NASA’s periodic selection of astronauts is a highly selective process accepting applications from the general population, wherein the mechanics of selection are not made public. This research was an effort to determine if biases (specifically age) exist in the process and, if so, at which points they might manifest. Two sets of analyses were conducted. The first utilized data requested via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on NASA astronaut applicants for the 2009 and 2013 selection years. Using a series of multinomial and logistic regressions, the data were analyzed to uncover whether age of the applicants linearly or nonlinearly affected their likelihood of receiving an invitation, as well as their likelihood of being selected into the astronaut program. The second used public data on age at selection and age at other career milestones for every astronaut selected from 1959 to 2013 to analyze trends in age over time using ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression and Pearson’s correlation. The results for the FOIA data revealed a nonlinear relationship between age and receiving an interview, as well as age and selection into the astronaut program, but the most striking observation was the loss of age diversity at each stage of selection. Applicants younger or older than approximately 40 years were significantly less likely to receive invitations for interviews and were significantly less likely to be selected as an astronaut. Analysis of the public-source data for all selections since the beginning of the astronaut program revealed significant age trends over time including a gradual increase in selectee age and decreased tenure at NASA after last flight, with average age at retirement steady over the entire history of the astronaut program at approximately 48 years.

Background: Despite prior studies, transitions in smoking patterns are not fully understood. Getting arrested may alter an individual’s smoking pattern through processes proscribed by the criminological labeling theory. This study examined how arrest during emerging adulthood altered smoking behavior during subsequent years and whether there were differential effects by race/ethnicity and gender. Methods: We analyzed 15 waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed using Stata software version 14. Results: For both genders, arrested black men and women had the most distinct smoking transitions (both increases and decreases) as compared with their non-arrested counterparts. Among men, particularly black males, arrest in early adulthood was associated with the men transitioning to both increased and decreased smoking. Patterns in smoking transitions for women were less clear, suggesting that women’s smoking may be influenced by factors not in the models. Women had a low probability of starting to smoke or increasing smoking if they were never arrested between 18 and 21 years of age. Conclusions: The results for transitioning into increased smoking offer some support for labeling theory processes. Other findings suggest that arrest may lead to some men reducing or quitting smoking. Early adulthood arrest may serve to “shock the system” and contribute to males altering their prior smoking behavior. Implications: Tobacco use over the life course, particularly across different racial and ethnic groups, remains understudied. This study contributes to the literature using a nationally representative sample to examine the effect of getting arrested in emerging adulthood on cigarette use during subsequent years. In conducting the study, investigators combined theories and methodological approaches from 2 complementary disciplines: public health and criminal justice. Because criminal justice policymakers tend to focus on issues like ex-offender unemployment, public health officials can provide guidance regarding the effect of justice system involvement on smoking, particularly given the adverse health outcomes of using cigarettes.

Purpose Much criminal justice research has ignored racial/ethnic and gender differences in substance use subsequent to criminal justice involvement. This paper investigated how early adulthood arrest (i.e., 18 to 21 years of age) influences individuals’ subsequent transitions from non-substance use to substance use, and substance use to non-substance use through age 30. We also consider if these relationships differ by race/ethnicity and gender. Processes proscribed by labeling theory subsequent to getting arrested are considered. Methods We analyzed 15 waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed using Stata software version 14. Results We found racial/ethnic differences in the effect of arrest on subsequent substance use, particularly marijuana. Being arrested was associated with shifting non-binge drinkers and non-marijuana users into binge drinking and marijuana use; as well as shifting binge drinkers and marijuana users into non-use. This pattern was most evident among White and Black men. For Black men, the association between arrest and both becoming a binge drinker and becoming a non-binge drinker was experienced most strongly during their early twenties. Women’s patterns in substance use transitions following an arrest were less clear than for the men. Conclusion Some results, particularly transitioning into marijuana use, offer qualified support for processes proscribed through labeling theory. Findings that arrest shifts individuals into non-marijuana use suggest that factors not accounted for by labeling theory – arrest serving as a teachable moment for those using substances - may be at play.

INTRODUCTION:The COVID-19 pandemic has led to devastating outcomes, especially among patients who progress to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Corticosteroids improve survival and ventilator-free days in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen therapy. Though currently dexamethasone (DEX) is a first line corticosteroid due to its longer half-life and relative lack of mineralocorticoid activity, it is unclear whether alternate corticosteroids can demonstrate similar benefit. Historically, methylprednisolone (MP) has been the default treatment for pre-COVID ARDS and has shown benefit in severe Community Acquired Pneumonia due to its' high lung tissue penetration. Given increasing incidence of ARDS observed in severe COVID pneumonia, the goal of our study is to compare efficacy of MP vs DEX in moderate to severe ARDS. METHODS:This is a single center, multi-location, retrospective, observational study of 575 adult patients admitted to OSF Hospitals between 02/01/2020 and 03/31/2021 for treatment of confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and moderate to severe ARDS defined as PaO2:FiO2< 200. Patients were grouped based on steroid regimen into one of three treatment arms: those receiving at least 6 mg of DEX (N=360) or 30 mg of MP (N=136) as single or divided daily dose, or sequential use of both DEX+MP (N=79). Demographic data, symptoms, laboratory values, steroid dosing and clinical outcomes were collected. RESULTS:The three treatment groups were similar in terms of baseline CRP, SAPS scores and procalcitonin levels. There was no difference in 28-day all-cause mortality rate among the three groups. The DEX+MP group demonstrated higher in-hospital mortality rate compared to either DEX or MP alone (60.8% vs 41.7% and 44.1%, respectively, p=0.008). The DEX+MP combination group had longer duration of stay compared to DEX or MP alone (21 days vs 12 and 13 days, respectively, p< 0.001) and spent more days in the ICU (14 days vs 6.5 and 7 days, respectively, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:We did not observe 28-day mortality lowering effect across any of the three treatment groups. Dexamethasone was associated with reduced ICU and total hospital length of stay. A prospective, randomized trial comparing DEX and MP is warranted to further investigate potential superiority.