The homeless population in Anchorage, Alaska faces many unique challenges. Over the past several winters, a number of homeless individuals have succumbed to the effects of exposure despite available cold weather services. This study investigated individual experiences within the homeless population of Anchorage, Alaska during times of inclement winter weather. Self-determination theory was used to explore motivations of behaviors of the population and to uncover the reasons why this population does not use cold weather services offered by the Municipality of Anchorage. The research questions addressed participant awareness of available cold weather services, survival strategies during inclement winter weather, and barriers to cold weather service use. This phenomenological study examined those lived experiences. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit eligible individuals (n = 14) at a local soup kitchen, and participants engaged in semistructured interviews. Data analysis procedures used McCormack's lenses and horizontalization to reveal emerging themes. Key findings included a lack of knowledge of emergency services, various survival strategies, and self-imposed barriers to services. The implications of these emerging revelations may positively influence public health providers to modify education delivery methods and interventions used to reach the homeless population in Anchorage, Alaska, with the ultimate goal of preventing wintertime mortalities.

Philanthropy and philanthropic associations and organizations were highly active in European countries in the 19th century, because of the widespread poverty that affected people of the lower class. Poverty, and solutions for it, was highly debated and resulted in different policies that affected the image of and conditions for the population in need. In this time of distress, people of the philanthropic organizations, made it possible for children to be relocated to other families, to be under better conditions during their growth. Because of the religious roots and agenda that philanthropic organizations possessed, it is interesting to investigate how this might have been an act of controlling, disciplining and monitoring the socially vulnerable. This thesis intended to study the underlying motives of the said institution by analyzing discourses of the children and parents through subject positions, discipline mechanisms and surveillance. The results demonstrated that there were acts of normalization and discipline of the poor by taking them out of their said to be morally corrupted homes and conditioning them in another with Christian morality and rituals. Children and their parents were monitored through the community and children were highly observed through follow-ups when committed in the association. There were also acts of othering by describing children and parents as the opposite of the desirable norms and therefore increasing the distance between the socially vulnerable and the upper class. Mothers were especially vulnerable when describing the parents as immoral, frivolous and prurient.

Combining Cyert and March's (1963) model of search with foundational concepts from evolutionary theory (Nelson & Winter, 1982), this dissertation scrutinizes the expansion of search and develops a refined framework for organizational search behavior.  Special emphasis is put on the aspect of search in organizationally vulnerable areas (Cyert & March, 1963).  Considering pressure to innovate as a potential driver, the dissertation develops a conceptual model based on open innovation (Chesbrough, 2003a).  Three pre-studies and two main studies illuminate broadcast search in the pharmaceutical industry and test the theoretical model. The pre-studies elucidate the use of broadcast search in the pharmaceutical industry from various angles.  One investigation uses public data from an intermediary to test for the uniqueness of pharma-related broadcast search.  Findings indicate that pharma-related challenges are frequented less by solvers.  Another pre-study administered surveys to managers from pharmaceutical firms interested in open innovation for R&D.  Results indicate alignment between the academic literature and practice.  The tenor of the pre-studies is that broadcast search in the pharmaceutical industry deserves legitimate consideration.  Also, anecdotal evidence supports the notion that broadcast search, at current, is used after other attempts have failed"as a search mechanism at the margin. The two main studies test the theoretically developed ideas.  Building on prior work, study 1 singles out the breadth of the knowledge base as the defining factor for forming strategic knowledge groups.  Study 2 supports the notion that innovation pressure is associated with changes in organizational search behavior.  Since study 2 does not find a direct link between innovation pressure and broadcast search engagement, a post-hoc analysis follows which combines study 1 findings with study 2 data.  Results support the idea that a broad knowledge base precedes broadcast search. Theory development benefits from this dissertation by emphasizing on a better understanding of organizational search processes and setting a foundation for future investigations.  For practitioners the dissertation cautions of blind adoption of broadcast search while at the same time pointing to its potential.  Having supplemental capabilities becomes crucial.  The nature of these capabilities requires further scientific investigation. / Ph. D.

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Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Currently, in South Africa, more than half of its children find themselves living in households and communities without adequate child welfare facilities. These conditions render them vulnerable as they have no control over their life circumstances. This has emerged as a growing concern, and a problem. This thesis attempts to enhance our understanding of some important interventions and support structures available to these children, families and communities. The study is vital as post-1996 the South African government has made strides in ensuring that through the 1996 Constitution, the Child Act of 2005 and the White Paper for Social Welfare, 1997 and other progressive social policies there is the gradual improvement of child welfare in the country. These legislations are a social policy to address the needs of children post-1996 to ensure social justice and equity in the country. Despite these efforts, implementation challenges are rife.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第19160号 / 地環博第135号 / 新制||地環||27(附属図書館) / 32111 / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎環境マネジメント専攻 / (主査)教授 ｼｮｳ ﾗｼﾞﾌﾞ, 教授 岡﨑 健二, 准教授 西前 出 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

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A thoughtful survey of the history of psychiatry sheds light on a rich and intricate story of our evolving understanding, experience, and treatment of mental illness through time. These chronicles are at once a show of human curiosity for the mind-body connection, and an experiment in cruel and unusual treatment of illnesses that have proven difficult to quantify through both ancient and modern scientific means. It is the latter that makes an ethical study of the past so vital in a concerted effort to write a more just future for all patients. This paper provides a survey of the history of mental health and psychiatry from ancient Egypt to modern-day America, highlighting the injustices suffered by patients with mental illness throughout all times with a particular focus on the burden shouldered by vulnerable and underprivileged persons, minorities, and urban populations. Through an analysis of landmark American cases, it examines the establishment of civil rights for psychiatric patients in the areas of: the right to treatment, right to refuse treatment, and civil commitment. Drawing upon these precedents and historical contexts, this paper explores how the principles of bioethics can be applied to the future of psychiatry with respect to emerging trends like the use of social media, telehealth, gene editing, and AI/VR in medicine. By thoughtfully reflecting on the past and applying the lessons we have gleaned to the future, this thesis aims to promote a more ethical and equitable approach to mental healthcare, one that protects and actively fosters the empowerment of all patients, regardless of background, mental status, or socioeconomic status. / Urban Bioethics

Environmental Justice is an issue that has been relevant in the mind of the federal government for the past 18 years. Within society, the goal of Environmental Justice looks to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable populations through the siting of environmentally hazardous sites. Instead of over burdening specific vulnerable populations, fair distribution of hazards throughout the population is desired. Although there is a large body of research that study the location and impact of hazardous sites on the surrounding communities, there are few existing models which look to locate vulnerable populations through the use of quantitative data. Of the existing models none implement an intensity scaling method based upon the percent of the population that exist within certain study area dependent thresholds. The purpose of this study is to develop a multi level index that examines a study area based upon intensity scaling of census data as well as hazard siting proximity analysis. A gap in the current literature is filled by the creation of the index and introduction of intensity scaling. The final output of the index presents a method that is modular allowing for the application of each level of the index to be applied individual of the other level. The index can be used to support and facilitate decision making performed by local, state, or federal agencies, to prevent the over burdening of a community. A second use is as a predictive model, providing a base upon which a better understanding of the local impacts of future siting and/or removal of a hazardous site can be evaluated. A final use of this index is as a foundation upon which future research can be conducted, providing an environmental justice understanding of a region, allowing for targeted research to be performed.

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