Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Aviva Twersky Glasner, Ph.D.
Presentation proposal for the November 2007
ASC meeting

The central research question of this study is to understand the relationship between delayed and/or inadequate language acquisition (either English or American Sign Language [ASL]) and the subsequent development of criminal behavior among deaf and hard-of-hearing offenders. The key hypothesis is this: A lag in language development, due to un-remediated early or congenital deafness, results in a deficiency in the normal childhood socialization process. This deficit plays a determining role in the development of criminal behavior of Deaf children and adults. As such, this study looks at a unique “at risk” population, one that has not previously been studied. The methodology consists of detailed personal interviews with subjects (identified by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) who are either presently incarcerated or on probation or parole. These interviews will be supplemented by a review of archival records: Relevant case records; psychological reports, educational histories and criminal offense histories.

The presentation will consist of the data being organized by theme; i.e. educational histories, social preferences, language acquisition, offense type, recidivism, co-morbidity with other disabling conditions, substance abuse and family backgrounds.

This research is being funded by the Center for the Advancement of Research and Teaching (CART) at Bridgewater State College, in Bridgewater Massachusetts and is logistically supported by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Abstract In the past three decades, research in organizational demography has proposed a number of mechanisms to explain the rise, decline and resurgence of organizational populations. Most of the suggested processes rely on the density-dependent selection of organizations. In particular, the models that explain the failure of organizations generally rely on two assumptions: 1) Organizations do not generally adapt successfully to changes in their environment and 2) Changes in density have an immediate effect on vital rates. In this paper, I propose a modelling framework that relaxes those assumptions. In this framework, organizations that enter the population are not assumed to compete immediately with existing firms, and these can potentially adapt to the environmental change that consists in the entry of a new potential competitor. This implies that the competitive pressure exerted by a new entrant on incumbents will both take time before affecting the failure rate, and will affect the failure rate only for a finite amount of time after entry. This delay in competitive intensity, can explain the pattern of density evolution observed in mature industries.

Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: BACKGROUND Personal protective equipment recommendations for firefighters attending cardiac arrests include donning an N95 mask, protective eyewear, gloves, and a gown prior to initiating resuscitation. OBJECTIVES To determine a) whether the use of the currently used gown delays initiation of chest compressions and ventilations and b) if a redesigned, modified gown reduces this delay. METHODOLOGY Firefighter defibrillation instructors were allocated into pairs and videotaped while performing standardized cardiac arrest scenarios. Three scenarios were used; No gown (G-0), regular gown (G-R), and modified gown (G-M). Predetermined time intervals were extracted from the videotape data. ANALYSIS Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the interaction between the gown configurations (G-0, G-R and G-M) and the time to initiation of chest compressions and ventilations. Differences between groups were further analyzed using the post-hoc Tukey’s t-test. RESULTS Ninety-five scenarios were analyzed. For G-0, G-R and G-M, the time intervals to chest compression were 38.5 seconds (33.80-43.20, 95% CI), 71.2 seconds (65.51-76.81, 95% CI), and 58.5 seconds (53.69-63.37, 95% CI) respectively (p <.0001). The time intervals to initiating ventilations were 146 seconds (134.0-158.0, 95% CI), 238 seconds (224.0-252.7, 95% CI), and 210 seconds (198.1-222.8, 95% CI) respectively (p <.0001). Post hoc testing showed these time differences between all groups were statistically significant. CONCLUSION Donning a gown significantly delays time to resuscitation in a simulator model. This delay can be reduced by modifying the design of the gown. Future work should attempt to determine the optimal gown design to minimize this delay.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Legislative delay has been overlooked as a signal of commitment to abide by the terms of an international agreement. Nations face varied international and domestic pressures to formalize international conventions. I argue that this struggle between competing pressures reveals the intentions of each nation to abide by the terms of the agreement. Previous studies of legislative delay neglect important variables, suffer from restrictive assumptions, and fail to frame legislative delay as part of a two stage game. This paper uses the case of the Basel Convention to support my hypotheses. I use Kaplan-Meier and Cox-proportional hazard models to estimate the proportional effects of international and domestic political pressures and resource constraints on legislative delay. After controlling for the type of ratification, legislative delay is a function of previous domestic regulations in the same policy space and the regulatory quality of the nation. These factors signal satisfaction with the convention and represent significant commitments to abiding by its terms.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In this paper I shall discuss how an approach to delay in the courts using the approach of comparing legal cultures can help us to get beyond a managerialist approach to courts and judging