Motion Picture Department

While historical thinking has a rich literature, civic thinking has been an underdeveloped area of research in social studies education. I discuss in this article three activities designed to strengthen students’ civic thinking skills by examining the “political death and resurrection” of Richard Nixon in the 1960s. These three activities help students critically analyze politicians’ remarks to grasp direct and indirect messages contained within political statements and advertising. The steps and resources to implement these activities are provided. The development of students’ civic thinking skills helps them analyze a politician’s arguments and judge for themselves the merits of a candidate and his or her statements and policy recommendations.     

Imaging convex quadrilateral inclusions in uniform conductors from electrical boundary measurements

We demonstrate simulation-based Bayesian imaging from electrical impedance tomographic data, by summarizing the set of conductance images which could give rise to the data. The forward map from conductance image to data requires the solution of a partial differential equation subject to boundary conditions. We develop the example of recovering an unknown convex polygonal insulating inclusion within an object made of otherwise uniformly conducting material, and illustrate our methods with noisy synthetic data. Sampling is carried out using Markov chain Monte Carlo with the efficiency of the algorithm investigated over a range of noise levels.     

On the manipulability of approval voting and related scoring rules

We characterize all preference profiles at which the approval (voting) rule is manipulable, under three extensions of preferences to sets of candidates: by comparison of worst candidates, best candidates, or by comparison based on stochastic dominance. We perform a similar exercise for k-approval rules, where voters approve of a fixed number k of candidates. These results can be used to compare (k-)approval rules with respect to their manipulability. Analytical results are obtained for the case of two voters, specifically, the values of k for which the k-approval rule is minimally manipulable—has the smallest number of manipulable preference profiles—under the various preference extensions are determined. For the number of voters going to infinity, an asymptotic result is that the k-approval rule with k around half the number of candidates is minimally manipulable among all scoring rules. Further results are obtained by simulation and indicate that k-approval rules may improve on the approval rule as far as manipulability is concerned.     

Traumatic brain injury and suicide

A number of psychiatric and neurological problems may occur following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Anxiety and depression are common. There is evidence that there may be a correlation between TBI and increased risk of suicide. This article will explore current literature on the risk of suicidal behavior in people who have experienced TBI. Risk factors for suicide, recognition and assessment of suicidal behavior, and treatment issues will be discussed.     

Socio‐Cultural Incorporation of Skilled Migrants at Work: Employer and Migrant Perspectives

Migration studies have predominantly investigated the socio‐cultural incorporation of low‐skilled migrants and refugees, fuelled by concerns that these migrants may pose a burden on the state and a threat to social cohesion. Few studies have investigated the socio‐cultural incorporation of skilled migrants, perhaps assuming that they will fare well in a country of destination. Using the petroleum industry in Norway as a case study, this article examines the workplace as a key site of transmission of norms and values of the host society. We investigate firm initiatives for the socio‐cultural incorporation of skilled migrants and analyse the challenges that these workers experience in the workplace. We then discuss the roles of non‐state actors in the incorporation process and offer suggestions that may enhance the socio‐cultural incorporation of skilled migrants into the host society.     

An Exploratory Investigation of Treatment Strategies for Black,Gay, Bisexual,and Heterosexual Men-Who-Have-Sex- With-Men Who Use Methamphetamine

Research has repeatedly indicated a strong relation between methamphetamine use and risky sex leading to HIV-seroconversion. Despite the high prevalence of HIV among Black gay, bisexual, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (BMSM) and the strong association between methamphetamine use and HIV-seroconversion, treatment research on methamphetamine use and HIV-risk behaviors among BMSM is limited. The goal of this exploratory study was to investigate treatment strategies for BMSM that may be used to inform methamphetamine treatment programs tailored for BMSM. Data was collected on a sample of HIV-negative and HIV-positive gay, bisexual, and heterosexual BMSM (N = 52) in New York City. Participants were asked to discuss methamphetamine treatment strategies they believed would be successful in treating their own methamphetamine abuse and that of other BMSM who use methamphetamine. Results indicated four treatment areas salient for BMSM seeking treatment for methamphetamine used disorders: (a) outreach/recruitment strategies, (b) therapist qualities, (c) group characteristics, and (d) intervention elements themselves. Findings gathered here and through literature review underscore the importance of adapting evidence-based methamphetamine treatment strategies to include culturally-relevant treatment strategies that address the specific needs of BMSM who use methamphetamine.     

Longitudinal Change in Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to examine changes in depression and anxiety symptoms from before to during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of 1,339 adolescents (9–18 years old, 59% female) from three countries. We also examined if age, race/ethnicity, disease burden, or strictness of government restrictions moderated change in symptoms. Data from 12 longitudinal studies (10 U.S., 1 Netherlands, 1 Peru) were combined. Linear mixed effect models showed that depression, but not anxiety, symptoms increased significantly (median increase = 28%). The most negative mental health impacts were reported by multiracial adolescents and those under ‘lockdown’ restrictions. Policy makers need to consider these impacts by investing in ways to support adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic.     

Recognizing,reporting, and responding to abuse,neglect, and self-neglect of vulnerable adults: an evaluation of the re:act adult protection worker basic curriculum

Abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults are significant problems, the identification and management of which is increasingly being made the legal responsibility of healthcare professionals. In response, some jurisdictions have developed training to assist professionals in these duties. This study evaluates the re:act Adult Protection Worker Basic Curriculum training from British Columbia, Canada. One hundred and fifty-seven participants, 109 training completers and 48 non-completers, answered a survey evaluating their confidence, knowledge, and applied knowledge in identifying, reporting, and investigating cases of suspected abuse, neglect, and self-neglect of vulnerable adults. Comparisons of training completers to non-completers showed significant gains in completers’ perceived confidence and knowledge, but no improvement in applied knowledge. The type of healthcare professional being trained and the length of training did not impact learner improvement. The results suggest ways in which both training and evaluation can be improved (e.g., supervised practice) to increase and detect gains in knowledge and practice.