Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Survivability Of The Beijing Subway System, Yan Li

Masters Theses

The assessment of survivability is a common topic in critical network infrastructure research. In order to examine the critical components whose disruptions can cause huge system degradation, many measures have been approached to depict the characteristics of network systems. Serving more than ten million passengers a day, the Beijing subway system, which ranks third in the world for its length and annual ridership, raises survivability issues in the face of potential disruptions of network components along with its constantly increasing complexity. In this research, we provide an accessibility-based survivability measure with which to explore how potential outages of network components …

Climate Drivers Of Wildfire Activity In The Magdalena Mountains Of New Mexico, U.S.A., Elizabeth Anne Schneider

Masters Theses

In recent years, crown fires have raged through mixed-conifer forests in the American Southwest that historically experienced frequent, low-severity wildfires. Land management agencies now wish to restore wildfires to their historical range of variability, but this requires information on fire regimes before Euro-American disturbance took place. We characterized the historical fire regime of a high elevation, mixed-conifer forest in the Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico. This research evaluated the different climate drivers, represented by the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), that influence the occurrence of …

Using Audio/Visual Media To Increase The Sociological Imagination Of An Adolescent Audience, Jon Cariba Phoenix

Masters Theses

Adolescence is a time of drastically increased sociological inequality. This thesis explores the possibility of using an educational sociology television show as a means to increase teen empowerment by developing their sociological imagination. After reviewing the causes of increased inequality during adolescence, I probe the link between sociology and empowerment by critiquing Mills’ conception of the sociological imagination. After finding his formulation incomplete, I use Bandura’s social cognitive theory to fill the gaps in the original framework and derive a new expanded sociological imagination focused on increasing efficacy. Efficacy is the social science construct most closely related to empowerment, and …

Place And Crowdfunding: An Examination Of Two Distressed Cities, Brenna Elrod

Masters Theses

Crowdfunding is a relatively new form of funding made possible by Web 2.0. This study examines community-based projects made possible through the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. Projects were compiled that were successfully funded between the dates of April 28, 2009 and July 26, 2012. These projects were collected for all cities listed on the site in the United States. Subsequently they were compared across three measures: raw numbers of projects, normalized city population, and against the creative class index of Richard Florida. Using these measures, Detroit and New Orleans emerged as cities for further in depth analysis. Interviews with initiators in …

Urban Planning Process: Can Technology Enhance Participatory Communication?, Rojin Vishkaie, Richard Levy, Anthony Tang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Oftentimes, within the urban planning process, urban planners and GIS experts must work together using desktop Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS). However, participatory communication and visualization which are important in the urban planning process, are not a central focus in the design of current computer-aided planning technologies. This study tends to provide an understanding of technological challenges and complexities urban planners and GIS experts encounter while engaging in a participatory environment during the urban planning process. This study also explores the perceptions of urban planners and GIS experts about the potential impact and usefulness of interactive surfaces …

A Framework For Creating Active And Healthy Communities: A Case Study Of The Gold Coast, Bhishna Bajracharya, Linda Too, Isara Khanjanasthiti

Bhishna Bajracharya

Poor modern lifestyle choices have led to a burgeoning health concern for various government agencies prompting urgent review and action. Whilst the health sector has the primary role in addressing health issues, town planning can also contribute to better health by providing supportive environments for an active and healthy lifestyle. Local councils and other decision makers have a fundamental role in promoting healthy lifestyles among local community members through city planning and implementing physical activity and health programs. This research paper has two primary objectives. First, it develops an integrated 3-P (Place, Program and Partnership) framework for promoting active and …

Australian Bid Cost Benchmarking Of Public Private Partnerships, Michael Regan, Jim Smith, Peter Love

Michael Regan

Bid costs are essentially a concern of private companies and evidence is difficult to source from companies keen to safeguard their cost structures in a competitive bid market. Little evidence is available from the product disclosure statements of public companies or published statutory or Securities Exchange returns. Few companies disclose detailed information although there is wide use of generic “rules of thumb” for different project categories and most companies engaged in the PPP market are unwilling to provide information other than in anecdotal form. This paper reviews empirical and pilot survey evidence to ascertain bid cost benchmarks for public private …

Financing Mechanisms For Public Private Partnerships: Australian Experience, Michael Regan, Jim Smith, Peter Love

Michael Regan

Recent events in international capital markets has had major impact on the ongoing rollout of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and slowed their use. Capital has been hard to source especially for projects over $300 million, the patronage risk model for economic infrastructure is no longer available, debt is more expensive than it was 18 months ago and credit risk insurance is no longer readily available. This has affected bid markets and slowed the delivery of new infrastructures with longer-term implications for economic performance across the whole economy.

Comparing Project Costs Internationally: Methodology And Data Issues, Rick Best

Rick Best

It is not uncommon to see or hear statements that suggest that the cost of a project in one country is some multiple of the cost in another. Whether the claim is that it is more or less costly is irrelevant – the fact is that such statements are often meaningless yet governments and clients are all too ready to accept such claims and act on them in their decision-making. In some cases relative cost, however poorly calculated, is used as the basis for conclusions regarding relative productivity in industries such as construction. Arriving at truly comparable costs between countries …

Governance And Private Investment In Sub-Saharan Africa, Idrissa Mohamed Ouedraogo, Pascal Tegawinde Kouaman

International Conference on African Development

Africa is one of the world regions whose development potentials are particularly important. But despite this situation, Africa is one of the continents where poverty exists on a large scale. More than 44 % of the African population lives below the poverty line. Yet, various forms of development strategies have been designed and implemented in the African countries. In 1992, in its publication Governance and Development, the World Bank refers to the quality of government as the cause of the failure of several of these strategies. Attention is henceforth focused on how governments organize the management of state and …

Memory Performance And Affect: Are There Gender Differences In Community-Residing Older Adults?, Graham Mcdougall, Keenan Pituch, Marietta Stanton, Wanchen Chang

Wanchen Chang

After age 65, the incidence of episodic memory decline in males is greater than in females. We explored the influence of anxiety and depression on objective and subjective memory performance in a diverse sample of community-residing older adults. The study was a secondary analysis of data on three samples of adults from two states, Ohio and Texas: a community sample (n = 177); a retirement community sample (n = 97); and the SeniorWISE Study (n = 265). The sample of 529 adults was 74% female, the average age was 76.58 years (range = 59–100 years), and educational …

Eagle Scouts And Servant Leadership, Ric Rohm

Ric Rohm

This qualitative case study explores whether Eagle Scouts are servant leaders. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Only five percent of all boys who join Scouting attain Eagle, a mere one tenth of one percent of all boys this age in the United States. Despite this, Eagle Scouts are found in much higher percentages among astronauts, in the military academies, and in Congress. Sendjaya, Sarros, and Santora’s (2008) model is used to measure six characteristics of servant leadership. Narrative and phenomenological research are conducted through personal interviews by the author and from Townley (2007). …

A Tale Of Two Cities: Residential Segregation In St. Louis And Cincinnati, Sungsoon Hwang

Sungsoon Hwang

This chapter explores spatial patterns and processes of residential segregation in St. Louis and Cincinnati using spatial analytical methods. Mapping Blacks by the location quotient and local Moran’s I shows that Blacks are more spatially clustered in St. Louis, and are more concentrated in Cincinnati. Spatial housing submarkets, local market segments with the distinct preference structure, are delineated using multivariate techniques; results demonstrate that St. Louis has more divided and polarized housing markets than Cincinnati. Spatially varying impacts of factors underlying housing market segmentation were examined using geographically weighted regression. It was shown that a premium for life cycle (or …

“China’S 1989 Choice: The Paradox Of Seeking Wealth And Democracy,” (With Joseph O'Mahoney)., Zheng Wang

Zheng Wang

No abstract provided.

Connecting Through Consilience: Ecology, Society, Culture And Technology, Ruth Mirams, Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes Mr.

Amongst linguistic, cultural and geographic diversity, humanity is characterised by inquisitiveness, communication and a deep desire to connect with each other. Despite our advanced intelligence and technological capacity, we are creatures of nature - a species which occupies a habitat, depends on consumable resources and fragile in many ways. As a species, we currently face challenges including overpopulation, diminishing resources and habitat degradation. In essence, we are exhausting the resources we depend on. [1] Resource depletion, disruption, famine, growth and sustainability are all observable in other species and natural systems. Human societies and systems can be described through the same …

Publish, Not Perish: Supporting Graduate Students As Aspiring Authors, Barbara Alvarez, Jennifer Bonnet, Meredith Kahn

Jen Bonnet

Mediated Public Diplomacy: Us And Taliban Relations With Pakistani Media, Rauf Arif, Guy J. Golan, Brian Moritz

Rauf Arif

Buyer Alliances As Countervailing Power In Wic Infant-Formula Auctions, David E. Davis

David E. Davis

Interpersonal Relationships And Social Support In Transitioning Narratives Of Black Transgender Women In Detroit, Louis F. Graham, Halley P. Crissman, Jack Tocco, Laura Hughes, Rachel C. Snow, Mark B. Padilla

Louis F Graham

Social support has been shown to play a key role in overcoming adversities associated with marginalized identities, yet there is a dearth of information regarding the role of social networks in the gender transition process, particularly in ethnic minority transgender communities. This study uses life history narratives, and a modified grounded theory analysis, to explore the impact of interpersonal relationships on the gender transition process of Black transgender women in Detroit, Michigan. The following interpersonal interactions were significant: family reactions to self-recognition of femininity, coming out as gay prior to transgender identity disclosure, contact with an out transwoman, emotional and …

Bepress Outreach: How Can We Help?, Mark Roquet

Mark Roquet

The bepress Outreach Team works with academic libraries to develop and share resources, best practices, and examples of how repository services can benefit campus stakeholders. Mark will introduce the resources and services offered by the Outreach Team and explain how they can support an institutional repository initiative in a variety of ways. He will also describe some new projects, including the data pioneers program and upcoming improvements to the online resources.

Shareholder Engagement Through Informal Dialogue: A Perspective From Spanish Listed Companies, Javier Agudo

Javier Agudo

The purpose of this research is to further understand the behaviour of listed companies in the informal dialogue with their shareholders. While dialogue in CSR issues and the relations between IR officers and funds had already been studied, additional exploration was needed on dialogue regarding corporate governance and on the role of other company actors and external advisors in it. For this, a qualitative study was undertaken in the Spanish context. A total of eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with directors of the board, heads of investor relations and secretaries of the board from various listed companies, together with proxy …

Interactions Of Borderline Personality Disorder And Mood Disorders Over Ten Years, John G. Gunderson, Robert L. Stout, M. Tracie Shea, Carlos M. Grilo, John C. Markowitz, Leslie C. Morey, Charles A. Sanislow, Shirley Yen, Mary C. Zanarini, Alex S. Keuroghlian, Thomas H. Mcglashan, Andrew E. Skodol

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

Objective: To examine the relationship of borderline personality disorder (BPD) to mood disorders by using data from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study on the reciprocal interactions of BPD with both depressive and bipolar disorders over the course of 10 years.

Method: The study included 223 BPD patients with DSM-IV–defined co-occurring major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 161), bipolar I disorder (n = 34), and bipolar II disorder (n = 28) who were reliably and prospectively assessed over a period of 10 years between 1997 and 2009. Proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the effects of improvement or …

38. Social And Cognitive Factors Associated With Children's Secret-Keeping For A Parent., Heidi M. Gordon, Thomas D. Lyon, Kang Lee

Thomas D. Lyon

Buyer Alliances As Countervailing Power In Wic Infant-Formula Auctions, David E. Davis

David E. Davis

Assessing The Price-Raising Effect Of Non-Tariff Measures In Africa, Olivier Cadot, Julien Gourdon

Julien Gourdon

In spite of widespread tariff reductions, intra-African borders remain ‘thick’. Regional trade is inhibited by inadequate transportation infrastructure but also by various non-tariff measures (NTMs). This paper combines price data from the World Bank’s International Comparison Project with a new database on NTMs to estimate their effect on consumer prices for selected consumption products. Results based on panel regressions on 1,260 country-product pairs suggest that, after controlling for tariffs, systematic cross-country cost-of-living differences, and product-specific unobservables, sanitary and phytosanitary measures contribute to raise the price of African foodstuffs by 14%. At the product level, rice and other cereals, some types …

Breaking The Shackled Silence: Unheard Voices Of Women From Kandhamal, Saumya Uma

Dr. Saumya Uma

A Pilot Study On The Effects Of Exercise On Depression Symptoms U.Pdf, Timothy H. Barclay

Timothy Barclay

Asset Pricing: A Tale Of Two Days, Pavel G. Savor, Mungo Ivor Wilson

Pavel Savor

Discipline And The Pipeline To The 'Pen': A Proposal For Change, Sharlette A. Kellum-Gilbert Ph.D.

Dr. Sharlette A. Kellum-Gilbert

Consciously or subconsciously, educators are funneling our children from schools to prisons. Moreover, they’re uploading African American and Hispanic children into the system at a number that is measurably out of proportion to their White counterparts. Ticketing students for minor behavior infractions and labeling them as “alternative” often causes them to act out alternatively. Becker (1963) believes that those who create rules and labels for others that do not follow those rules are actually responsible for creating deviance. Ultimately, when students are hastily ticketed and charged when they act out, it’s much easier for them to drop out of school …

Lessons Learned: Developing A Sustainable Publishing Program, Sarah Beaubien

Digital Commons+ Great Lakes User Group Annual Meeting

As the scholarly communication landscape continues to evolve, demand for innovative publishing services and emerging models of dissemination is increasing. In response, more academic libraries are taking on the role of publisher, and are providing a variety of library-led publishing services. What are the risks and rewards in establishing a library publishing program? How can we work toward the development of sustainable publishing services that will serve our campuses well into the future, and that will adapt with changing scholarly practices? / / At Grand Valley State University, our journal and open access textbook publishing has grown significantly in the …