The Quality of Pitches in Major League Baseball

This article considers the quality of pitches in Major League Baseball (MLB). Based on approximately 2.2 million pitches taken from the 2013, 2014, and 2015 MLB seasons, the quality of a particular pitch is evaluated as the expected number of bases conceded. Quality is expressed as a function of various covariates including pitch count, pitch location, pitch type, and pitch speed. The estimation of the pitch quality is obtained through the use of random forest methodology to accommodate the inherent complexity of the relationship between pitch quality and the associated covariates. With the fitted model, various applications are considered which provide new insights on pitching and batting.     

False intimacy: close-ups and viewer involvement in wildlife films1

This essay explores the uses of the close-up shot in wildlife films and television shows, raising important questions about the scientific truth value of visual narratives that use this camera technique common in fictional films and television. The close-up shot creates a false intimacy between the human audience and the animal subjects, and among the dangerous results of the technique is the impression that animals have human-like thoughts and emotional responses. While this identification of humans with animals might provide the basis for successful political, economic and social action on behalf of animal welfare, use of the technique raises several important ethical questions regarding the representation of nature and science.     

The Impact of Paternity and Marital Status on Low Birth Weight and Preterm Births

In the United States the number of births to unmarried mothers is at a record high. Although being unmarried is a significant risk factor for low birth weight and preterm births, paternal presence may have a protective effect. In addition to marital status, paternity may be a proxy measure for paternal support. Virginia birth registry data were analyzed to investigate the effect of marital and paternity status on low birth weight and preterm births. Findings from this study show that women who reported being unmarried and with no paternity status were 1.6 (odds ratio = 1.57, 95% confidence interval = 1.41–1.75) and 1.4 (odds ratio = 1.39, 95% confidence interval = 1.21–1.61) times more likely to have preterm low birth weight and term low birth weight babies, respectively. Being unmarried and lack of established paternity appear to be significantly correlated with and may be important risk factors for preterm and low birth weight deliveries. Health care professionals should be aware of the potential role of paternal presence and marital status may play with respect to preterm births and low birth weight.     

Healthy Dating: A Mixed-Gender Date Rape Workshop

Abstract

College communities are increasingly being called upon to institute date rape prevention programs. This article describes a mixed-gender workshop sponsored by a university's Program for Rape Education and Prevention that was given to more than 1,400 undergraduate students in more than 80 presentations. In order to guide modifications of the workshop, formative evaluation data collected from 330 male (mean age 20.3 years) and 314 female (mean age 20.5 years) university students were collected. Results were largely positive. Despite the sensitive nature of the topic, only 10.2% of the men and 8.2% of the women reported being uncomfortable discussing date rape in mixed-gender groups. Furthermore, students were virtually unanimous in their agreement that date rape is a topic worthy of a workshop.     

Age Cohort Differences in Sexual Behaviors Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men and Women

Little attention has focused on generational or age-related differences in human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) risk behaviors among Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSMW). We examined sexual risk behaviors between BMSMW ages 40 and under compared to over age 40. Analysis was conducted using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)–sponsored intervention data among BMSMW in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia (n = 546). Pearson’s chi-square tests were conducted to evaluate associations between age groups and behavioral outcomes. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the odds of behavioral outcomes by age group, adjusting for sexual orientation and study location, within strata of HIV status. HIV-positive BMSMW over age 40 had 62% reduced odds of having a nonmain female partner of HIV-negative or unknown status compared to those ages 40 and under (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15, 0.95). Among HIV-negative BMSMW, the older cohort was associated with greater odds of having condomless insertive anal intercourse (IAI) with most recent main male partner (AOR 2.44, 95% CI = 1.12, 5.32) and having a concurrent partnership while with their recent main female partner (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.10, 4.67). For both groups, odds of engaging in certain risk behaviors increased with increasing age. Prevention efforts should consider generational differences and age in HIV risks among BMSMW.     

Assessing and Increasing Staff Preference for Job Tasks Using Concurrent-Chains Schedules and Probabilistic Outcomes

The assessment and improvement of staff members' subjective valuation of nonpreferred work tasks may be one way to increase the quality of staff members' work life. The Task Enjoyment Motivation Protocol (Green, Reid, Passante, &; Canipe, 2008 Green, C. W., Reid, D. H., Passante, S. and Canipe, V. 2008. Changing less-preferred duties to more-preferred: A potential strategy for improving supervisor work enjoyment. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 28: 90–109. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) provides a process for supervisors to identify the aversive qualities of nonpreferred job tasks. Through participative management, the process reduces these aversive qualities while increasing the appetitive properties via the pairing of these tasks with enjoyable consequences. The present study provides an extension of Green et al.'s work through utilization of a concurrent-chains schedule arrangement via the pairing of reinforcing consequences with a target job task using probabilistic outcomes to directly assess job task preferences for eight direct support staff in a human service organization.