Deaths Exceed Births in Most of Europe, But Not in the United States

In this brief, authors Kenneth Johnson, Layton Fields, and Dudley Poston, Jr. present important new findings about the diminishing number of births compared to deaths in Europe and the United States from their recent article in Population and Development Review. Their research focuses on the prevalence and dynamics of natural decrease in subareas of Europe and the United States in the first decade of the twenty-first century using counties (United States) or county-equivalents (Europe). The authors report that 58 percent of the 1,391 counties of Europe had more deaths than births during that period compared to just 28 percent of the 3,137 U.S. counties. Natural decrease is more widespread in Europe because its population is older, fertility rates are lower, and there are fewer women of child-bearing age. Natural decrease is a major policy concern because it drains the demographic resilience from a region, diminishing its economic viability and competitiveness. The implications of the recent European immigrant surge for natural decrease are uncertain, but the authors’ analysis suggests that natural decrease is likely to remain widespread in Europe for the foreseeable future

Interactions Among Root Disease Pathogens and Bark Beetles in Coniferous Forests

At least two interactions exist among these important groups of organisms: (1) that of the bark beetles as vectors; and (2) that of root pathogens as predisposers of trees to beetles. Bark beetles might be important vectors of root decay fungi, but there is as yet little supporting evidence. However, some beetles may have primary roles as vectors on non-decay pathogens such as Leptographium wageneri, L. procera, and L. terebrantis. Possible of greater importance is predisposition of trees by the pathogens. Evidence continues to build supporting the relationship, and there is a suggestion that beetles can maintain a relatively high populations level in areas with above average disease activity. A few studies have shown effects on host physiology that may be related to increased susceptibility to bark beetles, and one of two have even suggested effects on primary attraction. A review of the literature in both forest pathology and forest entomology shows a serious deficiency in research on these interactions and their significance in resource management

History of Thorp, Kittitas County, State of Washington to 1901

This paper presents the history of Thorp, Washington, from its beginning to 1901. The study covers settlement, economic development, educational facilities, occupations, land use, road construction, and cultural characteristics of this area. It is presented in a chronological format with a topical table of contents for easy reference. A list of taped interviews is included in the appendix. Recommendations included use as a resource for teachers and students in the elementary and secondary school of Ellensburg, Washington

An experimental investigation of flow-induced oscillations of the Bruel and Kjaer in-flow microphone

One source contributing to wind tunnel background noise is microphone self-noise. An experiment was conducted to investigate the flow-induced acoustic oscillations of Bruel & Kjaer (B&K) in-flow microphones. The results strongly suggest the B&K microphone cavity behaves more like an open cavity. Their cavity acoustic oscillations are likely caused by strong interactions between the cavity shear layer and the cavity trailing edge. But the results also suggest that cavity shear layer oscillations could be coupled with cavity acoustic resonance to generate tones. Detailed flow velocity measurements over the cavity screen have shown inflection points in the mean velocity profiles and high disturbance and spectral intensities in the vicinity of the cavity trailing edge. These results are the evidence for strong interactions between cavity shear layer oscillations and the cavity trailing edge. They also suggest that beside acoustic signals, the microphone inside the cavity has likely recorded hydrodynamic pressure oscillations, too. The results also suggest that the forebody shape does not have a direct effect on cavity oscillations. For the FITE (Flow Induced Tone Eliminator) microphone, it is probably the forebody length and the resulting boundary layer turbulence that have made it work. Turbulence might have thickened the boundary layer at the separation point, weakened the shear layer vortices, or lifted them to miss impinging on the cavity trailing edge. In addition, the study shows that the cavity screen can modulate the oscillation frequency but not the cavity acoustic oscillation mechanisms

Wage-Setting Institutions and Economic Growth

Wage-setting institutions in several Asian and Latin American economies are compared and contrasted. The Asian economies have relied more on market wage determination, whereas the Latin American economies have encouraged institutions which push wages in key sectors up above market-clearing levels. Market wage determination, combined with export-led growth, has resulted in rapidly rising real wages in the context of full employment in the Asian economies. The Latin American economies have done less well

Design methodology for a community response questionnaire on sonic boom exposure

A preliminary draft questionnaire concerning community response to sonic booms was developed. Interviews were conducted in two communities that had experienced supersonic overflights of the SR-71 airplane for several years. Even though the overflights had ceased about 6 months prior to the interviews, people clearly remembered hearing sonic booms. A total of 22 people living in central Utah and 23 people living along Idaho/Washington state border took part in these interviews. The draft questionnaire was constantly modified during the study in order to evaluate different versions. Questions were developed which related to annoyance, startle, sleep disturbance, building vibration, and building damage. Based on the data collected, a proposed community response survey response instrument was developed for application in a full-scale sonic boom study

DOT Drugs and Alcohol Testing

This three-hour course is identified as core course #2 in the Indiana LTAP Road Scholar program. The Indiana Road Scholar program was established to build a core body of knowledge necessary to perform the duties of a local transportation official. Core course #2 will cover some of the complex issues that arise when managing employees and developing and administering employment policies within a public works or county highway department in Indiana

Ariel - Volume 5 Number 2

Editors Mark Dembert J.D. Kanofsky Entertainment Editor Robert Breckenridge Gary Kaskey Overseas Editor Mike Sinason Photographer Scott Kastner Staff Ken Jaffe Bob Sklaroff Joseph Sassani Janet Weis

Racial Disparities and Welfare Reform in Mississippi

This research is a part of a much larger study which has been conducted on the implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare Reform in the state of Mississippi. The study on the implementation of TANF employs qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis. One of the quantitative components of that study is a statewide survey of former and current TANF and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients which includes 1688 respondents. This number represents roughly 10 percent of the 15,000 families on welfare in the state of Mississippi (the most available data). The sample is overwhelmingly African-American and female and we posit that this is a realistic reflection of the current welfare population. As the survey was disaggregated by congressional districts, some patterns relative to access of supports emerged which reflected racial disparities. This pattern inspired researchers to look deeper and to analyze data from the five congressional districts and the state as a whole which most closely illustrated the issue of disparity