bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen Leaching From Forest Soil Cores After Amending Organic Recycling Products and Fertilizers
Authors: Insam H. , Merschak P.
Published: March 2007

Many alpine forests are severely depleted of nutrients by extensive logging and by grazing of cattle and wildlife. Fertilization may be a remedy, but nitrate leaching may pose problems for the groundwater. However, use of slow-release fertilizers may avoid this problem, whilst improving the Ca, Mg, K, and P status of these soils.

Intact soil cores (11 cm diameter, 40 cm depth) from a mixed forest and a Norway spruce stand in the Northern Calcareous Alps of Austria were used in a laboratory experiment to study the effects of adding organic fertilizers and recycling products on patterns of nitrate and ammonium release. The amended (correspondmg to 300 kg N ha-1) and control cores were incubated for 29 weeks at 15°C. Soil water (retrieved 5 cm below the soil surface) and leachate were analysed for nitrate and ammonium in regular intervals. After the incubation, soil microbial biomass, basal respiration and nitrogen mineralization were determined.

Some of the organic fertilizers, especially those that had undergone composting processes (compost of organic waste, compost of bark + sewage sludge, compost of sawdust + sewage sludge, Biovin®) and Biosol®, caused only minor increases of nitrate and ammonium in the soil water and leachate. Others, like uncomposted sewage sludge products (Primafert® and sewage sludge + shale), resulted in elevated (up to 150 mg nitrate-N 1 1) nitrate concentrations in the soil water and in the leachate. Fertilization with N-rich fertilizers (Biosol®, Primafert®, sewage sludge + shale) resulted in significant decreases in microbial biomass and basal respiration at the end of the 6-month incubation. Microbial biomass and basal respiration were not affected by the other organic fertilizers. © 1997 ISWA
Mineralogical and chemical changes in mineral liners in contact with landfill leachate
Authors: Batchelder M. , Mather J.D. , Joseph J.B.
Published: March 2007

The mineralogical and chemical integrity of mineral liners for domestic waste landfill sites was investigated using a series of batch reactor experiments. A synthetic acetogenic leachate was developed based on the composition of domestic waste leachates. The interactions between the synthetic leachate and mudrocks used by Shanks and McEwan Ltd. to line land fill sites located in the United Kingdom are described. The results of the laboratory experiments are contrasted against those obtained from samples of a 15-year-old mineral liner from a landfill site located near Stewartby, Bedfordshire. The interactions between a concentrated, ionic solution, such as a leachate, and mineral liners include ion-exchange, particle size reduction, mineral dissolution and clay-mineral disorder ing and collapse. Bentonites and high-swelling clays are more susceptible to mineral transformations than mixed assem blage mudrocks and low-swelling clays. Understanding the interactions between leachate and mudrocks will assist the prediction of the long term performance and integrity of nat ural lining materials.
Social aspects of the siting of facilities for hazardous waste management
Authors: Lidskog Rolf
Published: March 2007

A conflict arises when some groups interpret a siting as a pos sibility while others see it as constituting a risk. The actors involved are faced with various problems regarding decision- making. What, for the government, can be a solution to an environmental problem can be seen by the people living in the area in question as a threat to their health and immediate environment. This article discusses the possibility of creating a dialogue between various actors involved in a siting conflict. It is stated that the dialogue should be democratic and based on knowledge: siting has political dimensions, and therefore it is important that citizens have the possibility of participating in the decision-making process. In addition, by allowing sev eral different perspectives to influence a siting decision, more knowledge is created about the proposal. In conclusion, the paper gives some general advice concerning how such a dia logue can be brought about. A dialogue can fail, but the chance of a good solution increases if a dialogue is encouraged to proceed.
Life-cycle inventory of a modern municipal solid waste landfill
Authors: Camobreco V. , Ham R. , Barlaz M. , Repa E. , Felker M. , Rousseau C. , Rathle J.
Published: March 2007

The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF), in conjunction with Ecobalance and researchers from the University of Wisconsin and North Carolina State, is nearing completion of a comprehensive 2-year project on the life-cycle inventory (LCI) of a modern municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill. Data for the model came from both primary (over 100 landfills world-wide) and secondary data sources. Partners in the project included waste management companies from North America and Europe (including Waste Management Inc., SITA and CREED). In addition to the landfill LCI model, the project also includes the development of a software tool. The final report will provide a sound basis for assessing, on a life-cycle basis, the emissions and resource consumption associated with a modern MSW landfill. The model and report can be used to assess the importance of: ( 1 ) the various stages in the life- cycle system; (2) the time horizon selected; and (3) the air and water management techniques selected.
Full-scale demonstration of treatment of mechanically separated organic residue in a bioreactor at VAM in Wijster
Authors: Oonk Hans , Woelders Hans
Published: March 2007

At the VAM waste treatment company in Wijster a demonstration is in progress of bioreactor technology for the treatment of mechanically separated organic residue (MSOR) of a waste separation plant. This bioreactor is an in situ fermentation cell in which physical, chemical and biological processes are controlled by leachate circulation in such a way to ensure obtaining a product with acceptable rest-emissions. A 49 000 tonne demonstration cell has been built and methanogenic conditions are being realized. During operation measures are taken to limit emissions from the bioreactor and to optimize the conversion of waste to energy.
The Return to Simpler Strategies in Job Analysis
Authors: Van Wart Monty
Published: March 2007

The management revolution in the private sector in the 1980s and in the public sector in the 1990s has systematically overturned long-time assumptions that had become tantamount to laws Human resource management has certainly not been insulated from this trend Job analysis for job design and support functions will also need to be considered The long-term trends after World War II were fairly clear "Good' job analyses were generally considered enormously detailed exercises in comprehensive data collection and analysis Although comprehensive and sophisticated job analysis strategies will not and should not be banned from the human resource lexicon, it is time to reconsider the range of strategies typically promoted and to reemphasize more streamlined approaches as well In the current fast-moving, more fluid administrative environment, simpler methodologies are better suited in many situations A case example is provided using a job analysis of municipal clerks
Implementing Pay-For-Performance: Initial Experiences
Authors: O'Toole Daniel E. , Churchill John R.
Published: March 2007

This article focuses on pay-for-performance, a major component of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. It examines the experience of one of the first federal agencies to implement pay-for- performance (Region X of the Environmental Protection Agency) and considers the implications of the experience for the efficacy of this technique.
An Examination of the Mbo/Performance Standards Approach To Employee Evaluation: Attitudes Toward Performance Appraisal in Iowa
Authors: Daley Dennis
Published: March 2007

The MBO/performance standards approach to employee evaluation may well represent the state-of-the-art. Employee attitudes regarding performance appraisals are crucial to the ultimate success of any system; this is especially true in regard to those which are drawn from humanistic management as the MBO/ performance standards approach is. This paper reports the findings from an attitudinal survey of Iowa public employees conducted in the Spring of 1983. In general, the M BO / performance standards approach is given favorable marks. It is, more or less, perceived as receiving organizational commitment, as being fair, as providing adequate feedback, and as being helpful to the employee. The performance appraisal system is also viewed as being positively linked to the perception of rewarding performance and job satisfaction.
Professional Norms and Actualpractices in Local Personnel Administration
Authors: Fox Siegrun F.
Published: March 2007

Federal law, court rulings, and professional organizations have imposed certain standards on local personnel administration in the hope of rendering it more efficient and equitable. This study highlights the extent to which cities and counties of various size are actually in compliance with those norms.
Career Anchor Theory
Authors: Barth Thomas J.
Published: March 2007

Despite the growing concern over recruiting and retaining the "best and the brightest" in government, the evidence suggests there is very little structured career management activity at either the individual or agency level in the federal government. This article suggests that one of the reasons for this is a lack of accepted conceptual frameworks for understandingcareermotiva tion. Schein's classic career anchor theory is examined as a potential source of such a framework, and implications for a career management strategy in the federal government are discussed.
FREEDMAN, ANNE (1994). Patronage: An American Tradition. Nelson Hall Publishers, 111 North Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606. 183 pp. $19.95
Authors: Daniel Christopher
Published: March 2007

Patronage may be the last secret in America. Every day people go on the Phil Donahue or Oprah Winfrey show and reveal the most intimate details of their lives. But its unlikely you'll ever get a group of elected officials to tell tales ofpatronage. Virtually no one in political office is talking (p 168)
End of an Era ?
Authors: Ewoh Andrew I. E. , Elliott Euel
Published: March 2007

This article looks at the political dynamics of affirmative action policy since its inception m the 1960s We suggest that while key variables created a relatively favorable climate for affirmative action m the first two decades or so of its existence, recent developments suggest that race-conscious programs will be substantially limited in the future, although not eliminated m their entirety. We contend that a changing judiciary, Republican control of Congress, and shifts m public opinion, as manifested in Proposition 209 m California, interact in ways that will make many compensatory programs difficult to maintain.
GIS in Land Use Planning: Lessons from Critical Theory and the Gulf Islands
Authors: Holden Meg
Published: March 2007

Geographic information systems (GIS) assume an increasingly large role in North American land use planning. Although GIS is often promoted as an answer to both democratic and sustainability issues in planning, this paper calls these premises into question and suggests a less ambitious role for GIS technology in the planning process in the new millennium. The contributions of critical theory to conceptions of decision making and action in planning, as well as a case comparison study of government GIS systems and those of community groups in British Columbia's Gulf Islands are considered. Both strains of argument lead to the conclusion that more than new technology, fresh commitments to communicate and to share planning power and responsibility are needed for more democratic, interactive land use planning.
Pedestrian Environments and Sense of Community
Authors: Lund Hollie
Published: March 2007

A common claim made by New Urbanists is that a high-quality pedestrian environment will enhance sense of community by increasing opportunities for interaction among neighbors. This link between neighborhood design and community sentiment, however, has not been adequately researched. This study explores how objective and subjective qualities of the pedestrian environment influence residents’ sense of community, both directly and indirectly through their effects on pedestrian travel. Surveys conducted in one pedestrian-oriented neighborhood and one automobile-oriented neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, support the hypotheses that (1) sense of community will be greater in the traditional neighborhood and (2) pedestrian environment factors will significantly influence sense of community, controlling for various demographic influences.
The Place of Small Group Process in Planning Education
Authors: Shalinsky William , Norris Randy G.
Published: March 2007

The authors have examined the inadequate attention currently being paid to small group process by planning educators as well as the possible reasons for this situation. A case has then been made for a stronger presence for small group process in planning education. In addition, a detailed outline of small group content is presented along with some ways of teaching this content in planning schools. The authors conclude by stressing their belief that increased attention to small group process will substantially strengthen planning education.
Planning as Persuasive Storytelling About the Future: Negotiating an Electric Power Rate Settlement in Illinois
Authors: Throgmorton James A.
Published: March 2007

This paper suggests that good planning is persuasive storytelling about the future, and that planners are future-oriented storytellers who write persuasive texts that other people read (construct and interpret) in diverse and often conflicting ways. The paper explores the merits of this view by analyzing Common wealth Edison Company's hotly-contested effort to persuade the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to approve an innovative rate increase for three large nuclear power plants. The analysis concludes that Edison failed to persuade the ICC and others because the company's story had crucial weaknesses in plot, point of view, and character develop ment.
Optimal Policies for Reducing Congestion of Major Commuting Arteries in a Growing Urbanized Area
Authors: Donaghy Kieran P. , Schintler Laurie A.
Published: March 2007

In this paper we develop a dynamic disequilibrium model characterizing the changing states of system capacity and traffic volume for a number of major commuting artenes in an urban highway system. This model may be used to solve the planning problem of determining how limited new construction and traffic control measures may be combined to reduce dnve-alone commut ing and other drive-alone travel at peak times in an urbanized area where growth and change are ongoing. We derive the set of conditions that characterize the optimal control solution to the problem, discuss how the approach suggested can be operationalized, and use a small empirical example to demonstrate the approach's feasibility.
Community and Consensus: Reality and Fantasy in Planning
Authors: Baum Howell S.
Published: March 2007

Strategic planning has been presented as a way to set organizational direction. Differences between corporate enterprises and nonprofit community organizations raise questions whether strategic planning can help the latter. This article presents a case study in strategic planning by a Jewish community federation. Religious differences led to conflicts over policy and procedures. However, planning participants had political and psychological interests in seeing the community as unified. As a result, they followed consensus procedures that let them avoid examining differences, but led to decisions that the majority did not like. Strategic planning cannot escape addressing social, cultural, and psychological differences and conflicts about them.
Quantitative and Research Methods in Planning: Are Schools Teaching What Practitioners Practice?
Authors: Kaufman Sanda , Simons Robert
Published: March 2007

This paper offers a framework for reexamining the set of skills and techniques included in the quantitative and research methods curricula of American graduate planning programs. These offerings, viewed as the supply of skills, are compared to the demand—skills and techniques used by U.S. planning practitioners. The analysis explores the match between supply, current demand, and skills and techniques practitioners claim they intend to use in the future. Results of the analysis are linked with 1986 work by Contant and Forkenbrock. The quantitative curricular offerings of planning programs are found to be relatively unresponsive to current and future practitioner demand for skills. Directions for possible curriculum changes are suggested.
Empathological Places: Residents' Ambivalence toward Remaining in Public Housing
Authors: Vale Lawrence J.
Published: March 2007

It is often assumed that most residents of large public housing projects in America's inner cities would welcome the opportunity to leave such places. This study, based on indepth interviews with 267 residents of five public housing developments in Boston, examines the reasons why two-thirds of these respondents say they would like to stay put, and also discusses the factors that make the other one-third eager to depart. The article concludes by attempting to reconcile these findings with a central dilemma facing urban planners and housing policymakers: how to sustain stable communities in public housing while also increasing the opportunities for residents to move to less impoverished neighborhoods.
Child Care Practices and Preferences of Native- and Foreign-Born Latina Mothers and Euro-American Mothers
Authors: Buriel Raymond , Hurtado-Ortiz Maria T.
Published: March 2007

Using a telephone survey of 396 participants, the present study examined the child care practices and preferences of native- and foreign-born Latina mothers in two Southern California communities and compared them to Euro-American mothers. Results showed that native-born Latina mothers had more relatives available to provide child care, and that they relied more on relatives for their current child care arrangement than both foreign-born Latina mothers and Euro-American mothers. Euro-American mothers used child care centers more than the two groups of Latino mothers. More native-born Latina mothers indicated a successful match between their current and preferred child care arrangement. Both foreign-born Latina mothers and Euro-American mothers indicated they would prefer to increase their use of relatives. In addition, more foreign-born Latina mothers indicated they would prefer to increase their use of child care centers.
The Protective Role of Social Capital and Cultural Norms in Latino Communities: A Study of Adolescent Births
Authors: Denner Jill , Kirby Douglas , Coyle Karin , Brindis Claire
Published: March 2007

This study investigates how community characteristics can protect adolescents from the negative effects of poverty. Using economic predictors, eight communities with low or high birthrates for 15- to 17-year-old Latinas were identified. Quantitative data on birth-rates, demographics, and the physical environment were obtained from government, hospital, and local sources. Qualitative data on the physical environment and social processes in the community were collected by interviews and observations in these eight communities. The low- and high-birthrate communities differed in their physical environment, the characteristics of the population, social capital, and cultural norms. The zip codes with low adolescent birthrates had a higher percentage of residents of Latino descent, stronger social networks, and more ties to their countries of origin. The findings support a model of community building that focuses on strengthening informal social networks and supporting protective cultural norms.
The Evaluation of a Measurement Model for the Body Image Questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Test in a Hispanic Population
Authors: Rutt Candace D. , Coleman Karen J.
Published: March 2007

The factor structures of the Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) were examined with confirmatory factor analyses. The sample for the BIQ consisted of 255 Hispanic men and women, and the sample for the EAT consisted of 153 Hispanic women living on the U.S./México border. The final factor structures for the BIQ and the EAT differed from the published BIQ and EAT factor structures found for young Caucasian adults. A four-factor solution (midtorso, extremities, sex organs, and face) using Hispanic men and women resulted in a good fit for the BIQ. A five-factor solution (fear of fat, preoccupation with food, others’ opinions, dieting, and slow eating) using Hispanic women resulted in a moderate fit for the EAT. The modified BIQ can be used reliably to test constructs related to body image and eating behavior among Hispanics living on the U.S./México border. However, the original three-factor EAT structure reported in Caucasian women does not seem to be a reliable measure of attitudes toward eating for Hispanic women living on the U.S./México border. Although a five-factor EAT structure was more reliable for assessing eating attitudes in these women, it is recommended that a new instrument be developed and tailored to young Hispanic women.
Racism in the Jury Box: The Hispanic Defendant
Authors: Lipton Jack P
Published: March 2007

Despite the voluminous empirical literature on the social psychology of juries, very little research has centered on racial or ethnic issues. Indeed, there has been no previous research on Hispanics or on minority groups other than blacks. The present study involved an innovative methodology high in both experimental and mundane realism, incorporating a procedure whereby participants believed that they were actually on a jury whose decisions would really affect a defendant. Six-person juries, of varied sex and ethnic composition, deliberated and made decisions in cases involving Hispanic or Anglo defendants. The results highlight the importance and saliency of ethnic factors in jury research and underscore the efficacy of the methodology employed.
Self-Report Measures of Anxiety: A Cross-Cultural Investigation of Bias
Authors: Argulewicz Ed N. , Miller David C.
Published: March 2007

The Education for All Handicapped Acts of 1975 (Public Law 94-142) mandates that psychoeducational assessment instruments be validated in their use in identifying exceptional children who are in need of special services. However, the gap between the mandate of PL 94-142 and the current technology of psycho-ed-ucational assessment is often large. This is particularly true in regard to assessing emotional difficulties of culturally diverse children. The present study was designed to investigate the validity of two recently published measures of anxiety which have been developed for use with elementary school children. The essential questions to be answered in this study are: (a) Are there similar responses on self-report measures of anxiety among groups of Anglo, black, and Mexican American males and females in grades 1 through 3, and (b) Are the scores on these measures equally valid for all groups in question?
Ethnicity, Division of Household Tasks and Equity in Marital Roles: A Comparison of Anglo and Mexican American Couples
Authors: Hartzler Kaye , Franco Juan N.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare Mexican American and Anglo couples on task division and perception of equity of the task division in the home. The sample consisted of 25 couples of each ethnic group. The Mexican American couples were also divided into high and low acculturated groups and compared on these variables. The subjects were students and their spouses from a southwestern university. An acculturation scale, a division of labor scale, and a perceived equity inventory were administered to each couple. Findings revealed no significant difference (p = .05) between the two cultural groups in task differentiation. The greatest difference was between husbands and wives (p < .0001), with wives responsible for the greater share of the household tasks regardless of whether they worked to support the family or were students. The findings from the Equity Scale do show a significant difference between ethnic groups, with Anglo males reporting that they should do more in the home to make the task division fairer. Also, female Mexican Americans reported that their husbands should do more to make the task division equitable.
Drug Use by Small Town Mexican American Youth: A Pilot Study
Authors: Chavez Ernest , Beauvais Fred , Oetting E. R.
Published: March 2007

While the quality of drug use data for youth of Spanish origin is improving, there is still inadequate information about Mexican American youth in rural areas of the Southwest. A pilot study is presented in which the youth of a small town in the Southwest were surveyed regarding their drug and alcohol use. Mexican American and Anglo youth within that sample are compared on drug use variables and differences by gender are examined. Further comparisons are made with a national sample and a group of urban barrio youth. The literature is reviewed for studies on drug use among youth of the various Spanish-origin groups, and small town and rural drug use.
Salsa Music as a Cultural Expression of Latino Consciousness and Unity
Authors: Padilla Felix M.
Published: March 2007

A content analysis of lyrics ofpopular Salsa music reveals the emergence over the last fifteen years of cultural themes emphasizing the shared lives of Spanishspeaking groups in the United States. This new orientation is different from the ethnic-distinctive Puerto Rican reality that formed the content of the original Salsa sound. The emerging "Latino "character is examined, with major emphasis given to identifying the various cultural elements or symbols used by the performers in their construction of this Latino world.
The Influence of Lifestyles on the Patterns and Practices of Alcohol Use among South Texas Mexican Americans
Authors: Van Wilkinson William
Published: March 2007

The alcohol consumption behavior of Mexican Americans in South Texas is discussed in this article. Following a typology first described by Trotter (1985), a survey was conducted with 247 respondents who were classified into six subgroups: Working Class, Urban Middle Class, Farm Workers, Farmer/Ranchers, Migrants, and Upper Class Mexican Americans. Similarities and differences across the six groups were noted in terms of location of drinking and amount consumed. Drinking in the homes of friends and relatives was generally true for all groups; drinking associated with pachangas was also common across all groups. However, drinking at dances, nightclubs, and cocktail lounges was less common among farmworkers, farmerlranchers, and upper class subgroups.
Mexican American Referenda Voting on Urban Economic Development and Governmental Structure Issues: Research Note
Authors: Hero Rodney E.
Published: March 2007

The voting behavior of Mexican Americans is compared to that of Anglos on several referenda issues in one city. The referenda votes focus on several issues that theory suggests are central to understanding contemporaryAmerican urban politics: economic development and human services, and governmental structure. The analysis brings together issues of ethnicity, public policy, and governmental structure. The contention that economic development is almost universally popular is not strongly supported by the findings. This is a significant finding relative to an influential theory, one that has not been extensively tested. Another significant finding is the apparent substantial difference between Mexican Americans and Anglos regarding some major urban public policy issues, such as economic development and human services.
Interrelationships of Seven Mathematical Abilities across Languages
Authors: Ortiz-Franco Luis
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the reliability of seven tests of mathematical abilities and their interrelationships among Spanish-speaking and English-speaking pre-algebra Hispanic students. Mathematical abilities were assessed by tests of divergent thinking, general reasoning, field-dependence, mathematics achievement, reading of mathematicalprose, syllogistic reasoning, and mathematical word problem solving. The results of the study indicated that all of these tests are reliable measures for Spanish-speaking students but that only four were reliable for the English-speaking subjects. None of the intercorrelation coefficients reached significance for the English-speaking pupils, but three intercorrelation indices were significant at the .01 level for the Spanish-speaking students. The implications of these findings for educational policy and mathematics education research are discussed.
Parental Influences on Inhalant Use by Children
Authors: Smith Stephanie S. , Joe George W. , Simpson D. Dwayne
Published: March 2007

Characteristics of the parents of Mexican American drug users were examined. Interviews with 78 mothers showed that a large percentage were not following the traditional path of marriage, childbirth, and caring for their children at home on a full-time basis. Adherence to traditional roles was related to the mother's age, education, alcohol use, depression, and her child 's depression, but was not related to heroin druguse, criminality, or home environment. In addition, traditional behaviors were not related to her husband 's criminality, alcohol, and drug use, nor to her child's criminality and drug use. Indicators of household stability -such as the parents 'marital status, full employmentfor the father; and absence of maternal depression -were related to the child's use of drugs and related problems.
Acculturation Influences on Inhalant Use
Authors: Barrett Mark E. , Joe George W. , Simpson D. Dwayne
Published: March 2007

The relationship of acculturation and cultural influences to inhalant use was studied in a sample of 110 Mexican American adolescents and their mothers. The analyses examined both the direct relationship of acculturation with outcomes, including inhalant use, as well as the possible indirect relationship of acculturation through socialization, socioeconomic, and psychological variables, with outcome measures. Little support was found for the direct relationship of acculturation with outcomes, but there was limited support for the indirect relationship of acculturation with outcomes through socialization and psychologicalfactors. While the homogeneity of the sample may limit generalization of results, the relationships of drug use with perceived racial discrimination, association with deviant peers, involvement in religion and family, and psychological status are important for future study.
Factors Affecting Cigarette Smoking and Intention to Smoke Among Puerto Rican-American High School Students
Authors: Smith Kevin W. , McGraw Sarah A. , Carrillo J. Emilio
Published: March 2007

Using data from a survey of Puerto Rican adolescents in Boston and Hartford, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted of factors affecting recent cigarette smoking status and intentions to smoke in the next 5 years. Among Puerto Rican-American high school students between the ages of 14 and 20 years, nearly 12% of the males and 10% of the females had smoked at least one cigarette during the month prior to in-home interviews. Two factors -the proportion of close friends who smoked and exposure to smokers during recreational activities-were positively associated with the likelihood that respondents had smoked in the past month and intended to smoke in the future. The smoking status offamily members had no major independent effects on a teen's behavior. Degree of acculturation, measured by three language usage items, was associated with higher rates of smoking by male students but not by females. These results suggest that peer pressure is as important an influence on the cigarette smoking behavior of Puerto Ricans as it is for non-Latino students.
Socialization Toward Money in Latino Families: An Exploratory Study of Gender Differences
Authors: Rabow Jerome , Rodriguez Kathleen A.
Published: March 2007

Members of a convenience sample of first-generation Latino brothers and sisters, all attending college, were interviewed about their childhood and contemporary experiences with money. The interviews focused on the ways in which the parents, all born in Mexico, approached money and how the subjects were influenced. In contrast to other research findings, Latinos and Latinas were raised with similar beliefs and practices about money; there were no separate money-gender tracks for these men and women. This equality seems to resultfrom the highfrequency ofpoverty in the sample. Although subjects had realistic attitudes about money, they also reported difficulties with managing money upon entering college. A strong belief in the value of education, acquiredfrom parents, provided subjects with a sense offuture that includedfinancial success.
Processing of Simple and Choice Reaction Time Tasks by Chicano Adolescents
Authors: Nfiinez Jose E. , Padilla Raymond V.
Published: March 2007

Evidence that Hick's paradigm is appropriate for studying cognitive information processing in Chicano adolescents is presented. The subjects exhibited no differences in reaction time (RT) due to age or sex on the simple reaction time (SRT) or the choice reaction time (CRT) portions of the Hick paradigm. A difference in RTwasfound on the SRTtask infavor of subjectsfromfamilies with annual income above the national median relative to those from families below the national median. However, this difference was not observed on the more complex CRTtask, suggesting that the observed difference was likely coincidental. Evidence is also providedfor combining the SRTand CRTtasks when utilizing the Hick paradigm. Overall, the result are very encouraging, indicating that chronometric methodology can be a useful tool for conducting basic and applied research to investigate cognitive information processing in Chicanos.
Drug Use in the United States-Mexico Border Area: Is There an Epidemic Waiting to Happen?
Authors: Harrison Lana D. , Kennedy Nancy J.
Published: March 2007

This article examines the prevalence of illicit drug, alcohol, and cigarette use along the U.S. side of the international border with Mexico. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) provides unique coverage of the Mexico border area, based on its design that oversamples Hispanics in areas where they tend to be concentrated. The prevalence of drug use along the border is very similar to that found throughout the remainder of the United States. However, Hispanics residing near the border exhibit lowerprevalence ratesfor most classes of drugs than their counterparts in the remainder of the United States. Conversely, Hispanic youth report comparatively higherprevalence rates. These findings imply that we must remain vigilant in our prevention efforts in the border area to keep drug use from escalating.
Encouraging School Achievement in Mexican American Children
Authors: Okagaki Lynn , Frensch Peter A. , Gordon Edmund W.
Published: March 2007

Parents of 33 high-achieving and 49 low-achieving Mexican American fourth-and fifth-grade children completed questionnaires on beliefs and values related to education and childrearing. On questions about the value of education in general, the importance of a high school diploma for enabling their children to get good jobs, the amount of education they expect their children to attain, whether or not parents should help children with homework, and the frequency at which they helped their children with schoolwork, parents of high and low achievers did not differ Parents of high achievers were more likely to be upset with grades of Cs and Ds, were more likely tofeel that there were many things they could do to help their children do well in school, and modeled reading skills morefrequently than parents of low achievers. Results are discussedfrom two theoretical perspectives-cultural/ecological theory and primary cultural discontinuities theory.
Do Role Models Influence Self Efficacy and Aspirations in Mexican American at-Risk Females?
Authors: Hernandez Arthur E.
Published: March 2007

This study examined changes in levels of self efficacy and aspiration among participants in role model activities of the Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program. The results suggest caution about the use ofself-reportfeedbackfor evaluative purposes, and the manner in which role models are used as means for inspiring confidence in general, or affecting levels of self efficacy or aspirations in particular.
Dietary Intake Patterns and Acculturation Levels of Hispanic Immigrant Men: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gardner Christopher , Winkleby Marilyn A. , Viteri Fernando E.
Published: March 2007

Dietary intake and acculturation were investigated in a nonrandom, cross-sectional study of 106 Hispanic men of Mexican or Central American heritage (1990-1991). The purpose was to profile dietary intake patterns, identify post-migration dietary changes, and determine the contribution of traditional Hispanic foods to the diet. Mean intake levels for all nutrients were at or above 100% of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances. Relative to consumption patterns prior to migration, participants reported higher current intakes of prepared foods high in fat and high in sugar; sugared drinks, and poultry and wheat; they reported lower current intakes of lard, margarine, cheese, fish, pork, and poultry skin. Traditional foods contributed almost half of participants'energy intake. Few significant correlations were found between acculturation and nutrient intake.
Demographic, Situational, and Shopping Comparisons of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Mall Patrons
Authors: Nicholls J. A.f. , Roslow Sydney , Comer Lucette B.
Published: March 2007

This study compares Hispanic and Anglo patrons of an upscale mall. The Hispanic respondents were younger, with higher household incomes, than the non-Hispanics. Fewer of the Hispanics, however, had college educations. There were significant differences in situational variables associated with the two groups. Although the Hispanics spent more time traveling to the mall, they spent less time in it. More Hispanics also tended to come with companions. Furthermore, Hispanics shopped more intensively: visiting more stores, more purchasingfood or beverage, and spending more money than the non-Hispanics.
AIDS and Condom-Related Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors in Mexican Migrant Laborers
Authors: Organista Kurt C. , Organista Pamela Balls , de Alba G. Javier E. Garcia , Moran Marco Antonio Castillo , Carrillo Hector
Published: March 2007

AIDS and condom-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors were assessed in Mexican migrant laborers. The sample consisted of 55 men and 32 women who were administered a modified version of the Hispanic Condom Questionnaire. Results indicated that respondents were knowledgeable about actual modes of HIVtransmission butthata third to half of the sample believed they could contract AIDS from unlikely sources such as mosquito bites, public bathrooms, and kissing on the mouth. Knowledge of proper condom use was problematic, and frequency of condom use during the past year was no higher than half of the time. Concern about contracting AIDS was generally low but was highestfor migrants that were younger andfor those with multiple sex partners. Although respondents reportedfew negative beliefs about the consequences of condom use, most believed that women would be seen as promiscuous for carrying condoms.
Explaining Variation in Income between Hispanic and White Female-Headed Households in Washington
Authors: Cook Annabel Kirschner , Jordan Mary Welsh
Published: March 2007

Despite concern about the low incomes offemale-headedfamilies, comparatively little research has been conducted on Hispanic-origin, female-headedfamilies. The authors consider the relationship of variables from past studies (employment, personal characteristics, and the presence of children) to the incomes of White (non-Hispanic origin) and Hispanic-origin, female-headedfamilies with children. They also consider the effect of two additional variables representing contentious political issues-citizenship and whether the household used English as its primary language. Confirming past research, employment variables had the strongest relationship to income for both groups. The number and presence of children younger than 6 were not as important, and marital status showed little relationship to income once age and education were included in a multiple regression equation. More interesting is the fact that citizenship and English usage made little difference in the above relationships for Hispanic-origin, female-headed families.
Students' Reflections on the Social, Political, and Ideological Role of English in Puerto Rico
Authors: Clachar Arlene
Published: March 2007

This study takes the position that any analysis of the teaching and learning of English in Puerto Rico needs to be situated within the context of Puerto Rico 's colonial relationship to the United States. For much of this century, there has been persistent resistance to the learning of English because of its perception on the island: English is theforemost symbol of U.S. political and ideological domination of Puerto Rico-the symbol of class differentiation and the erosion of Puerto Rican cultural and national identity. At the same time, knowledge of English is synonymous with prestige, power; social opportunities, and economic rewards. The study examines Puerto Rican students' perceptions, concerns, and ambivalences toward the English-language issue in the hope that as they "work through" the controversial nature of the issue, they will construct a pragnatic understanding and ameliorate attitudes and practices regarding the learning of English.
Hurricane Andrew: Parent Conflict as a Moderator of Children's Adjustment
Authors: Wasserstein Shari B. , La Greca Annette M.
Published: March 2007

This project was an exploratory examination of the effects of parental conflict and ethnicity on children's stress related to Hurricane Andrew. Three months following the disaster, 89 elementary school children from ethnically diverse two-parent homes were surveyed. Children rated their symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), perceived parental conflict, their anxiety level, and hurricane-related traumatic experiences. High parental conflict was related to more PTSD symptoms. Howeve, this was qualified by interactions with ethnicity. For Hispanic children, more parental conflict was associated with significantly more PTSD symptoms than was less parental conflict. In addition, among high parental conflict children, Hispanic children reported more PTSD symptoms than did White children. This result was notfoundfor anxiety, suggesting that difficulties experienced by Hispanic children from high-conflict homes were specific to the traumatic event. Future research should examine the potential differential cultural impact of parental conflict on children 'functioningfollowing a disaster.
Employment Instability and Earnings of Mexican-Origin Men
Authors: de Anda Roberto M.
Published: March 2007

This study examines the effect of employment instability on annual eamings of Mexican-origin men. Data are taken from the 1987 Current Population Survey annual demographic file. The author exploits the laborforce participation information providedfor the year prior to the survey. Respondents who experienced spells of unemployment or worked part-time involuntarily during the previous calendar year are categorized as unstably employed The author estimated linear regression models separatelyfor Mexican-origin and White workers. Results show that, net of human capital endowments and economic sector location, employment instability exerts a heavier penalty on Mexican-origin workers than on their White counterparts.
Assessing Critical Thinking in the Writing of Japanese University Students
Authors: STAPLETON PAUL
Published: March 2007

L2 writing scholars have recently debated the appropriateness of using cultural constructs to enhance the teaching of English. An important aspect of writing, critical thinking, has received considerable attention. Some have suggested that Asians, including Japanese, do not display critical thought in their writing in English. Other researchers claim that Asians display critical thinking abilities differently than Western learners. In addition, they argue that learners from a particular culture are too diverse to make claims about the whole group's thinking abilities. This study proposes a model for assessing critical thinking in the writing of L2 learners to determine whether content familiarity plays a role in critical thinking. Findings of a study of 45 Japanese undergraduate students indicate that the quality of critical thought depended on the topic content, with a familiar topic generating better critical thinking. Results also suggested that differing assumptions between the L1 and L2 culture may lead to misinterpretations of the critical thinking ability of L2 learners.
Toward a Taxonomy of Beginning Writers' Evaluative Statements on Written Compositions
Authors: HILGERS THOMAS L.
Published: March 2007

A writer's evaluation of text plays critical, but little examined, roles in the writer's production of text and development as writer. Twenty students, grades 2-6, ranked unevaluated sets of compositions that they or anonymous peers had written; they then were prompted to discuss the factors upon which their rankings were based. Analysis of their evaluations suggests that bases for evaluations can be described in four categories: feelings aroused by text; responses to surface features; responses to text as understood; responses to craftsmanship.
Audience Adaptation in Children's Persuasive Letters
Authors: KROLL BARRY M.
Published: March 2007

Nine-year-old children wrote persuasive letters to two individuals. In the first part of the study, the letters were analyzed to determine the extent to which subjects adapted them by including context-creating statements, descriptive information, and persuasive appeals. In general, these letters were well adapted to the audiences' needs and characteristics. In the second part of the study, subjects participated in an oral task which provided an index of their competence in listener-adapted communication. This competence was significantly correlated with subjects' use of appeals tailored to characteristics of the two audiences.
Presentational Symbolism and the Production of Text
Authors: COLLINS JAMES L. , MILLER BRUCE E.
Published: March 2007

Drawing upon the ideas of Susanne K. Langer and emphasizing noncommunicative aspects of writing, this article presents a theory describing the evolution of text. This article first distinguishes between discursive symbolism—the use of language to describe verifiable outward reality—and presentational symbolism—the production of symbols, often nonverbal, to objectify states of consciousness. It goes on to argue that authors resort to presentational symbolism in order to refresh and replenish their discursive language. Thus text derives in part from preverbal and even preintellectual mental operations. The frequently remarked recursiveness of text production may result from authors' discovering their discursive meanings as they return to the presentational imports from which the meanings arise, much of the whole process of composition growing out of the interaction between these two kinds of mental activity. The article examines the implications of this theory for understanding students' writing behavior and for improving instruction in writing.