Mountains and Marijuana: Motivations of Visitors to Colorado

Legal sales of retail marijuana began in Colorado on January 1, 2014. At this time a new market of marijuana tourists was born. The purpose of this study was to better understand marijuana tourists: their characteristics, behavior, and motivations. Marijuana stores and the tourist destinations where they are located can benefit from targeting this niche market. As more states continue to legalize retail marijuana, this research can be useful in various geographical regions in the US

The Influence of Mindfulness During the Travel Anticipation Phase on Search and Choice Behaviors, Search and Choice Outcomes, and Trip Evaluations

Anticipation is the first travel phase (Clawson & Knetsch, 1966) and consists of the vacation planning process. Tourists may exhibit varying levels of mindfulness during this phase. Mindfulness is associated with analytic decision making through a heightened sensitivity to one\u27s environment and openness to new information (Langer & Moldoveanu, 2000). This study considered the influence that mindfulness during the travel anticipation phase has on: search and choice behaviors, search and choice outcomes, and trip evaluations. Analysis was also conducted to determine if there was a significant influence on the relationships based on the mediating effect of the amount of the trip was planned in advance. Moderation was tested to determine if interactions existed based on whether the tourist selected a destination that was novel, and whether the tourist considered that area to be the primary destination for their trip. The results of the analysis found that mindfulness during the travel anticipation phase had significant positive influences on the source variety, the level of enjoyment, the level of confidence, satisfaction, behavioral loyalty, and attitudinal loyalty. Mediation effects found that the amount of the trip that was planned in advance had a significant influence on the relationship between mindfulness and the planning horizon, enjoyment, and satisfaction. Moderating effects were found between mindfulness and attitudinal loyalty for people visiting a novel destination, and between mindfulness and planning horizon for people who were in their primary destination. The study confirmed that mindfulness during the anticipation phase influenced the travel experience

Developmental Evolution of the Progamic Phase in Nymphaeales

The period between pollination and fertilization, or the progamic phase, is a critical life history stage in seed plants and innovations in this life history stage are hypothesized to have played an important role in the diversification of flowering plants. Over the course of this dissertation research, I investigated programic phase development in Nymphaeales (water lilies), an ancient angiosperm lineage that diverged from the basalmost or next most basal node of the angiosperm phylogenetic tree and that is represented in the oldest angiosperm fossil record. I used field experiments and microscopy to document pollination biology, breeding system, and reproductive developmental traits in two families of Nymphaeales: Cabombaceae (Brasenia, Cabomba) and Hydatellaceae (Trithuria). Nymphaeales exhibits considerable variation in reproductive traits and true carpel closure, wind-pollination, and a primarily selfing breeding system have arisen independently in the lineage. Pollen tube pathway length, timing of stigma receptivity, and pollen tube growth rates are conspicuous traits that have undergone considerable modification in concert with shifts in pollination biology and breeding system. Post-pollination developmental processes in Nymphaeales appear to experience selective pressures similar to those experienced by more derived angiosperms and to evolve in similar ways. Nymphaeales also exhibits traits, such as accelerated pollen tube growth, callosic pollen tube walls, and the formation of callose plugs, that are almost certainly plesiomorphic in angiosperms and may have facilitated modification of carpel structure and progamic phase ontogenies. The finding that pollen tube traits that underlie developmental flexibility were already in place before the divergence of Nymphaeales supports the hypothesis that innovations in male gametophyte development were instrumental in facilitating early angiosperm diversification

Correctional officers\u27 response to stress: an exploration of the associations between violence and trauma exposure, coping mechanisms, and PTSD.

The current study examines correctional officer coping mechanisms and whether they impact the likelihood of an officer developing PTSD symptoms. Additionally, research questions focus on whether problem-focused or emotion-focused coping mechanisms moderate the relationship between exposure to trauma and PTSD symptoms. The data for the current dissertation comes from a larger National Institute of Justice grant determined to examine mindfulness as an intervention for correctional officer PTSD within Kentucky Department of Corrections. Approximately 245 officers from seven adult institutions participated in the study and completed a lengthy survey. Main variables for the current analysis include two dependent variables, both of which measure PTSD symptoms. Key independent variables come from a coping assessment, the Violence, Injury, and Death Exposure Scale (VIDES), and controls such as age, gender, marital status, security level, correctional experience, and rank are also included. Results indicated that there were multiple problem- and emotion-focused coping mechanisms directly related to PTSD symptoms among officers. Analyses revealed only one coping mechanism, denial, significantly moderated the relationship between exposure to trauma and PTSD symptoms as reported in one PTSD assessment. Implications and directions for future research are also discussed

Curating a Gallery of Crisis Engagement: Analysis of User Generated Content of the 416 Fire on Instagram

This study identifies how communication, specifically social media communication, can be used as a platform of engagement and participation by individuals impacted by a crisis, but not directly involved in the management process. Utilizing the context of the 416 Fire in the summer of 2018 in southwest Colorado, the analysis of user generated content shared on Instagram suggests that social media communication in a crisis is a response strategy in which each individual sharing photos/posts is engaging with the crisis in a way that invokes reflection. The findings showcase how social media sharing is a means of engaging with and through the crisis in an effort to connect, reflect, share, and contribute to the crisis management efforts. Understanding the dynamic processes of communication associated with crises, notably climate related crises, is important for tourism scholars, industry professionals, and policy-makers in an effort to identify and reduce impact on related communities

Toxicological Impacts of River Chemical Spills in Affected West Virginia Counties

Factors such as geographical location/proximity and exposure to external environmental events, as well as poor regulatory processes, are known to increase the risk for cancers among affected populations. There is still a gap in the literature related to the incidence of cancers in specific regions with heavy industrialization and environmental health hazards. In West Virginia, chemical contamination events have occurred in or near water systems. The goal of this quantitative, retrospective study was to discover whether there were any differences in the incidence of disease or adverse health effects and cancers due to chemical contamination in four counties (Kanawha, Mingo, Putnam, and Wood) that border the Elk, Ohio, Kanawha, and Tug Fork Rivers, and in bordering counties. The conceptual framework was the epidemiological triangle. Secondary, archived data regarding incidence of cancers was primarily collected from the state Department of Health and Human Resources. Using analysis of variance, results revealed a significant association between proximity to chemical contamination and kidney cancer in Kanawha and Mingo counties, as well as breast and soft tissue cancers in Putnam County. Implications for positive social change include providing key insights for rural-dwelling individuals and/or communities directly or indirectly affected by environmental contamination events that can potentially reduce risk of certain diseases

The Influence of Mindfulness During the Travel Anticipation Phase on Search and Choice Behaviors, Search and Choice Outcomes, and Trip Evaluations

Tourists exhibit varying levels of mindfulness during the travel anticipation phase, when they are engaged in vacation planning (Clawson & Knetsch, 1966). Mindfulness is associated with analytic decision making through a heightened sensitivity to one’s environment and openness to new information (Langer & Moldoveanu, 2000). This study considered the influence that mindfulness during the travel anticipation phase has on: search and choice behaviors (planning horizon, size of the choice set, information source variety), search and choice outcomes (planning enjoyment, confidence in destination choice), and trip evaluations (satisfaction, behavioral loyalty, attitudinal loyalty). Additional analysis was conducted for mediating and moderating effects based on how much of the trip was planned in advance, whether the tourist visited a repeat or new destination, and whether the tourist considered the area to be their primary destination. The results of the study confirmed that mindfulness during the anticipation phase influenced the travel experience

Scenarios for the development of smart grids in the UK: literature review

Smart grids are expected to play a central role in any transition to a low-carbon energy future, and much research is currently underway on practically every area of smart grids. However, it is evident that even basic aspects such as theoretical and operational definitions, are yet to be agreed upon and be clearly defined. Some aspects (efficient management of supply, including intermittent supply, two-way communication between the producer and user of electricity, use of IT technology to respond to and manage demand, and ensuring safe and secure electricity distribution) are more commonly accepted than others (such as smart meters) in defining what comprises a smart grid. It is clear that smart grid developments enjoy political and financial support both at UK and EU levels, and from the majority of related industries. The reasons for this vary and include the hope that smart grids will facilitate the achievement of carbon reduction targets, create new employment opportunities, and reduce costs relevant to energy generation (fewer power stations) and distribution (fewer losses and better stability). However, smart grid development depends on additional factors, beyond the energy industry. These relate to issues of public acceptability of relevant technologies and associated risks (e.g. data safety, privacy, cyber security), pricing, competition, and regulation; implying the involvement of a wide range of players such as the industry, regulators and consumers. The above constitute a complex set of variables and actors, and interactions between them. In order to best explore ways of possible deployment of smart grids, the use of scenarios is most adequate, as they can incorporate several parameters and variables into a coherent storyline. Scenarios have been previously used in the context of smart grids, but have traditionally focused on factors such as economic growth or policy evolution. Important additional socio-technical aspects of smart grids emerge from the literature review in this report and therefore need to be incorporated in our scenarios. These can be grouped into four (interlinked) main categories: supply side aspects, demand side aspects, policy and regulation, and technical aspects.