The TOTEM Experiment at LHC

The TOTEM experiment at the CERN LHC is here presented. After an overview of the experimental apparatus, the measurement of the total pp cross section, elastic scattering and diffractive phenomena is described. This physics programme will allow to distinguish among different models of soft proton interactionsComment: Presented at 22nd Les Rencontres de Physique de la Vallee d'Aoste, Aosta Valley, Italy, 24 Feb - 1 Mar 200

QCD Physics at the Tevatron

Results on recent QCD measurements performed at the Tevatron ppbar Collider at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV are here reported. The inclusive jet and dijet mass cross sections are compared to NLO pQCD calculations and to Run I results. The production rates and kinematic properties of W + jets production processes are compared to ``enhanced'' LO theoretical predictions. Non-perturbative ``soft'' interactions leading to the underlying event are studied and compared to QCD Monte Carlo phenomenological models.Comment: Presented at 18th Les Rencontres De Physique De La Vallee D'Aoste: Results and Perspectives in Particle Physics, La Thuile, Aosta Valley, Italy, Feb. 29 - March 6, 200

The Latino Vote in the 2010 Elections

Compares the Latino/Hispanic vote in the 2010 midterm elections with 2006 and with African-American and white voters, with a focus on Latino/Hispanic candidates and states with large Latino/Hispanic communities

Cultivating Contextual Attributes in the Integration of Latin@ Educational Leadership

Although the Latino population is growing rapidly in the United States, there is a disproportionate paucity of literature on the perspectives and challenges of Latino/a educational leaders. Culturally aware educational leadership can help to improve retention and student engagement of Latino students. The purpose of this article is to explore the factors influencing the educational experience and perspective of Latino/a students and leaders to expand the understanding of Latinos within the education system. Identifying role models, creating network and professional development opportunities, as well as offering training programs are practices to enhance the training and expertise of Latino educational leaders. Implications and recommendations for practice and research are discussed

Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

The Role of Acculturation Differences and Acculturation Conflict in Latino Family Mental Health

In order to help address the mental health disparities that exist for Latino families in the U.S., the current study sought to examine the acculturation–mental health link within the context of Latino families and to identify potential mechanisms for intervention to alleviate mental health problems in this population. Specifically, our goal was to examine how parent–adolescent acculturation differences were related to mental health in Latino adolescents and their parents and to understand the role of acculturation conflict and family functioning within Latino families. Participants included 84 adolescent–parent dyads recruited through bilingual middle schools. We found partial support for our hypothesis that family functioning mediates the relationship between acculturation differences and mental health outcomes for Latino parents. Additionally, we found partial support for our moderated mediation hypothesis; specifically, a significant conditional indirect effect was found for Latino cognitive acculturation differences on adolescent externalizing problems via family functioning at high levels of acculturation conflict. Exploratory analyses also indicated that acculturation conflict moderates the relationship between family functioning and externalizing problems for Latino adolescents. Results highlight the importance of understanding acculturation within the context of Latino families, as findings differed for adolescents and their parents. Additionally, findings suggest that differences in acculturation may not always be problematic and their impact likely depends on how families interpret such differences

Bridging Community, Research, and Action: An Emerging Center on Latino Youth Development (FOCUS)

This NCCD FOCUS is an update on the community conversations held across California with Latino community stakeholders on the status of Latino youth and the creation of a Center on Latino Youth Development

Sustainable Homeownership: Market and Policy Implications for Communities

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), in partnership with NeighborWorks America, conducted a series of focus groups to gather information from Latino-serving institutions nationwide about best practices to prevent Latino foreclosure. The principal objective of this project was to identify the causes of foreclosure among Latinos and to present potential proactive solutions to the problem. Special emphasis was placed on identifying specific lending products and underwriting guidelines that best meet the needs of Latino borrowers.Focus group participants consistently expressed the need for flexible loan underwriting and products to meet the unique needs of the Latino community, such as nonstandard means for determining income, alternative credit use, down-payment assistance and verified cash income.The tightening of credit in response to increased foreclosures threatens the availability of loan products that are particularly useful to Latino borrowers.The abuse of flexible products, not the products themselves, was cited by participants as the cause of problems. Abusive practices mentioned included overstating income to qualify for a home rather than verifying undocumented earned income or placing borrowers in products whose future payments they cannot afford.Among other circumstances, the unique needs of Latino borrowers are caused by cultural factors. Latino communities depend on social networks and referrals to gain information and often identify real estate agents as their first point of contact and trusted advisor for all matters relating to homeownership. The reliance in Latino communities on informal networks makes them more vulnerable to unethical and predatory behavior, and oftentimes means that the client does not get adequate or appropriate assistance. Trained housing counseling professionals can objectively meet the needs of the Latino borrower.To ensure that the needs of Latino clients are met and the integrity of the homebuying industry is upheld, collaborative solutions to foreclosure must be sought. Partnership among housing counseling agencies and real estate agents, mortgage brokers and lenders is essential to support sustainable homeownership in Latino communities.Recommendations:- Lenders should be encouraged to continue the use of flexible underwriting methods coupled with homeownership education provided by a trained professional.- Leaders in the Latino housing community should facilitate communication between real estate professionals and housing counseling organizations to discuss how counseling can help homebuyers obtain and maintain homeownership.- The development of a system that allows professionals and consumers to anonymously report unethical acts is necessary to protect consumers