Recent Surge in Homicides Involving Young Black Males and Guns: Time To Reinvest in Prevention and Crime Control

This review of recent U.S. homicide trends by race of offenders and victims, as well as weapons used, shows a surge in homicides that involve young Black males and guns

Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Aggression in a Young Man with Mental Retardation: Long-Term Treatment in a Community-Based Setting

A longitudinal, intensive treatment program is described that was implemented over an 8-year period in a community-based setting for a young man with mental retardation and oppositional defiant disorder with severe physical aggression. The development of this disorder and its systematic treatment are described, with new components added based on improvement in the individual’s behavior. The individual made steady progress and has maintained good behavioral stability for the final three years of the treatment program. This paper highlights the inherent difficulties of applying empirically validated treatment strategies in community-based settings

CONSUMER DEMAND FOR MANDATORY LABELING OF BEEF FROM CATTLE ADMINISTERED GROWTH HORMONES OR FED GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN

This study estimates the value of policies that would mandate labeling of beef from cattle produced with growth hormones or fed genetically modified corn. At no cost, 85 percent of resondents desired mandatory labeling of beef produced with growth hormones and 64 percent of respondents preferred mandatory labeling of beef fed genetically modified corn. Estimates suggest that consumers would be willing to pay 17.0 percent and 10.6 percent higher prices for beef on average to obtain information provided via mandatory labeling about whether the beef is from cattle produced with growth hormones or fed genetically modified corn, respectively.beef, contingent valuation, genetically modified foods, growth hormones, mandatory labeling, Demand and Price Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Evaluation of a University-Community Partnership to Provide Home-Based, Mental Health Services for Children from Families Living in Poverty

A university-community partnership is described that resulted in the development of community-based mental health services for young children from families living in poverty. The purpose of this pilot project was to implement an evidence-based treatment program in the homes of an at-risk population of children with significant emotional and behavior problems that were further complicated by developmental delays. Outcomes for 237 children who participated in the clinic’s treatment program over a 2 year period are presented. Comparisons are included between treatment completers and non-completers and the issues of subject attrition, potential subject selection bias, and the generalizability of the results are addressed. The need for more professionals who are trained to address mental health issues in very young children who live in very challenging conditions are discussed

Home-Based Parent-Child Therapy in Low-Income African American, Caucasian, and Latino Families: A Comparative Examination of Treatment Outcomes

This study examined parent and child treatment outcomes for a home-based Parent-Child Therapy (PCT) program for 66 children from families living in poverty. African American, Caucasian, and Latino families were examined to determine if an evidence-based program would produce similar results across different ethnic groups. The results showed that caregivers across the three ethnic groups reported improved child challenging behavior, increased positive parent-child interactions, improved parental expectations, higher levels of nurturing, and less reliance on verbal and corporal punishment as a form of discipline. Practical implications for these results are discussed

CONSUMER VALUATION OF BEEF RIBEYE STEAK ATTRIBUTES

A choice experiment (conjoint analysis) was used to investigate consumer demand for several beef ribeye steak attributes. Respondents indicated that they would prefer a "hormone free" ribeye steak priced up to $6.68/lb. more than a "non-hormone" free ribeye steak. Tenderness was also identified as an important attribute in the consumer purchasing decision as a one-unit increase in the tenderness of a steak (on a scale of one to 10) was associated with a$1.13/lb. premium. Steak marbling and whether the animal was fed genetically modified corn were of less importance to consumers.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

A Search for N2+ in Spectra of Comet C/2002C1 (Ikeya-Zhang)

We report low- and high-resolution spectra of comet C/2002 C1 (Ikeya-Zhang) from McDonald Observatory. The comet had a well-developed ion tail including CO+, CO2+, CH+, and H2O+. We used our high-resolution spectra to search for N2+. None was detected and we placed upper limits on N2+/CO+ of 5.4 times 10^{-4}. N2+ was detected in the low-resolution spectra but we show that this emission was probably telluric in origin (if cometary, we derive N2+/CO+ = 5.5 times 10^{-3}, still very low). We discuss the implications for the conditions in the early solar nebula of the non-detection of N2+. These depend on whether the H2O ice was deposited in the amorphous or crystalline form. If H2O was deposited in its crystalline form, the detection of CO+ but not N2+ has implications for H2O/H2 in the early solar nebula.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ (Letters) - 10 Sept 200

CONSUMER DEMAND FOR AND ATTITUDES TOWARD ALTERNATIVE BEEF LABELING STRATEGIES IN FRANCE, GERMANY, AND THE UK

A wide array of food safety scares and breakdowns have led to loss of consumer confidence in the quality and safety of beef products. To counteract such concerns, firms and regulators have the ability to utilize brands or labels to signal quality. Utilizing a mail survey in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, we analyzed consumer preferences for alternative beef labeling strategies. Using an ordered probit model and a double bounded logit model, we estimate consumer preferences for alternative beef labeling programs. In general, results suggest that consumers have more confidence in government mandated labels as opposed to private brands. French and German consumers place a higher level of importance on brands and labels than do UK consumers. Results also suggest that more than 90% of surveyed consumers desire a mandatory labeling program for beef produced from cattle fed genetically modified crops.Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis,

DEMAND FOR BEEF FROM CATTLE ADMINISTERED GROWTH HORMONES OR FED GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN: A COMPARISON OF CONSUMERS IN FRANCE, GERMANY, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE UNITED STATES

This study compares consumer valuations of beef steaks from cattle produced without growth hormones or genetically modified corn in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In general, European consumers place a higher value on beef from cattle that have not been administered growth hormones and/or fed genetically modified corn than United States consumers. There is a larger divergence between the two cultures with regard to the issue of biotechnology and genetic engineering than with the issue of growth hormones. Results suggest that liberalizing trade policy for hormone-treated beef may be welfare reducing for the European Union.Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

CCD Photometry of Delta Scuti stars 7 Aql and 8 Aql

As a continuation of the study of the Delta Scuti stars 7 Aql and 8 Aql; new CCD photometric data were acquired in 2007. We present a period analysis on these data that confirm the dominant modes detected in each star in the framework of the STEPHI XII campaign in 2003.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables; Accepted for publication in Communications in Asteroseismology, Vol 153, 200