Analysis of Corporate Culture and Community Relations: A Case Study of IBM

The basis for study of corporate culture grew from prior sociological and anthropological research. Etzioni (1964) found organizations which incorporate human resource technique in establishing goals were least likely to alienate their employees and were likely to produce desired responses. Etzioni\u27s method for determining an organization\u27s goals was through inspection of interviews, minutes from board meetings, organization documents, division of labor, and allocation of resources (1964, p.6). The purpose of cultures as defined by Etzioni should be to provide a supportive setting for developing modern organizations and theme worldliness (1964, p.1O8-1O9)

Maternal Vitamin D Status and Delivery by Cesarean

We examined the association of vitamin D deficiency to risk of cesarean delivery using prospective data in a cohort of 1153 low income and minority gravidae. Circulating maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D and intact parathyroid hormone were measured at entry to care 13.73 ± 5.6 weeks (mean ± SD). Intake of vitamin D and calcium was assessed at three time points during pregnancy. Using recent Institute of Medicine guidelines, 10.8% of the gravidae were at risk of vitamin D deficiency, and 23.8% at risk of insufficiency. Maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D was related positively to vitamin D and calcium intakes and negatively to circulating concentrations of parathyroid hormone. Risk for cesarean delivery was increased significantly for vitamin D deficient women; there was no increased risk for gravidae at risk of insufficiency. When specific indications were examined, vitamin D deficiency was linked to a 2-fold increased risk of cesarean for prolonged labor. Results were the similar when prior guidelines for vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 37.5nmol/L) and insufficiency (37.5–80 nmol/L) were utilized

Some Effects of Beef Feedlot Effluent Applied to a Forage Sorghum

Feedlot waste control requirements in many locations have necessitated collection of the runoff. Presently, the most promising and economic method of disposing of the runoff effluent is on cropland. For this reason, we must examine the consequences of continued application of effluent to cropland, and determine if this practice is in any way detrimental or beneficial to soil or subsequent crops being produced on this soil. In 1971 a two year effluent loading study was initiated to study effects of beef feedlot effluent on forage sorghum yields, and plant and soil chemistry when applied by furrow irrigation. The objectives of the study are as follows: Compare the production of forage sorghum with irrigation of feedlot runoff effluent, equal irrigations of water, and no irrigation. Determine the continuing NO3-N and available P levels in the soil. Determine the NO3-N in the forage crop at harvest. Determine concentrations of cations (Na, Mg, Fe, Cu, Ca, K, Mn) in the soil solution and in the harvested forage. Monitor soil pH and electrical conductivity over the two year study. The study was conducted on the William Cockerill farm, 2 miles west and ½ mile south of Springfield, Nebraska, located in Sarpy County. The farm is the site of a USDA-ARS cooperative research project, studying feedlot waste control systems. The runoff used for application was captured from a 3.3 acre broad-basin terrace design feedlot system. A series of four lots, three with catch basins, are located on a 5% slope. The cooperator used a stocking rate approximately 400 square feet per head. If weather permitted, runoff collected from these lots was stored in the catch basin for 24 hours to allow the solids to settle. The effluent was then drained to a holding pond and stored until it was applied to the disposal plots. Disposal plots were established on the flood plain of Buffalo Creek, which meanders 200 yards down slope of the feedlots. This creek served as a supply for the water application. The soil would be classified in the Colo series, and has a silty clay loam texture. Pioneer 931 was the sorghum variety planted both years. It is primarily a silage crop and is used as a green chop or ensilage feed. Advisor: L. F. Elliot

From Blamescaping to Hope: How Mediators Help Clients Cooperate toward Mutual Resolution of Disputes

Mediation offers an increasingly popular way for disputing parties to work together toward resolving their conflicts, yet there are few studies of the actual voiced interactions between mediation parties and experienced mediators. This research project studied 10 face-to-face interpersonal mediation sessions involving 34 participants. The study provides in-depth and multidimensional understanding of how experienced mediators assist disputing parties in refraining from or moving beyond the futility of blamescaping, toward cooperating on mutually acceptable resolution of their conflicts. (Blamescaping refers to verbal blaming behaviors, including accusations in the form of scapegoating.) Findings from initial data analysis, employing the Voice-Centered Relational method’s Listening Guide, showed that experienced mediators were able to help disputing parties by interceding and interposing in a variety of co-implicated ways related to the form, process, and content of mediation discourse. These ways emerged as strong patterns, and include cooperation coaching, encouraging short opening statements, interrupting blamescaping, supporting focus on the future rather than the past, mutualizing statements, avoiding criticism of the parties, frequent use of questions, and parties echoing mediators. Through a second level of in-depth data analysis and interpretation, those patterns of interpositions and intercessions were found to be consistent with each of three conceptual lenses: René Girard’s mimetic theory of conflict, genre analysis in conflict resolution, and narrative mediation praxis. Implications of how the research findings can serve as a resource for conflict resolution practitioners, mediator training and continuing education, and applied mediation ethics are discussed. Recommendations for ways the mediation profession can support additional research, along with suggestions for future research studies, also are provided

A Feminist Philosophical Critique of Domestic Mediation (ADR) Practices in the United States: Realizing Mary Parker Follett's Theory of Empowerment

xi, 97 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.This thesis identifies four major problems facing the Altemative Dispute Resolution profession-especially domestic mediation-and proposes constructive solutions using ADR pioneer and feminist-pragmatist philosopher Mary Parker Follett's work. I argue these problems are grounded in a conception of persons as independent and radically autonomous, rather than interdependent and embedded in social communities. Mediators often justify professional expansion by claiming mediation is more empowering than other ADR methods. However, absent a well-developed theory of interdependence, mediation perpetuates the power of negative socioeconomic forces over clients, furthering oppression not empowerment. Central to Follett's theory is a conception of power consistent with the idea that persons are interdependent. Effective domestic mediation reform could be achieved using Follett's theory, which demonstrates how ostensibly individual matters leading to "private" conflicts are inseparable from social circumstances and public concerns. I conclude with several solutions based on this alternative conception that help rectify current ADR problems.Adviser: Scott Prat

The effect of radionuclide and heavy metal contamination of the Yenisei River on cytogenetics of aquatic plant

The study was done to determine concentrations of radionuclides and heavy metals and to evaluate the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in samples of Elodea canadensis, a submerged plant, collected in different parts of the Yenisei River. Samples were collected in the area subjected to radioactive impact of the Mining-and-Chemical Combine (MCC) at Zheleznogorsk and in the control areas, upstream of the MCC. The investigations showed that Elodea biomass in the area affected by MCC operation contained a long inventory of artificial radionuclides typical of the MCC discharges. Upstream of the MCC, in the control sampling areas, the sediments and the Elodea biomass contained only one artificial radionuclide – 137Cs. Thus, the exposure doses to Elodea shoots and roots upstream of the MCC are small (not more than 8 μGy/d) and the main contribution to them is made by natural radionuclides. At the MCC discharge site (the village of Atamanovo) and downstream of it, the total dose rate increases almost an order of magnitude, reaching its maximal values – 72 μGy/d for Elodea shoots and 58 μGy/d for roots. Cytogenetic investigations of Elodea roots showed that at the MCC discharge site (the village of Atamanovo) and downstream of it the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations in ana-telophase and metaphase cells of Elodea was considerably higher than in the control area. It is highly probable that this simultaneous dramatic increase in the total exposure rate and the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations in Elodea is associated with the radiation factor. It is suggested that Elodea is affected not only by the radiation factor but also by the chemical factor – toxicity of heavy metals