An Intersectional Approach to Criminological Theory: Incorporating the Intersectionality of Race and Gender into Agnew\u27s General Strain Theory

Mainstream criminological theories often fail to incorporate demographic characteristics (which are robust predictors of criminal behavior). Also, many scholars suggest that theories of criminality need to move beyond sex or race or class etc. and utilize these dynamic characteristics in tandem. This theoretical perspective is often referred to as intersectionality. There is some criminological literature on the individual effects of these demographic characteristics as they represent social status as such they interact to effect experience, agency, and power. This analysis discusses how studying the intersectionality of gender and race may change explanations of criminal behavior. Specifically, how knowledge of gender and race literatures may interact to inform Agnew’s general strain theory

Delinquency : a trajectory analysis of African-American males.

The initial goals of this study include locating and identifying the taxonomic groups mentioned in Moffitt\u27s (1993) (i.e. life-course persistent offenders, adolescent-limited offenders) using data from the National Longitudinal Survey 1997 (NLSY97). Further, this study compares the social demographics with the predictions of Moffitt (1993,1994) as her theory describes race, particularity those of African-American offenders. This study also examines the role of parental and peer relationships and their effect on the offender disparity among the typologies defined by Moffitt (1993). This study explores one hypothesis: there is a relationship between social bonds, particularly peer association and admittance into Moffitt\u27s (1993) trajectory groups. The results of this study find that of the variables tested, peer relationships are particularly influential in predicting criminality. These findings support prior research on delinquent peer group association and criminality (Bjerregard & Lizotte, 1995; Dishion, Patterson, & Griesler, 1994; Patterson, 1993; Patterson, Dishion & Yoerger, 2000; Lacourse et aI., 2003)

Evaluation of Masculinization Treatments to Produce Feminized Hemp Seed (Cannabis sativa L.)

Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) develops plants with either male or female flowers, and growers of hemp greatly prefer female flowers which bear the glandular trichomes that contain cannabinoids. Feminized (all female) seeds are highly desired, which are produced by crossing a female plant with a masculinized female plant. Masculinization is achieved through the inhibition of ethylene and/or addition of gibberellins before flower initiation in female plants. The hemp industry uses silver thiosulfate (STS) to masculinize hemp, but spraying silver poses environmental concerns. This study compared STS to three other ethylene-inhibiting agents: aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), cobalt nitrate (CBN), and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Treatments of STS and CBN also included gibberellic acid as a synergist. Plants treated with STS exhibited superior masculinization and pollen dispersal compared to plants treated with AVG, CBN or 1-MCP. Only plants treated with STS or AVG produced pollen in sufficient quantities for collection. This pollen was assayed for germination potential initially and after storage for up to five weeks at 22.2, 7.2, or 1.1°C. Pollen from plants treated with AVG remained viable for four weeks at 1.1°C, whereas STS-treated plants produced pollen that was viable for three weeks at 1.1°C. Due to phytotoxicity problems with AVG, STS remains the best treatment to masculinize female hemp plants when breeding for feminized seeds. In a separate study, flower tissues of hemp had considerably higher total cannabinoid concentrations compared to leaf tissues but significantly lower ratios of cannabidivarin (CBDV) to cannabidiol (CBD). To reduce variability, at least 1 g samples of fresh leaf or flower tissue should be extracted with 10 mL of methanol. Rapid throughput testing of cannabinoids as part of a breeding program should use flower tissue, preferably at the time typical of harvest

Credit Enhancement Strategies for Higher Efficiency Vehicles in Maine

Credit enhancements are a necessary, but not sufficient policy tool to expand access to clean, reliable vehicles. They are necessary because lower-income and historically disadvantaged groups have less access to low-cost financing. They are not sufficient in that credit enhancements alone, while helpful, are not likely to substantially increase the purchase of clean, reliable vehicles with a higher initial purchase price, but comparable or lower long-term cost of ownership. We review two credit enhancement mechanisms: loan loss reserves and interest rate buy-downs

Psychological Markers of the Overtraining Syndrome

The overtraining (OT) syndrome is characterized by performance plateaus and decrements and is manifested through various physiological and psychological variables. A qualitative review will summarize specific factors associated with OT to better understand this syndrome. PURPOSE: The purpose of this review is to summarize psychological aspects associated with the OT syndrome. METHODS: This study reviewed 13 articles that qualified for the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The variables measured include tension, anger, fatigue, confusion, depression, vigor, sleep, stress, and self-perceptions of physical status. Participants were measured during a normal (N) phase, midway phase (MW), and OT phase. In the review, selected variables (i.e., anger, depression, etc.) were noted in terms of direction (+, -) of change in the OT state compared to the N state. RESULTS: Combined sample size (N) was 238 subjects with the mean time in OT of 6.6 (weeks). The following are mean (SD) demographics of subjects from the selected studies: height (cm) 175.4 (2.4); weight (kg) 71.7 (2.6); body fat (%) 11.8 (0.9); age (y) 23.5 (2.03); VO2max (ml*kg -1*min -1) 55.4 (0.8). Three articles reported decreases in tension at OT, and one noted increases at MW. Fatigue increased at OT in 6 studies and showed no change in a separate study. Confusion did not change in two studies, increased at OT in another, and increased at MW then declined at OT in a final article. Vigor reportedly remained stable in two studies and decreased in two other studies. Anger did not change in 2 articles, decreased in another, and increased in a different study with its peak at MW. There was no change in depression in three studies, but a decrease was reported in a separate article at OT with an increase at MW. Studies reported impaired sleep patterns, increased wakefulness, and decrements and stability in sleep quality. Two studies indicated increased levels of stress with one specifying stress related to training, sleep, and health. Findings showed a decreased perception of strength, decreased perception of recovery, and no change in perception of muscle soreness. CONCLUSION: From this review, athletes in an OT state may experience disturbances in various sleep, self-perception, and mood factors

Physiological Adaptations to Moderate Intensity Training in an Elite Cyclist

Efforts to improve cycling performance have to be multifactorial and respect both the intensity and duration of the sport. Elite cyclists utilize moderate intensity, long duration efforts in training to improve physiological parameters associated with performance. PURPOSE: to compare two 6-week Moderate Intensity Training (MIT), pyramidal intensity distribution (PYR) protocols and their effects on key performance variables in an elite level cyclist. METHODS: Prior to testing, this study obtained Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and the subject signed an IRB approved informed consent. A cyclist underwent two 6-week MIT protocols following the Training Intensity Duration (TID) seen in professional cyclists’ pre competition phase. Physiological testing was conducted pre and post 6-week intervention to record maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), maximal fat oxidation (FatMax), peak blood lactate (BLapeak) using the Australian Institute for Sport (AIS) protocol for a graded exercise test (GXT) on a cycle ergometer. A submaximal GXT was administered every two weeks to determine power output (W) at 2.0 mmol BLa as a marker for aerobic power. The first 6-wk intervention consisted of increasing duration MIT at 80-85% maximal heart rate (b*min.-1) (HRmax) from 2h to 5h/wk. The second 6-wk intervention utilized specific cadence ranges during MIT at lower volumes of 1h to 3h/wk. RESULTS: VO2max increased from 80 to 83.5 mL*kg-1*min-1 (4.4%); FatMax increased from 400W to 425W (6.25%); and BLApeak increased from 12.0 to 14.2 mmol (18.3%). Power output at 2.0 mmol BLa did not change over the 12-week intervention. CONCLUSION: MIT can be effectively used in the pre competition phase of an elite cyclist’s training to increase VO2max and FatMax power output, both important performance parameters for the long duration events for which these athletes participate

A Meta-Analysis of Biomarkers Associated with the Overtraining Syndrome

Overtraining (OT) syndrome has been investigated extensively with little agreement as to reliable markers for detection. A meta-analytic review is a procedure designed to compile studies in an area with hopes of reaching a consensus view. PURPOSE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide summary quantitative findings of biomarkers (i.e., blood) associated with the overtraining syndrome. METHODS: A meta-analytic research design was utilized to investigate selected studies allowing for a coding process to record data. Thirteen studies met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Biomarkers included samples taken with subjects in normal (N) condition and during OT. These biomarkers were the following: glutamine (um), glutamate (um), cortisol (nmo*l-1), IL-6 (nm), testosterone (mg*dL-1), total cholesterol (mg*dL-1), glucose (mg*dL-1), leptin (ng*mL-1), hematocrit (%), hemoglobin (g*L-1), norepinephrine (pg*mL-1), epinephrine (pg/ml), creatine kinase (u*L-1) To determine magnitude of difference between N and OT, the effect size calculation of M2-M1/SD1 was used where M2 is the mean of the OT sample, M1 was the mean of the N sample and SD1 is the standard deviation of the N sample. RESULTS: Combined sample size (N) was 238 subjects with the mean time in OT of 6.6 (weeks). The following are mean (SD) of combined subject demographics: height (cm) 175.4 (2.4); weight (kg) 71.7 (2.6); body fat (%) 11.8 (0.9); age (y) 23.5 (2.03); VO2max (ml*kg -1*min -1) 55.4 (0.8). Mean (SD) biomarker changes from N to OT were the following: Glutamine -56.3 (-2); glutamate 49.7 (2); cortisol -89.7 (-12.2); IL 6 -0.52 (0.12); testosterone -88.9 (-30); cholesterol 4.6 (-1.6); glucose -13.3 (1.9); leptin 0.15 (-0.11); hematocrit -0.83 (-0.4); hemoglobin -20; norepinephrine 36 (-4.1); epinephrine -2.2 (-3.5); creatine kinase 29.2 (8.5). Effect size calculations for the above biomarkers were considered large for the following: glutamine (-4.02), glutamate (8), cortisol, (-1.4), IL 6 (-5.2), glucose (-1.1). CONCLUSION: From this analysis, the noted biomarker changes and direction of change (+, -) indicates considerable immune-suppression and increased stress with athletes experiencing the OT syndrome

Who Owns the Dead? Biography, Archives, and Ethics

Paper on the complex tensions that can develop between how biographers portray persons after their deaths, and how their surviving relatives and the public wish them to be portrayed. Cites the examples of Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and William Alexander Percy. Presented at Southern Sources: A Symposium Celebrating Seventy-Five Years of the Southern Historical Collection, 18-19 March 2005 in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill