Community Mobilization: Conventional Tactics in Unconventional Oil and Gas Development

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations - Marginalized individuals are less likely to participate or have their interests represented in political processes than...     

Spatial distribution and the value of green spaces for urban red-tailed hawks

Raptors increasingly live and nest successfully in urban areas. In the urban landscape of Hartford, CT, red-tailed hawks established home ranges in large green spaces such as parks, golf courses, and cemeteries but also nested successfully in the commercial district of downtown and in densely built urban and suburban neighborhoods. Data collected from 11 radio-tagged breeding adult hawks indicated that year-round home ranges averaged 107.7 ha, much smaller than home ranges reported for hawks inhabiting rural areas. Most hawk home ranges had multiple core areas that were usually associated with favored perches or larger patches of ‘usable’ green space, defined as patches ≥0.25 ha in size, and home range size was positively associated with larger usable green space patches in core areas. Most nests were located in the largest core area and were within a larger patch of green space within the largest core area. Rather than just the amount or size of green space patches, the value of urban green spaces for these hawks likely also varies with the number and proximity of suitable perches such as buildings or tall trees, types and density of prey, and amount of human activity in and adjacent to these spaces. Territoriality and intraspecific competition may also influence home range size and dispersion of red-tailed hawks nesting in Hartford. In this urban area, mortality due to ingestion of rodenticides and collisions with vehicles affected hawk reproductive success.

     

Inflationary Expectations in Israel: A Multiple Indicators Approach

This article derives unobservable short-term inflationary expectations in Israel from their postulated effects on the velocity of demand deposits and the nominal interest rate. A multiple-indicators model is estimated to assess the impact of inflationary expectations on these variables. The expectations-formation mechanism is estimated using a multiple indicators–multiple causes (MIMIC) model. This methodology allows us to test for the structural stability of the model and estimate the relative variances of the postulated error components. Moreover, this procedure contains a built-in specification test of the chosen expectations-formation mechanism.     

Quality of life after radiation therapy: A study of 309 cancer survivors

(1) Comparison of patients with a national sample reveals no difference in income (adjusted for inflation), marital status and education level but patients, who are typically older, are more often retired or disabled. (2) Overall, perceived quality of life is nearly the same for patients and national sample; apparent differences can be readily explained by factors other than cancer or its treatment. (3) While some minor differences among patients were found as a function of their site of cancer, treatment modality, or health status, no evidence was found of significant detrimental effects due to radiation therapy or perceived quality of life. (4) Contrary to expectations of deteriorated quality of life, compared to the national baselines the patients are actually more satisfied with their lives as a whole.     

Texas college students' opinions of no-smoking policies, secondhand smoke, and smoking in public places

Abstract. The authors examined college student opinions of no-smoking policies, secondhand smoke, and smoking in public places. A convenience sample of 1,188 (66.4% female; 26.9% White, 64.1% Black, and 9.0% Hispanic) students attending 5 Texas colleges volunteered to complete a 60-item anonymous survey on tobacco attitudes and behaviors. Results of our study showed that women, Black students, and nonsmoking students reported the most favorable attitudes toward no smoking. Male students, white students, and students who smoked in the past 30 days (current smokers) reported the least favorable attitudes. The lowest level of agreement by all subgroups was provided for prohibiting smoking everywhere on campus (inside and outside of buildings). Implications for tobacco control on college campuses are discussed.     

Cigarette smoking and cessation among trade or technical school students in Texas

Although students enrolled in trade or technical colleges are at an elevated risk for tobacco use, virtually no information exists regarding their smoking behaviors. OBJECTIVE AND PARTICIPANTS: In the present study, the authors examined (1) the prevalence of smoking and quitting among 617 students in 2 trade or technical colleges in East Texas and (2) on-campus media exposure to antitobacco messages. METHODS: Students voluntary completed the 42-item Texas Trade and Technical School Tobacco Survey during a required introductory-level class. RESULTS: Of the participating students, 34% reported past-30-day smoking (current smoking). Of current smokers, 74% reported a previous quit attempt and 64% wanted to quit before graduation. Although most current smokers expressed a desire to quit smoking, the antitobacco message they were least likely to see on campus was that regarding how to quit. Current smokers cited their own health as the most likely reason to quit smoking, and most reported wanting to quit on their own, without the use of resources. However, of the 9 listed resources, students were most likely to report the possible use of medication. CONCLUSIONS: Given that most smoking students desire to quit smoking--and that they are enrolled in trade or technical schools for an extended period of time--additional research should examine how successful interventions can be delivered at the trade or technical school itself.     

John: Some thoughts on mourning

The perennial question, “Do children mourn?”, forms the backdrop to this discussion of a treatment which spans a 10-year period. Both clinical as well as cultural factors are examined and an effort is made to assess the effect of the loss on the patient's character.     

The Various Roles of Animal Models in Understanding Human Development

In this article, the authors take a very conservative view of the contribution of animal models to an understanding of human development. We do not think that homologies can be readily documented with even our most closely related relatives’ behavior and psychological functioning. The major contribution of animal models is their provision of food for thought (hypotheses, not facts) about human development and general principles of development, and we describe some of the more significant and interesting of these at length. We also briefly discuss the other applications of animal research toward understanding the development and evolution of behavior, more generally speaking.     

Smoking among New England College Men and Women

Abstract

Smoking behavior was examined among college students at 34 New England colleges. Women were more often smokers (44%) than men (32%) and were also more likely to smoke daily than men (23 vs. 16%). Men in private colleges were significantly less likely to smoke (22%) than those in public colleges (26%). At both public and private colleges, women were more likely to smoke than men. Smoking was inversely related to health habits for both men and women.

The percentage of college women who smoked is similar to that reported for the general population, while that for men is less. Prevention programs should be targeted to girls in the primary and secondary grades, as well as to college women, and support for smoking cessation should be made available on college campuses.