Smoke Signals: Adolescent Smoking and School Continuation

This paper presents an exploratory analysis using NLSY97 data of the relationship between the likelihood of school continuation and the choices of whether to smoke or drink. We demonstrate that in the United States as of the late 1990s, smoking in 11th grade was a uniquely powerful predictor of whether the student finished high school, and if so whether the student matriculated in a four-year college. For economists the likely explanation for this empirical link would be based on interpersonal differences in time preference, but that account is called in question by our second finding -- that drinking does not predict school continuation. We speculate that the demand for tobacco by high school students is influenced by the signal conveyed by smoking (of being off track in school), one that is especially powerful for high-aptitude students. To further develop this view, we present estimates of the likelihood of smoking as a function of school commitment and other, more traditional variables. There are no direct implications from this analysis for whether smoking is in some sense a cause of school dropout. We offer some speculations on this matter in the conclusion.

Health Literacy Improves Health Care Quality

A lack of knowledge about health literacy is a cause for quality healthcare concern as the world advances in health information technology. Many patients struggle to understand and navigate their health and well-being as a result of lack of understanding of the treatment plan due to low literacy skills. Several federal policy initiatives promote health literacy as the responsibility of the healthcare organization. Improving health outcomes through health literacy should be a commitment of healthcare organization through providing clear communication, simplified forms, assistance, and even follow-up calls. Three major initiatives will combat health literacy to include the Affordable Care Act; the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the Plain Writing Act of 2010. These initiatives place strategic efforts on health literacy, health technology, and health disparities through patient-centered care in an effort to improve the quality of healthcare

Growth and root inhibition in Axenic hydrilla verticillata cultures

Hydrilla verticillata Royle is a submersed aquatic weed infesting waterways throughout the world. Hydrilla was introduced into the United States in 196 and has spread across the southern states. Hydrilla has extensive reproductive capacity, spreading by seeds, axillary and subterranean vegetative buds, fragmentation, and stolons. Subterranean buds, called tubers, are the predominant form of reproduction. This reproductive potential has made mechanical, chemical, and biological control largely ineffective. To study the life cycle of Hydrilla, Elaine and Ward (1981) developed a method for producing axenic cultures from tubers. The process by which axenic cultures were produced involves surface treatment of the tuber with sodium hypochlorite and removal of outer bud scales. Tubers were grown in a mineral salts media containing 15 ug/ml penicillin and 1 ug/ml streptomycin to prevent bacterial growth. Two percent glucose and .5 per cent casein were added to facilitate detection of bacterial contamination. Axenic cultures produced by this method have inhibited shoot and root growth. In the present study, different variables in the process were analyzed for inhibitory effects. Addition of yeast extract, IAA, IBA, GAg, and kinetin failed to overcome stem or root growth inhibition. Neither NaOCl treatment nor dissection as separate factors affected growth or root development. Sodium hypochlorite treatment followed by dissection resulted in retarded growth at times, although mature plants did develop. Addition of penicillin and streptomycin or penicillin, streptomycin, glucose, and casein resulted in inhibited growth and root production. Casein and streptomycin both inhibited stem and root growth in all cases. Glucose slightly enhanced growth. Penicillin had no significant effects on shoot growth or root formation and growth. Axenic cultures with penicillin and glucose exhibited no inhibitions. Streptomycin inhibits growth of roots at 15, 5, and 1 ug/ml. Penicillin did not affect growth of stems or roots at 25, 75, or 15 ug/ml but did not effectively control bacteria. Neomycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol were tested separately at 25, 75, and 15 ug/ml and in combinations at 75 ug/ml as possible alternatives to streptomycin. All were inhibitory to shoot growth. Root formation was significantly inhibited by all concentrations of chloramphenicol, and the higher concentrations of neomycin and tetracycline. Several of the antibiotic combinations, tested in conjunction with 25 ug/ml penicillin, were effective against bacteria but were inhibitory to hydrilla growth at tested concentrations

Spatial and temporal scales of the morphodynamic evolution within the Studland complex.

This research has analysed the large sandy beach at Studland Peninsula over a range of spatial and temporal scales, recording a range of geomorphic features and the processes by which they evolve. The aim was to understand better the morphodynamic evolution of the coastal system over different temporal and spatial scales and identify the extent of changes operating along the beach system. The research has sought to quantify shoreline change from the historical archive by providing an interpretation of the evolutionary sequence of the Studland system over the last 500 years. The linkage between the ebb tidal delta and shoreline progradation has been reviewed. In addition,the temporal variability of the beach system between 2001 and 2004 has been examined. These objectives have been combined to produce a nested hierarchy of spatial and temporal change in the Studland system in order to re-evaluate already existing conceptual models of sediment transportand process. Historic change within the system has been undertaken by a review of historic maps, charts and aerial photographs. Ground Penetration Radar was used to determine the subsurface stratigraphy, providing an indicator of the extent of onlapping and offlapping sand sheets and an interpretation of the morphostratigraphy. Swath bathymetry was used to examine contemporary seabed change within Studland Bay. Regular beach profiles provided datafora time series analysis to be applied to determine temporaland spatial beach behaviour. This study has contributed to furthering the understanding of beach systems by providing a comprehensive overview of beach behaviour on a variety of levels, from the littoral cell to a morphological feature. The study has progressed the understanding of beach sensitivity, and the interplay between ebb tidal deltas and beaches.The results reveal that the Studland Beach system operates as a nested hierarchy of scales, responding to a range of timescales from the historical to the annual. Morphological changes operate at high and low frequencies. The historical trend is for foreshore progradationin the north and erosion in the south. The pattern of variability revealed the importance of sediment feed from the ebb tidal delta to the beach,confirmingthe Poole Harbour entrance is a major contributor to foreshore change. The decadal trends illustrate an accumulation of short-term trends with on and off shore sediment feed via the ebbtidal delta; beach change is muted or hidden by more dynamic frequency variations. Conceptual models were developed to understand geographical relationships between form, process and scale, thus illustrating the relationships between controlling variables, temporal and spatial beach form variability and the system's hierarchy. Profile variability revealed several distinct patterns of spatial and temporal change, enabling discrete sets of profiles to be grouped together to illustrate the complicated relationship caused by geographical and spatial profile variation. Wider beaches with greater profile variability signified stability and accumulation. Scarcity of morphologicalfeatures reflected greater susceptibility to erosion. Furthermore,the study allowed morphological variability to be mapped out, thus providing a complete understanding of the relationships between form and process, at a level of scales never undertaken before.The models have revealed a compartmentalised hierarchical sediment system related to the survivability of beach features; morphological variability and beach stability,linking the components of the system with the whole of the Bournemouth Bay littoral cell

International Human Rights Law Concerning Women: Case Notes and Comments

This Essay addresses the application of international human rights law to women. Most of the cases addressed in this Essay involve alleged discrimination based on sex or marital status. Professor Cook notes that international, regional, and national courts have applied human rights principles to ensure that women\u27s human rights are upheld, although not always to the full extent originally envisioned under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To illustrate this point, Professor Cook reviews cases arising under international, regional, and specialized treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the extent to which such discrimination interferes with the right to enjoy private or family life, attain resident status, receive social security, and receive equal protection of the law. Professor Cook further analyzes cases involving unmarried women and spousal rights arising under the European Convention on Human Rights, alleging violations of the right of respect for family and private life, or the right to nondiscrimination. Professor Cook then briefly reviews other legal instruments that may provide opportunities to apply human rights principles to the advances of women, including the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the American Convention on Human Rights, the European Economic Community Treaty, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Professor Cook concludes that, despite progress in this area, courts have not yet fully recognized women\u27s human rights. This is due in part to the entrenched perceptions of women\u27s role in society that may cause courts to view discrimination merely as differential treatment based on objective and reasonable criteria. Professor Cook urges the expanded use of such international, regional, or national fora to ensure that women\u27s actual human rights are consistent with the conception of those rights as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Modern Day Inquisitions

Like the Inquisitions in the 1600s, the modern day inquisitions are attempts to secure the supremacy of religious hierarchies in matters of gender, sexuality, and reproduction. The modern day inquisitions jeopardize academic freedoms, particularly of scholars who focus on reproductive health law and ethics, and use hostile stereotypes and social condemnation, among other mechanisms, to control sexuality and reproduction, and to privilege male dominance. In this sense, the overarching barriers to achieving gender justice in this hemisphere are the modern day inquisitions. This article based on a keynote speech of the Conference on Gender Justice in the Americas, graciously hosted by the University of Miami School of Law, February 23-25, 2011, attempts: to take stock of some of the past achievements in applying human rights and constitutional provisions to protect the dignity of different sexualities, reduce violence, and promote reproductive and sexual health, to explore some of the lessons learned in applying human rights and constitutional provisions to these issues, and finally, to think about how best to face challenges ahead and to strengthen networks to create better synergies in our research, teaching, and advocacy to improve gender justice in the Americas

The Population Biology and Demography of \u3cem\u3eCimicifuga rubifolia\u3c/em\u3e Kearney and the Genetic Relationships Among North American \u3cem\u3eCimicifuga\u3c/em\u3e Species

In this beginning study of the population biology of Cimicifuga species, the life history and demography of the long-lived herbaceous perennial, Cimicifuga rubifolia Kearney, were investigated, the genetic structure of some of its populations was studied, and an investigation of the genetic relationships among the North American species was begun. The life history and demography were monitored in two populations, one of approximately 1400 individuals (1987-1990) and the second of about 400 individuals (1988-1990). A model of leaf area was used to determine the leaf area (photosynthetic size) of individuals and this was followed during the study. Relationships between the leaf area of the individuals and flowering, fruit set, mortality, dormancy and size change were investigated. The population size structures were considered using size class transition matrices. Population genetic structure from throughout the range of Cimicifug rubifolia was assayed using starch gel electrophoresis, and the genetic relationships of the North American Cimicifuga species were studied using electrophoretic methods. Leaf area was positively related to the ability to flower and set seed while mortality and dormancy were negatively related to leaf area. Reproduction was primarily sexual, with asexual reproduction by rhizome fragmentation occurring rarely. Several plant responses thought to be related to the low precipitation amounts during 1987 and 1988 were noted. The mean size of the plants in both populations increased by approximately 30 percent during the study and the size at which the probability of flowering reached 50 percent varied. Size structure based on size transition probabilities, was not constant. Plant dormancy was frequent and the number of seedlings noted yearly varied widely. Seven loci were assayed electrophoretically in C. rubifolia. Accumulated gene differences per locus, as measured by genetic distance among populations was insubstantial but, genetic divergence among the populations is indicated by large FST values (.197-.468). This appears to be due to reproductive isolation of populations, indicated by high total fixation indices. Gene flow within populations seems to be limited. The ten loci assayed in 6 North American species of Cimicifuga showed the mean genetic identity from pairwise comparisons of the species to be .543. Mean GST values ranged from .086 to .503 and seem to be related, in part, to varying breeding systems among the species