INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a period known for risk taking behaviors. Both weapon carrying and suicidality among U.S. youth are growing public health concerns. The goal of this study is to examine the patterns between weapon carrying and suicidality among U.S. high school students using 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). METHODS: Analyses were performed using data from the 2015 YRBS (N=15,624). The sample consisted of students in grades 9-12 (48.7% female and 51.3% as male) Of those surveyed, 54.5% identified as White, 13.6% as African American, 22.3% as Hispanic, and 9.7% as another race/ethnicity. The main exposure variable weapon carrying (carried a weapon in the past 30 days) was analyzed against three outcome variables: suicide ideation (seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months), suicide planning (made a plan to commit suicide in the past 12 months), and suicide attempt (attempted suicide at least once in the past 12 months). Bivariate analysis was used to determine prevalence across the exposure and outcome variables, as well as determine potential covariates. Multivariate logistic regression tables were built to examine the relationship between weapon carrying and the three suicide outcomes, controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, interpersonal violence exposures, alcohol use, drug use, and sad/hopeless feelings. Additionally, adjusted odds ratios were calculated after stratifying by sex. RESULTS: Among 15,624 high school students, 16.2% reported carrying a weapon (knife, club, gun or other) in the past 30 days. Additionally, 5.3% of students reported having carried a gun in the past 30 days, the large majority of which identified as male (85.4%). It was found that 17.7% of the students reported having seriously considered suicide, 14.6% reported having made a plan to commit suicide, and 8.6% had actually attempted suicide; the majority of those who reported suicidality were female. The multivariate logistic regression model found that students who reported weapon carrying were 1.6 times more likely to report serious consideration of suicide than those students who did not report weapon carrying (OR adj =1.61, 95% CI [1.16, 2.24]), 1.77 times more likely to report having made a plan to commit suicide than those students who did not report weapon carrying (OR adj= 1.77, 95% CI [1.23, 2.55]); and 1.5 times more likely to have reported a suicide attempt than those students who did not report weapon carrying (OR adj=1.51, 95% CI [1.08, 2.10]). After stratification, females who carried weapons were 1.8 times as likely to report suicide ideation (OR adj=1.80, 95% CI [1.37, 2.67]), 2.3 times as likely to report suicide planning (OR adj=2.28, 95% CI [1.40,3.73]), and 2.7 times as likely to report suicide attempt (OR adj=2.71, 95% CI [1.52, 3.41]) than those who did not carry weapons. Males who carried weapons were 1.6 times as likely to report suicide ideation than those who did not carry weapons (OR adj=1.55, 95% CI [1.11, 2.18]), and there was not a statistically significant difference between males who carried weapons and those who did not in the suicide planning or attempt models. DISCUSSION: Given the correlation found between weapon carrying and suicidality, future youth suicide prevention programs should consider weapon carrying to be an important factor for youth suicidality and should target adolescents at high risk for weapon carrying. Furthermore, as 5.3% of students reported having carried a gun in the past 30 days, weapon carrying prevention should pay special attention to youth’s access to firearms. Firearms are the most lethal mode of suicide and considering the high prevalence of students already at risk for suicidality, measures should be taken to reduce youth access to firearms.

Purpose: Substance use and weapon carrying among adolescents is a growing concern. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between adolescent substance use and weapon carrying using the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Methods: Analyses were conducted using the 2013 YRBS, a nationally representative dataset sampling public and private high school students throughout the United States (US). Data from a total of 148,282 US adolescents were used in the present study. Results: Two outcomes were assessed: weapon carrying within the past 30 days and weapon carrying on school property within the past 30 days. Among adolescents who carried a weapon, 77.3% were male, 62.7% were white, 28.5%% were in 9th grade, 33.8% used a tobacco product and 57.4% drank alcohol within the past 30 days, while 22.8% used a Schedule 1 drug and 14.0% used a Schedule 2 drug during their lifetime. Among adolescents who carried a weapon on school property, 74.4% were male, 55.1% were white, 26.5% were in 11th grade, 40.1% used a tobacco product and 61.9% drank alcohol within the past 30 days, while 32.1% used a Schedule 1 drug and 26.9% used a Schedule 2 drug during their lifetime. For the multivariable model predicting adolescent weapon carrying, tobacco use (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.31, 95% CI: 2.06, 2.59), alcohol use (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.81, 2.29), and Schedule 2 drug use (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.83, 2.80) were significantly associated with increased risk of carrying a weapon, adjusting for all covariates in the model simultaneously. For the multivariable model predicting adolescent weapon carrying on school property, tobacco use (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.89, 2.86), alcohol use (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 2.02, 3.18), and Schedule 2 drug use (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.94, 3.43) were significantly associated with increased risk of carrying a weapon on school property, adjusting for all covariates in the model. Raw counts and weighted frequencies are reported. Conclusions: Statistically significant associations between adolescent substance use and weapon carrying were found, suggesting that adolescent substance use is associated with increased weapon carrying behavior, both off and on school property. Future weapon carrying prevention efforts should target not only adolescents who are high risk for weapon carrying, but also those who are at risk for misusing substances.

abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the choice of weapon in homicide. The study focuses on three research questions using data from Newark, New Jersey: what is the most commonly associated weapon with each motive? What factors influence the use of a particular type of weapon in a homicide? How does the method of weapon retrieval, or lack thereof, affect the choice of weapon? The cross-tabulation findings revealed that domestically-motivated homicides are most likely to be committed with knives and blunt objects; and drug-, gang-, dispute-, revenge, and robbery-motivated homicides were most likely to be committed using a firearm. The logistic regression demonstrated the method of weapon retrieval, the mode of how the homicide was carried out, the offender’s gender, and the victim and/or offender being a drug dealer or a gang member were all significant in terms of how they affected the offender’s use of a firearm to carry out the homicide. For knives and blunt objects, the method of weapon retrieval, the mode of how the homicide was carried out, the offender’s gender, and the victim and/or offender being a drug dealer or a gang member were all significant in terms of how they affected the offender’s use of a knife or blunt object to carry out the homicide. The results support the need for focused deterrence and conflict resolution interventions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2017

No description available.

Because the past researches of the North Korea¡¦s nuclear problem are devoid of a classical geopolitics approach, this article will explain this problem from the traditional ¡§buffer state¡¨ approach. Nuclear weapons symbolize absolute attack ability. Because of many limitations superpowers cannot smoothly transform nuclear weapons to a deterrence function; however, small countries have advantages that superpowers do not possess in using nuclear weapons so they can break these limitations and favorably transform nuclear weapons to a deterrence function. North Korea can take these advantages to change the fate of geopolitics in the past, which was a weak buffer state, and use nuclear weapons to stabilize the whole buffer system to achieve the goal of extending the peacetime. Thus, North Korea's very effort to obtain nuclear weapons is the process of stabilizing the buffer system but this does not mean that North Korea can sit without worries. The problem of the successor and the economic breakdown are two Achilles' heels in North Korea, both of which have the risk that will destroy the whole buffer system.

Existing weapon detection systems such as metal detectors and X-ray baggage scanners have many drawbacks. While metal detectors can only detect metallic objects, X-ray scanners are unsafe for use on passengers. Also, these systems can only scan people within a short range. These limitations of detecting potentially harmful objects have led to tragic events such as the 9/11 attack on the world trade centre and the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai. Development of more advanced security systems would help in curbing such terrorist attacks. These systems could also be used to help security officials in tackling knife and gun related crimes in the streets. The aim of this research is to develop a concealed weapon detection system using acoustic waves. Ideally, the system would have large standoff distance, should be cost-effective and easy to manufacture and would be able to detect both metal and non-metallic weapons. Different techniques such as acoustic signature, resonance acoustic spectroscopy and acoustic imaging were analysed. Acoustic signature techniques identify the target by comparing the acoustic waves reflected by the target to a database of previously recorded acoustic reflections. Resonance acoustic spectroscopy was used on the data acquired using both experimental measurements and Finite Element simulations. A series of resonant frequencies from the acoustic waves reflected by the concealed target were extracted using this technique. This series of resonant frequencies that are unique to the target were used to identify the target. Acoustic camera was used to experimentally record the acoustic reflection from different targets. This was then used to develop images of concealed targets. These tests were performed using commercially available array speaker systems. The probability of improving these results using a better designed ultrasonic or acoustic array speaker system was analysed. This was done by changing different array design parameters and obtaining a highly focused acoustic beam. The results from the experimental tests and Finite Element simulations proved the possibility of using acoustic waves for concealed weapon detection. In the acoustic signature measurements, the frequency spectra of the reflected acoustic waves were shown to be different for different targets. The results from resonance acoustic spectroscopy showed structural resonant frequencies in the frequency spectra that corresponded to the natural frequency of the target. Using acoustic camera kit the image of the concealed target was identified. The array results showed the formation of focused beams for different array configurations. The results showed the formation of grating lobes and side lobes when the inter-element gap became larger than the wavelength of sound waves at the excitation frequency. Finally, a program using neural network was developed to demonstrate how the natural frequencies from the target could be used to identify them. This research work provides a proof of concept of different acoustic wave-based detection and imaging techniques. It has shown the possibility of detecting concealed targets at standoff distances. Using parametric arrays highly focused acoustic or ultrasonic beams could be generated which could be focused on a person suspected of carrying a weapon in a crowded environment. The sound waves reflected back could be analysed using the resonance acoustic spectroscopic technique or one could use the acoustic camera to generate images of targets in real-time. The use of acoustic waves would also help in keeping the cost and complexity of the equipment to a minimum. It also ensures that the public is not exposed to any harmful radiation. The techniques described in this thesis would significantly support the development of a commercially viable, robust acoustic waves based concealed weapon detection system.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-187).

The threat of biological weapons has never attracted as much public attention as in the past five years. Current concerns largely relate to the threat of weapons acquisition and use by rogue states or by terrorists. But the threat has deeper roots--it has been evident for fifty years that biological agents could be used to cause mass casualties and large-scale economic damage. Yet there has been little historical analysis of such weapons over the past half-century. "Deadly Cultures" sets out to fill this gap by analyzing the historical developments since 1945 and addressing three central issues: Why have states continued or begun programs for acquiring biological weapons? Why have states terminated biological weapons programs? How have states demonstrated that they have truly terminated their biological weapons programs? We now live in a world in which the basic knowledge needed to develop biological weapons is more widely available than ever before. "Deadly Cultures" provides the lessons from history that we urgently need in order to strengthen the long-standing prohibition of biological weapons.

Thesis (M.A.)--George Mason University, 2008. / Vita: p. 142. Thesis director: Debra Bergoffen. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed July 3, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-141). Also issued in print.

<p>Due to the increasing international operations for the Swedish Armed Forces these new types of opponents needs new tools to cope with these commitments. A couple of years ago the Swedish Armed Forces had no non-lethal weapons, but today the Swedish soldier has a number of tools to choose from.</p><p>The purpose of this paper is for the reader to get a presentation of which non-lethal weapons are used today by the Swedish Armed Forces and a sample of what non-lethal weapons are out on the market today. My main question is <em>which non-lethal weapons do the Swedish Armed Forces’ miss in their non-lethal capabilities set.</em></p><p>I have collected information from a wide selections of sources like reports from the Swedish Defence Research Agency, the Swedish Armed Forces’ own regulations and the Internet. The information is then processed and divided into five chapters: The development of non-lethal weapons, description of technologies, non-lethal weapons in the Swedish Armed Forces, Non-lethal weapons on the market and Results.</p><p>This paper is limited to handheld, portable and man to man non-lethal weapons, all non-lethal weapons in the Swedish Armed Forces or on the international market are not covered.</p><p>My conclusion is that the Swedish Armed Forces should acquire three 40 mm projectiles, one 12-gauge projectile and one TASER®.</p>