Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The necessity to understand health disparities among ethnically diverse populations has increased significantly over the past few years. This movement is found in all levels of government, Federal, State and Local, as well as in health plans and ethnic communities. This paper reports on a study conducted for the Department of Health Services in the state of Minnesota by researchers at the University of Minnesota with the collaboration of Community Leaders from each of the targeted ethnic populations. The study was conducted in the medical assistance population in Minnesota. The intent of this research was to look at disparities in health status, access to health services and utilization of health services in six different ethnic populations: white, African American, American Indian, Somali Origin and Hmong. The study was conducted in the summer/fall of 2003 (RR1 54 percent, n=4919). This paper will report on a number of different items associated with self-reported health status: overall health status, health compared to others, physical activity limitation, days poor physical health, and days poor mental health. Analysis indicates that there are significant differences among the ethnic populations in each of these areas. The paper will have a detailed analysis of these differences by key variables (such as: age [adult/child], sex, perceived discrimination, etc.). The study will also look at how factors associated with survey administration (mode, mail v. telephone), language (English v. native language) influences the results. Analysis conducted to date suggests that there are significant differences in the areas of health status due to mode and language used to conduct the survey. Overall, these findings support the need to conduct more research on health disparities.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Previous research in the organizational communication literature has identified the knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated by the successful corporate communicator. This article focuses on how a quality methodology called six sigma can positively affect three such characteristics—conducting evaluation research, engaging employees in participation in decision-making, and facilitating cross-functional teams using structured problem-solving methods. In this article we provide the reader a detailed analysis of what six sigma is, then apply this knowledge in a six sigma project dealing with communication practices at the GE Global Research Center in upstate New York.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Most assessments of conflict fatality ignore the activities undertaken by states directed against
their citizens (e.g., genocide and politicide). Believing that one must consider the full range of
conflict activities that could generate deaths in order to understand exactly how individuals die,
we investigate exactly how consideration of genocide and politicide alter our understandings of
lethality over time as well as the effectiveness of different variables that are used to reduce
fatalities. From our research, we reiterate the point made by numerous others that genocide and
politicide are the most lethal forms of conflict in the world today. Our results also suggest that
while several political and economic factors are held in common between genocide/politicide
and civil as well as interstate war, there are some important differences that lead us to believe
that conflict lethality will continue to be a problem well into the 21st century.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper attempts to analyze the role of the six-party talks in the Korean peace process. The six-paty talks are primarily designed to resolve the North Korea's nuclear issue, which is a key obstacle to the Korean peace process. The author will reevaluate North Korea's nuclear issue through the six-party talks, and will seek the alternatives for resolving the nuclear issue in the Korean peace process.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: North Korea has pursued a nuclear weapons capability for about two decades. Many diplomatic efforts have been made to convince or cajole the Northern regime to give up this quest—and all have so far failed. Since 2003, a new multilateral approach—the Six-Party Talks involving the Koreas, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States—has raised hopes anew. These hopes are based largely on China playing an active role. China has the potential both to guarantee North Korea’s security, and to impose and enforce a denuclearization agreement. We analyze China’s changing grand strategy and its implications for China’s Korea goals and policies. To Deng Xiaoping’s emphasis on China’s national interests, China’s third- and fourth-generation leaders have added a greater reliance on foreign and military policies to maintain domestic political support and legitimacy. This discussion indicates that China is currently more concerned to preserve the North Korean regime and prevent a second Korean War than to eliminate the North’s nuclear capability. Therefore, the Six-Party Talks are unlikely to succeed.