What’s Sex (Composition) Got to Do with It? The Importance of Sex Composition of Gangs for Female and Male Members’ Offending and Victimization

Sex composition of groups has been theorized in organizational sociology and found in prior work to structure female and male members’ behaviors and experiences. Peer group and gang literature similarly finds that the sex gap in offending varies across groups of differing sex ratios. Drawing on this and other research linking gang membership, offending, and victimization, we examine whether sex composition of gangs is linked to sex differences in offending in this sample, further assess whether sex composition similarly structures females’ and males’ victimization experiences, and if so, why. Self-report data from gang members in a multi-site, longitudinal study of 3,820 youths are employed. Results support previous findings about variations in member delinquency by both sex and sex composition of the gang and also indicate parallel variations in members’ victimization. These results are further considered within the context of facilitating effects such as gender dynamics, gang characteristics, and normative orientation

Economic value and structure of the Tennessee turfgrass industry in 1991

The purpose of this study was to define the structure and estimate the value of the Tennessee turfgrass industry in 1991. The turfgrass industry in Tennessee encompassed the development, production, and management of specialized grasses for utility, beautification, and recreation. By using this definition, the structure of the industry was determined. There were fifteen components identified as relevant to this study and each of these were sampled by either list frame sampling procedures or random list frame sampling procedures. The fifteen components that made up the Tennessee turfgrass industry were: (1) airports, (2) cemeteries, (3) churches, (4) commercial establishments (industrial and motels/hotels), (5) counties, (6) golf courses, (7) home owners, (8) institutions (health agencies, hospitals, mental health agencies, and nursing homes), (9) lawn care companies, (10) multiple dwellings, (11) municipalities, (12) parks, (13) roadsides, (14) schools, (15) sod producers. Mail questionnaires were used to gather the information needed for this study. Most of the questionnaires were designed to collect information on the total area of turf maintained and the annual expenditures to maintain this turf. There were also questions dealing with new equipment expenditures in 1991 and current and replacement cost of the existing equipment. Information was also collected about turf care problems, source of answers to turf management problems, and number of persons employed with turfgrass responsibilities. After the data were collected, a sample mean was determined for each question on the questionnaire. This mean was then multiplied by the estimated proportion of the population that maintained a lawn. This product provided an estimate of the total amount of acres maintained or the dollar values expended in 1991. The total estimated turf acres maintained in Tennessee in 1991 was 889,382 acres. To maintain this turf, an estimated $360 million was expended by the fifteen components of the industry. Detailed information regarding sample means and confidence intervals are presented by expense categories for all fifteen components of the turf industry

Population structure, long-term connectivity, and effective size of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) in the Caribbean Sea and Florida Keys

Genetic structure and average long-term connectivity and effective size of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) sampled from offshore localities in the U.S. Caribbean and the Florida Keys were assessed by using nuclear-encoded microsatellites and a fragment of mitochondrial DNA. No significant differences in allele, genotype (microsatellites), or haplotype (mtDNA) distributions were detected; tests of selective neutrality (mtDNA) were nonsignificant after Bonferroni correction. Heuristic estimates of average long-term rate of migration (proportion of migrant individuals/generation) between geographically adjacent localities varied from 0.0033 to 0.0054, indicating that local subpopulations could respond independently of environmental perturbations. Estimates of average longterm effective population sizes varied from 341 to 1066 and differed significantly among several of the localities. These results indicate that over time larval drift and interregional adult movement may not be sufficient to maintain population sustainability across the region and that there may be different demographic stocks at some of the localities studied. The estimate of long-term effective population size at the locality offshore of St. Croix was below the minimum threshold size considered necessary to maintain the equilibrium between the loss of adaptive genetic variance from genetic drift and its replacement by mutation. Genetic variability in mutton snapper likely is maintained at the intraregional level by aggregate spawning and random mating of local populations. This feature is perhaps ironic in that aggregate spawning also renders mutton snapper especially vulnerable to overexploitation

UVM Tobacco Use and Attitudes After Implementation of a Tobacco-Free Policy

Introduction: Widespread public health initiatives have led to falling smoking rates. Currently, 1,620 U.S. colleges have adopted smoke-free policies. In August 2015, the University of Vermont (UVM) adopted a tobacco-free policy that bans all forms of tobacco use on university property. The purpose of this study was to compare tobacco use and attitudes before and after policy implementation.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1230/thumbnail.jp

An Experimental Trial of a Dog-Training Program in a Juvenile Detention Center

Objectives This research examines the effect of a dog-training program among juveniles ordered to a county juvenile detention facility in a large, Midwestern city. Methods A pre-test, post-test experimental design was constructed to examine changes in self-esteem, empathy, optimism, pessimism, compassion, and social competence between juveniles who were randomly assigned to the canine-assisted activity program and to the standard conditions of the detention center without access to the program. Two-way and repeated measures ANOVA models are used to assess the differential effect of the program. Results The dog-training program evaluated in this study did not differentially benefit nor did it harm participants in relation to juveniles who received the standard operating practices and procedures of the detention center. Conclusions Generalized conclusions about the effectiveness of dog-training programs in secure correctional facilities should not be made from this study. Despite the unique program model structure used in this study, the results demonstrate that once selection effects are mitigated through randomization, the mere exposure to a dog-training program does not translate to improved outcomes. The results raise more questions about the influence of selection effects on reported findings and stimulate inquiry on dog-training program models, research designs used to assess program effects, and the importance of intermediate interventions

Report of the sensor readout electronics panel

The findings of the Sensor Readout Electronics Panel are summarized in regard to technology assessment and recommended development plans. In addition to two specific readout issues, cryogenic readouts and sub-electron noise, the panel considered three advanced technology areas that impact the ability to achieve large format sensor arrays. These are mega-pixel focal plane packaging issues, focal plane to data processing module interfaces, and event driven readout architectures. Development in each of these five areas was judged to have significant impact in enabling the sensor performance desired for the Astrotech 21 mission set. Other readout issues, such as focal plane signal processing or other high volume data acquisition applications important for Eos-type mapping, were determined not to be relevant for astrophysics science goals

Concert recording 2021-04-16a

[Track 1]. Breathe / Evan Williams -- [Track 2]. Is it? / Thomas Kessler -- [Track 3]. The two siblings / Michael Goodman -- [Track 4]. Big talk / Shelley Washington -- [Track 5]. Hocket / Meredith Monk ; arranged by Damian Cheek