Seismicity from february 2006 to september 2007 at the Rwenzori Mountains, East African Rift: earthquake distribution, magnitudes and source mechanisms

We have analysed the microseismic activity within the Rwenzori Mountains area in the western branch of the East African Rift. Seismogram recordings from a temporary array of up to 27 stations reveal approximately 800 events per month with local magnitudes ranging from –0.5 to 5.1. The earthquake distribution is highly heterogeneous. The majority of located events lie within faults zones to the east and west of the Rwenzoris with the highest seismic activity observed in the northeastern area, where the mountains are in contact with the rift shoulders. The hypocentral depth distribution exhibits a pronounced peak of seismic energy release at 15 km depth. The maximum extent of seismicity ranges from 20 to 32 km and correlates well with Moho depths that were derived from teleseismic receiver functions. We observe two general features: (i) beneath the rift shoulders, seismicity extends from the surface down to ca. 30 km depth; (ii) beneath the rift valley, seismicity is confined to depths greater than 10 km. From the observations there is no indication for a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. The magnitude frequency distribution reveals a b-value of 1.1, which is consistent with the hypothesis that part of the seismicity is caused by magmatic processes within the crust. Fault plane solutions of 304 events were derived from P-polarities and SV/P amplitude ratios. More than 70 % of the source mechanisms exhibit pure or predominantly normal faulting. T-axis trends are highly uniform and oriented WNW–ESE, which is perpendicular to the rift axis and in good agreement with kinematic rift models. At the northernmost part of the region we observe a rotation of the T-axis trends to NEN–SWS, which may be indicative of a local perturbation of the regional stress field

Seismicity at the Rwenzori Mountains, East African Rift: earthquake distribution, magnitudes and source mechanisms

We have analysed the microseismic activity within the Rwenzori Mountains area in the western branch of the East African Rift. Seismogram recordings from a temporary array of up to 27 stations reveal approximately 800 events per month with local magnitudes ranging from –0.5 to 5.1. The earthquake distribution is highly heterogeneous. The majority of located events lie within faults zones to the East and West of the Rwenzoris with the highest seismic activity observed in the northeastern area, where the mountains are in contact with the rift shoulders. The hypocentral depth distribution exhibits a pronounced peak of seismic energy release at 15 km depth. The maximum extent of seismicity ranges from 20 to 32 km and correlates well with Moho depths that were derived from teleseismic receiver functions. We observe two general features: (i) beneath the rift shoulders seismicity extends from the surface down to ca. 30 km depth; (ii) beneath the rift valley seismicity is confined to depths greater than 10 km. From the observations there is no indication for a crustal root beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. The magnitude frequency distribution reveals a b-value of 1.1, which is consistent with the hypothesis that part of the seismicity is caused by magmatic processes within the crust. Fault plane solutions of 304 events were derived from P-polarities and SV/P amplitude ratios. More than 70 % of the source mechanisms exhibit pure or predominantly normal faulting. T-axis trends are highly uniform and oriented WNW-ESE, which is perpendicular to the rift axis and in good agreement with kinematic rift models. At the northernmost part of the region we observe a rotation of the T-axis trends to NEN-SWS, which may be indicative of a local perturbation of the regional stress field

Mediation of Adolescent High-Risk Behaviors: A Curriculum Based Risk Assessment Approach

Adolescence is a developmental period associated with higher levels of impulsive and risky behaviors. Contemporary research has generally considered these high-risk behaviors using two prevalent theoretical perspectives. The first views high-risk behavior in terms of the development of the human brain and related cognitive processing, and the second in terms of how the adolescent experiences and perceives the social and cultural relationships in his or her environment. Both theoretical orientations espouse the view that risky decisions are made in emotionally charged environments, and are usualy impulsive and reactive in nature. While national statistics continue to show that the tendency to engage in risk taking behaviors is a normal aspect of adolescent development, the level of harm these risks pose may potentially be reduced by employing a deliberate riskdeliberation and decision making process. Accordingly, a psycho-educational model for training adolescents in the use of risk assessment procedures prior to engaging in potentially harmful activities (to include driving) is proposed. It is hypothesized that the completion of a risk assessment related in an emotionally neutral time could effectively reduce the propensity for adolescents to engage in impulsive and emotionally charged high-risk behaviors

Natural Counselors : An Assessment of Their Facilitative Abilities

Statement of the problem Within each community there exist individuals who, although untrained in the techniques of therapeutic psychology, are able to facilitate positive growth experiences among their acquaintances. Although research concerning the natural counselor is sparse, current focus on the potential contributions of lay personnel is a closely related area. The problem, then, with which this study is concerned, is the present lack of knowledge regarding those individuals who may be classified as natural counselors. Objective The objective of this study was to assess one aspect of the alternative sources of aid that are available to those individuals who do not utilize professional assistance. Methods and procedure Two groups, each consisting of fifteen persons, were utilized in the study. Members of the first group were professional school counselors whereas the second group was selected from a segment of the community of Logan, Utah. The latter group possessed characteristics which led at least five persons in their neighborhood to nominate them as natural counselors. The professional counselors tape-recorded a counseling session with a student and the natural counselors took part in a role-playing situation with a trained theatre arts student. Both groups held their sessions in an equivalent school setting. Graduate students trained in the utilization of the Berenson-Carkhuff scales, listened to three segments of each tape-recording and rated it on the scales of empathy, genuineness, and concreteness. Numbers were randomly assigned to each tape in order to prevent rater bias. Having one group involved in a natural setting and the other group in an artificial environment, was viewed as a limitation of the study. Rater accuracy was also limited due to the raters\u27 inability to devote more time to the training program; Findings of the study Findings related to each of three hypotheses were presented. None of the F ratios calculated from analysis of variance approached the .05 level of significance, thereby precluding rejection of any of the null hypotheses. Thus statistical analysis confirmed the assumption that no difference existed in the facilitative abilities of a group of professional counselors as compared to a group of untrained persons. Summary and conclusions Rater inter-reliability did not approach a level that is usually necessary for adequate interpretation of the results. This was attributed to either inconsistency in the raters, or to homogeneity of the two groups. By accepting the second proposition, a number of pertinent issues were reviewed. At any rate, to the extent that the scales utilized do measure counseling variables, the conclusions of the study supported the notion that a number of untrained persons in a given community would be as effective in aiding others as are professional counselors. Non-objective data gained from a survey given to the natural counselors indicated that this group evidenced equivalent educational levels a s those achieved by their professional counterparts. Additionally, they were local residents for many years and possessed a wealth of diverse experiences, both of which could add to the counselor-client interchang

Entertaining our way to engagement? Climate change films and sustainable development values

How we communicate about climate change shapes our response tothe most complex and challenging issue society currently faces. In this paper,we conduct a discursive analysis and ideological critique of stereotypicalrepresentations in three climate change films: The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy (2008) and An Inconvenient Truth (2006).We argue that these films situate their treatment of climate change in anarrative context that reiterates troubling stereotypes about race/ethnicity,gender, and sexuality. These representations do not align with key sustainabledevelopment goals such as equity, freedom, and shared responsibility. Ouressay demonstrates how the stories we consume about climate change as weentertain ourselves potentially influence our sense of the world, guide ourrelationships to one another and impact our collective abilities to create a sustainable future

Growing Maine’s Foodscape, Growing Maine’s Future

Maine is experiencing a culinary renaissance. Creativity and entrepreneurship linked with culture and tradition are making Maine a food destination and a unique “foodscape.” Laura Lindenfeld and Linda Silka explore this convergence and its poten­tial to create jobs, protect assets, and support commu­nity values