Rotarians’ Transformative Path from Initiate to Servant Leader: A Narrative Study Examining the Motivation to Volunteer

Rotarians’ Transformative Path from Initiate to Servant Leader: A Narrative Study Examining the Motivation to Volunteer The purpose of this research study was to explore Rotarians transformative path from initiate (follower) to servant leader supporting student programs. Research was conducted using a qualitative narrative design to examine participants’ perceptions of the factors that motivated them to join a volunteer organization with the motto “service above self,” the factors that motivated them to support student programs, and their perceptions of the impact of their volunteer efforts. Sixteen Rotarian participants supporting EarlyAct, InterAct, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Short-Term Youth Exchange, and Long-Term Youth Exchanges, completed a volunteer history questionnaire and participated in semi-structured interviews. Participant responses generated eight major themes. Themes were examined through the lenses of servant leadership theory, volunteer functions inventory, and self-determination theory. Results of this study speak to the need of volunteer organizations’ obligation to examine the factors that motivate members, to explore members’ antecedent exposure to volunteering in order to craft opportunities for youth participation in their volunteering activities, and to modify policy statements supporting the explication of members’ motivation

Rotarians’ Transformative Path from Initiate to Servant Leader: A Narrative Study Examining the Motivation to Volunteer

Rotarians’ Transformative Path from Initiate to Servant Leader: A Narrative Study Examining the Motivation to Volunteer The purpose of this research study was to explore Rotarians transformative path from initiate (follower) to servant leader supporting student programs. Research was conducted using a qualitative narrative design to examine participants’ perceptions of the factors that motivated them to join a volunteer organization with the motto “service above self,” the factors that motivated them to support student programs, and their perceptions of the impact of their volunteer efforts. Sixteen Rotarian participants supporting EarlyAct, InterAct, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Short-Term Youth Exchange, and Long-Term Youth Exchanges, completed a volunteer history questionnaire and participated in semi-structured interviews. Participant responses generated eight major themes. Themes were examined through the lenses of servant leadership theory, volunteer functions inventory, and self-determination theory. Results of this study speak to the need of volunteer organizations’ obligation to examine the factors that motivate members, to explore members’ antecedent exposure to volunteering in order to craft opportunities for youth participation in their volunteering activities, and to modify policy statements supporting the explication of members’ motivation

Fiber orientation in viscous fluid flow with and without vibration

This early-stage investigation is related to determination of flow speed gradients of fresh steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC). They are assumed to be the key parameters for computer modeling of orientation of steel fibers in form casting process. The aim of the research is to elaborate a computer model for evaluation of steel fiber orientation in casting process, which would provide an attractive possibility to predict concrete mechanical properties, optimization of casting process and costs due to proper use of ingredients. Fiber orientation in FRC is important for ensuring the best mechanical properties in the places where it is necessary. Task can be solved as: to obtain optimal fiber concentration and orientation or to use appropriate casting approach of concrete with the goal to obtain required mechanical properties in appropriate locations of the composite element. As an example the paper considers the case of trench filling by fiber concrete. Simulations provided distributions of vertical and horizontal velocities in real-time scale. Behavior of a single fiber in an inclined container with a viscous transparent liquid (potato-starch solution) was analyzed in order to confirm the possibility to obtain orientation of fibers on the basis of velocity gradients in viscous fluid. For precise modeling of potato-starch liquid, coefficient of dynamic viscosity was determined. The experiments performed on fibers in an inclined container demonstrated satisfactory agreement with the simulation results. Performed analysis indicates that velocity gradients can be applied for determination of position and orientation of fibers in fabrication of fiber-reinforced concrete product

Surface modification of natural fibers using bacteria: Depositing bacterial cellulose onto natural fibers to create hierarchical fiber reinforced nanocomposites

Triggered biodegradable composites made entirely from renewable resources are urgently sought after to improve material recyclability or be able to divert materials from waste streams. Many biobased polymers and natural fibers usually display poor interfacial adhesion when combined in a composite material. Here we propose a way to modify the surfaces of natural fibers by utilizing bacteria (Acetobacter xylinum) to deposit nanosized bacterial cellulose around natural fibers, which enhances their adhesion to renewable polymers. This paper describes the process of modifying large quantities of natural fibers with bacterial cellulose through their use as substrates for bacteria during fermentation. The modified fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, single fiber tensile tests, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inverse gas chromatography to determine their surface and mechanical properties. The practical adhesion between the modified fibers and the renewable polymers cellulose acetate butyrate and poly(L-lactic acid) was quantified using the single fiber pullout test

A neutron spectrometer for studying giant resonances with (p,n) reactions in inverse kinematics

A neutron spectrometer, the European Low-Energy Neutron Spectrometer (ELENS), has been constructed to study exotic nuclei in inverse-kinematics experiments. The spectrometer, which consists of plastic scintillator bars, can be operated in the neutron energy range of 100 keV-10 MeV. The neutron energy is determined using the time-of-flight technique, while the position of the neutron detection is deduced from the time-difference information from photomultipliers attached to both ends of each bar. A novel wrapping method has been developed for the plastic scintillators. The array has a larger than 25% detection efficiency for neutrons of approximately 500 keV in kinetic energy and an angular resolution of less than 1 degrees. Details of the design, construction and experimental tests of the spectrometer will be presented. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p

An Excess of Gene Expression Divergence on the X Chromosome in Drosophila Embryos: Implications for the Faster-X Hypothesis

The X chromosome is present as a single copy in the heterogametic sex, and this hemizygosity is expected to drive unusual patterns of evolution on the X relative to the autosomes. For example, the hemizgosity of the X may lead to a lower chromosomal effective population size compared to the autosomes, suggesting that the X might be more strongly affected by genetic drift. However, the X may also experience stronger positive selection than the autosomes, because recessive beneficial mutations will be more visible to selection on the X where they will spend less time being masked by the dominant, less beneficial allele—a proposal known as the faster-X hypothesis. Thus, empirical studies demonstrating increased genetic divergence on the X chromosome could be indicative of either adaptive or non-adaptive evolution. We measured gene expression in Drosophila species and in D. melanogaster inbred strains for both embryos and adults. In the embryos we found that expression divergence is on average more than 20% higher for genes on the X chromosome relative to the autosomes; but in contrast, in the inbred strains, gene expression variation is significantly lower on the X chromosome. Furthermore, expression divergence of genes on Muller's D element is significantly greater along the branch leading to the obscura sub-group, in which this element segregates as a neo-X chromosome. In the adults, divergence is greatest on the X chromosome for males, but not for females, yet in both sexes inbred strains harbour the lowest level of gene expression variation on the X chromosome. We consider different explanations for our results and conclude that they are most consistent within the framework of the faster-X hypothesis

Fiber orientation in viscous fluid flow with and without vibration

This early-stage investigation is related to determination of flow speed gradients of fresh steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC). They are assumed to be the key parameters for computer modeling of orientation of steel fibers in form casting process. The aim of the research is to elaborate a computer model for evaluation of steel fiber orientation in casting process, which would provide an attractive possibility to predict concrete mechanical properties, optimization of casting process and costs due to proper use of ingredients. Fiber orientation in FRC is important for ensuring the best mechanical properties in the places where it is necessary. Task can be solved as: to obtain optimal fiber concentration and orientation or to use appropriate casting approach of concrete with the goal to obtain required mechanical properties in appropriate locations of the composite element. As an example the paper considers the case of trench filling by fiber concrete. Simulations provided distributions of vertical and horizontal velocities in real-time scale. Behavior of a single fiber in an inclined container with a viscous transparent liquid (potato-starch solution) was analyzed in order to confirm the possibility to obtain orientation of fibers on the basis of velocity gradients in viscous fluid. For precise modeling of potato-starch liquid, coefficient of dynamic viscosity was determined. The experiments performed on fibers in an inclined container demonstrated satisfactory agreement with the simulation results. Performed analysis indicates that velocity gradients can be applied for determination of position and orientation of fibers in fabrication of fiber-reinforced concrete product

Attitudes of Physicians Toward Risk Assessment and Use of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-Csf) As Primary Prophylaxis (Pp) in Patients (Pts) Receiving Chemotherapy with an Intermediate Risk of Febrile Neutropenia (Fn)

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