William A. Halteman

Punitive Attitudes Toward Criminals: Racial Consensus or Racial Conflict?

A sizeable body of literature has found a surprising amount of agreement among racial and other demographic subgroups on punitive attitudes toward criminals. This consensus has been widely interpreted as evidence for functionalist views of crime and society. Challenging this interpretation, this paper argues that the similar attitudes between the races on punitiveness may in fact mask underlying hostilities and conflicting interests. Analyzing data from the 1987 National Opinion Research Center (NORC) General Social Survey, we find that the punitive attitudes of whites toward criminals are based partly on racial prejudice, while those of blacks are associated with their fear of crime. These results suggest that the consensus found in many previous studies between whites and blacks on punitiveness toward criminals may be apparent rather than real, and that their attitudes toward punitiveness reflect their disparate positions in the social and economic orders.

Chytridiomycosis Widespread in Anurans of Northeastern United States

Abstract An emerging disease of amphibians caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been associated with morbidity, mortality, and extinction of species. Typically, researchers have detected B. dendrobatidis only when examining amphibians for causes of mortalities; few data exist on infection rates where mortalities are lacking. During May–September 2000–2002 we obtained amphibian specimens killed by vehicles and others collected at remote off-road sites throughout Maine, USA, and from federal lands in 5 states in the Northeast. We detected infected specimens, mostly green frogs (Rana clamitans), at 5 of 7 national wildlife refuges, a federal waterfowl production area, and Acadia National Park. Seven of 9 species, including all Ranidae species, were infected throughout Maine; rates ranged from 14.6% in American toads (Bufo americanus) to 25.7% in northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens). We did not detect any infections in 50 eastern gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) or 21 spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer). Species that hibernate in terrestrial habitats seem to have lower rates of infection than species that hibernate in aquatic habitats. Infections peaked in spring and autumn and were associated with air temperatures optimal for B. dendrobatidis growth. The relatively high infection rates among species without documented die-offs suggest that either losses have occurred undetected, that the fungus is endemic and species have attained a level of resistance to infections becoming lethal, or that climatic conditions of the Northeast have a role in preventing infections from being lethal. Data on prevalence and distribution of this chytrid fungus in the Northeast may be useful in modeling its origins and predicting long-term ecosystem effects involving anurans.

Predictors of condom‐related behaviors among first‐year college students

Among a self‐selected group of 330 first‐year college students we assessed frequency of condom use, reasons for using condoms, and attitudes toward condoms, sexuality, and the double standard. A packet including demographic and sexual history items, along with three attitude measures, was distributed to a random sample of first‐year students. The majority (86.4%) of respondents had engaged in sexual intercourse, and 34.2% of those subjects reported two or more new sexual partners since arriving at college. Although 80.3% of those who had engaged in sexual intercourse since arriving at college reported using a condom, only 20.7% of students who had ever engaged in sexual intercourse reported using a condom every time. Logistic analyses were used to investigate the relationship between condom‐related behaviors and attitudes toward condoms, sexuality, and the double standard. These findings suggest that if condom use is to become a major element in the fight against AIDS, as well as in the prevention of othe...

A feminist analysis of Seventeen Magazine : Content analysis from 1945 to 1995

This study is an extension of the contentanalysis conducted by K. Peirce [(1990) “AFeminist Theoretical Perspective on the Socialization ofTeenage Girls Through Seventeen Magazine,” SexRoles, Vol. 23, pp. 491-500]. Her study examined thecontent of Seventeen magazine for the years 1961, 1972,and 1985, and the impact of the feminist movement fromthe 1960s through the 1980s. The present study explored the content of Seventeen magazine in the years1945, 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, and 1995 to determine ifthe articles that are presented have changed in responseto the feminist movement from the 1940s to the present day. These results would supportthe contention that there is a relationship between thecontent of Seventeen magazine, in terms of traditionalvs. feminist messages, and the womens movement. However, these changes are slight and still donot reflect the various roles of teenage girls.Implications for further research arediscussed.

The relationship of modern plant remains to water depth in alkaline lakes in New England, USAe

Paleohydrologists sometimes use macrofossils of aquatic vascular plants as one of several independent lines of evidence to infer changes in past lake-levels. Typically, this usage relies on an assumption that the seeds of aquatic species are not dispersed far from the source plants. The water depth over the coring site at the time the seeds were deposited is inferred from the water depth at which the species generally grows today. We determined the water depths at which particular plant-remain types are deposited, and tested whether they can be used successfully as proxy evidence for lake level. The results should aid the interpretation of fossil seeds in paleohydrological studies. A total of 189 surface sediment samples from 13 lakes in Maine and Massachusetts were examined for plant remains, and vegetation was surveyed in the immediate vicinity of each sediment sampling-site. The seeds of some taxa were found in sediment from water-depth ranges much broader than those in which living plants occur. However, in combination, even plant-remain types with broad depth ranges can be used effectively to reconstruct water depth. Presence of plant-remain types can be used to infer water depth regardless of abundance. Test samples indicate that inferring water depth from plant remains works well for shallow, alkaline lakes in New England.

Investigating the mechanism for maintaining eucalcemia despite immobility and anuria in the hibernating American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Ursine hibernation uniquely combines prolonged skeletal unloading, anuria, pregnancy, lactation, protein recycling, and lipolysis. This study presents a radiographic and biochemical picture of bone metabolism in free-ranging, female American black bears (Ursus americanus) that were active (spring bears and autumn bears) or hibernating (hibernating bears). Hibernating bears included lactating and non-lactating individuals. We measured serum calcium, albumin, inorganic phosphate, creatinine, bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP), CTX, parathyroid hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-l), leptin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)(2)D] and sclerostin from 35 to 50 tranquilized hibernating bears and 14 to 35 tranquilized spring bears. We compared metacarpal cortical indices (MCI), measured by digital X-ray radiogrammetry, from 60 hunter-killed autumn bears and 79 tranquilized, hibernating bears. MCI was greater in autumn than winter in younger bears, but showed no seasonal difference in older bears. During hibernation eucalcemia was maintained, BSALP was suppressed, and CTX was in the range expected for anuria. During hibernation 1,25(OH)(2)D was produced despite anuria. 1,25(OH)(2)D and IGF-I were less in hibernating than spring bears. In a quarter of hibernating bears, sclerostin was elevated. Leptin was greater in hibernating than spring bears. In hibernating bears, leptin correlated positively with BSALP in non-lactating bears and with CTX in lactating bears. Taken together the biochemical and radiographic findings indicate that during hibernation, bone turnover was persistent, balanced, and suppressed; bone resorption was lower than expected for an unloaded skeleton; and there was no unloading-induced bone loss. The skeleton appears to perceive that it was loaded when it was actually unloaded during hibernation. However, at the level of sclerostin, the skeleton recognized that it was unloaded. During hibernation leptin appeared anabolic in non-lactating bears and catabolic in lactating bears. We hypothesize that ursine hibernation may represent a natural model in which suppression of the sympathetic nervous system prevents unloading-induced bone loss by influencing leptins skeletal effects and preventing transmission of loading information.

Athletes and Rape: Is There a Connection?:

The present study builds upon previous research examining variables related to sexual assault. Previous studies have linked sexual aggression with attitudes toward rape as well as hostility toward women. Recent high-profile cases involving athletes and sexual assault have raised questions about the link with athletes. In fact, recent research has suggested that athletes may be more prone to commit rape; however, no study has examined competitiveness. This characteristic, associated with athletes, may predict sexual aggression and help assess why rape is reportedly perpetrated by athletes significantly more frequently than by nonathletes. It may be that individuals with high competitiveness may be more likely to be involved in sexual assaults. Scores on Competitiveness in 104 college men were significantly correlated with reported sexual aggression and athletic participation; however, there was no significant difference between athletes and nonathletes on aggressive sexual behavior. These findings suggest that characteristics of athletes rather than athletic participation alone must be considered further in examining the presumed link between athletes and sexual assault.

Dimensions of participation in a professional social-movement organization

Differential participation after recruitment remains a black box in the social-movement and voluntary-association literatures. This paper identifies several dimensions of membership participation in a professional social-movement organization (SMO) with a national membership and analyzes the determinants of differential involvement in these forms. In general, members’ ideological beliefs, social and organizational ties, perceptions about their SMO, and communication with SMO officials all predict participation across the various forms. Our findings extend previous work on differential participation in three ways. First, we statistically isolate cultural dimensions of postrecruitment participation and, in so doing, complement recent ethnographic research. Second, our findings suggest that the distinct dimensions of external and internal participation found by Knoke (1988) in a national sample of voluntary associations may not generalize to national SMOs studied individually. Third, our results indicate that models combining ideological and microstructural factors should explain the multiple forms of participation in SMOs lacking these distinct dimensions.

EFFECTS OF HUNTING ON SURVIVAL OF AMERICAN WOODCOCK IN THE NORTHEAST

Abstract Numbers of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) males counted on the annual singing ground survey (SGS) have declined over the last 35 years at an average rate of 2.3% per year in the Eastern Region and 1.8% per year in the Central Region. Although hunting was not thought to be a cause of these declines, mortality caused by hunters can be controlled. Furthermore, there has been no research on effects of hunting mortality on woodcock populations at local and regional levels on the breeding grounds. We used radiotelemetry to determine survival rates and causes of mortality for 913 woodcock captured during fall 1997–2000 on 7 areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, USA. Three of 7 sites were closed to hunting. For all sites and all years combined, 176 woodcock died, and 130 were censored, of which 39 were censored mortalities. Predation was the major (n = 134, 76%) cause of mortality. Mammals accounted for 56% of the predation, raptors accounted for 25%, and 19% was attributed to unknown predators. On hunted sites, 36% of the total mortality (n = 102) was caused by hunting, 63% by predation, and 1 bird starved. Kaplan-Meier survival curves did not differ between hunted and non-hunted sites among years (P = 0.46). Overall, point estimates of survival did not differ (P = 0.217) between hunted (SR = 0.636, SE = 0.04) and nonhunted sites (SR = 0.661, SE = 0.08). We modeled hazard rates from hunting and natural mortality events using program MARK. Akaikes Information Criterion supported using a model with common constant hazards from both hunting and natural causes for groups of sites. Groupings of sites for hazard rates from natural causes were not influenced by whether a site was hunted or not. Models detected no effects of woodcock age and sex (P = 0.52) on survival. Proportional hazards models comparing hunted and nonhunted sites found no effects of age and sex (P = 0.45), interactions of age, sex, capture weight, and bill length (P ≥ 0.269). Our data suggest that current hunting regulations are not causing lower survival of woodcock.

Enmity in Males at Four Developmental Levels: Cognitive Bases for Disliking Peers

The goal of this study was to determine whether, at different age levels, males cite different bases as reasons for disliking peers. Male preschoolers, primary graders, preadolescents, and young adults were asked to name and give reasons for disliking an actual same-sex peer. Participants from preschool through preadolescence frequently cited aggression and aberrant behavior as reasons for disliking, a finding that suggests that both dimensions serve as major sources of enmity across childhood. Although aggression was not cited frequently by the young adults, aberrant behavior persisted as a significant basis for disliking across all four developmental levels. Lack of general play and rule violation constituted reliable bases for disliking only at the preschool level, whereas lack of help was cited frequently by both the primary-grade and preadolescent participants. The preadolescents and the young adults also specified negative evaluation as a major basis of enmity, whereas lack of genuineness was cited at above-chance levels only by the young adults.