scholarly journals Geographic inequities in local higher education opportunities? : identifying college deserts with critical GIS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christopher Krause

In a world where one's future is heavily impacted by having postsecondary education, access to college is a pertinent research topic. Access is a widely researched topic, but only recently has college access been studied specifically. This study proposes a geographic information systems based methodology for quantifying college access at multiple spatial scales. This methodology was implemented with the Python programming language and ArcGIS. A sample of six metropolitan statistical areas were identified and analyzed using the developed methodology. Within this sample, college access varied primarily by socio-economic status although some variation between race/ethnicity was identified. Further research is needed to assess whether these trends are generalizable. Quantification of college access will aid policy-makers to prepare reforms to reduce the inequity of college access.

Author(s):  
Emmanuel Abokyi ◽  
Dirk Strijker ◽  
Kofi Fred Asiedu ◽  
Michiel N. Daams

AbstractThis study investigates the possible causal relationship between buffer stock operations in Ghanaian agriculture and the well-being of smallholder farmers in a developing world setting. We analyze the differences in the objective and subjective well-being of smallholder farmers who do or do not participate in a buffer stock price stabilization policy initiative, using self-reported assessments of 507 farmers. We adopt a two-stage least square instrumental variable estimation to account for possible endogeneity. Our results provide evidence that participation in buffer stock operations improves the objective and subjective well-being of smallholder farmers by 20% and 15%, respectively. Also, with estimated coefficient of 1.033, we find a significant and robust relationship between objective well-being and subjective well-being among smallholder farmers. This relationship implies that improving objective well-being enhances the subjective well-being of the farmers. We also find that the activities of intermediaries decrease both the objective and subjective well-being of farmers. This study demonstrates that economic, social, and environmental aspects of agricultural life could constitute priorities for public policy in improving well-being, given their strong correlation with the well-being of farmers. Based on the results of this study, we provide a better understanding, which may aid policy-makers, that public buffer stockholding operations policy is a viable tool for improving the well-being of smallholder farmers in a developing country.


2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Pellegrino ◽  
Beverly Sermons ◽  
George Shaver

<p>The race/ethnicity disproportionality in identification of special education disability classifications in K-12 education and psychological disorders in the general population has been explored for many years. Other disproportionality trends exist in postsecondary enrollment. However, there is little exploration of the convergence of these phenomena and the representation of students with disabilities in postsecondary education disability service programs. Longitudinal data collected at an evaluation center serving thirteen colleges and universities in Georgia indicate that African-American students are significantly underrepresented in seeking documentation to receive accommodations for disabilities such as learning disabilities, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and psychological disorders. This trend appears to contradict national trends of proportional representation of reporting disabilities among race/ethnicity groups at postsecondary institutions.</p>


Author(s):  
David Baxter Bakibinga

Witness protection is now firmly entrenched in the modern criminal justice systems especially in jurisdictions dealing with organized and violent crime. The decision by the government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to enact legislation in respect to procedural and non-procedural measures for protection of witnesses is commendable, given that violent and organized crime is rife in the country. This article highlights the basic tenets of witness protection and the legal framework, both at the international and national level. It also addresses the role of key duty bearers in the process of witness protection. Furthermore the procedural and non-procedural measures taken by law enforcement officers in The Bahamas are explored. And lastly, the challenges encountered in the implementation of the witness protection measures in The Bahamas are examined. This is intended to aid policy makers, advisers and those entrusted with decision making, like parliamentarians, to devise means and ways to eradicate and/or mitigate challenges faced in the implementation of witness protection measures in The Bahamas.


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander V Sergeev ◽  
Christina M Nyirati

Background: Gestational hypertension (GHTN) remains a compelling clinical and public health problem. It can increase risks of intrauterine growth restriction, low-birth weight, and stillbirth. Little is known about whether racial and ethnic minorities and lower socio-economic status (SES) population groups are more vulnerable to GHTN. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that racial and ethnic disparities in GHTN exist beyond the scope of SES-related health disparities. Methods: A case-control study of GHTN was conducted using the data of 114,298 births in the year 2010 in Ohio. The comprehensive births data were obtained from Ohio Department of Health. Cases were identified as those with GHTN. Controls were identified as those without GHTN. Mothers utilizing Medicaid or the Federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children were considered of low SES. Odds ratios of GHTN in relation to mother’s race, ethnicity, and SES were obtained using multivariable logistic regression (SAS software), adjusting for known confounders - gestational age, mother’s age, pre-pregnancy and pregnancy smoking status, pre-pregnancy or gestational diabetes, and plurality. Results: GHTN was statistically significantly associated with maternal race and ethnicity, even after adjustment for SES. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks were more likely to develop GHTN (adjusted OR = 1.867, 95% CI 1.663–2.096, p<0.001), while Asian women were less likely to develop GHTN (adjusted OR = 0.538, 95% CI 0.426–0.679, p<0.001). Hispanic white women were less likely to develop GHTN than non-Hispanic white women, although the difference between them did not reach a conventional p<0.05 level of statistical significance (adjusted OR = 0.651, 95% CI 0.395–1.076, p=0.09). Adjusted for maternal race, ethnicity, age, and known clinical confounders, women of lower SES were more likely to develop GHTN (adjusted OR = 1.475, 95% CI 1.32–1.647, p<0.001). Conclusions: Non-Hispanic black women are at the highest risk of developing GHTN, while Asian women are at the lowest. The Hispanic paradox phenomenon extends to the issue of GHTN. Racial and ethnic disparities cannot be attributed to low SES only; other mechanisms need to be investigated further.


Author(s):  
Anugamini Priya Srivastava ◽  
Uta M. Stelson

This study attempts to provide the bibliography and future agenda of a school attribute: academic optimism. Academic optimism refers to a tool used in the hands of school teachers to attain student achievement which can help side-line their socio-economic status. In other words, it explains teachers' belief in self, colleagues, and students in order to manage change in student outcomes. The study evaluates the different taxonomies used within the concept of academic optimism through a comprehensive review of existing literature located in different databases. However, only English language full-text articles available in online databases between the periods of 2000-2019 were considered in this study. The result provided significant lines for future studies that can be conducted in this area by examining publications in 39 journals and 19 countries. Since the topic was considered as key school attribute to achieve student achievement and school effectiveness, this study provides the contextual gaps where future studies can be conducted. The result indicated that most of the research underlying the selected papers on the topic was conducted in developed nations rather than developing nations. The current analysis will contribute understanding in two ways: first it adds value to highlight the conceptual gap available in the literature; second, the gaps identified will pave the way for future research. Practically, this study provides ways for policy makers and other constituents involved in education to design their academic curriculum and motivate their faculty to remain academically optimistic.


<em>Abstract</em>.—Productivity and biodiversity of stream and river ecosystems vary at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Spatial variation in productivity of salmonid fishes varies over two orders of magnitude worldwide and shows lesser, but still considerable, variation at the regional and watershed level. Spatial variation in production and diversity is related to variation in physical, chemical, and biological attributes of watersheds and channels. Channel constraint, gradient, and size are key factors in determining productivity and diversity. Constrained reaches generally support different species and lower productivity than lower-gradient, unconstrained channels. Variation in the condition of stream reaches is greatly influenced by disturbances. Severe disturbances fundamentally change the functional and structural properties of stream ecosystems and alter the way in which the surrounding watershed interacts with the stream. Periodic occurrence of disturbances and the process of recovery play a key role in maintaining spatial and temporal variability in stream conditions and thereby contribute to the productivity and diversity of stream biota. Land use by humans alters the frequency and characteristics of disturbances. As a result, human-altered disturbance patterns often homogenize channel conditions across a watershed rather than introducing diversity. Watershed restoration plans need to recognize the role variability and disturbance play in maintaining the productivity and diversity of stream biota. Incorporating this understanding into watershed management and restoration will require scientists, managers, and policy makers to view watersheds at much longer temporal and larger spatial scales than is currently done.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paige J. Pikulski ◽  
Jeffrey E. Pella ◽  
Elizabeth P. Casline ◽  
Amy E. Hale ◽  
Kelly Drake ◽  
...  

AbstractPoor school connectedness (SC), defined as students’ feelings of belonging, safety, and fairness at school, is a risk factor for negative psychosocial outcomes. Few studies have examined the specific relationship between SC and anxiety. This study examined the relation between SC and anxiety within a group of 114 clinically anxious youth (mean age = 10.82; SD = 2.93; 48.2% female; 70.2% White, non-Hispanic); age differences were also examined. Results indicated that SC was significantly negatively associated with age but unrelated to gender, race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, parent education, or presence of a comorbid disorder. Findings generally revealed that low SC was associated with greater total and domain specific anxiety. SC may play a unique role in the maintenance of global and domain specific anxiety symptoms.


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