Publication Type: Research Symposium

Publication Type: Individual Paper
Abstract: For 30 years at a community college in Chicago IL, Professor Armstead Allen has assembled top scholars in the field of African American Studies to discuss the events of the day and solutions therein. While a top notch conference is not unusual unto itself, what makes this conference unique is that it is a) held at a community college (thereby making it the longest running campus based Black Studies Conference in the Nation) and b) allows students and the local community access to scholars and individuals whom would otherwise be unaccessible. This paper will explore the impact of such a gathering on a junior college atmosphere, the community it services and the field of African American Studies.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: How much of a buffer is needed between a catch limit and target to ensure no overfishing? This question is key to setting Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) under the recently updated Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA). The MSRA’s new provisions dictate that Regional Fishery Management Councils establish ACLs and accountability measures at levels that prevent overfishing in each fishery management plan. However, the relationship between ACLs, optimum yield, and overfishing limits has yet to be clearly delineated. Due to uncertainty in many aspects of stock assessments, including natural and fishing mortality rates, it is necessary to develop buffers that account for uncertainty and risk to prevent overfishing. For instance, in data poor fisheries the amount of buffer between the limit and target catch level should be increased to reduce the risk of overfishing. To simulate the potential application of an ACL policy, age structured bioeconomic models were constructed for the Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper and Red Snapper. The probability that management measures would not exceed critical levels was determined after accounting for uncertainty with a Monte Carlo simulation. Based on the potential use of ACLs in these specific fisheries, guidance applicable to all fishery regions regarding risk assessment and ACL setting is given.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: Background: Several studies have estimated annual U.S. healthcare costs associated with cervical cancer, however few data are available on the corresponding annual loss in women’s productive earnings resulting from premature mortality due to cervical cancer. The present study estimates annual productivity costs associated with cervical cancer mortality in the U.S.

Methods: An analytic framework was developed for estimating the lost earnings that would have accrued during the year 2000, for women dying from cervical cancer during that and earlier years, who would have otherwise been alive and working in 2000. The following data from publicly available sources were gathered and analyzed for U.S. women on an age-specific basis: (1) Annual number of cervical cancer deaths during 2000 and preceding years; (2) Estimated probability of otherwise being alive during the year 2000, for women dying from cervical cancer during the period 1935-2000; (3) Labor force participation rates in 2000; (4) Mean annual earnings in 2000.

Results: Overall, it was estimated that there were 130,377 women who would have been alive during 2000, had they not died from cervical cancer during that or a previous year. Over 75% of these women died before age 60, with more than 25% dying prior to age 40, and it was estimated that 37,594 (29%) of these women would have had labor force earnings during 2000. The total productivity loss in 2000 due to cervical cancer mortality was estimated at $1.3 billion.

Conclusions: The annual productivity loss for cervical cancer estimated in the present analysis is several times higher than recent estimates of the annual U.S. direct medical costs associated with cervical cancer ($300-400 million).

Publication Type: Roundtable Discussion
Abstract: The International Crane Foundation’s (ICF) Annual Midwest Crane Count is an environmental education citizen science program. This project looked at its past, its accomplishments, and its future. Find out what this program does for cranes – and for people.