Volunteer Management Analysis for the City of Las Vegas

The City of Las Vegas current volunteer management program is unable to provide effective administration of its volunteers. We will discuss what type of volunteer management program would work best for the City of Las Vegas? Volunteer management models were examined to determine what best practices can be adopted by the City of Las Vegas. Research shows a correlation between citizen engagement, volunteerism in the community, and a better quality of life for citizens in communities that have active volunteer programs. Thirty-six jurisdictions were surveyed, most of which are in the Western United States, with four jurisdictions being highlighted. The two predominate models that were discovered were centralized and decentralized volunteer management models. A decentralized model allows jurisdictions the flexibility to allow individual departments to oversee their volunteer activities. A centralized model establishes a citywide volunteer coordinator which oversees most volunteer activities for a jurisdiction. Findings indicate that having a centralized program with a citywide volunteer coordinator can be beneficial to overall management of volunteer efforts and reporting those activities to the governing body

Thermopower peak in phase transition region of (1-x)La2/3_{2/3}Ca1/3_{1/3}MnO3_{3}/xYSZ

The thermoelectric power (TEP) and the electrical resistivity of the intergranular magnetoresistance (IGMR) composite, (1-x)La$_{2/3}$Ca$_{1/3}$MnO$_{3}$/xYSZ (LCMO/YSZ) with x = 0, 0.75%, 1.25%, 4.5%, 13% 15% and 80% of the yttria-stabalized zirconia (YSZ), have been measured from 300 K down to 77 K. Pronounced TEP peak appears during the phase transition for the samples of x $>$ 0, while not observed for x = 0. We suggest that this is due to the magnetic structure variation induced by the lattice strain which is resulting from the LCMO/YSZ boundary layers. The transition width in temperature derived from $d\chi/dT$, with $\chi$ being the AC magnetic susceptibility, supports this interpretation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figures, Latex, J. Appl. Phys 94, 7206 (2003

Collaborative and competitive strategies in the variability and resiliency of large-scale societies in Mesoamerica

Examinations of the variation and duration of past large-scale societies have long involved a conceptual struggle between efforts at generalization and the unraveling of specific trajectories. Although historical particulars are critical to understanding individual cases, there exist both scientific and policy rationales for drawing broader implications regarding the growing corpus of cross-cultural data germane to understanding variability in the constitution of human societies, past and present. Archaeologists have recently paid increased attention to successes and failures in communal-resource management over the long term, as articulated by the transdisciplinary theory on cooperation and collective action. In this article, we consider frameworks that have been traditionally employed in studies of the rise, diversity, and fall of large-scale preindustrial aggregations. We suggest that a comparative theoretical perspective that foregrounds collective-action problems, unaligned individual and group interests, and the social mechanisms that promote or hamper cooperation advances our understanding of variability in these early cooperative arrangements. We apply such a perspective to an examination of cities from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica to demonstrate tendencies for more collective systems to be larger and longer lasting than less collective ones, likely reflecting greater resiliency in the face of the ecological and cultural perturbations specific to the region and era

Mathematical Model of Easter Island Society Collapse

In this paper we consider a mathematical model for the evolution and collapse of the Easter Island society, starting from the fifth century until the last period of the society collapse (fifteen century). Based on historical reports, the available primary sources consisted almost exclusively on the trees. We describe the inhabitants and the resources as an isolated system and both considered as dynamic variables. A mathematical analysis about why the structure of the Easter Island community collapse is performed. In particular, we analyze the critical values of the fundamental parameters driving the interaction humans-environment and consequently leading to the collapse. The technological parameter, quantifying the exploitation of the resources, is calculated and applied to the case of other extinguished civilization (Cop\'an Maya) confirming, with a sufficiently precise estimation, the consistency of the adopted model.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, final version published on EuroPhysics Letter

(-)-Englerin A-evoked Cytotoxicity is Mediated by Na+ Influx and Counteracted by Na+/K+-ATPase

(-)-Englerin A ((-)-EA) has a rapid and potent cytotoxic effect on several types of cancer cell that is mediated by plasma membrane ion channels containing Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 4 protein (TRPC4). Since these channels are Ca2+ permeable it was initially thought that the cytotoxicity arose as a consequence of Ca2+ overload. Here we show that this is not the case and that the effect of (-)-EA is mediated by a heteromer of TRPC4 and TRPC1 proteins. Both TRPC4 and TRPC1 were required for (-)-EA cytotoxicity, however, although TRPC4 was necessary for the (-)-EA-evoked Ca2+-elevation, TRPC1 was not. TRPC1 either had no role or was a negative regulator of Ca2+ entry. By contrast, both TRPC4 and TRPC1 were necessary for monovalent cation entry evoked by (-)-EA and (-)-EA-evoked cell death was dependent upon entry of the monovalent cation Na+. We therefore hypothesized that Na+/K+-ATPase might act protectively by counteracting the Na+ load resulting from sustained Na+ entry. Indeed, inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase by ouabain potently and strongly increased (-)-EA-evoked cytotoxicity. The data suggest that (-)-EA achieves cancer cell cytotoxicity by inducing sustained Na+ entry through heteromeric TRPC1/TRPC4 channels and that the cytotoxic effect of (-)-EA can be potentiated by Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition

Impact of a Kinesthetic Learning Model on Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Knowledge in African American Middle School Girls

This study examines the impact of a femalized Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Kinesthetic Learning Model (fAEC-KLM) intervention on the AEC knowledge of African American middle school girls. Fourteen (14) middle school girls completed both pre- and post-surveys and tests that assessed their knowledge of AEC concepts, including roles and responsibilities, gender and racial diversity, and salary benefits. Paired-sample t-tests were utilized to evaluate statistically significant differences in knowledge before and after fAEC-KLM intervention. Results showed notable improvements in students\u27 knowledge of AEC salary and benefits, as well as the underrepresentation of females, particularly African American females, and AEC roles and responsibilities, demonstrating that the intervention effectively increased awareness of AEC careers and the financial rewards. While the fAEC-KLM intervention positively influenced certain aspects of AEC knowledge, further refinement of assessment tools and expanded sample size are needed to assess the intervention\u27s effectiveness fully

Hubungan Kebiasaan Merokok dengan Tekanan Darah pada Siswa SMK N 1 Padang

Hipertensi dapat mengganggu fungsi organ lain terutama organ vital seperti jantung dan ginjal. Hipertensi tidak hanya menyerang di usia tua saja, tetapi juga remaja. Merokok merupakan salah satu faktor pencetus hipertensi. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara kebiasaan merokok dan tekanan darah pada siswa SMK N 1 Padang. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian analitik dengan desain cross-sectional. Sampel penelitian ini adalah 111 orang siswa kelas XI SMK N 1 Padang. Penilaian status merokok dengan menggunakan kuesioner Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) yang telah disadur dan digabungkan dengan indeks Brinkman dan penilaian tekanan darah dengan sphygmomanometer air raksa serta stetoskop. Hasil penelitian didapatkan siswa bukan perokok sebanyak 68 orang (61,3%) dan perokok ringan sebanyak 43 orang (38,7%). Rata- rata tekanan darah sistolik siswa sebesar 112,57 mmHg dan tekanan darah diastolik siswa sebesar 70,05 mmHg. Didapatkan tekanan darah sistolik perokok ringan lebih rendah 2,1 mmHg dibandingkan bukan perokok dan tekanan diastolik perokok ringan lebih rendah 2,92 mmHg dibandingkan bukan perokok. Hasil analisis data statistik kebiasaan merokok dengan tekanan darah sistolik didapatkan p = 0,15. Hasil analisis data statistik kebiasaan merokok dengan tekanan darah disatolik didapatkan p = 0,078. Sedangkan hasil analisis data statistik kebiasaan merokok dengan mean arterial pressure (MAP) didapatkan p = 0,094, Simpulan penelitian ini menunjukan tidak terdapat hubungan kebiasaan merokok dengan tekanan darah sistolik, tekanan darah diastolik dan MAP

Perspectives and Post-release Experiences of Convicted African American Women Drug Offenders

Prisons in the United States are full to capacity because of the revolving doors created by recidivism. African American women comprise a significant proportion of those who return to prison, yet most studies about women and recidivism focus on the experiences of white women. The communities into which formerly incarcerated African American women are released do not make things easier in terms of the potential for reoffending because of the difficult access to good jobs, safe housing, good health care services, and assistance with child cares services. Using Cullen\u27s social support theory as the foundation, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the perspectives and post-release experiences of participants while living in their community. Fourteen African American ex-convicted women, ages 18 to 55 who reside in a large mid-Atlantic city participated in open-ended interviews to further explore the social factors related to recidivism. These data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Key findings include that success is tied to a sense of self, most participants expressed a sense of gratitude for their success, and that family, friends, government support, and the effects of rehabilitation programs contribute to success in living in communities after release from prison. The positive social change implications of this study include recommendations to correctional officials to focus on strengthening opportunities for pro-social interactions with appropriate support systems including working with other government agencies to reach out to formerly incarcerated African American women for services that are unique to their needs and circumstances. These efforts may improve public safety through reductions in future crimes

Conflicts Over Extractivist Policy and the Forest Frontier in Central America

Central America is characterized by an asymmetric forest transition in which net deforestation is a product of both forest loss and patches of forest resurgence. Forest loss is also associated with rights violations. We explore the extent to which extractive industry and infrastructure investments create pressure on forest resources, community rights and livelihoods. Drivers of this investment are identified, in particular: constitutional, legislative and regulatory reforms; energy policies; new financial flows; and ideas of development emphasizing the centrality of infrastructure in combining geographical integration and economic growth. We discuss forms of contentious action that have emerged in response to these pressures, asking how far and in what ways this contention has elicited changes in the policies that govern investment and extractive industry, and how far such changes might reduce pressure on Central America\u27s remaining forest cover. The paper develops a conceptual framework for analysing relationships among contention, policy change and the resilience of policy changes