congestion. The resulting research is one of the first studies using UK data to provide an empirical evidence base about migrants' travel behavior and impacts.

Growing Rivalry Between Israel and Iran Poses Danger of Military Conflict — Jan 5, 2012

The United States should engage in activities that increase understanding about how a deterrence relationship between Israel and Iran may evolve, and encourage direct communication between Israelis and Iranians through informal diplomatic channels.

The Characteristics of Cyberspace Pose Challenges to Those Who Seek to Defend It — Dec 22, 2011

It has become clear that Stuxnet-like worms pose a serious threat even to critical U.S. infrastructure and computer systems that are not connected to the Internet. However, defending against such attacks involves complex technological and legal issues.

Australia Has Considerable Expertise in Submarine Design, but Gaps Still Exist — Dec 15, 2011

The Royal Australian Navy intends to acquire 12 new submarines to replace its Collins-class vessels. RAND assessed the domestic engineering and design skills that Australian industry and government will need to design the new submarine, identified the skills they currently possess, and evaluated how to fill any gaps between the two.

More Transparency, Efficiency Needed to Improve Impact of HIV Funding in Developing Countries — Dec 14, 2011

With the need for HIV services in developing countries rising and the availability of funding flat or declining, existing resources should be better leveraged to help provide life-saving services to more people in need.

Is al Qaeda's Internet Strategy Working? — Dec 6, 2011

The immediate risks posed by al Qaeda's online campaign do not justify attempting to impose controls that could be costly to enforce and produce unintended consequences. However, the situation warrants continued monitoring for signals of new dangers.

More Young People Are Becoming Nurses; Trend May Help Ease Future Nursing Shortage — Dec 5, 2011

The number of people aged 23 to 26—primarily women—who became registered nurses increased by 62 percent from 2002 to 2009, approaching numbers not seen since the mid-1980s. This trend should ease some of the concern about a looming nursing shortage in the United States.

Kids Are Gaining More Weight During the Elementary School Years — Nov 30, 2011

Nearly 40% of a nationally representative cohort of children started kindergarten with a BMI in the top quartile of the growth charts. This proportion increased significantly between 1st and 3rd grades but there was no further increase during middle school.

U.S. Should Reexamine Policy Options for Dealing with an Iran on the Nuclear Threshold — Nov 28, 2011

An attack on Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States or Israel would make it more, not less difficult to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions. The sympathy aroused for Iran would make containment of Iranian influence much more difficult for Israel, for the U.S., and for the Arab regimes currently allied with Washington.

Coalition Forces During Stability Operations: Band of Brothers or Dysfunctional Family? — Nov 23, 2011

As challenging as coalition warfare is during conventional conflicts, the difficulties are compounded in number and character when the contingency is instead a stability operation. The absence of a threat that puts survival interests at risk translates into weaker commitment and more-restrictive caveats on how a participant's capabilities are employed.

Use of Retail Medical Clinics Rises Tenfold Over Two-Year Period — Nov 22, 2011

Use of retail medical clinics located in pharmacies and other retail settings increased tenfold between 2007 and 2009. The determining factors in choosing one over a physician's office were found to be age, health status, income, and proximity to the clinic.

A New Approach for Assessing the Needs of Service Members and Their Families — Nov 21, 2011

A survey tool based on a new methodological framework can be used by the Department of Defense and local military commanders to gauge the problems and problem-related needs of service members and their families, how well those needs are being met, and the barriers and bridges to accessing services.

California Faces Challenges Meeting Health Needs of Offenders Released from Prison — Nov 16, 2011

With the health care safety net in California under stress from the state's continuing financial crisis, jurisdictions across the state face unprecedented challenges caring for the health and social service needs of people released from state prisons.

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