The resident assistant (RA) position at higher education institutions is a position of great influence. RAs have the opportunity to impact many students’ lives through the various roles that they engage in as a RA. The most common roles that RAs are expected to perform include developing community, serving as a peer helper, being a friend to residents, and enforcing policy. The very nature of a multi-role position presents challenges for RAs in understanding how to effectively enact all of their roles. This study aimed at developing an understanding of the ways in which RAs engage in identity management strategies with residents. To accomplish this purpose, 143 RAs were surveyed using an identity management strategies scale designed for this study. In addition, a previously designed self-monitoring scale was also administered to test the relationship between identity management strategies and self-monitoring. These scales were applied to situations representing each of the four primary roles of a RA: community developer, peer helper, friend, and policy enforcer. The results indicate that RAs are more likely to engage in avoidance strategies during the policy enforcer role than any other strategy. In addition, first-year RAs generally use more effective identity management strategies when developing community than returner RAs use. First-year RAs’ identity management strategies also appear to be more influenced by the RAs’ desires to be friends with residents than returner RAs’ identity management strategies. The results also indicate that female RAs are more effective in the community development role than male RAs. However, male RAs are more effective than female RAs in the policy enforcement role. A result that was supported throughout the study was the finding that RAs with upperclassmen residents are not as actively engaged in communicating their roles to residents than are RAs with freshmen and upperclassmen residents or only freshmen residents. Finally, the relationship of perceived self-monitoring to RAs’ choice of identity management strategies was not supported. The results of the study, interpretation of the data analysis, study implications, and directions for future research are discussed in detail.

This study describes a questionnaire survey of seven university libraries across the country. The study was conducted to determine the perceptions of librarians in regards to unaffiliated users, and how well librarians understand the policies at their institutions. The results show that while affiliated patrons are seen most in instructional sessions and at the reference desk, there is no dominating area of interaction with unaffiliated patrons. And despite the multitude of opinions surrounding how unaffiliated users are and should be treated compared to those associated with an institution, librarians still show a strong desire to treat all patrons as fairly as possible.

The intensification of existing urban areas has become a common strategy used by planners to combat the negative aspects associated with unrestrained urban growth. This paper investigates the cultural and socio-economic characteristics of higher density households and residents of both owned and rented tenures in the Greater Toronto Area’s three constituent urban zones, the central city, the inner suburbs and the outer suburbs, between 2001 and 2006. Canada census data at the dissemination area level is used to produce descriptive statistics for the 100 variables included in the analysis. Although research relating to higher density housing is abundant, the consideration and affirmation of higher density housing sub-markets in the Greater Toronto Area based on location and tenure makes this study unique. It becomes clear that the diversity of the higher density housing market must be regarded during the planning process. The findings will be useful to planners for the purposes of infrastructure planning, community planning and aid in the implementation of urban intensification strategies in the Greater Toronto Area.

Rural areas across the developed world have encountered economic decline due to trends of industrialisation and urbanisation (Lane, 1994). The damaging effects of the declining economy have persuaded governments to recognize these problems and tourism has been presented as a catalyst to revitalize disadvantaged rural areas (Riberio & Marques, 2002). Tourism often represents a means of generating revenue and increasing employment opportunities. Today, the idea that tourism will save disadvantaged rural areas has grown into a widely agreed upon notion, which is reflected in a vast range of policy documents. This thesis has questioned whether the promise of rural tourism to contribute to local community development has surfaced as a result of over optimism. The purpose of this study was to determine if tourism is a viable tool for development in rural areas by stepping back and evaluating what is really happening in practice in rural areas. This study examined if, and to what extent, the reported benefits of rural tourism are realized on the ground at the local community level. However, there is little to be gained by examining the impacts of tourism without examining the processes which have contributed to the creation and growth of rural tourism. This research consisted of a close examination of the rural tourism development process and the impacts of its development in a rural village in the Czech Republic. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, household survey questionnaires, secondary data analysis and finally, participant observation. The analysis of the data revealed four main themes, which include: (1) the nature of tourism development, (2) the impacts of tourism, (3) the role of tourism, and (4) the future of tourism development. The findings of this research showed that residents held a favourable view towards tourism development and are supportive of future tourism development. Tourism is attributed to the many positive changes that have occurred in the village. Moreover, residents reported valuing the social contributions of tourism more than the economic contributions. It was revealed that there is an awareness future tourism planning and monitoring is needed, however, there is a distinct lack of organized tourism planning in the village. The study concluded that tourism’s promise of providing development potential to rural communities, as outlined, remains partially unfulfilled. Residents have a realistic grasp on the role of tourism in their village and as such, realize that tourism is currently not a viable development option for their village. This study demonstrates that it should not be assumed that rural economic development is a natural outcome of rural tourism.

The intensification of existing urban areas has become a common strategy used by planners to combat the negative aspects associated with unrestrained urban growth. This paper investigates the cultural and socio-economic characteristics of higher density households and residents of both owned and rented tenures in the Greater Toronto Area’s three constituent urban zones, the central city, the inner suburbs and the outer suburbs, between 2001 and 2006. Canada census data at the dissemination area level is used to produce descriptive statistics for the 100 variables included in the analysis. Although research relating to higher density housing is abundant, the consideration and affirmation of higher density housing sub-markets in the Greater Toronto Area based on location and tenure makes this study unique. It becomes clear that the diversity of the higher density housing market must be regarded during the planning process. The findings will be useful to planners for the purposes of infrastructure planning, community planning and aid in the implementation of urban intensification strategies in the Greater Toronto Area.

Rural areas across the developed world have encountered economic decline due to trends of industrialisation and urbanisation (Lane, 1994). The damaging effects of the declining economy have persuaded governments to recognize these problems and tourism has been presented as a catalyst to revitalize disadvantaged rural areas (Riberio & Marques, 2002). Tourism often represents a means of generating revenue and increasing employment opportunities. Today, the idea that tourism will save disadvantaged rural areas has grown into a widely agreed upon notion, which is reflected in a vast range of policy documents. This thesis has questioned whether the promise of rural tourism to contribute to local community development has surfaced as a result of over optimism. The purpose of this study was to determine if tourism is a viable tool for development in rural areas by stepping back and evaluating what is really happening in practice in rural areas. This study examined if, and to what extent, the reported benefits of rural tourism are realized on the ground at the local community level. However, there is little to be gained by examining the impacts of tourism without examining the processes which have contributed to the creation and growth of rural tourism. This research consisted of a close examination of the rural tourism development process and the impacts of its development in a rural village in the Czech Republic. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, household survey questionnaires, secondary data analysis and finally, participant observation. The analysis of the data revealed four main themes, which include: (1) the nature of tourism development, (2) the impacts of tourism, (3) the role of tourism, and (4) the future of tourism development. The findings of this research showed that residents held a favourable view towards tourism development and are supportive of future tourism development. Tourism is attributed to the many positive changes that have occurred in the village. Moreover, residents reported valuing the social contributions of tourism more than the economic contributions. It was revealed that there is an awareness future tourism planning and monitoring is needed, however, there is a distinct lack of organized tourism planning in the village. The study concluded that tourism’s promise of providing development potential to rural communities, as outlined, remains partially unfulfilled. Residents have a realistic grasp on the role of tourism in their village and as such, realize that tourism is currently not a viable development option for their village. This study demonstrates that it should not be assumed that rural economic development is a natural outcome of rural tourism.

Government promotes developmental assessment and early intervention for more than ten years, and has good results. In recent years, bicultural family increased and children born to foreign women increased to more than 10%. Some studies pointed out that the children born to foreign spouse are prone to specific developmental delay. However, the research about this topic is still little and the conclusions vary. This study analyzes the demography and results of children with developmental delay between native and foreign spouse family. And the present study explores the physiological factors, family environmental factors, the similarities and differences between the types of developmental delay. This study was performed in a Multidisciplinary Child Assessment Center in a regional education hospital. From 2005 to 2009, 482 children, aged less than 6 y/o (inclusive), diagnosed as developmental delay were enrolled, 404 born to native women, and 78 born to foreign women. The personal base data and results of assessment were analyzed by descriptive and logistic regression analysis. Diagnosis months was (42.57¡Ó16.79) months; male to female ratio was 2.33:1. Among the factors to affect developmental delay, parity, paternal age, maternal age, with or without care in the intensive care unit, place of residence, father¡¦s occupation, father¡¦s education level, maternal education are significant differences (p <. 05) between the two groups. Children born to foreign spouse are referred more by the education and welfare system (15.4% vs. 11.3%; p<.05), and children born to native spouse are referred more by the health care system (12.3% v.s. 5.1%; p<.05). The incidences, from high to low, of six types in the two groups are the same. They (native group v.s. foreign group, respectively) are language developmental delay (81.3% v.s. 84.6%), cognitive developmental delay (68.7% v.s. 79.2%, p=.046; if other factors are included and analyzed by logistic regression, the p value is >.05), motor developmental delay (62.8% v.s. 67.9%), emotional developmental delay (39.4% v.s. 46.2%), sensory perception developmental delay (1% v.s. 1.3%), and nonspecific developmental delay (1.5% v.s.3.8%). There are no significant difference between the two groups in the type of developmental delay (p>.05) and the amount of types of developmental delay (p=.113). Impact of various factors on type of developmental delay was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Diagnosis age is related to cognitive and emotional developmental delay. Father¡¦s education level is related to cognitive developmental delay. Mode of partum, and delay of initial crying after birth are related to language developmental delay. With or without related physiological disorders is related to language developmental delay and emotional developmental delay. Father¡¦s occupation is related to emotional developmental delay. Father¡¦s education level and occupation are more important than the mother¡¦s, and the impact is significant. The nationality of the mother is not significant in types of developmental delay. In conclusion, in children diagnosed as developmental dealy, there are only few differences in physiological factors, but there are obvious differences in family environment factors between the two groups. The difference of family environment factors between these two groups is similar to the general community. The delay in the type of developmental delay and the amount of types of developmental delay are no significant difference. And some risk factors, particularly the role of the father, are related to particular types of developmental delay. These results will serve as the reference for Government in formulating health policy and social health promotion.

Higher densities of S. invicta in the United States relative to South America are explained mainly by the absence of natural enemies and low interspecific competition (IC). Despite advances in S. invicta management, broadcast insecticide baits remain as the primary tool for effective control. I studied interspecific interactions of ants and the use of baits on the management of S. invicta to test the following hypotheses: 1) relative abundance of native ants increases ~25% for bait treated sites compared to untreated, 2) behavioral dominance by S. invicta decreases ~10% in bait treated sites compared to untreated, and, 3) foraging by S. invicta on insecticide baits is higher ~10% in low native ant densities areas compared to high densities. Experiments were conducted on three sites with different densities of native ants (low, medium, high), but with similar densities of S. invicta. An enhanced BACI (Before/After-Control/Impact) design was used. Experimental units consisted of 0.4 ha plots. Three treatments were randomly assigned to units and replicated four times; 1) Slow acting bait, 2) Fast acting bait, 3) Untreated Control. Samples and observations were collected for several weeks before/after the treatments to account for temporal variation and to determine rates of reinvasion. Ants were monitored using pitfalls and food lures. Interspecific competition was determined by applying placebo bait. Results indicate that different management methods did not impact resident ants when they are at low and medium densities and that S. invicta is greatly affected; at high native ant density, competition for these baits is observed affecting both natives and S. invicta. Reinvasion of S. invicta was reduced in areas of low and medium native ant densities previously treated with baits and native ant abundance increased by ~25%. At high native ant densities, reinvasion of S. invicta was similar to Control sites. I conclude: 1) properly used, baits can help in recovery of native ant species that then compete with S. invicta; however, rote re-treatments may have a negative impact on restored populations. 2) “bait failures” may be due to interspecific competition when initial native ant densities are high. Preliminary management considerations and recommendations are presented.

The resident assistant (RA) position at higher education institutions is a position of great influence. RAs have the opportunity to impact many students’ lives through the various roles that they engage in as a RA. The most common roles that RAs are expected to perform include developing community, serving as a peer helper, being a friend to residents, and enforcing policy. The very nature of a multi-role position presents challenges for RAs in understanding how to effectively enact all of their roles. This study aimed at developing an understanding of the ways in which RAs engage in identity management strategies with residents. To accomplish this purpose, 143 RAs were surveyed using an identity management strategies scale designed for this study. In addition, a previously designed self-monitoring scale was also administered to test the relationship between identity management strategies and self-monitoring. These scales were applied to situations representing each of the four primary roles of a RA: community developer, peer helper, friend, and policy enforcer. The results indicate that RAs are more likely to engage in avoidance strategies during the policy enforcer role than any other strategy. In addition, first-year RAs generally use more effective identity management strategies when developing community than returner RAs use. First-year RAs’ identity management strategies also appear to be more influenced by the RAs’ desires to be friends with residents than returner RAs’ identity management strategies. The results also indicate that female RAs are more effective in the community development role than male RAs. However, male RAs are more effective than female RAs in the policy enforcement role. A result that was supported throughout the study was the finding that RAs with upperclassmen residents are not as actively engaged in communicating their roles to residents than are RAs with freshmen and upperclassmen residents or only freshmen residents. Finally, the relationship of perceived self-monitoring to RAs’ choice of identity management strategies was not supported. The results of the study, interpretation of the data analysis, study implications, and directions for future research are discussed in detail.

College student suicide is a significant concern on university campuses and suicide prevention has become a focus for outreach intervention. While college counseling centers appear effective in helping students who present for treatment, suicidal students also seem to underutilize professional help. Gatekeeper training programs have emerged to help colleges and universities tap into existing student social networks to encourage early intervention. Gatekeeper training is a type of suicide prevention intervention used to encourage members of the university community to identify, engage, and refer suicidal students to professional help. Resident Assistants are often a focus of such training as they exist in the living environment of students and may be more able to identify student distress than other staff. However, the potential for adverse mental health impact on those RAs we call upon to help is not well understood and no studies to date have examined the impact of suicide prevention training on their mental health. Using data from surveys administered in connection with the participation of Resident Assistants in Suicide Prevention Training at The University of Texas at Austin, this study explores the mental health impact on RAs associated with their serving as gatekeepers. Multiple regression analyses were used to study the impact of intervention load, perceived role responsibility, the acquisition of suicide prevention content knowledge and perceived competency to perform the duties of a gatekeeper, and support-seeking behavior on the stress and distress of RAs over the course of a semester. Results suggest that RAs appear resilient to situational stress experienced with resident mental health interventions. RAs also appear to have considerable prior, personal experience with suicidal thinking and others who are suicidal. Additionally, they generally report not seeking support as often as they could, yet also increasingly turn to their co-workers in residence life for support. A repeated measures ANOVA analysis found that over the course of the semester RAs reported an increased threshold for engaging in interventions with residents and for seeking support for themselves. Implications for gatekeeper training and future research are discussed. / text