Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Public Involvement in the Immigration Plan for the Nanji Islands, China

A centralized political context such as China provides a harsh environment for public involvement program that intends to share decision-making power with the public, however, there are still learning opportunities that can survive and prepare the public for a meaningful participation in the future. This article illustrates this point by designing a public involvement program that is implementable and educational in Nanji Islands, China. The public involvement program is designed to solve conflicts and tension regarding to an immigration plan between the public and local government and organized by a third party. It includes information sharing, public representatives election, and negotiation meeting between public representatives and governmental officials. The six-dimension framework from Alterman’s classic work is employed to test its feasibility within the local context.

Potential Health Effects of Light-Duty Diesel Exhaust

The purpose of this paper is to review briefly the evidence for potential human health effects that may result from increased dieselization of the nation's light-duty vehicle fleet. An effort is made to put the potential effects into perspective, both with regard to projected excess cancer deaths, should diesel exhaust be carcinogenic to humans, and in relation to past use of vehicles using leaded gasoline. Certain related research needs are highlighted. Available data concerning the relationship between diesel emissions, ambient air quality, and human health are summarized. On the basis of exposure estimates and relative potency factors, the authors conclude that the best estimate of the number of excess annual U.S. lung cancer deaths as a result of lifetime exposure to light-duty diesel particulate under 1990 conditions is between 80 and 1500. Available data suggest that the carcinogenic hazard of exhaust from vehicles burning leaded gasoline may be an order of magnitude greater, on a per mile basis, than that of diesel engines. The hazard of emissions from diesel are, in turn, probably an order of magnitude greater than that of gasoline engines with catalytic converters burning unleaded gasoline. Important research needs identified by the authors include determining whether diesel exhaust is in fact a human carcinogen, studying the effect of atmospheric chemical transformation of organics in diesel exhaust on the toxicity of the exhaust, making a better determination of the relative carcinogenicity of diesel and gasoline exhausts, and determining whether exposure to diesel exhaust contributes to the development or exacerbation of chronic lung disease or of respiratory illness, especially in the very young and the aged.     

Childhood sexual experiences and the perception of abuse among Latino men who have sex with men

There is a lack of consensus on how to define childhood sexual abuse (CSA). In this study we explore the perceptions of CSA among men who had such experiences. One hundred Latino men (predominately gay) who had childhood sexual experiences with an older partner (CSEOP) were asked whether they considered their experiences sexual abuse (41 said no; 59 said yes). Those who felt abused were younger when the events happened and were more likely to have been physically forced, physically hurt, threatened, and emotionally hurt. Negative correlates of CSEOP in adulthood were also explored. Men who considered themselves the victims of CSA differed from those without CSEOP in having more alcohol use, unprotected anal sex, and male sex partners.     

Educational experiences and aspirations of older youth in foster care

This study documents the school experiences of 262 youth referred for independent-living preparation from the foster care system of one midwestern U.S. county. Of the youth, 73% had been suspended at least once since the seventh grade, and 16% had been expelled. In the past year, 58% had failed a class, and 29% had physical fights with students. Yet the group reported high educational aspirations: 70% wanted to attend college. Those in congregate care and family settings often had school behavior problems. The results support the need for a system of education advocates who work to maintain proper education placements for youth in foster care and help them receive the academic resources they need to graduate from high school and proceed to college.     

Sample size estimation for non-inferiority trials of time-to-event data

We consider the problem of sample size calculation for non-inferiority based on the hazard ratio in time-to-event trials where overall study duration is fixed and subject enrollment is staggered with variable follow-up. An adaptation of previously developed formulae for the superiority framework is presented that specifically allows for effect reversal under the non-inferiority setting, and its consequent effect on variance. Empirical performance is assessed through a small simulation study, and an example based on an ongoing trial is presented. The formulae are straightforward to program and may prove a useful tool in planning trials of this type.     

A Literature Review Comparing the Outcomes of Residential Group Care and Therapeutic Foster Care

Both advocates of residential group care and therapeutic foster care claim that their programs serve the most troubled children and youth. Prior research, often limited to single sites and small numbers of subjects, have not confirmed such claims. The authors describe the evidence regarding these claims, the research literature pertaining to program effectiveness, and a means for empirically evaluating the impact of residential group care and therapeutic foster care.     

Assessing the effects of monetized food aid on: reproductive behavior in rural Honduras

This article describes the methodology and findings of a study undertaken to assess whether the monetization of non-emergency food aid has adversely influenced national family planning program efforts in Honduras. Due to time constraints, an ex-post, non-equivalent group design was the strongest feasible study design. In the study, women receiving food aid in the form of cash coupons were compared with women receiving food rations and a third group of comparable women who were not food aid recipients on three types of outcomes: recent fertility, fertility preferences, and contraceptive use (both current and intended). A ‘sample selection’ model was used in the analysis to control for unobserved differences between comparison groups. No compelling evidence for either adverse demand- or supply-side effects was observed.     

Fertility Timing of Unmarried and Married Mothers: Evidence on Variation Across U.S. Cities from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study

In this paper, we examine the determinants of fertility timing of unmarried and married mothers using a rich new birth cohort study, the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, drawn from 20 medium and large U.S. cities. We find considerable variation in the time to next birth among comparable mothers who live in different cities. Some of this variation is explained by variation in labor markets, housing costs and availability, and welfare policies. City variation is particularly important for unmarried women who already have two or more children, whose fertility is more sensitive to these contextual variables than is the fertility of married women, or unmarried women with just one child.