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New Approaches to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations — May 8, 2008

Photo Courtesy of the US Air Force

The U.S. Air Force has greatly increased the number of operational surveillance sensors and its ability to process data from these sensors. However, along with the increased number of sensors comes an increase in the complexity of the tasking of these assets.

Rethinking Counterinsurgency to Respond to the Evolving Jihadist Insurgency — May 5, 2008

soldier riding bike with boys running alongside

Despite great technological and military advances, British and U.S. counterinsurgency (COIN) operations have been slow to respond and adapt to the rise of the global jihadist insurgency. Operational failures have highlighted the need for the West to rethink and retool its current COIN strategy.

Charter School Students in Chicago Enjoy Better Graduation, College Entry Rates — May 7, 2008

High school graduation

Chicago's multi-grade charter high schools (those serving students in grades 7-12, 6-12 or K-12) appear to improve their students' chances of graduating and attending college, as compared with the city's traditional public high schools.

Spirituality for Kids After-School Program has Significant Positive Effects — Apr. 29, 2008

Three students in school hallway

A nonreligious after-school program, Spirituality for Kids (SFK) seeks to build resilience in children. Interestingly, it improves not just social and internal outcomes but also school-related outcomes, even though it is not an academic intervention.

"Preferred Performance Metric" Could Aid Evaluation of Army Recruiters — Apr. 20, 2008

Courtesy of the U.S. Army

Traditional Army recruiter performance metrics do not adequately measure effort, skill, and productivity. A “preferred performance metric” that takes into account the difficulty of recruiting different types of youth in various markets could provide a more accurate assessment of recruiters.

Comparing Alternative U.S. Counterterrorism Strategies — Apr. 19, 2008

Courtesy of the US Army

The U.S. faces the challenge of countering the terrorism threat. Frequently, both expert decisionmakers and lay citizens have trouble assessing alternative strategies to address such issues because of the emotions and uncertainty involved. An assumption-based planning approach might help.

One In Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Suffer from PTSD or Major Depression — Apr. 17, 2008

soldiers in shadow

Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment.

The Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Regional Adversaries — Apr. 15, 2008

Nuclear bomb test

North Korea's test of a nuclear weapon in 2006 shows that such weapons are within reach of determined regional powers. Thus, defense planners in the United States and elsewhere must begin now to confront the new security challenges posed by nuclear-armed regional adversaries.

Understanding the Challenge of Extremist and Radicalized Prisoners — Apr. 15, 2008

Prison cells

A preliminary overview of the challenges posed by radicalized and extremist prisoners helps to explore the potential for the radicalization of young European Muslims in the prison environment.

Increasing Aircraft Carrier Forward Presence — Apr. 10, 2008

Aircraft carrier

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier fleets must balance the timing of maintenance, training, and deployment with presence and surge demands. An evaluation of deployment scenarios examines the feasibility of different cycle lengths, their effect on carrier forward presence, and their impact on shipyard workloads.

Turkey as a U.S. Security Partner — Apr. 10, 2008

U.S. and Turkey

Turkey has long been an important ally, but Ankara is increasingly behaving more independently and assertively in ways that must factor into future U.S. planning for the region.

Miscommunication Hindered Student Participation in Programs Created by NCLB — Apr. 4, 2008

Student at chalkboard

Student participation in school choice programs authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act was hindered because parents did not receive clear and timely communication from schools.

Economic Burden of Health Insurance Increasing for Small Employers Providing Health Insurance — Apr. 4, 2008

Businesswomen in office

The economic burden of providing health insurance for workers increased more for small businesses than for large ones from 2000 to 2005, but the spike did not cause a significant number of small employers to abandon the benefit.

Economic Progress of Allegheny County Could be Enhanced by Government Consolidation — Apr. 3, 2008

Pittsburgh Downtown

The City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania could enhance the economic progress of the region if its governments are consolidated, although evidence of such gains in other consolidations is mixed.

The Arts Debate: What do People Value About the Arts? — Mar. 29, 2008

Woman looking at painting

In 2006 and 2007, Arts Council England ran a large inquiry called 'the arts debate'. A summary of the feedback from this inquiry offers insight into what people value about the arts and what principles should guide publicly funded arts organizations.

What is the Relationship Between Gender and Health? — Mar. 27, 2008

Man and woman exercising

Modern societies' health problems involve a combination of policies, personal behavior, and choice. An examination of the ways men's and women's lives and physiology contribute to differences in their health demonstates the importance of integrating health implications into everyday decisions and actions.

The Legal and Economic Implications of Electronic Discovery — Mar. 27, 2008

woman looking at computer screen

Pretrial discovery is central to the American civil legal process, however the growing volume of electronically stored information has led to concerns over the effects of electronic discovery (e-discovery). A preliminary model explores the range of plausible effects that e-discovery might have on case outcomes.

Developing U.S. Civilian Personnel Capabilities in State-Building Operations — Mar. 19, 2008

Civilian staffing in reconstruction effort

Recent U.S. experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq have shown that engaging in stability and reconstruction operations is a difficult and lengthy process that requires appropriate resources. A framework for improving U.S. civilian personnel and staffing programs for state-building efforts could help.

Health Professionals and the Public Unprepared to Make Use of Genomic Medicine for Adults — Mar. 18, 2008

Genetics testing

Although advances in genomic medicine for common adult chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer hold promise for improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment, health professionals and the public are not prepared to effectively integrate these new tools into practice.

U.S. Failed to Monitor and Adapt to Insurgent Trends in Iraq — Mar. 11, 2008

U.S. solider giving Iraqi goods

The inability of the United States to monitor insurgent trends in Iraq and apply new counterinsurgency tactics led many Iraqi civilians to side with sectarian groups, propelling the country to the brink of civil war.

Modernizing the North Korean System — Mar. 10, 2008

North Korean monument

An unprecedented joint report by researchers from the U.S., China, Russia, Japan and South Korea recommends a new approach to promoting the modernization of North Korea, as well as a "tool kit" to enable North Koreans to create their own modernization plans.

How Can We Assess Novel Threats to Homeland Security? — Mar. 10, 2008

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Policymakers should take a measured approach to responding to possible terrorist use of "novel" weapons such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. This approach should be built on a foundation of investments in broader counterterrorism and law enforcement capabilities.

What are the Costs and Benefits of Out-of-School-Time Youth Programs? — Feb. 29, 2008

Group of teenagers

Evaluation of youth programs offered during the time that students are not in school shows that the programs that are costlier and provide more-intense resources to youth perform the best.

More Value Should be Placed on the Tradecraft of Intelligence Analysis — Feb. 29, 2008

Computer analysis

While the initiatives set in motion by the December 2004 intelligence reform legislation are promising, they are just the beginning. Intelligence analysis needs improvement across U.S. intelligence agencies to account for a world of threats very different from that of the Cold War.

Women and Nation-Building — Feb. 27, 2008

Women and nation-building

Women's participation in post-conflict nation-building is an important ingredient in achieving an equitable, peaceful and more prosperous society. Leaders should include women in the earliest economic reconstruction activities.

A Comparison of the Education Systems in India and China — Feb. 25, 2008

Student in Indian classroom

Different educational approaches in China and India have been successful in stimulating economic growth; the successes and challenges of both education systems offer valuable lessons for China, India, and the rest of the developing world.

Recidivism No Higher Among Deportable Immigrants Than Similar Nondeportable Immigrants — Feb. 22, 2008

prisoner

Deportable immigrants released from the Los Angeles County jail system were no more likely to be rearrested than similar nondeportable immigrants released during the same period.

How Should Scientists Respond to Concern Over Technology-Driven Threats? — Feb. 21, 2008

Research scientist

Scientists and engineers should undertake efforts to reduce the negative impacts of their work. Technology impact studies can be incorporated into the research plans of major new initiatives, along with formal requirements to mitigate known negative societal impacts.

Health Indicators Address Quality of Care in Older Adults — Feb. 15, 2008

Elderly woman with nurse

Vulnerable elders receive on average only half of recommended care; for conditions that affect primarily the elderly, they receive appropriate care less than one-third of the time. Interventions based on ACOVE indicators can improve the care physicians provide to older adults.

Improving Strategic Planning at the Department of Defense — Feb. 14, 2008

game theory

The Department of Defense works continuously to improve its strategic planning for future forces. An enhanced approach utilizing portfolio-analysis methods should be particularly helpful in high-level reviews seeking to integrate requirement-setting, technology assessments, and cost analyses.

Identifying Priorities for Post-Secondary Education in Qatar — Feb. 12, 2008

Doha, Qatar

Education and employment preferences in Qatar are not well aligned with the demands of the Persian Gulf state's labor market, and existing post-secondary educational offerings do not meet all of the nation's needs.

United States Lacks the Capability to Counter Insurgency in the Muslim World — Feb. 11, 2008

Solider in COIN mission, DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall, U.S. Air Force

Iraq and Afghanistan have revealed serious shortfalls in the capabilities of the U.S. to counter insurgency in the Muslim world. Instead of relying predominantly on military occupation, the U.S. must become more able to bolster the ability of threatened states to win the contest for the support of their people.

Assessing the Impact of Nutrition Label Revisions in the EU — Feb. 7, 2008

Man looking at nutrition labels

The European Commission (EC) is currently considering a revision of its food nutrition labelling legislation. An assessment of the proposed policy alternatives addresses their potential economic, social and environmental impact.

Identifying & Reducing Climate-Change Vulnerabilities in Water-Management Plans — Jan. 31, 2008

Water resources

Climate change will affect water supplies in California, but few water-management agencies have formally included it in their plans. Robust decisionmaking methods can help identify vulnerabilities related to climate change and evaluate the most effective options for managing those risks.

California Lags Nation in Tracking Students' Educational Progress — Jan. 29, 2008

Student in classroom with book

While California has basic tracking system architecture in place to allow the state's educators to closely follow the progress of students from kindergarten to post-secondary education, officials must overcome political and financial barriers.

Path to Diversity Success Varies According to Company's History, Culture, Mission — Jan. 23, 2008

Diverse group of hands meeting for business

Companies recognized for exemplary diversity may follow a core set of motives and behaviors, but best practices alone do not always contribute to a high level of diversity.

Consumers Could Buy Yearly `Drug Licenses' As New Way to Pay for Prescriptions — Jan. 21, 2008

Prescription Medicine

Changing the way consumers pay for prescription drugs so that the system more closely resembles paying for cell phones or computer software could increase drug use without altering patients' out-of-pocket spending, health plan costs or drug company profits.

Maintaining Military Medical Skills During Peacetime — Jan. 17, 2008

Army medics, photo courtesy U.S. Army

To maintain medical skills during peacetime, military medical personnel could be stationed in nonmilitary settings where the case mix might more closely resemble that under deployment.

Teens Who Work Are More Likely to Smoke — Jan. 15, 2008

Young woman smoking

An analysis of substance use among teens in the 10th grade found a strong association between working for pay and smoking. Even after adjusting for other factors that influence teen smoking behavior, the study found a clear link between the amount of time teenagers worked and their current use of tobacco.

Estimating the Value of Water-Use Efficiency in the Intermountain West — Jan. 10, 2008

River in the northwest

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of water-efficiency programs can be difficult, because not all the benefits are easily quantified. An economic framework based on two tools from the California Urban Water Conservation Council helps estimate the avoided costs and environmental benefits of increasing water-use efficiency.

Community Policing and Violence Prevention in Oakland — Jan. 8, 2008

Police officer

An assessment of the first-year progress of community-policing and violence-prevention programs in Oakland funded by Measure Y found that implementation of community policing has been delayed, but violence-prevention programs have been implemented as planned.

Complexity of Industry Makes It Difficult to Distinguish Broker-Dealers & Investment Advisers — Jan. 3, 2008

Financial businessman

The financial services industry is complex and financial service professionals are becoming less distinguishable and more inter-related. However, investors are generally highly satisfied with their own financial service providers.

Live Operators Crucial for Public Health Department Disease-Reporting Hotlines — Jan. 2, 2008

Emergency response call center

Public health departments that staff disease-reporting hotlines with live operators at all times are more likely to meet federal guidelines designed to help stop the spread of infectious diseases.

Preparing for the Psychological Consequences Following Large-Scale Emergencies — Dec. 31, 2007

Public health clinic

New training manuals provide a curricula that can be used to train hospital and clinic staff as well as department of mental health staff on how to prepare for and respond to the psychological consequences of large-scale disasters.

Modernizing the Federal Government through Pay-for-Performance — Dec. 31, 2007

Federal Buildings

In 2003, the Volcker Commission recommended that explicit pay-for-performance (PFP) systems be adopted more broadly throughout the federal government. What are the pros and cons of PFP schemes compared with seniority-based salary systems?

U.S. Air Force and Navy Reinforce One Another in Strike-Warfare Operations — Dec. 27, 2007

Combat pair fighter jets

The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy have steadily developed exceptional cross-service harmony in their conduct of integrated strike operations since the first Persian Gulf War in 1991. That close harmony contrasts sharply with the situation that prevailed throughout most of the Cold War.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues Among People with HIV — Dec. 19, 2007

AIDS ribbon

People living with HIV are much more likely to experience mental health or substance abuse problems than are people in the general population. About one in three individuals do not receive treatment services for these problems.

Eating as an Automatic Behavior — Dec. 18, 2007

Man eating donut

Conventional wisdom maintains that preventing obesity should be as simple as providing the right nutritional information and motivation. But a more effective approach is to decrease the accessibility, visibility and quantities of food to which people are exposed and reduce the environmental cues that promote eating.

What is the Effect of Policy on Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses? — Dec. 11, 2007

business people

The regulatory environment affects small business differently from the way it affects large ones, sometimes leading to unintended negative consequences. An improved understanding of this effect will help lawmakers develop policy designed to advance entrepreneurship.

A Framework for Planning Cost-Effective Rail Security Against a Terrorist Attack — Dec. 11, 2007

Train

U.S. communities depend on reliable, safe, and secure rail systems, but such systems are vulnerable to terrorist attack. A framework developed for rail security planners and policymakers can help guide cost-effective plans to secure their rail systems from attacks.

Disease Management Programs May Improve Quality of Care, But May Not Save Money — Dec. 10, 2007

Person monitoring diabetes

Disease management programs that help guide the care of patients with chronic health problems appear to improve the quality of health care, but there is little evidence that such efforts actually save money.

Which Teens Are Most at Risk for Exposure to Sexual Content on TV? — Dec. 6, 2007

Teen watching TV

Teens who have a television in their bedroom and who spend more time at home unsupervised are most at risk for exposure to sexual content on TV. Parents can set restrictions on viewing to help reduce the risk.

An Economic Redevelopment Plan for New Orleans — Nov. 28, 2007

New Orleans

New Orleans should craft a comprehensive economic redevelopment plan that combines public- and private-sector funding with a centralized structure. Total operating costs could run between $2 million and $3 million per year.

Evidence-Based Planning Will Be Critical to a Successful 2012 London Olympics — Nov. 28, 2007

Runners in London

Planning a successful Olympics in London in 2012 will require organizers to learn from the successes and problems of past games in the areas of transportation, infrastructure and security.

Improving Army Doctrine and Planning for Stability Operations — Nov. 26, 2007

Army stability operation, photo courtesy U.S. Army

The U.S. Army has put much effort into revising the approach to planning and implementing Stabilization, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction operations to ensure a common U.S. strategy. However, some elements essential to the success of the process are not yet in place.

What are the Effects of Marijuana Sanctions on Risk and Price? — Nov. 26, 2007

cannabis plant

Lower legal risks for marijuana users users are associated with higher marijuana prices and thus higher profits for drug dealers.

NYPD Pedestrian Stop Patterns Mostly Racially Neutral, with Some Trouble Spots — Nov. 20, 2007

Police officer handcuffing suspect

Pedestrian stops made by New York police officers during 2006 reveal that minorities were frisked more often than whites in Staten Island, and by a small number of individual officers, but stops in most areas of the city show smaller differences.

Victims of Terrorism Have Significant Influence on Policy and Legislation — Nov. 20, 2007

A fireman in front of an American flag

Since September 11, 2001, organized groups of families and friends have emerged to become a powerful voice in U.S. counterterrorist policy and legislation. These groups have been successful in establishing the 9/11 Commission and implementing its most important recommendations.

NCLB Accountability Systems in Place, But Act's Promises Remain Uncertain — Nov. 19, 2007

Girl in classroom

After five years of effort, states have implemented most of the test-based accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, and now must focus their efforts on improving poor-performing schools that have been identified.

International Cooperation Needed to Keep Terrorists from Gaining Advanced Weapons — Nov. 14, 2007

terrorist with sniper rifle

International cooperation is needed to keep a new generation of advanced conventional weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. Efforts should focus on making security forces aware of the emerging threats and developing safeguards for the most potent of the weapons.

Diesel & Hybrid Vehicles Can Provide More Societal Benefits than Gas Autos — Nov. 8, 2007

Gas pump

Cars and light trucks powered by advanced diesel technology or hybrid technology can provide larger societal benefits than traditional gasoline-powered automobiles. Vehicles fueled by E85 compare unfavorably with the other two alternatives.

Examining California's School Readiness and Student Achievement Gaps — Nov. 8, 2007

Kids doing homework

California's sizeable achievement gaps in English-language arts and mathematics in second and third grades have early roots, with the same groups of children that lag in academic performance in elementary school trailing in measures of school readiness when they enter kindergarten.

Evaluating the Quality of California's Publicly Funded Preschool Programs — Nov. 8, 2007

Child's hands fingerpainting

Participation in effective preschool programs has the potential to narrow achievement gaps, but California's current system of publicly funded early care and education programs are not designed to maximize the child development and school readiness benefits.

Army Resource Gaps Can Be Filled by Building Partner Capabilities — Nov. 6, 2007

Coalition flags

Ongoing operations and emerging mission requirements place a heavy burden on U.S. Army resources, resulting in capability gaps that the Army might fill by building appropriate capabilities in allies and partner armies through focused security cooperation.

Sustainable Digital Preservation of Scholarly Publications — Nov. 6, 2007

Book binding

The digital revolution has fundamentally modified the way that research results are circulated, reviewed, accessed and preserved. Established models of market dynamics and stewardship need to be rethought and part of the responsibilities of national libraries redefined.

Determining What Cities Are at Greatest Risk for Terrorist Attack — Nov. 6, 2007

Las Vegas

The Department of Homeland Security is moving increasingly towards a process designed to manage the greatest risks instead of attempting to protect everything. A probabilistic terrorism model can be used to assist intelligence analysis by assessing risk across cities and within specific cities.

Park and Ride Schemes Can Effectively Reduce Urban Congestion — Nov. 2, 2007

Parking lot

Increased congestion in urban areas is a key transport problem that has been exacerbated by heavy reliance on private car use. Park-and-ride schemes can be an effective means of reducing private automobile traffic within the congested center of an urban area.

Linking Adolescent Problems to Substance-Use Problems in Young Adulthood — Nov. 2, 2007

Young man drinking beer

Problematic substance use, failure to assume adult roles and responsibilities, and exposure to pro-drug social influences in adolescence may be linked to later substance use.

Helping Commercial-Building Owners Make Better Water-Efficiency Decisions — Oct. 25, 2007

Dripping faucet

The amount of water a typical commercial building needs to provide essential services is highly variable. A new framework and tool provides a convenient way to consider the potential value of water-efficiency investments under price uncertainty without collecting extensive data or hiring a consultant.

Understanding Asian Geopolitics — Oct. 24, 2007

Great Wall of China

Post-Cold War Asia is increasingly unstable due to changes in relationships among the major countries, risks to the globalization process that underlay U.S. Cold War successes, and failure so far of U.S. strategies to adapt to the new environment.

Human Trafficking Problem Hits Close to Home — Oct. 19, 2007

Woman with head in hands

While many of us think of human trafficking—both sex and labor trafficking—as occurring mostly in foreign countries, it is a growing national concern, and one that often hits home in local communities.

Schools Not Sustaining Mental Health Aid to Children Displaced by Hurricane Katrina — Oct. 18, 2007

Depressed student in school hallway

Despite strong initial efforts to support the mental health needs of students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many schools have not been able to fulfill students' mental health needs over the long term.

Countering Terrorists' Use of Network Technologies — Oct. 15, 2007

A man with a laptop in a busy airport terminal

Precluding terrorists from getting the technology they want is impractical, and developing direct counters is unlikely to yield high payoffs. Instead, counterterrorism programs should exploit the technologies and the information such technologies use to enable more direct security force operations.

Is There a Civil-Military Gap in the United States? — Oct. 15, 2007

Photo Courtesy of  U.S. Army

Concerns about a civil-military gap and possible erosion of the principle of civilian control of the military appear to be overstated. The groups do not differ greatly on the questions that are most pertinent to military effectiveness.

Adolescent Romantic Relationships as Precursors of Healthy Adult Marriages — Oct. 11, 2007

Teen couple

Research has suggested that the building blocks of healthy adult marriages are formed during adolescence. A review of theory, research, and interventions on teen romantic relationships suggests future directions for policies and programs to help promote healthy marriages.

Serious Gaps Exist in Health Care Quality for America's Children — Oct. 10, 2007

Boy getting check-up

Children in the United States are not receiving recommended preventive care and screening services, such as regular weight and measurement checks to ensure that they are growing properly and not at risk for obesity; nor are they receiving standard care for conditions such as asthma and diarrhea.

Taxpayers, Policyholders Benefit from Terrorism Risk Insurance Program — Oct. 10, 2007

World Trade Center and Brooklyn Bridge during terrorist attack

Taxpayers save money and businesses are better protected with the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) in place than if the act is allowed to expire. TRIA allows the insurance industry to play a larger role in compensating losses caused by smaller terrorist attacks by transferring some of the risk for the largest attack to the government.

Using and Sharing Geospatial Information in the Department of Defense — Oct. 5, 2007

Geospatial data sharing

The sharing of geospatial information provides the DoD both opportunities and challenges. Benefits include improved effectiveness resulting in better outcomes and efficiency in the form of reduced costs. Challenges include concern over security issues and technical difficulties in sharing information.

Program for Parents Helps to Promote Adolescent Sexual Health — Oct. 5, 2007

Mother and daughter

Parents play an important role in the sexual health of their adolescent children. Talking Parents, Healthy Teens is an intervention designed to help parents improve communication with their adolescent children, promote healthy adolescent sexual development, and reduce adolescent sexual risk behaviors.

Perspectives on U.S. Competitiveness in Science and Technology — Oct. 5, 2007

Globe encircled in fiber optic cable

Is the U.S. in danger of losing its competitive edge in science and technology (S&T)? At a conference convened by RAND, experts from academia, government, and the private sector reviewed evidence and provided a partial survey of the potential erosion of U.S. S&T capability.

The Quest for Common Grounds in American and Iranian Public Opinion — Oct. 2, 2007

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, photo by Daniella Zalcman

Although the emergent and ever-deepening conflict between Iran and the U.S. is often framed in the rhetoric of "clash of civilizations," a review of data from the World Values Survey found considerable common ground in the values of the American and Iranian peoples.

Regaining Information Superiority Against 21st-Century Insurgents — Sep. 27, 2007

Insurgent on cell phone

U.S. counterinsurgency efforts need to exploit information power by connecting with and learning from the population itself to increase the effectiveness of both the indigenous government and the U.S. military and civilian services that support it.

Repair and Replacement of Affordable Housing Lags in Mississippi's Post-Katrina Recovery — Sep. 27, 2007

House under construction, photo courtesy of FEMA

While construction permits have been issued for approximately 60 percent of the housing damaged by Hurricane Katrina, repair and replacement of multi-unit housing significantly lags behind repair and replacement of single-family homes in three coastal counties in Mississippi heavily damaged by the hurricane.

Enrollment in SCHIP Improves Low-Income Children's Quality of Life — Sep. 26, 2007

Girl with doctor

Children newly enrolled in a public health insurance program in California reported improvements such as doing better in school, feeling better physically, and getting along better with their peers.

Are Annual Physical Exams Necessary? — Sep. 25, 2007

Patient getting a check-up

About 63 million U.S. adults visit a doctor annually for a routine medical or gynecological check-up at a total cost of $7.8 billion, but more than 80 percent of preventive care provided by doctors does not take place during this annual check-up.

Unofficial Diplomacy Efforts Can Have a Positive Effect Over Long Term — Sep. 19, 2007

International diplomacy

Unofficial diplomatic discussions can play a significant role in shaping attitudes in the Middle East and Asia, but are best used as a long-term strategy without expectations for dramatic policy shifts.

Polarized Politics and Policy Consequences — Sep. 13, 2007

Polarized politics

To elucidate the impact of polarization on the daily lives of U.S. citizens, the research community may need to modify its benchmarks for what constitutes a successful public policy.

Drug Spending Caps Cause Some Seniors to Quit Taking Key Medicines — Sep. 11, 2007

Empty prescription bottles

Many seniors quit taking drugs for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure when they exceed their drug plan's yearly spending limits. Even when drug benefits resume at the start of a new health plan year, a significant number do not resume their prescription medications.

Options to Improve Health Care Access and Quality for Immigrants — Sep. 11, 2007

Doctor examining young patient

Expanding opportunities for immigrants to obtain legal residency and citizenship may be the best option to offer them better access to health care. Factors that affect their access to health care include: socioeconomic background, immigration status, limited English proficiency, and more.

Weapon System Cost Growth Remains High — Sep. 10, 2007

Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

Despite acquisition reforms, the development cost growth of military systems has not been reduced. DoD can and should do better at controlling cost growth and should pay special attention to the cost estimates on which budgets are based.

Patients with Depression Frequently Do Not Receive High Quality Care — Sep. 4, 2007

Man in doctor's office

Most patients with depression who are treated by primary care physicians do not receive care consistent with quality standards. Physicians had low rates of adherence to nearly half of the treatment recommendations studied.

Assessing Teacher Quality Under No Child Left Behind — Aug. 30, 2007

boy at desk in classroom

A central goal of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) is to ensure that every child is taught by a highly qualified teacher. Most teachers meet their states requirements, but it is uncertain if some states' standards are sufficiently high.

Understanding and Reducing Terrorism Risks in Ungoverned Territories — Aug. 23, 2007

Jungle

Governments around the world should take a new approach to fighting terrorism by treating regions where governmental control is weak as a distinct category of security problems.

Why Are Eligible Children Not Enrolled in SCHIP? — Aug. 23, 2007

Infant getting a checkup

A greater number of eligible children could be enrolled in SCHIP if application processes were simplified and educational outreach efforts were increased. Also, primary care quality could be improved and disparities reduced if policies ensured that children had access to a regular provider when they needed care.

What Do We Know About Vouchers and Charter Schools? — Aug. 16, 2007

girl writing at desk

Vouchers and charter schools are two of the most prominent and far-reaching forms of family-choice policies currently in evidence in the nation's schools. An updated version of the report Rhetoric Versus Reality takes a detailed look at what is known about the effects of school choice.

Cases of Undiagnosed Diabetes Drop Sharply — Aug. 13, 2007

Man checking blood sugar levels

The number of men in the United States with undiagnosed diabetes has declined sharply over the past 25 years, with Hispanics and African-Americans no longer more likely than whites to unknowingly have the disease.

U.S. Should Reassess Priorities and Efforts in Iraq — Aug. 8, 2007

Staff Sgt. Michael Ellis leaving bombed Baghdad police station, photo courtesy U.S. Air Force

The United States should focus its political, security and economic efforts in Iraq toward the single goal of reducing sectarian strife and other violence, but should also start planning now for the possibility that these efforts will not succeed.

Assessing the Assignment Policy for Army Women — Aug. 7, 2007

Female army soldier, photo courtesy U.S. Army

The U.S. Army is following the Department of Defense policy barring the assignment of women to units whose primary mission is ground combat. However, the policies governing the assignment of military women are difficult to understand, and there is no consensus about their objectives.

Can Terrorists Use Publicly Available Information in Attacks? — Aug. 7, 2007

computer online security

How much data regarding U.S. defenses is publicly available and how easily could it be found by individuals seeking to harm U.S. domestic interests? A new framework guides assessments of the availability of such information for planning attacks on the U.S. air, rail, and sea transportation infrastructure.