<p> The permitting process to determine whether high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) should be allowed in New York State has been controversial and protracted. There have been intense disputes between those who see HVHF as an economic benefit and those who assert it will jeopardize health and the environment. Using the case study research method, perceptions of directly affected stakeholders regarding the issues, benefits and limitations associated with the public participation process were explored. Purposive sampling yielded participants from the natural gas industry, municipal governments, local landowners and residents. Data collection methods involved in-depth interviews, focus groups and document analysis. Since the HVHF conflict concerned a future possibility of environmental degradation, theoretical foundations included complex systems and green ideology, the enactment of power and social dominance, environmental conflict resolution, and principles of collaborative management. Findings demonstrate that the public participation process was embedded in a traditional top-down policy development approach that did not accommodate conditions of high uncertainty, nor did it allow for the broader and deeper discourse needed when development involves socio-economic and environmental justice issues. Implications include the potential to apply principles and methods of collaborative management typically used for natural resource management. In particular, the adaptive co-management approach provides a framework for managing issues that require problem solving over time, an essential missing element of the current HVHF stakeholder engagement process where diverse stakeholders identified issues of trust, empowerment, rights and fairness.</p><p>

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the U.S., smoking accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. While U.S. smoking rates have declined since the 1960s, they remain high, especially within the homeless population. However, effective smoking cessation programs have not been developed for this population. The primary goal of this project proposal is to facilitate smoking cessation among homeless populations. The secondary goal is to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day in this population. To achieve these goals, this project couples pharmacotherapy with nicotine patch and behavioral group therapy to reduce tobacco smoking among homeless adults. The greatest challenge to quitting smoking is nicotine addiction. Nicotine, a highly addictive substance, is the primary molecule in tobacco. Nicotine, when consumed, usually by smoking cigarettes or via chewing tobacco, produces the effects of reward and pleasure, which then become associated with smoking or chewing tobacco. The homeless have a unique challenge regarding smoking cessation for two reasons. The first is that this population has a higher rate of smoking compared to the general population. Secondly, the homeless have a higher rate of mental illness than the general population and those with mental illness have higher rates of smoking. This raises unique challenges for the homeless population and their healthcare providers whose goal is to help them quit smoking and maintain their health. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), with nicotine patch, has been shown to be an effective smoking cessation tool for the general population. These therapies, available over the counter, are relatively easy to access, affordable and easy to store, making NRT a useful tool for smoking cessation in the homeless population. In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in both smoking cessation and as therapy for mental illness. Therefore, NRT coupled with CBT could be a useful tool for smoking cessation programs for the homeless. PROPOSAL: A group of 50–60 participants will be recruited from Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program where they will receive 24 weeks of NRT in the form of a 21-mg/day nicotine patch coupled with 3 months of weekly CBT. CONCLUSION: The primary goal for this study is to increase smoking cessation amongst the homeless population in Boston. The secondary goal is to decrease the number of cigarettes smoked daily for the program participants. If these goals are met, this study can be implemented as a standard smoking cessation program for the homeless.

The proper implementation of a curricular program is crucial in ensuring that the curricular content and learning intentions are delivered to students consistently and reliably. This being the case, it is essential that newly adopted curricular initiatives are evaluated for fidelity to the program's original standards. Currently, state and federal regulations require teachers to use instructional programs that have been shown to be effective through "scientifically based research" (Stavin, 2003). to satisfy the "scientifically based research" requirement of NCLB, curricular programs undergo rigorous efficacy and effectiveness testing to ensure that the program's standards are indeed valid. to further measure the validity, efficacy and effectiveness testing is often accompanied by fidelity of implementation (FOI) assessments (Century, Freeman, & Rudnick, 2008). FOI assessments serve to ensure that curricular programs are delivered to the standards prescribed by the original program model (Carroll et al., 2007; Century et al., 2008; Gresham, MacMillan, Boebe-Frankenberger, & Bocian, 2000; National Research Council, 2004 Reschly & Gresham, 2006; Schoenfeld, 2002).

Near-field tsunamis are a type of natural hazard that provide at-risk individuals with short warning periods that can severely hinder effective response. The Protection Action Decision Model (PADM) is an established theoretical framework that has been used to describe human response to natural hazards. Variables from the PADM have been used to understand individual and household responses during hazards such as hurricanes and floods but seldom for tsunamis. This study surveyed 300 adult American Samoan survivors of the September 29, 2009, Mw 8.1 South Pacific earthquake and tsunami. The primary objectives were to use variables from the PADM to: a) determine the relative importance of determinants of threat perception, b) examine tsunami survivors’ ratings of 4 social stakeholder groups regarding tsunami knowledge, trustworthiness of source of information, and protection responsibility, and c) establish whether household characteristics such as distance to shoreline, household income, and family size were situational impediments to response. Study findings showed that ground motion from the earthquake was found to be the strongest predictor of threat perception. Respondents rated themselves higher than officials and media for the 3 stakeholder characteristics. Occupational status had the most apparent effect on stakeholder perceptions. Those who reported being employed were more likely to have higher mean ratings across the social stakeholder groups for most characteristics. Respondents living closer to the shoreline and having an income of ≥ $15,000 proved to be slightly more likely to evacuate. Overall, findings suggest that the people of American Samoa displayed a remarkable response to the earthquake by evacuating upon feeling the ground shaking. Thousands of people were in the inundation zone but only 34 died, even though the first wave arrived onshore in as little as 15 minutes. The adaptive response during this event is frequently attributed to the success of recent educational outreach conducted in the months and week just prior to the event but other factors may also be important. This research represents a novel study that examines various aspects of tsunami evacuation behavior for a near-field tsunami using the PADM with a population outside of the contiguous 50 states.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.