Black Shootings, Conflict Theory, and Policy Implications

Recently, the news media has reported the deaths of many young, unarmed African-American males who have been killed by police officers who have not been held criminally-responsible for their actions. These events have ignited social tensions, served as a topic of debate for presidential candidates, as well as sparked the Black Lives Matters Movement. Furthermore, when there has been public outcry staged at peaceful demonstrations, many protesters have been arrested or violently put down by police officers. These occurrences are eerily similar to the social unrest and political movements of the 1960s and 1970s, when minorities and other dissident groups were routinely harassed and subjected to extreme violence by local police and other governmental agencies. Conflict theories provide a general framework that allows more insight into these events

The Silence of Female Sexual Offending: A Public Health Issue

The idea that females can engage in sexually predatory behavior against children and adolescence is difficult to convey to the lay pubic since most of society believes the notion defies conventional ways of viewing the gendered nature and roles that women traditionally perform. Despite this, scholars and researchers examining child sexual abuse are beginning to report on silent offenders (women and young females) and their victimizations that have been largely ignored by criminal justice personnel who are responsible for holding sex offenders accountable. We argue that female sex offending is more common than believed and is both a criminal justice and a public health issue. We also argue that until society recognizes that sex offending is not a gendered crime, more cases will escape the attention of both criminal justice and public health systems that are in positions to punish and treat where appropriate

Paradigm Shift in Responding to Drug Users and Addicts: From a Criminal Justice to a Public Health Approach

Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the way Americans have come to view drug users and offenders, particularly those affected by the current opioid epidemic. Unlike crack, this epidemic has led to humanistic and compassionate responses to treating the addiction and processing its users. While once stigmatized, demonized, and punished as criminals, today opioid addicts are treated using the medical model. We argue that the new paradigm has ushered in a public health approach, rather than the traditional criminal justice response that brings negative offender processing with adverse consequences. In the end, we believe that the new approach will be effective in treating and reducing opioid use. However, both criminal justice and public health approaches should be applied

Portfolio Vol. III N 4

Moll, Willlie. I Was in Kitchener Camp. Prose. 5-6. Barrington, John. The Pledging of Homer McGunk. Prose. 7-9. Stewart, John. In Time of Death. Prose. 10. Lindsey, Arthur Ward. Retrospect. Prose. 11-13. Phillips, Allison. Blue Moon. Poetry. 14. Yoxall, Lindsey E. Pro Patria. Prose. 15-16. Beckham, Adela. Wind--Dreams. Poetry. 18. Fields, Brooks. The Doctor Takes a Trip. Prose. 19-20. Deane, Dorothy. Review of New Books. Prose. 21. Smith, Duke. Review of New Recordings. Prose. 21. Timrud, David. Refugee. Prose. 22-23

Co-production of the quality of patient-centered outcomes research partnerships instrument for people with mental health conditions

Mounting scientific evidence over the past decades in the field of psychiatry has shown community engagement in research produces more relevant research, increased uptake of research findings, and better clinical outcomes. Despite the need for the integration of community engagement methodologies into the scientific method, doctoral and master\u27s level competencies in the field of psychiatry commonly do not include dedicated training or coursework on community engagement methodologies. Without appropriate training or research experience, attempts to facilitate community engagement are often ineffective and burdensome and leave stakeholders feeling disenfranchised. The goal of this study was to co-produce an instrument designed to improve the quality of community engagement research practices by measuring the degree to which researchers have partnered with psychiatric patient stakeholders. The development of the Quality of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Partnerships Instrument included an iterative co-production process with psychiatric patient stakeholders and scientists, including item formulation, followed by two phases of cognitive interviews with psychiatric patient stakeholders to assess and refine instrument items. A pilot study was conducted to assess acceptability and feasibility. The pilot study of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Partnerships Instrument suggested feasibility and acceptability among psychiatric patient stakeholders. The Quality of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Partnerships Instrument may be a valuable tool to enhance the quality of community engagement research practices within the field of psychiatry. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Innovation & Technology lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this len

“After a finding of Noncompliance, What?!”

Treaties have long been the cornerstones of international relations. They can be seen as one of the sole mechanisms to formalize agreements between sovereign states. In principle, these agreements are legally binding. In practice, the result is less certain. Issues ranging from the how the country views itself on the international stage to the specific treaty terms and enforcement mechanisms can all effect prospects for compliance. What is certain is the disruption and uncertainty that noncompliance causes. If not addressed, a treaty’s utility will eventually erode to the point where the agreement has no force. Other countries would also perceive little value in treaty ratification if compliance cannot be sufficiently verified. This report focuses on current issues of noncompliance with Russia, Syria, Iran, and North. Korea. Key themes arise across these cases and point to specific factors that impact treaty compliance. The report distills these key themes into general and case-specific recommendations for bringing a country back from noncompliance

A Threat Assessment and Security Analysis of the Three Sports Facilities of Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis NCAA Softball Fields, Carroll Stadium, and the IU Natatorium

This research report provides a security assessment of the Softball Fields, Carroll Stadium, and the Natatorium Complex at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The purpose of this report is to prevent and mitigate harm to visitors and these facilities which resulting from human-made or natural disasters. Research is guided by the hypothesis that these facilities- due to their respective importance, locations, and attendance patterns are in harm’s way; and that certain strategies of prevention, protection, and mitigation coupled with effective preparedness, response, and recovery can lessen risk, improve security and provide A THREAT ASSESSMENT AND SECURITY ANALYSIS 5 added resilience. Further, “harm’s way” is considered to be either a natural disaster or a human-made disaster, accident, active provocation, or act of terrorism. Methods of analysis include applied research; predominantly utilizing qualitative data with some quantitative investigation. Results of this assessment illustrate that these venues possess numerous vulnerabilities to both natural and human-made threats that if exposed, could result in serious consequences. The two most likely natural hazards identified include straight-line winds and tornadoes. Further, the most likely human threats to these facilities arise from a potential terrorist vehicle attack (TVA) and an active shooter. This project also identifies a specific need for additional planning to prevent an IED or VBIED attack on the Natatorium. Common themes from the attached three case studies reveal that given theses vulnerabilities, the following safety and security adjustments are recommended: Surveillance equipment Metal detectors Security bollards or other temporary barriers Evacuation routes and shelter in place plans Special event security procedures Weather related technology and protocols Staff training for emergency situation

University faculty and administrator responses to job strains

This study reports the relationships between job strain and several quality of life (QOL) indicators for a group of university faculty and administrators. The QOL indicators were in the domain of job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and health. Variables presumed to moderate the relationship between job strain and QOL were tested for their ability to buffer the strain effects. Analyses were carried out on faculty's and administrators' responses. The strong correlations obtained have both theoretical and practical consequences. Intervention strategies are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43599/1/11162_2004_Article_BF00991876.pd

Measuring the burden of infodemics : summary of the methods and results of the fifth WHO infodemic management conference

Background: An infodemic is excess information, including false or misleading information, that spreads in digital and physical environments during a public health emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by an unprecedented global infodemic that has led to confusion about the benefits of medical and public health interventions, with substantial impact on risk-taking and health-seeking behaviors, eroding trust in health authorities and compromising the effectiveness of public health responses and policies. Standardized measures are needed to quantify the harmful impacts of the infodemic in a systematic and methodologically robust manner, as well as harmonizing highly divergent approaches currently explored for this purpose. This can serve as a foundation for a systematic, evidence-based approach to monitoring, identifying, and mitigating future infodemic harms in emergency preparedness and prevention. Objective: In this paper, we summarize the Fifth World Health Organization (WHO) Infodemic Management Conference structure, proceedings, outcomes, and proposed actions seeking to identify the interdisciplinary approaches and frameworks needed to enable the measurement of the burden of infodemics. Methods: An iterative human-centered design (HCD) approach and concept mapping were used to facilitate focused discussions and allow for the generation of actionable outcomes and recommendations. The discussions included 86 participants representing diverse scientific disciplines and health authorities from 28 countries across all WHO regions, along with observers from civil society and global public health–implementing partners. A thematic map capturing the concepts matching the key contributing factors to the public health burden of infodemics was used throughout the conference to frame and contextualize discussions. Five key areas for immediate action were identified. Results: The 5 key areas for the development of metrics to assess the burden of infodemics and associated interventions included (1) developing standardized definitions and ensuring the adoption thereof; (2) improving the map of concepts influencing the burden of infodemics; (3) conducting a review of evidence, tools, and data sources; (4) setting up a technical working group; and (5) addressing immediate priorities for postpandemic recovery and resilience building. The summary report consolidated group input toward a common vocabulary with standardized terms, concepts, study designs, measures, and tools to estimate the burden of infodemics and the effectiveness of infodemic management interventions. Conclusions: Standardizing measurement is the basis for documenting the burden of infodemics on health systems and population health during emergencies. Investment is needed into the development of practical, affordable, evidence-based, and systematic methods that are legally and ethically balanced for monitoring infodemics; generating diagnostics, infodemic insights, and recommendations; and developing interventions, action-oriented guidance, policies, support options, mechanisms, and tools for infodemic managers and emergency program managers.peer-reviewe

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts