A modern day panopticon: using power and control theory to manage volunteer tourists in Bolivia

Volunteer tourism literature is yet to examine the impact of power and control practices on volunteer tourist compliancy. This paper contributes to closing this research gap by proposing and testing a new theoretical model of power and control practices. Drawing upon the previously un-synthesized theoretical contributions of Foucault (1979) and French & Raven (1959), the model presents power and control practices identified in the extant organizational literature. Using an auto-ethnographic approach, data was collected within a Bolivian volunteer-host community. Examination of results suggested mutually beneficial volunteer-host working relationships occur under ‘softer’ management practices. Our findings also offer insight into the salience of using reward-based management strategies as a control mechanism, as well as identifying two new control practices that emerged empirically. The research suggests several implications for the management of host communities towards creating more harmonious, efficient, and effective working relationships between volunteer tourists and hosts

Mitigating impacts of climate change in stream food webs

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of changing climates on the processes which support aquatic biodiversity is of critical importance for managing aquatic ecosystems. This research used an experimental approach to determine whether there are potential ecological surprises in terms of threshold relationships between climate and critical aquatic processes. These results were then placed in the context of the potential for riparian replanting to mitigate against these impacts.A review was carried out of climate change experiments in freshwaters, and revealed that the vast majority of studies have failed to take into account predicted increases in the frequency of extreme events (such as heatwaves) on biota. In order to include these components of changes in climate, a methodology was developed for downscaling global circulation models of climate change to generate realistic temperature data to use as an experimental treatment. Stream communities from the field were brought into experimental flumes and warmed according to the predictions of the down-scaled climate change models. Experiments were run for six weeks and responses were measured for basal processes (algal productivity and carbon dynamics) and aquatic invertebrate communities. Basal processes showed relatively small responses to the changed temperature regime, and appear to be relatively resistant for warming on the scale predicted under climate change scenarios for the next century. Aquatic invertebrate communities did show some responses, but these tended to be in terms of changes in size structure withion particular taxa rather than major impacts on patterns of biodiversity.The largest effects were seen for emerging adults of aquatic insects, were all species in the community responded in some way to our 2100 climate change treatment. Responses were species- and sex-specific. Males of all mayfly species emerged faster under 2100 temperatures compared to 1990-2000 temperatures. For the mayfly Ulmerophlebia pipinna (Leptophlebiidae), this implied a change in the sex ratio that could potentially compromise populations and, ultimately, lead to local extinctions. Furthermore, our results show a decrease in the overall community body size (average across taxa) due to a shift from bigger to smaller species.These results are in accord with the ecological rules dealing with the temperature-size relationships (in particular, Bergmann’s rule). Studies of streams in the field revealed that riparian vegetation did cool stream temperatures, and that the presence of riparian vegetation, ideally with extensive vegetation cover across the catchment, did appear to maintain higher diversity and abundance in stream invertebrate communities. Therefore it seems that restoring riparian vegetation does represent an effective means of adaptation to changing climates for temperate south eastern Australian freshwaters.Please cite this report as: Thompson, RM, Beardall, J, Beringer, J, Grace, M, Sardina, P 2013 Mitigating impacts of climate change on stream food webs: impacts of elevated temperature and CO2 on the critical processes underpinning resilience of aquatic ecosystems National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp.136.Understanding the effects of changing climates on the processes which support aquatic biodiversity is of critical importance for managing aquatic ecosystems. This research used an experimental approach to determine whether there are potential ecological surprises in terms of threshold relationships between climate and critical aquatic processes. These results were then placed in the context of the potential for riparian replanting to mitigate against these impacts.A review was carried out of climate change experiments in freshwaters, and revealed that the vast majority of studies have failed to take into account predicted increases in the frequency of extreme events (such as heatwaves) on biota. In order to include these components of changes in climate, a methodology was developed for downscaling global circulation models of climate change to generate realistic temperature data to use as an experimental treatment. Stream communities from the field were brought into experimental flumes and warmed according to the predictions of the down-scaled climate change models. Experiments were run for six weeks and responses were measured for basal processes (algal productivity and carbon dynamics) and aquatic invertebrate communities. Basal processes showed relatively small responses to the changed temperature regime, and appear to be relatively resistant for warming on the scale predicted under climate change scenarios for the next century. Aquatic invertebrate communities did show some responses, but these tended to be in terms of changes in size structure withion particular taxa rather than major impacts on patterns of biodiversity.The largest effects were seen for emerging adults of aquatic insects, were all species in the community responded in some way to our 2100 climate change treatment. Responses were species- and sex-specific. Males of all mayfly species emerged faster under 2100 temperatures compared to 1990-2000 temperatures. For the mayfly Ulmerophlebia pipinna (Leptophlebiidae), this implied a change in the sex ratio that could potentially compromise populations and, ultimately, lead to local extinctions. Furthermore, our results show a decrease in the overall community body size (average across taxa) due to a shift from bigger to smaller species.These results are in accord with the ecological rules dealing with the temperature-size relationships (in particular, Bergmann’s rule). Studies of streams in the field revealed that riparian vegetation did cool stream temperatures, and that the presence of riparian vegetation, ideally with extensive vegetation cover across the catchment, did appear to maintain higher diversity and abundance in stream invertebrate communities. Therefore it seems that restoring riparian vegetation does represent an effective means of adaptation to changing climates for temperate south eastern Australian freshwaters

How to SYN in seven easy steps

The calculation of expected spectral line strengths and profiles is a powerful tool for the analysis of the solar atmosphere, and other stellar atmospheres. We present here a recipe in seven easy steps for the development of such spectral synthesis software.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, 1 tabl

ZUGZWANG

ZUGZWANG is a proof-of-concept short horror film following Ian Sepela, a man being haunted by the Shadow Man, a sleep paralysis demon. He must confront his past to save himself and his mother from the Shadow Man’s clutches or lose their lives just like he’d lost his father’s to the Shadow Man twenty years prior

Articulatory Kinematics During Stop Closure in Speakers with Parkinson’s Disease

Purpose: The goal of this exploratory study was (a) to investigate the differences in articulatory movements during the closure phase of bilabial stop consonants with respect to distance, displacement, and timing of motion between individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and healthy controls; and (b) to investigate changes in articulatory movements of speakers with PD when they voluntarily vary the degree of speech intelligibility. Methods: Six participants, 4 PD and 2 healthy control (HC) speakers, participated in this study. The stimulus was a sentence containing several bilabial stop consonants (i.e., “Buy Bobby a puppy”). Movement data were collected using the Wave Speech Research System (NDI, Canada). Movement measures included duration, distance, and displacement and speed of the tongue front, tongue back, upper lip, lower lip, and jaw. Results: Speakers with PD and HC speakers produced observable articulatory differences during the stop closure of bilabial stops. Generally, the PD group produced smaller articulatory movement and had longer closure durations than the HC group. Regarding changes in speaking mode, the two groups made observable, but different articulatory changes during the stop closure. For more clear speech, both groups made greater articulatory movements and decreased the stop closure duration. For less clear speech, the HC group demonstrated reduced articulatory movements and longer closure durations whereas the PD group made greater articulatory movements and longer closure durations. Discussion: The findings of this study revealed several articulatory differences during the stop closure between the two speaking groups. For more clear speaking conditions, speakers in the PD group can successfully compensate for reduced articulatory movement by producing exaggerated lower lip and jaw movement. These findings support the use of more clear speaking modifications as a therapeutic technique to elicit better articulatory movement among speakers with PD. However, it also appears the PD group has difficulty producing fine motor articulatory changes (e.g., less clear speech)

African Americans\u27 perspectives on racial solidarity

This study explored the fundamental formulations that shape perspectives on racial solidarity among one group of African Americans. The perspectives gained in this study aid in understanding the existence, origin, and views toward the concept. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with individuals from two generational cohorts: ages 18 to 30 (post-Civil Rights era) and ages 50 and older (Civil Rights era). This study describes a process by which racial solidarity appears to have diminished among some African Americans. This transition seems to have occurred as a result of the deterioration of the traditional African American community, the acceptance of externally imposed beliefs about the racial group, and in-group sabotaging behaviors that create numerous problems within the younger generation. Reports from participants within the post-Civil Rights generational cohort provide some insight into the magnitude of these problems. Strategies African Americans can use to improve racial solidarity are offered

Risking Reproduction: Reproductive Health Among Women With Sickle Cell Disease

Reproductive health among women with sickle cell disease remains a critical gap in the literatures on sickle cell disease, reproductive health, and women\u27s health. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a condition with a complicated clinical sequelae, accompanied by a myriad of health complications, unremitting, extreme pain, and frequent hospitalizations. The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning and lived experiences of reproductive health and health care among women with sickle cell disease. Using a qualitative, phenomenological methodology, this study captured the authentic voices of 28 adult women with sickle cell disease and their perceptions and experiences of reproductive health and health care. Nearly all women in this study were advised to avoid having biological children because of the concerns for their health or that they would have a child with sickle cell disease. Despite this recommendation, participants exercised agency and looked to their embodied experience living with sickle cell disease when determining whether they were healthy enough for pregnancy and childbirth. Participants also described carrying a reproductive burden due to their genetic characteristics to ensure they did not pass sickle cell disease on to their children. Their motivations were derived from their desire to prevent their children from suffering the way they had, both from the physical symptoms and social judgment that accompanies sickle cell disease. These findings illustrate the need for women with sickle cell disease to receive reproductive health care that takes into consideration their particular health characteristics in regards to gynecological care, contraception and prenatal care to avoid potentially health-harming recommendations that may exacerbate sickle cell disease symptoms. This study extends existing ideas concerning the embodied risk and reproductive health from women who develop or contract risk, to those who were born with it. This information may also encourage more appropriate reproductive health care, and improve the understanding regarding the significance of reproductive health in general and within the context of illness among health care providers

Ground-breaking Co-management in the Split Lake Resource Management Area of Manitoba, Canada

Settlement in June 1992, of the Northern Flood Agreement between Manitoba, Canada, Manitoba Hydro and the Split Lake Cree First Nation resulted in the establishment of the Split Lake Resource Management Board (SLRMB) which is comprised of community representatives and government appointees. The responsibilities of the SLRMB include: developing annual programs and budgets, conducting wildlife population and habitat assessments, developing land and resource plans, monitoring resource use, and reviewing land use and management proposals. The Board's mandate extends to management of all natural resources including several distinct caribou (Rangifer tarandus) populations which frequent the Split Lake Resource Management Area (RMA). After one year of operation, the SLRMB has several accomplishments. Its success is attributable in part, to the Board's effective mix of Split Lake Cree First Nation and government of Manitoba appointees. A good communication strategy has also been crucial for increasing understanding about the board, delivering essential resource management messages, and soliciting input at the community level. Rapport, teamwork, credibility and a resulting "strong voice" have set the framework for the SLRMB to play a significant role in resource management in a large part of northern Manitoba