Women and crime the world over

This article examines female crime rates in twenty-seven countries over the past thirtyfive years. The results show that there has been an overall increase in total crime rates for all of the countries, and that the more economically advanced and industrialized countries have higher crime rates than the less developed nations. All countries also experienced an increase in the percent of all crimes committed by women. The percentages of violent crimes committed by women—specifically homicide and robbery—were consistently low across countries and increased only slightly over time. The percentages of property and financial crimes committed by women—specifically theft and fraud—were consistently higher than the percentages for violent crimes, and have increased more substantially over time. In addition, an analysis of the most recent data revealed a positive and significant relationship between women's overall crime rates and the countries' economic development. In those countries in which women occupy a higher status, as measured by formal years of schooling and representation in the labor force, we found some positive and significant correlations with the arrest rates for theft and fraud. There were also some strong negative relationships between female arrest rates for homicide and their status in society.     

Room for climate advocates in a coal‐focused economy? NGO influence on Australian climate policy

Many Australian environmental non‐government organisations (NGOs) have campaigned for greater political action and community awareness on human‐induced climate change for almost two decades. Australian emissions are the highest per person in the world, yet the Government's response is heavily influenced by the economically‐significant fossil fuel industry. NGO campaigners are sceptical of their campaigns' effectiveness. This paper presents three methods for evaluating the effectiveness of NGO climate change campaigns: Moyer's Movement Action Plan, Schumaker's Assessment of Political Effectiveness, and a document analysis of the influence of NGO submissions to climate policy processes. Evaluation is critical for NGO campaigns to improve their effectiveness, and evaluation criteria and methods should ideally be designed in parallel with the campaign strategy. Using these evaluation methods, it is evident that Australian NGO campaigns on climate change have been effective.     

Cystatin C as a predictor of mortality in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease

Background: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the elderly is high. Serum cystatin C is an accurate marker of kidney function and it also has prognostic utility in CKD patients. The aim of our study was to determine the prediction of serum cystatin C and other markers of kidney function on long-term survival in elderly CKD patients.

Methods: Fifty eight adult Caucasian patients, older than 65 years, without known malignancy, thyroid disease and/or not on steroid therapy were enrolled in the study. In each patient, ⁵¹CrEDTA clearance, serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, and estimated glomerular filtration rate using different equations were determined on the same day and patients were then followed for 11 years or until their death.

Results: The means are as follows: ⁵¹CrEDTA clearance 53.3?±?17.4?ml/min/1.73?m², serum creatinine 1.62?±?0.5?mg/dl, serum cystatin C 1.79?±?0.5?mg/l, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) creatinine equation 40.1?±?14?ml/min/1.73?m², Berlin Initiative Study 2 (BIS2) equation 38.9?±?10.7?ml/min/1.73?m², full age spectrum (FAS) creatinine equation 43.8?±?13.8?ml/min/1.73?m², FAS cystatin C equation 40.1?±?11.7?ml/min/1.73?m². In the follow up period, 47 (81%) patients died. Cox regression analysis showed different hazard ratios (HRs) for death: for ⁵¹CrEDTA clearance HR 1.022 (95% CI 1.004–1.042; p?=?.015), serum creatinine HR 1.013 (95% CI 1.006–1.019; p?=?.001), serum cystatin C HR 2.028 (95% CI 1.267–3.241; p?=?.003), CKD-EPI creatinine equation HR 1.048 (95% CI 1.019–1.076; p?=?.001), BIS2 equation HR 1.055 (95% CI 1.021–1.088; p?=?.001), FAS creatinine equation HR 1.046 (95% CI 1.017–1.074; p?=?.001), FAS cystatin C equation HR 1.039 (95% CI 1.010–1.071; p?=?.009).

Conclusions: Our results showed the highest HR for serum cystatin C among kidney function markers for prediction of outcome in elderly CKD patients.     

入境游客对我国旅游接待设施评价的因子分析

利用多元统计分析方法中的因子分析方法建立数学模型，分析了入境游客对北京、辽宁、上海、江苏、浙江、海南、四川、云南、陕西、新疆等全国十大旅游热点地区的旅游接待设施（包括宾馆／饭店、餐饮、交通、娱乐、购物场所、游览／参观点的接待和旅游景区厕所等7个部分）的评价情况，为这些地区针对性地完善旅游接待设施，促进旅游业的发展提供借鉴。     

护乌桓校尉府探析

护乌桓校尉府设于汉武帝元狩年间,是两汉魏晋王朝监领统辖归附中央王朝的乌桓、鲜卑诸部事务的官属机构。曹魏以后,历任护乌桓校尉均由幽州刺史兼任。护乌桓校尉掌管乌桓、鲜卑部落的安抚、赏赐、管理、互市贸易,以及乌桓、鲜卑大人朝见天子、纳贡、质子等事项,使其为汉侦候、守边。护乌桓校尉初期是以军事职掌为主,后期行政管理的职掌逐渐加重,并与郡县官吏共同管理乌桓、鲜卑的事务。     

“Without Porn … I Wouldn't Know Half the Things I Know Now”: A Qualitative Study of Pornography Use Among a Sample of Urban,Low-Income,Black and Hispanic Youth

Information about the pornography-viewing habits of urban, low-income youth of color in the United States is lacking. This study was designed to answer the following using a sample of 16- to 18-year-old urban-residing, low-income Black or Hispanic youth: (1) What types of pornography do youth report watching; where and for what purpose? (2) Do youth feel that pornography exposure has an impact on their own sexual behaviors? and (3) How do parents react to their pornography use? The following themes emerged from interviews with 23 youth: (1) Youth primarily reported watching pornography that featured one-on-one sexual intercourse but also reported having seen extreme pornography (e.g., public humiliation, incest); (2) youth reported watching pornography on home computers or smartphones, and that pornography was frequently watched in school; (3) youth reported watching for entertainment, for sexual stimulation, instructional purposes, and to alleviate boredom; many copied what they saw in pornography during their own sexual encounters; (4) pressure to make or to imitate pornography was an element of some unhealthy dating relationships; and (5) parents were generally described as unsupportive of youth's use of pornography but underequipped to discuss it. Approximately one-fifth expressed a preference for pornography featuring actors of their same race/ethnicity.