Banishment in Public Housing: Testing an Evolution of Broken Windows

Banishment policies grant police the authority to formally ban individuals from entering public housing and arrest them for trespassing if they violate the ban. Despite its widespread use and the social consequences resulting from it, an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of banishment has not been performed. Understanding banishment enforcement is an evolution of broken windows policing, this study explores how effective bans are at reducing crime in public housing. We analyze crime data, spanning the years 2001–2012, from six public housing communities and 13 surrounding communities in one southeastern U.S. city. Using Arellano-Bond dynamic panel models, we investigate whether or not issuing bans predicts reductions in property and violent crimes as well as increases in drug and trespass arrests in public housing. We find that this brand of broken windows policing does reduce crime, albeit relatively small reductions and only for property crime, while resulting in an increase in trespass arrests. Given our findings that these policies have only a modest impact on property crime, yet produce relatively larger increases in arrests for minor offenses in communities of color, and ultimately have no significant impact on violent crime, it will be important for police, communities, and policy makers to discuss whether the returns are worth the potential costs

Everything Passes, Everything Changes: Unionization and Collective Bargaining in Higher Education

This article begins with a brief history of unionization and collective bargaining in higher education. It then presents data concerning the recent growth in newly certified collective bargaining representatives at private and public-sector institutions of higher education, particularly among non-tenure track faculty. The data is analyzed in the context of legal decisions concerning employee status and unit composition under applicable federal and state laws. Lastly, the article presents data concerning strike activities on campuses between January 2013 and May 31, 2017

A haptic-robotic platform for upper-limb reaching stroke therapy: Preliminary design and evaluation results

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been shown that intense training can significantly improve post-stroke upper-limb functionality. However, opportunities for stroke survivors to practice rehabilitation exercises can be limited because of the finite availability of therapists and equipment. This paper presents a haptic-enabled exercise platform intended to assist therapists and moderate-level stroke survivors perform upper-limb reaching motion therapy. This work extends on existing knowledge by presenting: 1) an anthropometrically-inspired design that maximizes elbow and shoulder range of motions during exercise; 2) an unobtrusive upper body postural sensing system; and 3) a vibratory elbow stimulation device to encourage muscle movement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multi-disciplinary team of professionals were involved in identifying the rehabilitation needs of stroke survivors incorporating these into a prototype device. The prototype system consisted of an exercise device, postural sensors, and a elbow stimulation to encourage the reaching movement. Eight experienced physical and occupational therapists participated in a pilot study exploring the usability of the prototype. Each therapist attended two sessions of one hour each to test and evaluate the proposed system. Feedback about the device was obtained through an administered questionnaire and combined with quantitative data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seven of the nine questions regarding the haptic exercise device scored higher than 3.0 (somewhat good) out of 4.0 (good). The postural sensors detected 93 of 96 (97%) therapist-simulated abnormal postures and correctly ignored 90 of 96 (94%) of normal postures. The elbow stimulation device had a score lower than 2.5 (neutral) for all aspects that were surveyed, however the therapists felt the rehabilitation system was sufficient for use without the elbow stimulation device.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>All eight therapists felt the exercise platform could be a good tool to use in upper-limb rehabilitation as the prototype was considered to be generally well designed and capable of delivering reaching task therapy. The next stage of this project is to proceed to clinical trials with stroke patients.</p

2020 Supplementary Directory of New Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education, 2013-2019

The 2020 Supplementary Directory is an analysis of data for the period 2013-2019 of new bargaining units, bargaining agents, and contracts in higher education following publication of our last directory in 2012. The 2020 Supplementary Directory includes a listing of all new bargaining relationships concerning faculty, department chairs, librarians, postdoctoral scholars, academic researchers, and/or graduate student employees. It also includes data about bargaining units that existed prior to 2013 but did not appear in the last directory such as postdoctoral scholar and academic researcher bargaining units. Unlike prior directories, the 2020 Supplementary Directory includes a detailed unit composition description for each new unit as well as hyperlinks to the most recent contract for each new unit. This information is aimed at enhancing future research and avoiding confusion over unit composition, particularly when faculty units include other titles

Turismo funerario: caso cementerio de Miraflores, parte antigua, Trujillo - Perú 2017

RESUMEN En la última década, el turismo se ha incrementado sustancialmente adquiriendo nuevas tendencias que permiten la diversificación de la oferta turística. Asimismo, se observa un notable interés por visitar cementerios y conocer la historia y cultura del lugar a través de las representaciones y costumbres mortuorias de épocas pasadas. Además, se puede apreciar la impresionante arquitectura funeraria que albergan los camposantos. En la ciudad de Trujillo el 2 de diciembre de 1831, se inauguró un cementerio extramuros. Desde su construcción, inauguración y expansión, el cementerio de Miraflores ha sido marcado por acontecimientos históricos, que manifiestan las expresiones culturales de los ciudadanos del siglo XIX que imitaban patrones europeos. El cementerio es una fuente de cultura y conocimiento, cargado de valor antropológico, artístico, religioso e histórico, esto se ve reflejado entre sus pabellones, nichos y mausoleos. Para acercar el valor cultural y patrimonial al ciudadano local y al turista se necesita promover el turismo funerario como tipología del turismo cultural para fomentar recorridos y eventos culturales. La presente tesis titulada Turismo Funerario: Caso cementerio de Miraflores, parte antigua, Trujillo- Perú 2017, tiene como propósito determinar la aceptación de la población trujillana para realizar turismo en la parte antigua del cementerio de Miraflores. Por tal motivo se realizaron encuestas que fueron dirigidas para turistas potenciales y operadores turísticos del distrito de Trujillo. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos de los instrumentos, podemos afirmar que la aceptación para realizar turismo funerario en Trujillo es alta. Finalmente, con esta investigación queremos generar conocimiento e interés de esta modalidad de turismo que recién está teniendo acogida en la ciudad de Trujillo. PALABRAS CLAVE: turismo funerario, patrimonio y eventos.ABSTRACT In the last decade, tourism has increased a lot, acquiring new tendencies that allow the diversification of the tourist offer. Additionally, it is observed a prominent interest for visiting museums and for knowing the history and culture of a place through the representations and mortuary customs of past ages. Besides, it is possible to appreciate the impressive funerary architecture that the cemetery has. In the city of Trujillo, on November the 30th of 1831, an outside cemetery is opened, since their construction, opening and expansion, the cemetery of Miraflores has been marked by historical events that manifest the cultural expressions of the nineteenth-century citizens that imitated the European patterns. The cemetery is a source of culture and knowledge, full of anthropological, artistic, religious and historical value, this is reflected among its pavilions, niches and mausoleums. To bring cultural and heritage value to the local citizens and the tourists, it is necessary to foster funerary tourism as a typology of cultural tourism to promote cultural tours and events. The following thesis titled Funerary: Case cemetery of Miraflores, Old part, Trujillo-Peru 2017, has as a purpose to determine the acceptance of the population of Trujillo to carry out tourism in the old part of the cemetery of Miraflores. For this reason, surveys were conducted that were aimed at potential tourists and travel and touristic operator in the district of Trujillo. According to the results obtained from the instruments, we can affirm that the acceptance for tourism in funeral in Trujillo is quite high. At last, with this research we want to generate knowledge and interest of this modality of tourism that is just taking place in the city of Trujillo. KEYWORDS: funerary tourism, heritage, events

Altered Resting State in Diabetic Neuropathic Pain

BACKGROUND: The spontaneous component of neuropathic pain (NP) has not been explored sufficiently with neuroimaging techniques, given the difficulty to coax out the brain components that sustain background ongoing pain. Here, we address for the first time the correlates of this component in an fMRI study of a group of eight patients suffering from diabetic neuropathic pain and eight healthy control subjects. Specifically, we studied the functional connectivity that is associated with spontaneous neuropathic pain with spatial independent component analysis (sICA). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Functional connectivity analyses revealed a cortical network consisting of two anti-correlated patterns: one includes the left fusiform gyrus, the left lingual gyrus, the left inferior temporal gyrus, the right inferior occipital gyrus, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex bilaterally, the pre and postcentral gyrus bilaterally, in which its activity is correlated negatively with pain and positively with the controls; the other includes the left precuneus, dorsolateral prefrontal, frontopolar cortex (both bilaterally), right superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, thalami, both insulae, inferior parietal lobuli, right mammillary body, and a small area in the left brainstem, in which its activity is correlated positively with pain and negatively with the controls. Furthermore, a power spectra analyses revealed group differences in the frequency bands wherein the sICA signal was decomposed: patients' spectra are shifted towards higher frequencies. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we have characterized here for the first time a functional network of brain areas that mark the spontaneous component of NP. Pain is the result of aberrant default mode functional connectivity

Assessing the Assessment Process: An Institutional Analysis of the Corporate Bond Rating Industry

This research draws on neo-institutional theories to examine how the power of major bond rating agencies affects the corporate credit rating process. Specifically, it analyzes the extent to which major corporate bond rating agencies encourage engagement in normative practices by corporate firms through the bond rating process. Contrary to initial hypotheses, bond rating agencies discourage firm emphasis on core competencies, shareholder value, and financialization, despite the popularity of these practices in the corporate sector. Additionally, the research finds that the high level of uncertainty and concentration of power that characterize the bond rating industry create an environment in which institutional myths about best practices contribute to rating decisions. Statistical models suggest that specific organizational forms and practices are rewarded by bond rating agencies regardless of their impact on firm health or default. Finally, this research examines how major rating agencies responded to mounting criticism of the financial rating industry using content analysis of 164 bond rating documents published by the two largest bond rating agencies (Moody's and Standard &amp; Poor's), participant observation at a corporate credit rating workshop conducted by one of these major rating agencies, and statistical analysis. Findings demonstrate that bond rating agencies engage in impression management to bolster their claims to legitimacy, and this has ultimately led to a change in the rating process as they increasingly embrace the performance of objectivity. Statistical models demonstrate that in the interest of legitimacy, these powerful social actors have reduced the role of less reliably measured indicators of credit risk in the rating process which has ultimately undermined their unique contributions to the industry

Effects of a youth substance use prevention program on stealing, fighting, and weapon use

Using a sample of sixth graders in 11 public schools in a large Southwestern city, this longitudinal study examined how a model substance use prevention program, keepin’ it REAL, that was implemented in 7th grade, influenced three other problem behaviors (fighting, weapon use, stealing), measured in 8th grade. Using a non-equivalent control group design, we compared 259 students in the intervention to 322 students in a treatment-as-usual condition. At baseline, 37% of the sample reported fighting in the last 30 days; 31% reported stealing in the last 30 days, and 16% reported using a weapon in the last 30 days. Regression analyses adjusted for students nested in schools through multi-level modeling and for missing data through multiple imputation. We found that at posttest the rates of all three behaviors were lower in the intervention group than the control group at posttest: 35% versus 37% got into a fight in the last 30 days; 24% versus 31% stole something in the last 30 days; and 16% versus 25% used a weapon in the last 30 days. The program impact for fighting and stealing was not statistically significant and involved minimal effect sizes. The program impact for weapon use was not statistically significant but had an effect size comparable to that for other problem behavior interventions. Promoting positive development via life skills may be a key to broadening program impact