The Scholarship and Praxis of Communication Ethics: Rhetorical Interruptions in Historical Narratives

Creating a praxis model for performing communication ethics scholarship is important in Postmodernity, as a multiplicity of narratives requires knowledgeable life-long learners who are willing to understand historicity and one\u27s place within traditions. This study relies on Alasdair MacIntyre\u27s seminal work, A Short History of Ethics, as it provides an historical lineage of Western philosophers who wrote about ethics within the time span from ancient Greece, to modern day. Major metaphors are extracted from the works of these philosophers as guiding hermeneutical entrances into historical and temporally bound narratives, used as the praxis portion of this work. Narratives, epics and poetry, including Homer\u27s Odyssey, Dante\u27s Inferno, Voltaire\u27s Candide, and Albert Camus\u27s The Plague, are used as praxis examples for communication ethics. Through the works of these scholars, authors, and poets, a philosophical discussion ensues on communication ethics bound within the historicity of Ancient Greece, Medieval Christianity, the Enlightenment and Modernity. This work identifies various rhetorical interruptions experienced by those societies within Western thought and the effect on communities, religious institutions, and governments. Throughout this work, historicity is understood through the use of novels as they relate to the philosophy of communication ethics set within historical traditions. Through stories, one can find the ground on which to stand in the 21st century, and ethically communicate with others in Postmodernity. MacIntyre suggests that the exercise of virtues will allow one to join in a tradition or continue within a tradition in which one is already embedded. Communication ethics is part of the dialogue that develops within societies and needs to be understood within the stories and narratives of Postmodernity

Report on the Status of Payday Lending in California

Provides an overview of storefront and Internet payday lending in California, its effects, state and federal laws and regulations, and reform efforts. Includes recommendations for state and local policy, banking access, and consumer education

Consistencies and inconsistencies in the application and mechanisms of corporate social responsibility: a case study approach to seeking clarification

While the idea of corporate responsibility emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, awareness of the ideas that comprise Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has increased over the last few years. Although there are numerous CSR reviews published, and despite increasing public awareness regarding CSR, a unified definition and framework remain elusive. The problem is that many leaders do not understand CSR and are simply not integrating it into their strategic management process. The purpose of this qualitative research case study was to explore and examine consistencies and inconsistencies in the application and mechanisms of CSR by examining the extent that CSR activities are being implemented in various companies. The study examined the concept of CSR and investigated what CSR activities are being used and how corporations are implementing them into practice. The literature review presents a stakeholder analysis, an ethical and transformational relationship, a process for organizational interest and evaluation, and examines the firm Bayer AG. The case study parameters include two methods: Interviews and documentary analysis. With the purpose of answering the primary research question for this study and utilizing the method of data collection for this qualitative case, 10 participants were contacted and interviewed with approved semi-structured open-ended questions. The interview process explored and analyzed targeted CSR stakeholders’ activities, beliefs, and understanding. After collecting, analyzing, and reflecting upon the data collected, the researched generated or inductively and inductively developed four prominent themes. Implications of these findings, final thoughts, and the researcher’s application of a conceptual framework was created in the hope that this manuscript contributes to the literature on CSR

Characterization of sediments and mussels to determine if oil and metal contamination is affecting the scallop population in Port au Port Bay, NL

This study investigated whether the decline of the scallop fishery in Port au Port Bay, Newfoundland was caused by hydrocarbon contamination. Potential hydrocarbon contaminants and sediments were chemically characterized for their organic and inorganic components. A new method for extracting sediment samples using accelerated solvent extraction was developed and applied to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes from sediment samples. Water samples were chemically characterized for signs of inorganic and organic contamination. Since there were no scallops present at the study sites, mussels were used as a proxy organism. Mussels were analyzed for contaminants, Δ¹⁴C, and their health indices. No signs of contamination in the sediments, water, or mussels were detected. This data suggested the decline of the scallop fishery in Port au Port Bay cannot be explained by petroleum hydrocarbons from the leaking oil well

Taking Informed Action in Challenging Times: Helping Community Foundations during Economic Downturn

Following up on CF Insights' November 2008 report "Making Informed Decisions in Uncertain Times", this report is aimed at helping community foundations take informed action in relation to their operating models and community activities in reaction to the economic slump. The findings are based on quantitative and qualitative research conducted with 95 community foundations during the spring of 2009. The research findings overall underscore that the field has been able to "make lemonade" from the crisis. In light of tepid expectations for assets and gifts for the rest of 2009, community foundations are being creative and thoughtful in how they allocate precious resources andstep up their community leadership.

Human Trafficking by the Numbers: The Initial Benchmark of Prevalence and Economic Impact for Texas

Prevalence HighlightsCurrently, there are approximately 79,000 minor and youth victims of sex trafficking in Texas.Currently, there are approximately 234,000 workers who are victims of labor trafficking in Texas.Currently, there arean estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas.Cost HighlightsMinor and youth sex trafficking costs the state of Texas approximately $6.6 billion. Traffickers exploit approximately$600 million from victims of labor trafficking in Texas.BackgroundThough human trafficking is widespread in geographically large states with large urban centers like Texas, the true scope of this hidden crime is largely unconfirmed as data on human trafficking are difficult to ascertain. Existing data gathered in anti-trafficking efforts focus almost exclusively on identified victims, shedding light on only a fraction of the problem. The first phase of the Statewide Human Trafficking Mapping Project of Texas focused on providing empiricallygrounded data as a benchmark about the extent of human trafficking across the state. The following three primary research questions guided our data collection efforts, which included queries of existing databases, interviews, focus groups, and web-based surveys.1.What is the prevalence of human trafficking in Texas?2.What is the economic impact of human trafficking in Texas?3.What is our understanding of human trafficking in Texas?MethodsThe findings in this report were derived using a multi-methods approach to quantify the prevalence and economic impact of human trafficking in Texas. Higher-than-average risk industry and community segments were chosen for sex and labor markets. We defined community segments asgroups of people considered to be at higher-than-average risk of trafficking because of risk indicators found in trafficking cases (e.g. homelessness). More specifically, rather than attempting to establish prevalence of trafficking among the 27.4 million people living in Texas, for the purposes of demonstrating our methodology, establishing some benchmarks on human trafficking prevalence and economic impact estimates, and providing a concrete example of our planned activities moving forward, victimization rates were applied to a select few community segments that are at higher-than-average risk of trafficking.The methodology has addressed the critical industry and community segments to accurately estimate prevalencewhile reducing overlap between the chosen segments

Self-reported Needs of Youth and Families: Informing System Change and Advocacy Efforts

This study sought to explore caregiver-reported needs of youth and families receiving services within a System of Care (SOC). Data were collected to augment the in-depth, standardized interview protocols that are part of the National Evaluation of SOCs in order to identify gaps in the local delivery of services and supports to youth with severe emotional and/or behavioral disorders and their families. Primary caregivers of youth receiving services within the SOC were asked to report on the current need(s) of the youth and the current need(s) of the family. These open-ended responses were coded and examined for themes.  The most common needs of the youth were Services and Life Management, while the most common needs of the family were Services and Financial.  Focus groups conducted with youth and caregivers confirmed these themes.  Findings from this study shed light on the diverse needs of these families, indicate that families believe they are not receiving adequate supports and services, underscore that youth have distinct views, and highlight that providing a way for the typically disenfranchised youth and families to express their perspective is central to the functioning of SOCs.  Study findings were used by a local nonprofit organization to inform their advocacy efforts, and were incorporated into an enrollment process at a local mental health agency are part of a programmatic change pilot effort

Self-reported Needs of Youth and Families: Informing System Change and Advocacy Efforts

This study sought to explore caregiver-reported needs of youth and families receiving services within a System of Care (SOC). Data were collected to augment the in-depth, standardized interview protocols that are part of the National Evaluation of SOCs in order to identify gaps in the local delivery of services and supports to youth with severe emotional and/or behavioral disorders and their families. Primary caregivers of youth receiving services within the SOC were asked to report on the current need(s) of the youth and the current need(s) of the family. These open-ended responses were coded and examined for themes.  The most common needs of the youth were Services and Life Management, while the most common needs of the family were Services and Financial.  Focus groups conducted with youth and caregivers confirmed these themes.  Findings from this study shed light on the diverse needs of these families, indicate that families believe they are not receiving adequate supports and services, underscore that youth have distinct views, and highlight that providing a way for the typically disenfranchised youth and families to express their perspective is central to the functioning of SOCs.  Study findings were used by a local nonprofit organization to inform their advocacy efforts, and were incorporated into an enrollment process at a local mental health agency are part of a programmatic change pilot effort

Effects of Simulated Altitude on Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Inspiratory Fitness

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(1): 128-136, 2017 Aerobic exercise at altitude has shown an increase in maximal oxygen uptake. Similar effects have been replicated by way of simulated altitude training, which have influenced various advances in the field of exercise science. Elevation Training Masks© (ETM) claim to stimulate cardiorespiratory fitness improvements similar to training at altitude, however, there is little research to support this claim. The purpose of this study was to research the effect that a hypoxia-inducing mask would have on cardiorespiratory fitness and pulmonary function through the use of a high intensity interval training (HIIT) running program. Seventeen subjects were randomized into either the control group, without the mask, or experimental group, with the mask, and participated in a 6-week HIIT protocol of 4 sessions per week. Each session included a warm up, followed by intervals of running at 80% of their heart rate reserve (HRR) for 90 seconds and followed by 3 minutes of active rest at 50-60% of HRR. A total of 6 intervals were completed per session. Within subjects, there was a significant increase in predicted VO2max (F(1,17)=7.376, P\u3c.05). However, there was no significant difference in predicted VO2max between the control and experimental groups (F(1, 17)=3.669, p= .075). Forced inspiratory vital capacity demonstrated no significant difference within subjects (F(1, 17)= .073, p \u3e .05), or between the two groups (F(1, 17)= 3.724, p= .073). Similar to the VO2max results, forced vital capacity demonstrated a significant increase within subjects (F(1, 17)=6.201, p\u3c.05), but there was no significant difference between the control and experimental groups (F(1,17)=3.562, p= .079). Although the between groups data was not significant, there was a greater increase in the experimental group wearing the ETM compared to the control group not wearing the mask for all 3 variables. Data suggest that HIIT training can be a viable method of improving VO2max and pulmonary function however, training masks such as the ETM may not lead to greater overall improvements