Agritourism in the West: Exploring the Behavior of Colorado Farm and Ranch Visitors

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Relative desirability of leisure activities and work parameters in a simulation of isolated work stations

The kinds of activities that are attractive to man in long duration isolation are delineated considering meaningful work as major activity and a choice of leisure/living provisions. The dependent variables are the relative distribution between various work, leisure, and living activities where external constraints on the subject's freedom of choice are minimized. Results indicate that an average of at least five hours per day of significant meaningful work is required for satisfactory enjoyment of the situation; most other parameters of the situation have less effects on overall performance and satisfactio

Water markets in Pakistan: participation and productivity

Water markets provide one of the most promising institutional mechanisms for increasing access to irrigation from groundwater, particularly for tenants and small farmers. While water markets are found in all provinces of Pakistan, they are most prevalent in canal irrigated areas of Punjab and in NWFP. This study reviews the emerging literature on water markets and uses farm-level survey data to examine the performance of groundwater markets, with particular emphasis on Faisalabad District in Punjab and Dir District in NWFP.Water Management., Irrigation water Economic aspects Pakistan., Groundwater Economic aspects Pakistan.,

Analysis of radio communication towers subjected to wind, ice and seismic loadings

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 23, 2006)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2006.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Civil engineering.The MoDOT radio communication tower network was created in the 1950s and 1960s. There is a need to assess the condition of the towers in the network and also to determine if they are up to date with current codes. A condition indexing (CI) system is a reliable assessment tool. However, an analytical method of determining the input parameters for the CI needs to be determined. Therefore, the objective of this research is to develop a systematic analytical procedure for predicting the response of the towers under natural hazards. In this project, a guyed and a freestanding tower were modeled using ERITower and SAP2000 under wind, ice, and seismic loads. The effect of deterioration on the response of the towers was evaluated using a parametric study. The diagonal bracings controlled the capacity of the towers under wind and ice loading, whereas the guys were the most sensitive to deterioration under seismic loads. The results of this project indicate that some components of the towers are critical and could control failure. It is recommended that detailed inspection of the towers'critical components be performed to develop a detailed risk assessment of the towers

The Impact of Surface Water Reallocations on the Eastern San Joaquin Valley

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

An Evaluation Schema for the Ethical Use of Autonomous Robotic Systems in Security Applications

We propose a multi-step evaluation schema designed to help procurement agencies and others to examine the ethical dimensions of autonomous systems to be applied in the security sector, including autonomous weapons systems

Zebrafish Feeding and Breeding: Adapting Best Practices for Zebrafish Husbandry

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a tropical, freshwater fish that serve as a key research model for human health and disease. The anatomical and genetic similarities shared by humans and zebrafish make establishing a zebrafish laboratory advantageous for undergraduate research and coursework. Zebrafish feeding protocols utilize two primary food types: dry (flake or pelleted) food and live prey such as artemia (brine shrimp) or rotifers. Adopting a feeding protocol that incorporates both dry and live feed optimizes considerations of nutrition and cost for maintaining healthy fish. Best practices for feeding were adapted from authoritative sources in the current literature and published standards. Source, amount, regularity, and scheduling were optimized for our new zebrafish laboratory. Breeding zebrafish is necessary to maintain stock during ongoing experiments involving necropsy as well as studying developmental changes in zebrafish. Breeding protocols utilize a collection of special apparatus and environmental cues that produce the appropriate behavioral conditions for spawning. The key environmental cues are the onset of light in the morning, controlled by room light timers and angled and shallow breeding tank apparatus to imitate the shallow waters zebrafish naturally spawn in. A special slotted, false bottom tank is used to isolate eggs away from the natural predation of adult zebrafish. Eggs are collected by siphoning several hours after lights on and numbers are estimated by volume. Best practices for zebrafish breeding were tested and adapted to optimize egg and embryo production. Optimizing and adapting these protocols for our new laboratory are necessary for establishing a successful zebrafish laboratory with standard operating procedures in supporting future research

Fit for the Stage: The Function of a Pre-Performance Warm-up Routine for College Theatre Students

College theatre programs require students to perform in stage productions that demand a high level of stamina, endurance, strength, and flexibility. This level of athleticism makes injury rates more prevalent with one dance study documenting a 74% injury rate among participants (Chmelar et al., 1987, as cited in Malkogeorgos et al., 2011). In sports programs, warm-up protocols are utilized as injury prevention techniques. Due to the physical demands on college performers, a specific warm-up routine should be designed and implemented for each production. A properly conceived warm-up will include aerobic exercise, dynamic stretching, and movement patterns resembling those in the show. Additional details such as timing and length of the warm-up will vary based on the needs of individual performers and productions

Environmental Justice Guide for Melbourne, Florida

In Melbourne, FL, priority communities are often exposed to environmental risks and face disproportionate impacts on health and quality of life (1). Environmental justice (EJ), the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental policies and protections, recognizes and addresses these disparities(2).However, local residents, organizations, and policymakers lack a centralized resource that effectively addresses these risks. This comprehensive Environmental Justice Reference Guide will serve as a resource that provides historical context, legal frameworks, maps, education and reporting resources, and actionable solutions to motivate citizens to not only understand and acknowledge the effects of environmental injustices, but to also empower change

Effect of Group Size on the Activity Budget of Two Captive Chimpanzees (\u3ci\u3ePan troglodytes\u3c/i\u3e)

Captive facilities housing chimpanzees are required to provide adequate care and provisions such as dietary, social, and environmental enrichment to promote the psychological well-being of the apes in their care. Chimpanzees are social creatures and changes in groups as well as relocation to a facility with new social partners, can impact each individual chimpanzee’s welfare. By tracking each chimpanzee’s activity budgets, managers can assess welfare and make improvements or adjustments if necessary. I looked at the activity budgets of two captive chimpanzees after the death of a group member and the two chimpanzees’ subsequent relocation to a novel, more socially complex environment. Data collection took place during three conditions of social grouping: when the two chimpanzees lived in a long-term group with a third member, when they lived as a pair, and after their move to a sanctuary with 11 other chimpanzees. Data coders recorded the behavioral context of both chimpanzees during each condition. The results supported the hypothesis that upon relocation to an environment with additional conspecifics, social behaviors such as grooming and play increased