The article “Lethal and Other Serious Assalts: Disentangling Gender and Context” seeks to address a lack of contextualization of female offenders, specifically in the realm of assault on intimate partners. Authors Carol E. Jordan, James Clark, Adam Pritchard, and Richard Charnigo seek to answer the research question: ‘under what circumstances do females kill or seriously assalt their intimate partners, and do the stereotypes surrounding female intimate partner violence have legitimacy?’.  Jordan, Clark, Pritchard, and Charnigo utilize the data collection method of public and private records to answer this question, taking data from the institutional records of an unnamed state’s Department of Corrections. This data was used to compare male and female inmates incarcerated for the assalt or murder or their intimate partners based on a number of different characteristics, such as race, marital status, and substance abuse history. Notably, some people were intentionally excluded  from the data, such as DUI or child-assalt cases, due to the fear that they might alter the data. Personally, I found the research question to be rather broad, and that equal numbers of men and women should have been analyzed. However, I also felt that the study was both interesting and thoroughly researched, and that the various conclusions drawn from the project were well analyzed and succinctly laid out. I particularly thought many of the trends discovered were very interesting. For example, women tended to be more likely to have a history of victimization or mental health problems, be more educated, be married and with children, and be unemployed. In contrast, men were more likely to have a criminal record, to have been employed, and to be considered violent offenders. Yet the authors emphasize the complex nature of this type of violence, and that reducing these women to a single stereotype can be misleading.

Crime & Delinquency, vol. 58, number 3, May 2012

The article I found is titled Examining Student Responses to Frequent Bullying: A Latent Class Approach by Tracy Evian Waasdorp and Catherine P. Bradshaw. This article is published in the Journal of Educational Psychology. The article discusses bullying and the ways in which students respond to frequent victimization by peers. The study explores whether there are groups of children who display similar patterns of responses to constant bullying. An examination of the patterns of responding, characteristics of victimization, and internalizing or externalizing symptoms are interpreted through data from 4,312 frequently victimized middle school and high school students. The research topic centers around the responses to bullying, while the research question of “Are there similar patterns of responses of bullying based on characteristics of the victimization?” focuses on the specific and patterned responses of frequent victimization. This study requires descriptive research because the study focuses on events occurring in a school to understand what is happening, how it is happening, and how those involved explain the event. The type of data needed for this study is shallow opinions and attitudes because an anonymous online survey is the data collection method of the bullying in a Maryland school district. Students responded to select questions so the researchers could investigate whether students externalized or internalized their problems, evaluate the extent and frequency of victimization, and interpret whether the forms of victimization were direct or indirect. The data collection site is both the sample and the population. I found this type of research to be thorough and detailed. The study successfully investigated the responses of bullying and found four common patterns of responses, which are passive and low, active and support-seeking, aggressive, and undifferentiated. I think the choice to research those who are victimized rather than the perpetrators of the bullying behavior are note-worthy aspects of the research because the study aims to identify improved coping strategies for those experiencing victimization.

Waasdorp, T.E. & Bradshaw, C.P. (2011). Examining Student Responses to Frequent Bullying:     A Latent Class Approach. Journal of Educational Psychology, 103(2), 336-352.

Recovery Potential of the Worlds Coral Reef Fishes

Aaron MacNeil, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Joshua E. Cinner, Shaun K. Wilson, Ivor D. Williams, Joseph Maina, Steven Newman, Alan M. Friedlander, Stacy Jupiter, Nicholas V. C. Polunin & Tim R. McClanahan

An examination of coral reef management techniques and reef resilience was conducted and published in Nature: The International Journal of Science. The question the authors attempt to answer is; what ecological management techniques support reef resilience and increase overall fish biomass while meeting conservation benchmarks? This question is being asked because large-scale fishing operations have been the primary source of diminished reef functionality across the globe, resulting in cascading ecological problems since coral reefs support more species than any other marine habitat in the world. Calls to recover fish biomass and therefor reestablish reef functionality have been vocalized by environmentalists everywhere, so the purpose of the study was to set empirical conservation benchmarks and develop fish biomass recovery timelines for protected and unprotected regions of coral reef habitats. The researchers compiled private and public organizational data from 64 countries and territories regarding 832 coral reefs, and used a Bayesian estimation approach to analyze the data of global fished and un-fished biomass to determine recovery potential of the 800+ coral reefs. The results demonstrated that crucial coral reef ecosystem functions could be maintained through multiple fishery restrictions, and reef fish biomass has the potential to recover within 35 years on average and less than 60 years when heavily depleted.

Although this research was meant for an audience with experience in the field of ecology, it was reasonably easy to read and contained no bias. The authors did not include what types of fish management techniques could be combined for the best possible result or any other ways to build on top of the research. One fact that caught my attention in the research was that 83% of commercially fished coral reefs are missing more than half their expected biomass, which has severe consequences for ecosystem functions and predation.

The article I found is called “Engaging in Birds in Vegetation Restoration after Elwha Dam Removal” published in Ecological Restoration March 2013, written by John F. McLaughlin. This article was centered around the restoration of native plant species by using birds in what used to be Lake Mills reservoir in Olympia National Park. McLaughlin was interested in finding out if it would be possible to use birds as a way to distribute seeds from native plants and disperse them fairly reliably in the sediment without introducing the invasive species as well. In order to complete this research, he had to go to the area and observe samples of bird scat and see how much was in proximity to the lake area and observe the behaviors and flight patters of the birds in the area. In the end McLaughlin found that there were three main bird species that met all of his criteria, though he focused exclusively on the American Robin as it apparently contributed the most as its diet is mostly made up of fruit and other related types of food.

However he did have some limitations in this study for example: he did not identify the source of the various bird scat observed nor did he measure the seed content in the samples.  He was also fairly selective in where he conducted his observations as most of the data came from exposed sediments and it is possible that the scat deposition may be different in the lower reservoir as the material in that area had been subjected much longer than where this study happened.  

I think this study could be very useful in for future reference if there when there is another decision to remove dams. I also find it interesting that when given an option that birds are more likely to disperse seeds from native plants. Though I suppose that would be expected if the native plant is what that species of bird evolved to eat. I do wonder if the same method of dispersal could be used to help with repairing forests that have been damaged due to deforestation or other types of habitats like a swamp or marsh land.

Mclaughlin, John F. “Engaging Birds in Vegetation Restoration after Elwha Dam Removal.” Ecological Restoration 31.1 (2013): 46-56. print.

The article From Sea to Sea written by Susan L. Williams is about the genome sequence of the marine flowering plant eelgrass and how it evolved to a terrestrial specie and back to a marine specie.  Eelgrass is part of the seagrass family and is known to highly specialized and sexually reproductive. Eelgrass has gone through many major habitat shifts. It started as marine green algae and then evolved to a terrestrial flowering plant, then the angiosperms entered freshwater and formed eelgrass and a few other seagrass species. Seagrasses are not widely studied and usually are ignored by biologists. Eelgrass is a very important because it supports many different species and organisms, especially endangered sea otters. The root systems on eelgrasses are very important because they help stabilize sediments and shorelines. This seagrass specie has many different uses. In Mexico man cultures rely on the grass and in Europe they use eelgrass to stuff furniture and to insulate homes. Eelgrass is very adaptable, it has grown under sea ice, and in the warm temperatures of Baja California. This amazing ability to adapt might be crucial to the survival for eelgrass with the warming climates and the oceans becoming more acidic.

The question that is being answered in this article is how eelgrass evolved and to gain a better understanding of the plants evolution. The author used expert analysis to gather data on the genome of eelgrass and the data method analysis is quantitative.

This research article was well written and easy enough for anyone to understand. The author did a good job covering all the transitions eelgrass went through and there were no bias opinions.

I found it very interesting that a plant species could start as marine algae, evolve into a terrestrial plant and then evolve back to a marine seagrass.

The article Diagnosis by Extracellular Vesicles, written by Clotilde Théry, is about a test that tried to help detect patients with late stage pancreatic cancer before it fully develops. This is done by taking a simple draw of blood from the patient and then testing it. The test will identify the levels of glypican-1 (GPC1) in vesicles within the blood stream as well as the levels of a pancreatic tumor biomarker called carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9). To gather this data, Sonia A. Melo and her various other colleagues (the ones who conducted the research), tested on mice and also serum from various other human patients who had already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Results showed that healthy patients contained higher levels of CA19-9 and lower levels of GPC1, while those with diagnosed pancreatic tested for lower levels of CA19-9 but higher levels of GPC1. In the end, Melo and her colleagues reported that the test gave one hundred percent certainty. The only downfall to this test is that it doesn’t detect other cancers. It is only able to detect early stages of pancreatic cancer.

For this research, because Théry wrote about someone else’s work, the type of data collected was reports of Melo’s work, and so therefore the method of collection was public and private records. To analyze the data collected, Melo compared the levels of CA 19-9 and GPC1 within patients of pancreatic cancer and those of healthy patients, but Théry ultimately described Melo’s work while analyzing it.

I believe that this research was conducted well and will ultimately be very beneficial to today’s society. There did not seem to be any bias or large-scale mistakes and so if presented to where this test can be done in a seemingly more affordable manner, it can be a useful tool in helping to save many lives in the future.

Restoration Ecology Volume 10, Number 1, March 2002

The journal of the society for ecological restoration

Nitrogen Farming: Harvesting a Different Crop

Donald L.Hey

This journal is about the streams of “North America that convey excessive amounts of nitrate-nitrogen, and the effects which range from eutrophication of local surface waters to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. An alternative solution is needed. One possibility is “nitrogen farming”. Nitrogen farms could employ restored wetlands in flood plains and on bottomlands to remove the excess nitrate-nitrogen and, at the same time, provide the landowner an alternative crop”.  So, the topic is nitrogen and the harm it can do to the earth.  While the research question is “What is a solution to the excessive amounts of nitrate-nitrogen in American river?” The different types of data that would be needed would be expert knowledge, opinions, reports of acts, and economic figures. The data gathering methods we see in this journal are public and private records. In this journal, there are a lot of graphs and maps showing the effects of the nitrogen. The data analysis method that the author uses is numeric data to tell how much nitrogen is being put into our soil.   Overall I think the author did a great job following the six steps he had a topic he wanted to research so he came up with a research question he also picked what type of data he needed and where he was going to get this data. Finally, he chose what data analysis method he would use. Something useful I got out of this is his use of maps and bar graphs makes his research clearer.  The images help me understand what he is trying to portray with his research. I will try to do that in my research.

In the article, “Masculinity, American Modernity, and Body Modification: A Feminist Reading of American Eunuchs“, Brenda R. Weber critically analyzes the documentary American Eunuchs from a historical feminist perspective in order to understand the motivations behind male body modification in regards to masculine culture. Weber begins by siting Margrit Shildrick’s research in regards to Western culture’s dominant beliefs regarding the body. Shildrick argues that Western intellectuals have posited the body as hindering to reason and when subjugated to modification has the ability to reach a higher plane of knowledge. The ability to transcend the body has historically been seen as a trait of masculinity and in opposition to this lies the feminine, which is rooted in body. This juxtaposition of the masculine as the ability to transcend the body and the feminine as wholly rooted within the body has played a role in gender, race, and class inequality ( as those of lower socioeconomic status and oppressed racial identities have been historically depicted as feminine).

Weber uses Shildrick’s observations and applies them to to her own analysis of the American Eunich in opposition to the stance of the filmmakers who posited the film from the perspective of body modification as one dangerous outcome of American modernity and freedom. Although the documentary surveys the life of three men in order to tell their stories, the film is highly edited and depicts the men as compromising their masculinity through body mutilation. Weber argues the film lacks introspection beyond depicting the men as new-age freaks, and does not account or address the history and culture behind non-normative bodies.

Weber continues to combat the use of freaks by presenting her definition of freak rooted in the history of freak shows and then follows the stories of each of the men featured in the documentary. Weber notes, though not expanded upon by the filmmakers, the documentaries inclusion of interviews with all three men featured positing that they used the body modification surgery to remove their genitals in order gain further control over their masculinity. In contrast to Sigmund Freud’s theory about the fears of men involving the physical removal of genitals linked to their masculinity and power thus leaving them in a state that is more markedly feminine, ironically the men featured in the documentary feel more powerful without their phallic body parts due to their ability to control their hormones and thus achieve higher control over their bodies and minds. By removing their physical masculinity, they are ironically performing a thoroughly masculine act.

Weber concludes that the men’s want to move out of the realm of gender conformity  through performing individualized acts of body modification that physically represents their identification as neither male or female but simply human, also “creates the terms for the hyper articulation of gender codes” (Weber, 2013: 691.)

Although this article is not specifically about sex education, I found through reading the article about the physical and mental contributions of acknowledging, removing, ignoring, or keeping ones genitalia enlightening in regards to how sex educators talk about genitalia in the classroom. Genitals are often regarded as taboo and showing images of them, even though educational, non-sexual in goal, and constructive are still seen as breaching proper conduct with minors in the classroom. How does sex education and the way American students, specifically in California, are taught about the body parts they all have set the stage for performative body modification or self identification with ones genitals?

Weber, Brenda (2013). Masculinity, American Modernity, and Body Modification: A Feminist Reading of American Eunuchs. The Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 38(3).

“Paving the Road to “to Big to Fail”: Business Interest and the politics of Financial Deregulation in the United States” by Sandra Suárez and Robin Kolodny, discusses the connection between public policy makers, polices, and business alliances. The article analyzes the time period of the financial crisis in 2007-09 to critique the political process leading to the FMA, the Financial Modernization Act. The result of the review of FMA’s process concluded in finding several factors such as: “political institutions, international competition, the ideological converges of the Republican and democratic parties and the political interest of financial industry actors”; that contributed to the establishment of the FMA. The FMA is an act that repealed depression-era regulations, allowing commercial banks to enter the securities and insurance business and vice versa established in 1999. This goes into proving “to big to fail” by condoning the emergence of largely unregulated diversified financial institutions. “To Big to Fail” is basically the story of the financial crises of 2007- ’09, when “wall street and Washington fought to save the financial system.. and themselves.” Overall the topic would be how the certain relationships among policy makers and business alliances set up certain financial situations, narrowing down into specifically how did the FMA process correlate with the crisis of 2007-09? This is a correlation study, where the data types consist of organizational data, historical and reports of acts data. Patterns and historical review will locate some of the data used, but also public and private records will help. To analyze the data intake they used categorical data analysis in comparing company and governmental positions. You can Find this article at the Armocost Library in the Journal “Politics and Society” Volume 39 Number 1 March 2011 a Sage Publications Production.

Suárez, Sandra and Kolodny, Robin. “Paving the Road to “to Big to Fail”: Business Interests and the politics of Financial Deregulation in the United States.” Politics & Society 39, no.1 (2011): 74-102.

In the article, Difference in Student Achievement by Grade Span Configuration for Students Who Where Economically Disadvantaged researchers Carolyn F. Fiaschetti, and John R. Slate professors at Sam Houston State University investigated reading achievement amongst fifth and sixth graders both of which were economically disadvantaged. The schools researched were made of multiple grade levels (K-8), which were compared to single grade levels (K-5). The researchers were curious to find out if students living in both economically disadvantaged areas, and who were also required to make more transitions throughout their educational careers would suffer educationally.

The researchers posed the following research questions: (a) What is the effect of grade span configuration on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Reading test passing rates for students in Grade 5 who were economically disadvantaged in the 2010-2011 school year?; and (b) What is the effect of grade span configuration on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Reading test passing rates for students in Grade 6 who were economically disadvantaged in the 2010-2011 school year?

Participants of the study were students, all of whom were enrolled in either PREK-6^th grade (elementary schools) or who were enrolled in single or double grade (Grades 4-5, 5 only, or 5-6) schools. The schools used in the study and therefore whose data was obtained and analyzed were all grade level public schools in Texas. Archival data for each of the schools were accessed through the Texas Education Agency Academic Excellence Indicator System. All of the data analyzed in this investigation was intended for students whom identified as being economically disadvantaged. Groupings were created amongst the grade level, and were downloaded as Excel files, and then converted into SPSS data files. The independent variable used in this investigation was grade span configuration grouping and the dependent variables were the passing rates in reading for Grade 5 and for Grade 6 students who were economically disadvantaged.

Once the research was complete the study showed students in the multigrade level schools had higher reading passing rates, almost 2% higher, than those enrolled in single grade level campuses.

I found this information to be very beneficial. It is eye-opening to realize that students living in economically disadvantaged areas are already facing enough stress, and constant change in their lives. To also incorporate a great deal of adjustment, and moving in their schooling will only create higher rates of stresses therefore leading to a decrease in their educational success.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on multiple vs. single grade schooling. Which did you attend? And do you think it helped or hindered your educational success?