Leisure Remix: Hip Hop\u27s Impact on Re-framing Leisure

The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into how perceptions of being part of the hip-hop culture affect leisure and its constructs. Defining leisure and its constructs remains a perpetual task of leisure researchers (Berryman, 2000). The emergence of Hip-Hop culture as a major global phenomenon and lifestyle for youth has drawn the attention of scholars across disciplines (Dyson, 2005; Russell, 2005). Its trappings include unique clothing, music, leisure pursuits, language and attitudes toward “free time.” Despite the indelible impact Hip-Hop has made upon American and global society, the body of literature related to hip-hop and leisure is sparse. Leisure researchers (Fox 2000, 2006; Lashua & Fox, 2006; Philipp, 2000; Zuefle, 2006) argue that there must be a thorough examination of leisure and its constructs through the cultural experience of the Hip Hop generation. For example, the slang word „chillin‟ can be used synonymously with classical definitions of leisure to define the state of “being at leisure” or can be utilized as a construct. Data were collected from non-leisure studies majors at a Southern university (n=70) in the United States, and also from students attending high schools in the southern part of the United States (n=90). The research instrument consisted of demographic information and an open-ended question section. Data were analyzed using SPSS, QDA Miner, and WordStat. The findings showed a strong connection with the word „chillin‟ which is affiliated with the slang terminology used in the hip-hop culture

The Evolution of Workplace Advice

Defined contribution (DC) pension plans have helped many individuals accumulate assets for retirement. However, DC plans do not typically offer retirement income options. We first consider the question of whether DC plans offer retirement income advantages compared to retail options. We find that DC plans advantages include costs, access and efficacy. However, successfully extending DC plans into the income phase of retirement requires recognizing the importance of choice. Companies choose what features to offer in their 401(k) plan, and individuals choose whether to avail themselves of available options. The remainder of the paper explores some of the key aspects of company and individual preferences that must be recognized if successful policies and income options are to be developed for DC plans and participants

Cow-Calf Producer Interest in Retained Ownership

The beef industry’s share of domestic meat demand continues to decline, as increasing vertical coordination in pork and poultry contribute to these industries’ ability to offer convenient, consistent, and less expensive products. For such vertical coordination to be effective, incentives must be properly aligned so that those responsible for making the most important investments for system profitability are appropriately compensated. This study demonstrates that cow-calf producers who invest in quality registered cattle and those who are interested in incorporating feedlot and carcass data into herd management decisions are also more interested in retained ownership.beef cattle, property rights theory, retained ownership, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing, Q13,

It’s Not Where You Start, It’s How You Finish: Predicting Law School and Bar Success

In this study, we examine the extent to which academic and student engagement factors explain law school grades and first-time bar exam performance. Applying fixed effects linear and logit modeling, our analysis leverages law student transcript data and responses to the Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) among students from a diverse group of 20 law schools to estimate academic performance and odds of bar passage. Most notably, we find that GPA improvement during law school is associated with greater odds of passing the bar exam, particularly among students who struggle the most during the first semester. Furthermore, while we find that LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA are predictive (p < 0.05) of both law school performance and bar success (as in previous research), these effects are quite modest. Based on these findings, we propose and discuss several recommendations. These should be helpful to higher education scholars and practitioners, particularly law school deans, administrators, faculty, and academic support staff

Twenty-One Millisecond Pulsars in Terzan 5 Using the Green Bank Telescope

We have discovered 21 millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in the globular cluster Terzan 5 using the Green Bank Telescope, bringing the total of known MSPs in Terzan 5 to 24. These discoveries confirm fundamental predictions of globular cluster and binary system evolution. Thirteen of the new MSPs are in binaries, of which two show eclipses and two have highly eccentric orbits. The relativistic periastron advance for the two eccentric systems indicates that at least one of these pulsars has a mass >1.68 Msun at 95% confidence. Such large neutron star masses constrain the equation of state of matter at or beyond the nuclear equilibrium density.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by Science. Published electronically via Science Express 13 Jan 200

Refining the Morning Covey-Call Survey to Estimate Northern Bobwhite Abundance

Morning covey-call surveys have been mentioned extensively as a practical and efficient way to estimate abundance of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) with minimal effort. However, many of the protocol specifics such as radius of audibility and probability of a covey calling were not based on empirical data. Other limitations also existed such as variation in observers’ detection capacity and calling behavior of coveys. These shortcomings limit the reliability of this survey technique. The objectives of our study were to 1) obtain an empirical estimate of radius of audibility, 2) document observer variability in estimating number of coveys heard, and 3) document calling behavior of bobwhite coveys. We found no difference in radius of audibility for areas with low-brush density (6%; 956 ± 72m; mean ± SE; n = 4 observers) and high-brush density (30%; 931 ± 66 m). We calculated an overall radius of audibility of 900 m (254 ha) pooled across sites. We documented considerable observer variability (CV 18-49%; n = 12 observers) in detecting coveys. Regarding calling behavior, we observed that 67% ± 9.0 (n = 30 coveys) of coveys emitted the covey-call during 2004 whereas 88% ± 7.8 (n = 17 coveys) of coveys emitted the covey-call during 2005. Of the coveys that called, 70% ± 10.2 in 2004 and 93% ± 6.4 in 2005 involved \u3e1 bird calling/covey. Our findings allow for a refinement of the morning covey-call survey. We recommend obtaining site-specific radius of audibility and using a core number of observers that remain consistent from year to year

First Direct Double-Beta Decay Q-value Measurement of 82Se in Support of Understanding the Nature of the Neutrino

In anticipation of results from current and future double-beta decay studies, we report a measurement resulting in a 82Se double-beta decay Q-value of 2997.9(3) keV, an order of magnitude more precise than the currently accepted value. We also present preliminary results of a calculation of the 82Se neutrinoless double-beta decay nuclear matrix element that corrects in part for the small size of the shell model single-particle space. The results of this work are important for designing next generation double-beta decay experiments and for the theoretical interpretations of their observations.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter