Efficacy and political participation : how can i make a difference?

While there have been numerous empirical studies of the causal determinants of political participation, few have examined how separate efficacious attitudes affect the way in which an individual chooses to participate in the political system. This research examines the relationship between political participation and the efficacious attitudes of individuals in the US electorate. Specifically, it breaks down political efficacy into two forms, internal and external efficacy, as well as, placing various forms of political participation into a typology of direct and indirect participation, to determine the interplay of efficacious attitudes and the likelihood an individual participates in one form of participation or the other. The research finds that efficacy remains an important predictor of participation and the separation of efficacious forms is important in understanding the participatory nature of the US electorate

Congressional Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs: Effects of Partisanship and Veteran Status

This paper analyzes the reoccurring rhetoric of the Republican Party of minimal government spending and its relation to budget allocations, as a percent of the total US budget, for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Since the Civil war veterans have been a constant constituency of the Republican Party, and as a result have received favorable legislation and benefits. However, the idea of limited spending conflicts with the support of this constituency group in regards to continued yearly budget growth for the VA. Analyzing a set of time series data, the paper seeks to determine which ideology wins out; support for veterans through increased budget growth, or limiting budget spending even at the cost of VA earmarks. Additionally, the impact of veterans in Congress, a legislative group that has been diminishing since it peek in the 1970’s, on the allocation of budgetary earmarks for the VA

An Exploration into the Efficacy of Christian Servant Leadership in Facilitating Organizational Change in the Automotive Aftermarket

Changing market dynamics is threatening the viability of stores in the automotive aftermarket. To provide business leaders strategies with strategies to implement organizational change and address shrinking revenue, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and perspectives of 20 front line, retail store managers in the automotive aftermarket. The information gathered during the interview process was analyzed using Moustakas’ modified van Kaam method. In addition, the researcher used NVivo 12, a qualitative analytic software, to group, reduce, validate, and organize the data into themes. Six themes emerged that demonstrate the applicability of Christian servant leadership to the automotive aftermarket. These findings could create beneficial change and result in long-term organizational viability for firms that choose to consider the merits of Christian servant leadership

Efficacy and Political Participation: How Can I Make A Difference?

While there have been numerous empirical studies of the causal determinants of political participation, few have examined how separate efficacious attitudes affect the way in which an individual chooses to participate in the political system. This research examines the relationship between political participation and the efficacious attitudes of individuals in the US electorate. Specifically, it breaks down political efficacy into two forms, internal and external efficacy, as well as, placing various forms of political participation into a typology of direct and indirect participation, to determine the interplay of efficacious attitudes and the likelihood an individual participates in one form of participation or the other. The research finds that efficacy remains an important predictor of participation and the separation of efficacious forms is important in understanding the participatory nature of the US electorate

Kinetic Characterization and Domain Analysis of the helicase RecD2 from Deinococcus radiodurans

The gram positive bacterium D. radiodurans is known for its extreme resistance to radiation and an extraordinary ability to reconstitute its genome after sustaining large numbers of double strand breaks (DSB's). Genome analysis does not immediately reveal a biochemical basis for this incredible DNA repair ability. In E. coli, DSB's are mainly repaired through the RecBCD pathway via homologous recombination. The D. radiodurans genome contains no known homologues of RecB or RecC, but sequence analysis has identified a homologue of RecD, termed RecD2. The function of RecD2 in D. radiodurans is unknown, as RecD elsewhere has only been found as a component of the RecBCD complex. Our research has focused on biochemical characterization of RecD2. Previous work in our lab established that RecD2 is a DNA helicase with limited processivity and a preference for forked substrates. We have studied the unwinding mechanism of the enzyme, as measured by rates of DNA unwinding and behavior on various substrates. Reactions conducted under single turnover conditions have allowed us to determine the processivity and the step size of RecD2. RecD2 pre-bound to dsDNA substrate is capable of unwinding 12 bp, but not 20 bp, when excess ssDNA is added to prevent rebinding of enzyme to substrate. Unwinding of the 12 bp substrate under single turnover conditions could be modeled using a two step mechanism, with kunw = 5.5 s-1 and dissociation from partially unwound substrate koff = 1.9 s-1. Results derived from these rate constants indicate an unwinding rate of 15-20 bp/ sec, with relatively low processivity (P = 0.74). Glutaraldehyde cross-linking showed formation of multimers of RecD2 in the absence of DNA, but this was not detectable by size exclusion chromatography. We were able to separate the N-terminal region from the helicase core of RecD2 using limited proteolysis. It was not possible to characterize the C-terminal helicase domain due to its low solubility upon overexpression in E. coli

Quantifying coastal cliff retreat in response to climate change using cosmogenic radionuclides and numerical modelling

The response of coasts to climate change is an uncertain threat to the infrastructure and inhabitants in these areas. Rock coasts are ubiquitous landscapes found along coastlines worldwide and are often sites of important infrastructure, which are vulnerable to coastal erosion and cliff retreat. Furthermore, the stability of rock coasts is threatened by future climate change, particularly the influence of accelerating sea level rise and increased storminess. Constrains need to be placed on past erosion rates at rock coasts across millennial timescales in order to better forecast how future cliff retreat rates will respond to climate change. The ability to quantify coastal cliff retreat rates across millennial timescales has been transformed with the application of exposure dating across shore platforms using cosmogenic radionuclide (CRN) analysis. Previous studies have successfully quantified long-term cliff retreat rates across the Holocene for a range of rock coast sites; however, previous work has been limited by the use of a simplistic geometric-based model to interpret CRN concentrations. Considerable potential remains in the use of CRN analysis along rock coasts. In this thesis, first, I develop a routine that is the first application of a process-based model to interpret CRN concentrations. Next, I apply this technique to a range of rock coast sites across the UK to quantify long-term, transient cliff retreat rates for the past and also make forecasts for the future to better understand the response of rock coasts to climate change. A multi-objective optimisation routine is developed in order to optimise a process-based model to both measured topographic and CRN concentration data for two sandstone sites in the UK. The results highlight that the multi-objective optimisation routine improves model results by reducing equifinality to constrain uncertainties and produce consistent trends in transient long-term cliff retreat rates. This approach is employed to quantify long-term, transient cliff retreat rates for the past 7,000 years at two sandstone rock coast sites. These long-term cliff retreat rates clearly link to the rate of relative sea level rise at both sites. I also use the process-based model to decode insights into the key erosional processes involved in rock coast evolution. Next, I use the optimised parameters from the process-based model results to make forecasts of future cliff retreat rates to the year 2100 using future sea level rise scenarios. At both sandstone sites, cliff retreat forecasts are likely to accelerate by 3–7 times present-day rates, to maximum retreat rates of 22–30 cm yr-1, using the current trajectory of relative sea level rise. Comparisons to cliff retreat rates quantified for the past reveal that these projected cliff retreat rates are unprecedented in the last 3–5 millennia for both sites. These results highlight that even historically stable rock coasts are highly sensitive to sea level rise and need to be included in future planning. Finally, I apply the newly developed optimisation routine to four new chalk rock coast sites on the south coast of England to quantify long-term cliff retreat rates across the late-Holocene. My results identify a recent acceleration in cliff retreat rates, and such rapid cliff retreat rates last occurred 5300–6800 years ago. Furthermore, the optimised, process-based model detects significantly different dominant factors controlling erosion between the sandstone and chalk rock coast sites. Model results for the chalk sites also suggest that heterogeneous lithology and beach material play an important role in the long-term erosion at these sites, and advocates for the inclusion of these factors into future process-based rock coast evolution models. Overall, the results presented in this thesis highlight the knowledge gained from implementing a process-based model to interpret CRN concentrations and quantify transient cliff retreat rates across millennial timescales. Through the methods that I develop, the expected relationship between long-term cliff retreat rates and the rate of sea level rise is supported with empirical data for the first time. Multi-objective optimisation improves model equifinality, which allows for more accurate and well constrained past and future cliff retreat rate forecasts. Results clearly demonstrate the power and utility of these methods to better understand rock coast response to climate change and make more reliable forecasts of cliff retreat rates at coastlines worldwide.Open Acces

An ethical assessment of the impact of inequitable land ownership patterns on women’s economic and social rights: a case study of Mumbwa district

The study ethically assessed the impact of inequitable land ownership patterns on women’s economic and social rights in Mumbwa district. Despite more women than men being dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, the majority of women in Zambia do not own land due to inequitable land ownership patterns. The problem is that while it is generally known that inequitable land ownership limits women’s access to livelihoods, it is not clear how much this affects their access to economic and social rights. Thus, the specific objectives of the study were: to investigate the current state of land ownership between men and women in Zambia; to establish factors that contribute to the existing land ownership patterns; and to ethically assess the impact of existing land ownership patterns on women’s economic and social rights in Mumbwa district. A case study research design was employed using a qualitative methodology with an ethical component. With a sample size of 78, primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with 37 community members, 4 head persons, 1 government representative and 1 representative from a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) called Women for Change. Four focus group discussions with 35 community members in addition to observations were also used to collect primary data. Secondary data was collected by reviewing books, journals, articles and internet-based materials. Community members and traditional leaders were selected using simple random sampling while representatives from government and NGO were purposively selected based on possession of knowledge about land ownership in the area. Content analysis was used to analyse data followed by an ethical evaluation of the study findings. The study found that there is inequality in land ownership between men and women. Land is mostly owned by the men who also exercise greater control over its use. The existing unequal land ownership patterns were attributed to five main factors which are power imbalances, culture, land allocation practices, suppression of women and allocation of labour. Unequal land ownership impacts negatively on women and on their ability to earn enough to meet their family basic needs. Consequently, it negatively affects their ability to have adequate food and facilitate their children’s access to education. An ethical evaluation of the findings was guided by rights theory and the ethics of care. As regards rights theory, there was discrimination of women on the basis of gender and marital status. It was observed that such a violation on women’s rights should not be tolerated as Zambia is a State Party to many international commitments that affirm equal rights to land. Using ethics of care, it was observed that land ownership for women is critical to promoting their well-being as care-givers. Compromising women’s land rights not only affects them but also affects children and the aged who are mostly under their care. Among others, recommendations were made that government should conduct ethical awareness raising on equal land ownership rights, should introduce legislation to promote joint land ownership and should effectively enforce statutory law to guarantee equal enjoyment of land ownership rights between men and women under customary land

An ethical assessment of the impact of inequitable land ownership patterns on women’s economic and social rights: a case study of Mumbwa district

The study ethically assessed the impact of inequitable land ownership patterns on women’s economic and social rights in Mumbwa district. Despite more women than men being dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, the majority of women in Zambia do not own land due to inequitable land ownership patterns. The problem is that while it is generally known that inequitable land ownership limits women’s access to livelihoods, it is not clear how much this affects their access to economic and social rights. Thus, the specific objectives of the study were: to investigate the current state of land ownership between men and women in Zambia; to establish factors that contribute to the existing land ownership patterns; and to ethically assess the impact of existing land ownership patterns on women’s economic and social rights in Mumbwa district. A case study research design was employed using a qualitative methodology with an ethical component. With a sample size of 78, primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with 37 community members, 4 head persons, 1 government representative and 1 representative from a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) called Women for Change. Four focus group discussions with 35 community members in addition to observations were also used to collect primary data. Secondary data was collected by reviewing books, journals, articles and internet-based materials. Community members and traditional leaders were selected using simple random sampling while representatives from government and NGO were purposively selected based on possession of knowledge about land ownership in the area. Content analysis was used to analyse data followed by an ethical evaluation of the study findings. The study found that there is inequality in land ownership between men and women. Land is mostly owned by the men who also exercise greater control over its use. The existing unequal land ownership patterns were attributed to five main factors which are power imbalances, culture, land allocation practices, suppression of women and allocation of labour. Unequal land ownership impacts negatively on women and on their ability to earn enough to meet their family basic needs. Consequently, it negatively affects their ability to have adequate food and facilitate their children’s access to education. An ethical evaluation of the findings was guided by rights theory and the ethics of care. As regards rights theory, there was discrimination of women on the basis of gender and marital status. It was observed that such a violation on women’s rights should not be tolerated as Zambia is a State Party to many international commitments that affirm equal rights to land. Using ethics of care, it was observed that land ownership for women is critical to promoting their well-being as care-givers. Compromising women’s land rights not only affects them but also affects children and the aged who are mostly under their care. Among others, recommendations were made that government should conduct ethical awareness raising on equal land ownership rights, should introduce legislation to promote joint land ownership and should effectively enforce statutory law to guarantee equal enjoyment of land ownership rights between men and women under customary land