9:20–9:40 | A toolkit on household expenditure surveys for research in the economics of tobacco control using Stata
Abstract:
Tobacco use remains one of the main risk factors for developing
noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), causing premature death,
disability, and economic costs, which jeopardizes economic
development.
This toolkit aims to guide researchers interested in
investigating the economics of tobacco control, especially in
low- and middle-income countries such as Mexico. It presents
theoretical background on the economics of tobacco and provides
step-by-step tools developed in Stata to estimate own- and
cross-price elasticities of tobacco products and the crowding-out and
impoverishing effects using household expenditure surveys (HES).
It deals with standard issues with HES and provides tips for
data management and analysis in Stata. These assessments are
basic inputs for designing better fiscal policies, which are the
most effective measures to reduce tobacco use. The tools
included could also be applied to other harmful products such as
alcoholic or sugar-sweetened beverages, which are also major
risk factors for NCDs. Case studies from low- and middle-income
countries implementing ad hoc and replicable Stata do-files are
also provided in the toolkit. The policy discussions and
rationale of different economic concepts in tobacco control and
interpretation of results could also benefit policy makers,
analysts in government, and civil society organizations engaged
in tobacco control activities.
Contributors:
John Rijo M.
Violeta Vulovic
Grieve Chelwa
Frank Chaloupka
University of Illinois Chicago
Additional information:
Carlos Guerrero
University of Illinois Chicago
|
9:40–10:00 | An analysis of global environmental policy using Stata
Abstract:
Taking advantage of the ease offered by Stata in the
xtivreg and qregpd routines implemented by Sharma
and Mishra (2022), this presentation analyzes a group of OECD
countries, with emphasis on Mexico and North America.
Two approaches to economic theory are used: Neoclassical and
evolutionary. Two models are used: fixed-effects data panel (PE)
with instrumental variables (IV) and the quantile model for data
panel. Porter's hypothesis (greater environmental regulation
leads to greater innovation and therefore greater
competitiveness) has been a controversial topic since its
appearance in the 90s. Studies have tried to prove or
disprove it with different results: depending on factors such as
the available data, the variables, the methodology used, and the
level at which the analysis is done (macro or micro). The
sequence where environmental regulation influences first
innovation, and then productivity deals with endogeneity and
possible problems of bias and asymmetry. By using total factor
productivity (TFP) and the EPS environmental stringency index
created by the OECD, over a 20-year period the results show
evidence in favor of Porter.
Additional information:
Sergio Colin Castillo
Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila
|
10:00–10:20 | An application of a concentration index with Stata: Exports in the states of Mexico and the United States using Stata
Abstract:
The commercial relationship between Mexico and the United States
of America is of great importance at the international level; it
has been formalized since 1994 by the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), now replaced by the
United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
When the USMCA entered into force, the volume of trade has grown
considerably between the North American partners because it
ought to strengthen the economic relationship of these nations.
However, some countries present a high commercial concentration
due to the exports and imports carried out between countries to
satisfy the demands of the commercial partners. By using Stata,
the Herfindahl–Hirschmann index (HHI) is computed (Ansari
2012) with the command version hhi5 by Yujun and Lian
(2016) and concentration indexes of exports from Mexico and the
United States of America to perform an analysis of exports in
the states of the mentioned countries, to identify the
position of the key states for cross-border trade through
commercial corridors established by the USMCA, where
70% of North American trade moves. The most important corridors
are the West Coast Corridor, the Canamex Corridor, and the
North American Superhighway Corridor.
Contributor:
Arturo Robles Valencia
Universidad de Sonora
Additional information:
Dora Haydee Valenzuela Miranda
Universidad de Sonora
|
10:20–11:20 | Introduction to Bayesian model averaging in Stata
Abstract:
Model selection represents a key aspect in regression analysis.
Most empirical applications consider a fixed unknown underlying
data-generating model (DGM) that researchers try to find, based
on a particular theoretical framework that is combined with the
data associated with the variables involved in the selected
model specification. Bayesian model averaging provides an
approach, where instead of focusing the estimation on the search
for that unique unknown model, researchers can incorporate the
uncertainty about the DMG to obtain probabilities associated
with relevant predictors, measurements about complementary or
substitutable predictors across different model candidates, and
also predictions that incorporate uncertainty about the model
and the parameters. In this presentation, I will use the new
suite of bma commands to illustrate those and other
aspects that can be derived using Bayesian model averaging.
Additional information:
Gustavo Sánchez
StataCorp
|
11:40–12:40 | Marginal odds ratios: What they are, how to compute them, and why we might want to use them
Abstract:
Coefficients from logistic regression are affected by
noncollapsibility, which means that the comparison of
coefficients across models may be misleading.
Several strategies have been proposed in the literature to
respond to these difficulties, the most popular of which is to
report average marginal effects (on the probability scale)
rather than odds ratios. Average marginal effects (AMEs) have
many desirable properties but at least in part they throw the
baby out with the bathwater. The size of an AME strongly depends
on the marginal distribution of the dependent variable; for
events that are very likely or very unlikely the AME necessarily
has to be small because the probability space is bounded.
Logistic regression, in contrast, estimates odds ratios which
are free from such flooring and ceiling effects. Hence, odds
ratios may be more appropriate than AMEs for comparison of
effect sizes in many applications. Yet, logistic regression
estimates conditional odds ratios, which are not comparable
across different specifications. In this presentation, I aim to
remedy the declining popularity of the odds ratio by introducing
an estimand termed the “marginal odds ratio”; that
is, logit coefficients that have properties similar to AMEs, but
which retain the odds ratio interpretation. I define the
marginal odds ratio theoretically in terms of potential
outcomes, both for binary and continuous treatments, I discuss
estimation methods using three different approaches
(G-computation, inverse probability weighting, RIF regression),
and I present Stata software implementing these methods.
Additional information:
Ben Jann
Universität Bern
|
1:40–2:00 | Comands clorenz, cdensity, and digini, and their application in the analysis of income distribution
Abstract:
Tools for the analysis of income distribution are shown through
the commands integrated in the module Distributive Analysis
Stata Package (DASP) that operate in Stata.
DASP commands provide short avenues for estimating and producing
graphic material to analyze easily economic inequality. This
presentation focuses on the clorenz, cdensity,
igini, and digini commands, which are programmed as
ado-files; in addition, examples of its application by using
microsimulated databases are shown through the Household Income
and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH), 2020. The exercises compare the
set of syntax with standard calculation Stata language,
necessary for the calculation of inequality, Lorenz curves, and
kernel density curves, and in parallel, the output is replicated
with the DASP commands mentioned.
Additional information:
Linda Llamas
Universidad Estatal de Sonora
|
2:00–2:20 | The decomposition of financial literacy: A multinomial analysis
Abstract:
This presentation aims to calculate and discuss the
decomposition of the financial literacy index as an alternative
to estimate the probabilities of low and high financial literacy
among household members in Mexico, based on their
sociodemographic and personal finance characteristics.
The construction of the index was based on the manual for
measuring education and financial inclusion proposed by the
OECD/INFE and 14 questions from the ENIF (National Survey of
Financial Inclusion), while specific Stata commands were used to
calculate the decomposition. To estimate high and low
probabilities, an ordered multinomial probit probabilistic model
was generated. The data were obtained from the four microdata
sources of the 2021 National Survey of Financial Inclusion
(ENIF), published by INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and
Geography). The results confirm that the inequality in
financial literacy is a consequence of a social structure
problem, which contributes to new empirical evidence. Finally,
exercises of this nature, using Stata, allow for the
argumentation of new ways to create and evaluate more efficient
variables for econometric model estimation.
Additional information:
Javier Martínez Morales
Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
|
2:20–2:40 | Intimate partner violence, trends and associated factors: National health surveys in Mexico, 2011 and 2016
Abstract:
The tendency of the prevalence of partner violence (VP) in
representative samples is scarce.
The objective is to analyze the trend of the prevalence of VP in
men and women and identify the associated factors in Mexico. The
data used come from the National Survey of Addictions 2011 and
the National Survey of Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption
2016; a sample of 44,963 individuals was selected. By using
Poisson models with Stata, we show that prevalence of PV was
15.58% in 2011 and 14.90% in 2016. The associated factors were
being a woman (RR=1.09, IC95%0.99–1.19), alcohol consumption by
the partner (RR=1.68, CI95% 1.54–1.84) and drug use by the
partner (RR=2.80, CI95% 2.46–3.18). Single marital status
(RR=0.66, 95% CI 0.56–0.78); having previous partners (RR=0.60,
95% CI 0.55–0.66); more years of living with a partner (RR=1.81,
95% CI (1.47–2.23), living in an urban area (RR=1.18, 95% CI
1.05–1.33). Main conclusions display how prevalence of IPV has
decreased mainly in the population that has higher family
income. Factors associated with VP are similar in both sexes, so
actions aimed at preventing this problem should include men and
women.
Contributors:
Luz Myriam Reynales
Leonor Rivera
Luis Zavala
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos y Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública
Additional information:
Paola Adanari Ortega
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos y Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública
|
3:00–3:20 | Quasipoisson regression models in Stata and their application in field studies with data from entomological counts
Abstract:
Working with data from entomological counts and their use in a
regression model involves deciding which model is best suited
for analysis.
There are generalized mixed linear models, which include the
Poisson models and their variants. The use of the quasi-Poisson
variant is extremely attractive when there is overdispersion in
the distribution of the data because it allows generation of
association models based on the Poisson distribution. This
presentation presents the criteria and procedures for the choice
and generation of a quasi-Poisson model in Stata, using as an
example an association model with data from an entomoviral
surveillance study.
Contributors:
Julián Esparza
Kacey Ernst
Maricela Montalvo
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, CIAD
Additional information:
Ricardo Vazquez
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, CIAD
|
3:20–3:40 | Text analysis to identify modifications of university professors in teaching statistics due to COVID-19
Abstract:
In the context of research in mathematics education, a national
study was carried out to identify characteristics of the
teaching and evaluation of statistics by professors who teach
statistics in university courses.
For this purpose, a survey was designed with 76 questions,
including the open-ended question: As a result of the COVID-19
health contingency, how has your teaching changed? The survey
was answered by 750 professors, of whom 627 responded to the
question. We present the analysis method applied with Stata 17
to analyze the 627 responses. Coincidence analysis was
performed, a research technique that analyzes texts, documents,
or responses by extracting keywords to obtain structured
information and identify possible response patterns. Text
analysis tools (txttool, precoin, and coin)
were used to identify the most frequent words and possible
relationships between them. Implementing these tools made it
possible to obtain information on the modifications made by the
statistics professor in his teaching due to the COVID-19 health
contingency.
Contributor:
Ana Luisa Gómez
Insituto Politécnico Nacional y CICATA - Legaria
Additional information:
José G. Rivera
Insituto Politécnico Nacional y CICATA - Legaria
|
3:40–4:00 | Analysis of ultra-processed food intake and its relationship with body fat in adolescents using multiple linear regression in Stata
Abstract:
Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the
relationship between body fat percentage and the consumption of
ultra-processed foods, classified according to the NOVA system
and adjusted for other predictor variables, in freshman
university adolescents.
The adjustment model was developed using various lifestyle
factors, such as physical activity, tobacco use, and family
history of cardiovascular disease, in addition to
ultra-processed food variables. The adjustment model was created
using Stata through a series of steps, beginning with
exploratory analysis, moving on to univariate analysis, and
concluding with stepwise analysis. The resultant model was
assessed for interaction, multicollinearity, and linear
regression hypotheses. Data from 230 freshman university
students enrolled at the Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora
(ITSON) were examined.
Contributors:
R. Terminel Zaragoza
Julián Esparza R.
F. Legarreta Muela
R. Ulloa Mercado
A. Serna Gutiérrez
L. Díaz Tenorio
A. Rentería Mexía
Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora
Additional information:
C. Robles Aguilar
Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora
|
4:00–4:20 | Stata as a collaborative tool
Abstract:
I present a set of do- and ado-files that allow a systematic
analysis for economic indicators such as revenues, expenditures
and public debt in Mexico on its fiscal system and long-term
sustainability with Stata.
Updated data are automatically imported from various sources,
such as the Timely Statistics of the Ministry of Finance (for
example, import delimited https://...), the Economic
Information System of the Institute of Statistics (INEGI), and
the Censuses and household surveys. After cleaning and saving
the databases (sysdir_site) in a “hosting” of
a tax simulator, a sysprofile.do file is elaborated to
link all the Stata programs in the office to a shared folder.
This process allows access to 78 programmed do- and ado-files as
well as preprocessed databases. With this, anyone can easily
request income, expenditures, both financing and indebtedness
specific to a given year, and desired concepts in a coordinated
work. In addition, an internal command is introduced to
automatically integrate Stata values into LaTeX documents, which
facilitates the generation of reports and documents with
accurate and up-to-date information.
Additional information:
Ricardo Cantú
Centro de Investigación Economica y Presupuestaría A.C. CIEP
|
9:00–9:20 | Risk factors associated with gestational diabetes in the northern region of Mexico
Abstract:
The objective is to determine the risk factors associated with
gestational diabetes mellitus in northern Mexico using an
observational, analytical design of cases and controls in a
Family Medicine Unit No. 33 of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico in
pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.
The interventions are to 363 cases and 587 controls who
underwent the one-step test with oral overload of 75 grams of
glucose with baseline determination at one hour and two hours to
determine the presence or not of gestational diabetes mellitus.
From the electronic file, sociodemographic, anthropometric,
gynecoobstetric, pathological and nonpathological antecedents
were collected. The measurement was performed with Stata 17 with
a univariate exploratory analysis using the sample mean and
standard deviation to determine the centrality and dispersion.
Subsequently, a bivariate analysis was carried out to determine
the association and correlation of the variables of interest
with the presence or absence of gestational diabetes. Finally, a
comprehensive logistic model with the study factors was used to
determine their effect and statistical significance. The results
are that women with gestational diabetes mellitus have greater
age, weight, and obstetric risk, and the main risk factors
associated with gestational diabetes were age and obesity.
Contributors:
Víctor Hugo Vazquez
Jesus III Loera
Juan David Camarillo
Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas, A.C (CIMAT)
Additional information:
Humberto Martínez Bautista
Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas, A.C (CIMAT)
|
9:20–9:40 | Multiple linear regression models and their application in the analysis of cardiovascular variables in university students from Southern Sonora
Abstract:
Multiple linear regression is one of the most important
statistical techniques used in nutrition epidemiology to analyze
the predictive effect of exposure variables on a response
variable, which should be quantitative.
Variables identified with the potential to be modifiable can in
turn be used in preventive programs. The objective of this
research was to analyze the association between behavioral
variables related to cardiovascular health with anthropometric
indicators of obesity in freshman university students enrolled
at the Technological Institute of Sonora. The response variable
was body fat, and the predictor variables were food and nutrient
groups and physical activity, according to the criteria of the
American Heart Association. Potential association analyses were
used, and multiple models were built by stepwise forward
selection (p≤0.05 and biological plausibility) with data from
230 university adolescents using the Stata software.
Contributors:
F. Legarreta Muela
Julián Esparza
R. Terminel Zaragoza
Toledo Domínguez
Quinero Portillo H.
Ulloa Mercado R.
Gortáres Moroyoqui P.
Meza Escalante E.
Instuto Tecnológico de Sonora
Additional information:
A. Rentería Mexía
Instuto Tecnológico de Sonora
|
9:40–10:00 | Analysis of complex data using the svy command in Stata
Abstract:
The presentation deals with the multistage probabilistic design
of a survey research project from which complex data were obtained
and subsequently analyzed using the svy module contained in
Stata 16.
The analysis considered the design variables necessary for the
adequate handling of the information. Using the svy
command, the prevalence of previous diagnosis of type-2 diabetes
(PDT2D) was estimated in a representative sample of Yaqui
indigenous adults (n=351), inhabitants of the traditional towns
of the ethnic group in Sonora. In the same way, the means and
proportions of the possible factors associated with PDT2D were
calculated, and the number of individuals of the indigenous group
that presented the variable of interest was known.
Contributors:
Araceli Serna
Alejandro A. Castro
Ana C. Gallegos
Julián Esparza R.
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, CIAD
Additional information:
Norma A. Dórame
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, CIAD
|
10:00–10:20 | Elements for the analysis of blood lead levels in population samples
Abstract:
Lead poisoning is a widely studied public health problem in
Mexico.
Methods to determine blood lead levels seek to find the
quantitative concentration in ug/dL of blood lead when
statistically analyzed on population samples rarely seen with
normal distribution. We will discuss three ways to analyze blood
lead levels by describing the differences and achievements of
each type of analysis using Stata and the National Survey of
Health and Nutrition (ENSANUT) 2018 open data. The study
consists of a cross-sectional analysis of the capillary blood
samples obtained in the survey, measured in ug/dL of blood, with
three ways of statistical processing: with the logarithmic
transformation for the analysis with linear regression, when
analyzing the data obtained naturally with robust regression, and
with categorical analysis with cutoff points referred to in
international regulations with logistic regression; multivariate
models were compared with the same adjustment variables. The
strategies for the selection of the multivariate analysis are
made not only because they are new or novel but also to maintain
consistency with the results of other studies that are
internationally comparable.
Contributors:
Terrazas Meraz
Paola A. Ortega
Margarita de Lorena Ramos
Ofmara Y. Zúñiga
Gabriela E. Rueda
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México
Additional information:
María Alejandra
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México
|
10:20–11:20 | Heterogeneous difference-in-differences estimation
Abstract:
Treatment effects may be different for groups that are treated
in different time periods or may change over time after a group
has been treated.
Think about, for example, the effect of job training programs on
earnings or the effectiveness of COVID vaccines. To capture this
heterogeneity, Stata 18 introduces two commands that estimate
treatment effects specific to each cohort and time period. For
repeated cross-sectional data, we have hdidregress. For
panel data, we have xthdidregress. Both commands let you
aggregate treatment effects by cohort and exposure to treatment
and visualize these effects graphically. Tests of pretreatment
parallel trends are also available. This presentation will
illustrate how both commands work and briefly discuss the theory
underlying them.
Additional information:
Eduardo Garcia Echeverri
StataCorp
|
11:40–12:40 | Principal component analysis with Stata: Its use in the generation of dietary patterns
Additional information:
Julián Esparza Romero
Food and Development Research Center, A.C.
|
1:40–2:00 | Data management in household income and expenditure surveys: Working with extended families using Stata
Abstract:
To measure the effect that some mean-tested benefit
focused on one individual member of an extended family (three
generation households), could we have evaluated the program
effectiveness by analyzing...
the effects that can produce one
relevant benefit in México named Pensión para el
bienestar de adultos mayores on any other member of the
household, such as the preference for working less with fewer
number of hours related to the age of the household occupied
members. I employ Stata to capture the cross-section impacts of
this policy with a Bayesian probit regression model with sample
selection (BPSS) by using microsimulated data from MEXMOD fed
with Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares in
2014 and 2020 (ENIGH).
Contributor:
Enrique Labrada
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo y Universidad Autnoma de Baja California
Additional information:
Luis Huesca
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo y Universidad Autnoma de Baja California
|
2:00–2:20 | Mapping regional spillover effects in México from spatial autoregression using Stata
Abstract:
We discuss the Anselin (1988, 2005) typology to explore the
spatial dependency of the data and confirm the spatial effects,
contiguity spatial weighting matrices and impact decomposition
for Mexican states and municipalities.
Two examples of regional microeconomic spillovers
interest us: 2010–2022 changes in enrollment and graduated at
higher education in social sciences with the ANUIES dataset and
2005–2022 Mincer schooling returns distribution with the ENOE
and INEGI microdata. The syntax, matrix results, and templates that
are presented show the versatility of Stata and Mata as ideal
tools in the management and analysis of large volumes of data
with a focus on statistical and econometric analysis with
strategies based on learning and teaching that require the use
of real and recent information to be replicated, summarized, and
analyzed with algorithms, procedures, and structured code.
Contributor:
Janeth Y. Rodríguez
Insituto Politécnico Nacional, IPN
Juan F. Islas
Insituto Politécnico Nacional, IPN
|
2:40–3:10 | Open panel discussion with Stata developers
Contribute to the Stata community by sharing your feedback with StataCorp's developers. From feature improvements to bug fixes and new ways to analyze data, we want to hear how Stata can be made better for our users.
|
3:10–3:30 | Regressions, change, and territorial perspectives
Abstract:
During 2023 and 2024, we will carry out a survey of the
development conditions of the country for the years 2030, 2040,
2050, and 2060, based on the historical records of the physical
variables (humidity, temperature, ...
solar radiation, deforestation, among others)
obtained from the National Water Commission and social
variables (birth rate, population density, population,
educational level, among others) obtained from population
censuses. Said projection will be based on four moments: 1.
Obtaining and merging bases of data from different sources to
build a single database with both variable types. 2. From
generating regressions to understand the type and degree of
conclusions based on the same model for these variables. 3. With
the coefficients of realization, establishment of projections at
the level, country, states, regions in the states and if
possible, even at municipal levels. 4. We will use Stata for the
pilots of the program. We present the results of the pilot and
his way of doing it in Stata.
David Juárez Castillo
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Aragón
|
3:30–3:50 | Discriminating attitudes and wage setting: Evidence from experimental vignettes in a developing country
Abstract:
In this presentation, we use experimental vignettes to study how
a worker's personal demographic characteristics affect wage
setting and employment decisions among the personnel of a random
sample of Mexico City's service sector firms.
We explore the effect of sex, skin tone and hair color, face
symmetry—as a proxy for beauty or attractiveness—and
country of origin. Net of a explicit productivity measure, we
find a discriminatory employment penalty of 11% from Central and
South American workers as well as a penalty for workers with
asymmetric faces of 9% that is present only when operatives
take firing decisions—when managers take firing decisions,
no “beauty effect” is present. For wages, we find
only weak evidence that migrants from Central and South America
are offered lower wages than native workers in the Mexican labor
market. Finally, we find strong evidence of a sex wage penalty:
women are offered wages that are about 6.6% lower than those
offered to men.
Contributors:
Daniel Zizumbo
Adriana Aguilar
Jaime Sainz
Centro de Investigación y Docencia Ecocómicas-Aguascalientes, CIDE
Additional information:
Alfonso Miranda
Centro de Investigación y Docencia Ecocómicas-Aguascalientes, CIDE
|
3:50–4:10 | A methodological approach to the application of the differences-in-differences model in the expenditure of foods with a high energy content
Abstract:
The increase in health problems derived from the consumption of
foods with high caloric content has prompted governments to
implement public health policies, with the frontal seal on food
products as one of them.
The objective is to evaluate the effect of such a policy in
urban communities in Mexico through Stata, using microdata from
the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH). A
working do-file is shown to clean, classify, and describe the
variables, regrouping the types of food and using deciles
(xtile) according to socioeconomic attributes. A
difference-in-differences econometric model is designed to
isolate the effect at the regional and temporal levels between
control and treatment groups. With loops, 5 regions and 19
selected products are interacted verifying MCO linearity
assumptions through the tests: VIF, estat imtest,
estat hettest, sktest error, and swilk
error, kdensity error, normal. Tables and graphs
edited with the outreg2 command are reported, and it is
observed that labeling is effective in reducing the expenditure
of certain foods and is differentiated according to the region,
locality, product, and year.
Contributors:
Juan Carlos Guimond
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, CIAD
Additional information:
Carlos Borbón
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, CIAD
|
The logistics organizer for the 2023 Mexican Stata Conference is MultiON Consulting S.A. de C.V., the distributor of Stata in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Andrea Domónguez
Marketing
+52 (55) 5559 4050 Ext. 160
[email protected]
View the proceedings of previous Stata Conferences and Users Group meetings.