Spontaneous Venturing

Identifying a new approach to disaster response: spontaneous, compassionate, and impromptu actions to alleviate suffering. In Spontaneous Venturing, Dean Shepherd and Trenton Williams identify and describe a new approach for responding to disaster and suffering: the local organizing of spontaneous, compassionate, and impromptu actions—the rapid emergence of a compassionate venture. This approach, termed by the authors “spontaneous venturing,” can be more effective than the traditional “command-and-control” methods of large disaster relief organizations. It can customize and target resources and deliver them quickly, helping victims almost immediately. For example, during the catastrophic 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia—the focal disaster for the book—residents organized an impromptu relief center that collected and distributed urgently needed goods without red tape. Special bonds and friendships formed among the volunteers and victims; some were both volunteer and victim. Many victims were able to mobilize resources despite considerable personal losses. Shepherd and Williams describe the lasting impact of disaster and tell the stories of Victoria residents who organized in the aftermath of the bushfires. They consider the limitations of traditional disaster relief efforts and explain that when victims take action to help others, they develop behavioral, emotional, and assumptive resilience; venturing leads to social interaction, community connections, and other positive outcomes. Finally, they explore spontaneous venturing in a less-developed country, investigating the activities of Haitians after the devastating 2010 earthquake. The lesson for communities hit by disaster: find opportunities for compassionate action

Resistivity Arrays as an Early Warning System for Monitoring Runoff Holding Ponds

Monitoring wells are installed to intercept contaminants inadvertently discharged from inground structures designed to retain salt-affected wastewaters; however, several difficulties with collection and data interpretation limit their effectiveness. Therefore, improved monitoring methods are needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of resistivity array technology as an early warning system to monitor for unintended basin discharge. Subsurface resistivity arrays were installed at two Nebraska sites: a beef cattle feedyard located at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska (FyA) and a commercial cattle feeding operation (FyB). Monitoring well data did not identify any unintended discharge events during the study period. However, the resistivity array (RA) system detected a discharge event that was localized in the non-saturated zone adjacent to the pond at FyB within one day following a precipitation event. Monitoring the unsaturated portion allows the RA system a capacity beyond traditional monitoring wells, which can only intercept discharge carried in groundwater. Also, the RA system effectively measured a larger area (i.e., a virtual curtain) compared to the point measure typical of monitoring wells. Therefore, RA technology provides broader coverage and is more tolerant to placement issues for intercepting discharge. Finally, the capacity to automate the RA system provides a means to continuously monitor unintended subsurface discharge from runoff holding ponds. This continuous monitoring system is more likely to detect discharge events than the bi-annual sampling typically required for monitoring wells. Automatic and continuous monitoring provides feedyard operators options to better manage environmental impacts associated with runoff holding ponds

Intercalation of Poly[Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Oxalate] into Vanadium Pentoxide Xerogel: Preparation, Characterization and Conductivity Properties

We report, for the first time, the intercalation of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) oxalate] (POEGO) and POEGO lithium salt (LiCF3SO3) complex (POEGO-LiCF3SO3) into vanadium pentoxide xerogel (V2O5nH2O). The effect of changing the polymer concentration on the interlayer expansion of the layered host was studied, and the optimal intercalation ratio was determined to be 1:2. The intercalates were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and AC impedance spectroscopy

The Experience of Master-Level Graduate Students with Prior Professional Experience Enrolled in Student Affairs Graduate Programs

This qualitative thesis explored the experiences of self-identified Master-level graduate students who worked four or more years in higher education before enrolling into a student affairs graduate program. The researcher utilized a sample of six semi-structured student interviews along with a review of relevant literature. The data analysis yielded five themes. The themes that emerged from the data played a role in determining how participants navigated the graduate school experience. The themes are: (a) motivation for returning to graduate school, (b) academia, (c) professional development opportunities, (d) relationships, and (e) cost associated with the program. This study contributes to the understanding of adult learners and their internal and external experience in graduate school. The author suggests ways in which student affairs graduate programs can adapt and improve support for the adult learner population and raises questions about the current curriculum and delivery of services to adult learners