Theoretical and empirical limits of Scandinavian Exceptionalism: Isolation and normalization in Danish prisons

Drawing on interviews with 76 prisoners, 47 prison staff, and 14 experts, we document lived experiences of punishment in the Danish prison context. We argue that, regardless of “humanizing” elements of normalization and humanity, prisoners and staff may experience the power of the carceral state in Denmark in ways similar to those under more obviously harsh confinement regimes, as exist in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom. Ultimately, macro-level theories like Scandinavian Exceptionalism serve as a rhetorical tool, implying that harsher prison systems are fixable, but fail to reflect the micro-level realities of incarceration

Association between Adaptive Functioning & Intelligence in Children with Down syndrome

Authors: Jennifer N. Sexton, Ramirez, M., Phipps, C., Heller, A., Behm, L., Zatkalik, A., Nickolas, K., Maerlender, A., Phatak, V., Cramer, J., Blair, J., Murman, D., Warren, D. Deficits in intelligence and adaptive functioning are hallmark diagnostic features of Down syndrome, and as such, understanding the relationship between these two constructs is critical. A recent meta-analysis reported that the relationship between intelligence and the adaptive functioning among people with Down syndrome is moderate (Alexander & Reynolds, 2020), but correlations vary widely across study. In this project, we investigated the association between adaptive functioning and intelligence in a sample of children with Down Syndrome. Our sample included children with Down syndrome (N = 6; age: 8-13) recruited from the Eastern Nebraska region and tested at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Munroe Meyer Institute. Adaptive functioning was measured using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale – Parent Report. Intelligence was measured using the Kaufman Brief Intelligence (Kbit) Scale. Adaptive functioning was not significantly associated with intellectual abilities as measured by the Kbit when controlling for age, r(3) = .204, p = .742. However, the direction of the relationship between intellectual abilities and adaptive functioning (higher scores on a measure of intellectual ability with high adaptive functioning abilities) is consistent with previous literature (Alexander & Reynolds, 2020). Interestingly in this sample, performance on the kbit was negatively correlated with age, r(5) = -.828, p = .042. These results suggest that better adaptive functioning abilities may be associated higher intellectual abilities, but findings were non-significant in the current dataset. Outside the scope of this analysis, we expect that in the future, a larger sample will provide greater statistical power to test the association of adaptive functioning and intellectual abilities

The Widget Effect: Our National Failure to Acknowledge and Act on Differences in Teacher Effectiveness

Examines flaws in evaluations of teacher effectiveness that lead districts to allow poor performance to go unaddressed. Recommends a comprehensive system, to be used accountably and integrated with human capital policies, and efficient dismissal policies

Application of a Novel Method for Assessing Cumulative Risk Burden by County

The purpose of this study is to apply the Human Security Index (HSI) as a tool to detect social and economic cumulative risk burden at a county-level in the state of Texas. The HSI is an index comprising a network of three sub-components or “fabrics”; the Economic, Environmental, and Social Fabrics. We hypothesized that the HSI will be a useful instrument for identifying and analyzing socioeconomic conditions that contribute to cumulative risk burden in vulnerable counties. We expected to identify statistical associations between cumulative risk burden and (a) ethnic concentration and (b) geographic proximity to the Texas-Mexico border. Findings from this study indicate that the Texas-Mexico border region did not have consistently higher total or individual fabric scores as would be suggested by the high disease burden and low income in this region. While the Economic, Environmental, Social Fabrics (including the Health subfabric) were highly associated with Hispanic ethnic concentration, the overall HSI and the Crime subfabric were not. In addition, the Education, Health and Crime subfabrics were associated with African American racial composition, while Environment, Economic and Social Fabrics were not. Application of the HSI to Texas counties provides a fuller and more nuanced understanding of socioeconomic and environmental conditions, and increases awareness of the role played by environmental, economic, and social factors in observed health disparities by race/ethnicity and geographic region

The Inked Experience: Professionalism and Body Modifications in Libraries

The decision to undergo body modifications can be done for a myriad of personal reasons, ranging from a love of the art, an expression of the person\u27s individuality, the display of an affiliation, or for religious and/or spiritual beliefs. In the winter of 2020, our research team set out on a quest to discover the culture of acceptance of body modifications, including tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair colors, among those who work in and use libraries in the United States of America. With over 850 participants, the study discussed not only perceptions of professionalism, but also the number of those who have body modifications and those who wish to acquire some in the future. The study also delved into possible reasons a tattoo, piercing, or dyed hair may or may not be appropriate. For instance, participants noted a disapproval of tattoo content that includes vulgar or offensive imagery. The study also explores questions regarding placements of body modifications and surprising exceptions to the overall opinion base

Feasibility study of carbon offsets as a source of revenue for a land trust using the Climate Action Reserve\u27s avoided conversion protocol

In 2008, 279 million hectares of forest land contained 45,337 teragrams (Tg) of carbon. Changes in land use and forestry practices in 2008 resulted in a net carbon sequestration of 940.3 Tg of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 13.5% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2008, making forests a net sink for carbon. With increasing development pressures, organizations such as land trusts, that protect forest land and prevent deforestation, are positioned to become key players in climate change mitigation. There are 21 land trusts in Tennessee protecting over 165,000 acres of land. One such land trust, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust (TRGT), is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since its inception in 1981, the TRGT has protected approximately 17,000 acres of the approximate 27,000 acres that comprise the Tennessee River Gorge, a 26 mile canyon carved through the Cumberland Plateau by the Tennessee River. The TRGT owns 6,140 acres of mostly forested land and was selected as the model organization for this study. The aim of the present project was to determine the financial potentiality of a land owner, specifically a land trust, registering a carbon offset project under the Climate Action Reserve’s (CAR) Avoided Conversion Protocol. It was found that determining a carbon baseline did not require significant financial resources but did require specialized knowledge of tree species identification. It was also found that due to the inherent variability in identifying and measuring trees from year to year, it would be prudent, particularly for the inexperienced landowner, to map the layout of the trees in each plot. This process would allow for not only the accurate and precise accounting of year to year growth, but would also facilitate tracking and accounting of ingrowth and mortality within the plot. The study revealed that two significant challenges exist for those wanting to register a carbon offset project: 1) the acquisition and application of forest growth modeling data and 2) the ability to meet the legal and performance standards established in the protocol. It would be prudent for a landowner to investigate the various registries and the details of their protocols, including associated project registration fees, before investing in a project. Further, organizations exist now that will do all of the field work and paperwork and will cover all upfront costs associated with establishing a carbon offset project, with the exception of third party verification, for a percentage of the revenue. These organizations were not examined in this study, but they could be a mechanism whereby more landowners become involved in carbon offsetting. Finally, the study found that carbon offsets could be a significant source of revenue for landowners, particularly land trusts, but would depend on the demand for and value of carbon offset credits in emerging markets influenced by the possibility of regulation

Grading Error Reduces Grower Incentive to Increase Prune Quality

Grading is important to ensure the production of high-quality foods, but It Is usually done with error, distorting market signals and diminishing Incentives to produce high-quality products. Size is the main quality criterion for dried prunes and the crucial characteristic In determining prune value. We studied the economic effects of errors In commodity grading, focusing In particular on the Implications of one-way (asymmetric) grading errors, namely when small, low quality product Is erroneously classified as high quality, but not vice versa. In an application to the California prune Industry, we estimated the extent to which large prunes are undervalued and small prunes are overvalued. We conclude that grading error means that prunes graded as high-quality may not really be high-quality prunes. The presence of these Incorrectly graded prunes depresses the prices that growers are paid for high-quality prunes and increases the net returns for small prunes. As a result, growers face reduced incentives to produce larger prunes

Asymmetric Grading Error and Adverse Selection: Lemons in the California Prune Industry

Grading systems are often introduced to address the classic adverse selection problem associated with asymmetric information about product quality. However, grades are rarely measured perfectly, and adverse selection outcomes may persist due to grading error. We study the effects of errors in grading, focusing on asymmetric grading errors-namely when low-quality product can erroneously be classified as high quality, but not vice versa. In a conceptual model, we show the effects of asymmetric grading errors on returns to producers. Application to the California prune industry shows that grading errors reduce incentives to produce more valuable, larger prunes

Socioeconomic and Cultural County-level Factors Associated with Race/Ethnic Differences in Body Mass Index in 4th Grade Students in Texas

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between county-level socioeconomic environment and the propensity to be overweight or obese by race/ethnic group in a sample of fourth grade children the Texas public school system. Methods: The data used come from the School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) surveillance study – a surveillance study of school-aged children in Texas. The outcome variable used was Body Mass Index (BMI) categorized as underweight/normal/healthy, overweight, and obese. Exposure variables were derived from county-level Hispanic and Black concentration and socioeconomic data using the Human Security Index (HSI) as a framework. We made comparisons between Non-Hispanic White, Black and Hispanic children enrolled in the fourth grade. We used bivariate and regression analysis using jackknife variance estimates. Results: Hispanic and Black children were more likely to be obese and overweight than non-Hispanic White children. Hispanic and Black children were more likely to live in counties with higher economic, educational and social stress than non-Hispanic White children. In the logistic regression analysis comparing the odds of overweight or obese to underweight/healthy/normal weight, both Hispanic and Black children continued to have a higher odds of overweight and obesity than non-Hispanic White children. In separate regression analyses for each race/ethnic group (ie, Hispanic, Black, and White students) the county-level educational and social stress variables had a significant association with overweight and obesity in Hispanic children only. Hispanic ethnic concentration was associated with the odds of being overweight but not obese, while percent Black was associated with obesity in Hispanic children. There were no significant associations between socioeconomic or ethnic concentration and overweight or obese in Black children. Discussion: The results from this study indicate that county-level effects on childhood obesity may be more than just socioeconomics and ethnic concentration. Future research should involve multiple levels of analysis, including census tract, school and home variables simultaneously, in order to understand how the environments children live in impact their risk for obesity and how these influences may vary by race/ethnicity

Student Recital from the Studio of Jana Young

KSU School of Music presents Student Recital from the studio of Jana Young.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1329/thumbnail.jp