Academic economists behaving badly? A survey on three areas of unethical behavior

This article measures the degree to which academic economists have engaged in unethical behavior and the degree to which academic economists believe the profession as a whole engages in unethical behavior. Three main types of unethical behavior are examined: (1) falsification of research; (2) expropriation of graduate student research or including an undeserving co-author on a research paper; and (3) exchange of grades for gifts, money, or sex. Using a unique data set gathered at the 1998 American Economic Association (AEA) meetings, we find that there is a significant amount of misconduct, particularly in the second category.     

The Emotional and Educational Functioning of Children Living with Maternal HIV/AIDS and Substance Use

The rates of HIV infection among women in the U.S. have risen dramatically in the past decades, affecting not only women as individuals, but also women as mothers and caregivers. Waning maternal physical and psychological resources, coupled with poverty and possible familial substance use, place children of HIV-infected women at behavioral and developmental risk. This study compared the emotional and educational functioning of HIV-uninfected children, 6–15 years of age, living with an HIV-infected mother who used substances to a comparison group of children living with maternal substance use only. Results indicate that children whose mothers are HIV-infected and use substances have poorer emotional functioning when their mother experiences HIV-related symptoms compared to the comparison group. Paradoxically, results also indicated that target group children were significantly less likely to be rated as disruptive during the interview than the control group children. Implications for practice are discussed.Cynthia Devane Fair, Associate Professor is affiliated with Department of Human Services, Elon University, USA     

The interdisciplinary care of children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

This paper discusses the advances in care of children with diabetes mellitus, with particular reference to ocular disease, and its prevention in children. Emphasis is upon the inter-disciplinary care of children. Suggested ways of preventing later diabetic problems.     

Sexual Coercion,Verbal Aggression,and Condom Use Consistency Among College Students

Abstract

Objective: The relationship between condom use and 2 less visible categories of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual coercion and verbal aggression, was examined among college students. Methods: In March 2007 a random cross-sectional sample of undergraduates from the southeast region of the United States was taken to collect information about sexual coercion and verbal aggression, in addition to condom use consistency. Alcohol use was also assessed. Results: Of the 142 participants, 31.7% reported being victims of sexual coercion, and 78% reported having verbally aggressive partners. Participants who reported experiencing sexual coercion in their relationship were significantly less likely to consistently use condoms. Additionally, alcohol use before or during episodes of verbal aggression was negatively associated with condom use. Alcohol use was also significantly associated with heightened incidents of coercion and aggression. Conclusions: Results indicate that among college students, the presence of sexual coercion adversely affects condom use, as does alcohol use.     

Office of the future — New challenges for operational research

A technological barrage has been fired on the office environment in an attempt to attack rising costs and improve productivity. Although very new, a dramatic level of effort is already being applied. The state of the art is changing daily but so far the problems still outnumber the solutions. The opportunities to contribute are significant. This paper briefly describes the scene, characterizes the state-of-the-art and suggests an entry strategy for the OR professional. The probable response of the OR profession is considered.     

‘Someone Needs to Carry on the Legacy of My Family’: Childbearing Perceptions Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Perinatally Acquired Hiv

Objectives: This qualitative project explored perceptions of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) regarding childbearing motivations and parenting. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 AYA with PHIV (M_age = 20.5 years). Results: Primary childbearing motivations included the desire to experience parenthood, a wish to leave a legacy, and the chance to offer/receive unconditional love. Anticipated challenges included normative concerns (e.g., cost of parenting) and such HIV-specific concerns as parental disclosure/risk for transmission. Conclusions: Information is needed to tailor developmentally and culturally sensitive interventions to promote healthy development across the life span among the 3rd generation of HIV-affected families.     

Pediatrics: The emerging psychosocial challenges of the AIDS epidemic

HIV has a pervasive and profound effect on the psychological, social and neuropsychological functioning of infected infants, children and their families. This article discusses direct and indirect psychological manifestations of HIV in children. Direct effects are the outcome of the virus acting on the central nervous system and can result in compromised cognitive, language, motor, socio-emotional and motivational functioning. Indirect effects involve psychological responses to the stress of living with a life threatening illness, the social ostracism, disruption in life goals and undergoing frequent invasive and protracted medical procedures. A major focus of this article is to outline and describe a model comprehensive psychosocial support system developed within the Pediatric Branch of the National Cancer Institute. This includes early intervention issues and strategies for working with families during the introductory phase of the treatment program that also provides the framework for a care management approach, salient mental health problems that frequently occur in this group, and appropriate interventions for individuals and families. Attention is also given to dealing with anticipatory loss and bereavement, implementing traditional innovative intervention techniques, and for providing advocacy services concerning possible legal, financial, housing, and educational issues.     

A CUSUM SCHEME BASED ON THE EXPONENTIAL DISTRIBUTION FOR SURVEDLLANCE OF RARE CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS

A method of monitoring the incidence of malformations is described. It is suitable for systems where the number of births between successive malformations is known or can be estimated with reasonable accuracy. The method utilises a cusum technique based on the exponential distribution to detect an increase in the incidence of malformations above a baseline level. Adequate information to enable the implementation of the method is presented. The proposed method compares favourably with others such as the Poisson cusum and the modified sets technique.     

Healthy children in families affected by AIDS: Epidemiological and psychosocial considerations

Traditional means of conceptualizing the psychosocial impact of AIDS have emphasized infected individuals out of their natural context AIDS occurs not simply within hospitals but within families. A secondary morbidity occurs within a family system when one of its members is infected. Clinical experience suggests that non-infected children within families with AIDS are at significant risk for poor developmental outcomes as a consequence of the skewing of familial resources. Children living in families who have a member infected by HIV are impacted by isues such as stigma, isolation, abandonment, and death. This article explores the epidemiology of this child population and risk factors that render them vulnerable. Social workers are in a unique position to identify and serve these children in such diverse settings as schools, welfare agencies, and hospitals. Suggested interventions based on the developmental stage of the child are discussed as are implications for policy formation and program development.