Environment

Applications of remote sensing technology to wildlife preservation, pest control, strip mining, water quality monitoring, and wetlands mapping were discussed. Economic, political and social factors were also considered

Sound effects: Measuring the impact of aircraft noise on residential property values around McCarran International Airport

The airline industry is investing billions of dollars to adhere to the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. The Act requires airlines to reconfigure 100% of their fleets with quieter aircraft. This regulation is based in part on studies conducted around airport facilities which indicated a negative impact from noise on residential property values; The purpose of this paper is to review the issue of aircraft noise and its impact on residential property, specifically single-family homes. It discusses the use of hedonic functional forms in measuring the effect of aircraft noise around a major airport facility. The empirical analysis concludes that a low, negative impact on single-family residences can be expected as a result of aircraft noise exposure around McCarran International Airport

Workplace creativity and motivation among counselors in a residential summer camp setting

The following dissertation includes an overarching introduction and three conceptually linked articles described below. First, the introduction describes the educational and programmatic components of summer camp, a non-formal educational setting, based on the foundational writing of educational philosopher John Dewey. The introduction also identifies key definitions, concepts, and theoretical frameworks related to outdoor education, creativity, and motivation. The three articles, briefly described below, are self-contained and include distinct introductions, discussions, and implications for future research. Article 1. Summer camp is often anecdotally described as a context which may support creativity due to its unique programmatic features. For instance, residential summer camps are often located in natural setting, provide varied activities, and lack distracting technology. These features may provide ample opportunities for camp participants to try new things and exercise their own creativity. However, only two empirical studies have specifically explored creativity in a summer camp context. This article contains two sections which aim to unpack the mechanisms of summer camp being considered a creative venue for participants. Part one provides a theoretical foundation which includes a brief historical review of summer camp and psychological components of creativity. Part two positions Sociocultural theory, dynamic system approach to novelty, and communities of practice as theoretical foundations for creativity in the context of summer camp. Ultimately, well-run summer camps, which strive to create a creative and supportive context, should provide opportunities for participants (both camper and counselor) to introduce new ideas regardless of experience level. Article 2. Camp directors spend countless hours recruiting and hiring seasonal employees only to repeat the same process the following year. Unfortunately, competing internships and the sentiment that camp is not considered a ‘real job’ are primary reasons for camp workforce shortages across the United States. In fact, staff retention has been identified by the American Camp Association as the number two (of seven) major emerging issues facing the camp industry. To mitigate staff turnover and retention issues, camp directors may need to consider different training methods, adjustment of workplace culture, and redistribution of workplace tasks, which may better support the needs of the staff. Aside from competing internships, more nuanced factors may influence a camp counselors’ willingness to work at camp the following summer. Basic Needs Theory (BNT), a sub theory of Self Determination (SDT), describes overall motivation, satisfaction, and well-being in various contexts (including work contexts). BNT provides a foundation for understanding camp counselor perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness as primary predictors of willingness to return the following year. Article two focused on camp counselor basic need fulfillment and camp experience variables (i.e. number of years as camper and counselor) throughout the course of the summer. as predictors of a counselor’s willingness to return to work at camp the following year. Ultimately, camp directors need to focus training and the culture of camp on the support of basic needs among counselors as one way to create a healthy and sustainable workforce return rate. Article 3. Creativity is a valuable skill needed for idea generation, innovation, and empowerment. People who feel supported in their creativity can make choices freely, feel a sense of autonomy, and are more intrinsically motivated and passionate in their pursuit of goals. Certain social contexts (i.e. work, relationships, school, etc.) are shown to either support or inhibit creativity based on facilitation values, and culture. Due to its programmatic features (varied activities, communal living) and unique context (outdoor, rural, technology free), summer camp is anecdotally considered a work context which may support creativity among camp counselors. However, no known empirical studies have specifically addressed perceptions of workplace creativity among counselors in a residential camp setting. Furthermore, differences may exist between first year and returning staff in their confidence, capacity, and general support for creativity in a residential camp work context. Article three explored differences in organizational support for creativity in a summer camp workplace among first year and returning camp counselors. The third article uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore workplace creativity at the beginning and end of one season of employment

Unbearable Fruit: Black Women\u27s Experiences with Uterine Fibroids

Uterine Fibroids, medically termed uterine leiomyoma, are benign tumors of smooth muscle cells that grow in the uterus. While they are the most common pelvic neoplasm in women and fewer than 1 percent of fibroids develop into cancer, uterine fibroids can cause infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and greatly affect one’s quality of life. Black women have been disproportionately affected by fibroids; when compared to white women, Black women are: 2-3 times more likely to have fibroids, diagnosed at a younger age, more likely to have 7 or more fibroids, more likely to have more severe and more troublesome symptoms (anemia, severe pelvic pain, constipation, and stomach aches), and have twice as many hysterectomies due to fibroids. Black women’s disproportionate affliction with uterine fibroids is particularly concerning given the historical medical injustices associated with Black women’s bodies and reproductive rights from slavery to present day. By placing Black women at the center of analysis and using a Black feminist epistemological framework, this study aims to make a unique contribution to medical sociology as well as literature on the theoretical and practical management of sickness and wellness among Black women in the United States. Using qualitative interviews and grounded theory methodology, the study examined how Black women frame the condition of having uterine fibroids. Specifically, the study investigated a) how Black women conceptualize having fibroids, b) how Black women’s conceptualizations of fibroids affect their feelings about selves or their lifestyles, c) the mechanisms, if any, by which Black women deal with uterine fibroids, d) how their multiple race, class, and gender identities affect their illness experiences and types of treatment that they seek, and e) how conventional and complementary/alternative medicine shapes Black women’s experiences with fibroids. Conceptualizations about fibroids are rooted in the race-gendered histories of Black women and the unique stressors that they face. Through interactions with doctors and among peers, Black women resist the unbearable burden of uterine fibroids through various coping strategies, but generally “keep it moving”. They avoid invasive surgeries through patient agency by being advocates for their medical treatment, self-researching, dialoguing with others, and directing doctor-patient interactions

The approach to a superconductor-to-Bose-insulator transition in disordered films

Through a detailed study of scaling near the magnetic field-tuned superconductor-to-insulator transition in strongly disordered films, we find that results for a variety of materials can be collapsed onto a single phase diagram. The data display two clear branches, one with weak disorder and an intervening metallic phase, the other with strong disorder. Along the strongly disordered branch, the resistance at the critical point approaches $R_Q = h/4e^2$ and the scaling of the resistance is consistent with quantum percolation, and therefore with the predictions of the dirty boson model.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure