Attributes and Economic Impact of the Exhibitors at the Annual Ozark Empire Fair on the Local Economy

The main objective of this research is to evaluate the economic impacts of spending by the exhibitors during the 2016 Ozark Empire Fair. Surveys were collected from commercial and livestock exhibitors. Respondents reported the amount of money spent on various items including material and supplies, rental for the space within the fair, hotel, restaurant, shopping, and attractions outside the fair. SPSS and IMPLAN software were used to analyze and interpret the results. Impacts were measured in terms of total output and jobs (full-time equivalent) created. Livestock and commercial exhibitors generated a total economic output of $854,386 and$845,836, respectively. Similarly, 11 full-time-equivalent jobs each were created by the two groups of exhibitors. Results show that the number of days spent at the fair is both economically and statistically significant. Regardless of the type of exhibitor, additional days at the fair increases spending significantly. It is important therefore, to retain the exhibitors throughout the duration of the fair by modernizing the fair venues and adding attractions

INVESTIGATING THE ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE INDIANA BAT AND TRI-COLORED BAT DURING FALL SWARMING AND SPRING STAGING

White-nose syndrome has devastated bat populations across North America since 2005. Due to declines in Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) populations across the eastern United States, management prescriptions need to consider all seasons of these species annual cycles. However, data is severely lacking on the two seasons surrounding winter hibernation. These include fall swarming, a time period when bats are mating and preparing for hibernation, and spring staging, when bats are emerging from hibernation and preparing for spring migration. Both periods are critical for successful reproduction and survival following white-nose syndrome infection. To investigate the timing of these two periods, I used Passive Integrated Transponders to detect bat activity at the entrances of caves from 2016–2019. We detected peak Indiana bat activity during fall swarming from September 10–October 2 and during spring staging from March 26–May 13th. For tri-colored bats, we detected increased activity from August 20– September 30 and February 19–April 22. To understand roosting behavior and ecology of both species, we tracked bats to their diurnal roosts during fall swarming. We tracked 15 Indiana bats and 18 tri-colored bats from 2016–2019. For tri-colored bats, we were able to assess roost selection using AICc. Tri-colored bats selected roosts with less clutter and high solar exposure that were closer to caves. Due to small sample size, we were unable to assess selection for Indiana bat roosts. Indiana bats roosted in caves more often than in trees, and roosts were snags that were 108 ± 64.80 m (from caves. The results from this thesis can be used to determine more efficient and timely management prescriptions and restrictions near caves during fall swarming and spring staging. Further monitoring and research should investigate roosting ecology and behavior during spring staging, foraging ecology during both time periods, and the true sensitivity of bats to management activities during these critical times

Online media at western North Carolina community newspapers

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on May 23, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Clyde BentleyIncludes bibliographical references."July 2011"One of the top obstacles for rural community newspapers is how to approach the ever-increasing shift to online news. Many of these papers are without the intrinsic means to deliver engaging and profitable print and online products. Community newspapers in Western North Carolina are no different. They are furiously working to find balance in their marketplaces, but unlike larger publications located in more urban centers, they have precious few resources with which to publish across several platforms, not to mention that many of their readers live in rural areas where broadband Internet is still the exception rather than the norm. This research surveyed community newspaper managers at Western North Carolina publications with circulations under 15,000 and used their answers with an analysis of the demographics of their communities, the usage of local news websites, as well as the availability of Internet to see where these newspapers are in the digital age in their communities. It was discovered is that these papers do not have the online products of their larger, metropolitan counterparts nor do they have the financial and physical resources in place to tackle a transition to more and more online publishing. However, by keeping their focus on print, these papers are serving the needs of the communities where local online news is not yet in high demand, and the online models they are currently utilizing are affected by a decrease in access to high-speed Internet in these areas as well as the online traits of rural residents

Crying in Psychotherapy: The Perspective of Therapists and Clients

Eighteen U.S.-based doctoral students in counseling or clinical psychology were interviewed by phone regarding experiences of crying in therapy. Specifically, they described crying as therapists with their clients, as clients with their therapists, and experiences when their therapists cried in the participants’ therapy. Data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research. When crying with their clients, therapists expressed concern about the appropriateness/impact of crying, cried only briefly and because they felt an empathic connection with their clients, thought that the crying strengthened the relationship, discussed the event with their supervisor, and wished they had discussed the event more fully with clients. Crying as clients was triggered by discussing distressing personal events, was accompanied by a mixture of emotions regarding the tears, consisted of substantial crying to express pain or sadness, and led to multiple benefits (enhanced therapy relationship, deeper therapy, and insight). When their therapists cried, the crying was brief, was triggered by discussions of termination, arose from therapists’ empathic connection with participants, and strengthened the therapy relationship. Implications for research, training, and practice are presented