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2. Before You Cancel the Paper, Beware: All Electronic Journals in 2001 Are NOT Created Equal.
- Author
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Henebry, Carolyn, Safley, Ellen, and George, Sarah E.
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ELECTRONIC journals , *LIBRARIES - Abstract
Examines the discrepancies found in electronic journals and printed materials of libraries in Texas. Impact of electronic journals on libraries; Factors affecting the collection development for the periodicals collection; Benefits of using an electronic journals.
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- 2002
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3. Does safety pay?
- Author
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Rinefort, Foster C.
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CHEMICAL industry , *PAPER industry , *FOREST products industry - Abstract
Presents a study of the relation between organization efficiency and employee work injuries in the chemical, paper and wood products industries in Texas. Methodology in which the study was conducted; Results of the study; Discussion of the study; Conclusion based on the results.
- Published
- 1998
4. Southern Methodist University Football and the Stadia: Moving toward Modernization.
- Author
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Seifried, Chad Stephen and Tutka, Patrick
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FOOTBALL stadiums , *COLLEGE football , *MODERNIZATION (Social science) , *STADIUM remodeling , *COLLEGE sports facilities , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *COLLEGE sports , *FINANCE , *ECONOMICS , *SPORTS , *HISTORY , *SPORTS facility design & construction , *STADIUM design & construction - Abstract
The specific information provided in this paper offers a descriptive history regarding the attempts of Southern Methodist University (SMU) to be "modern" through tracing the institution's movement from one playing field to another. Like other southern universities, SMU started football and built an on-campus stadium of concrete and steel believing their legitimacy as an institution could be enhanced through providing football as a product for consumption. However, SMU is unique among many of its contemporaries because soon after building an on-campus facility, it decided to move off campus in the pursuit of greater name recognition and revenue. Collectively, such efforts were recognized as helping to make SMU the "educational surprise of the decade, if not the century," following its opening in 1915. The modernization of SMU football stadia involves construction and renovation of facilities from Armstrong Field (1915) to Gerald J. Ford Stadium (current). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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5. Barriers and incentives for sustainable urban development: An analysis of the adoption of LEED-ND projects.
- Author
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Cease, Brett, Kim, HyoungAh, Kim, Dohyeong, Ko, Yekang, and Cappel, Cole
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SUSTAINABLE urban development , *LEADERSHIP in Energy & Environmental Design , *TAX remission , *URBAN community development , *PUBLIC-private sector cooperation - Abstract
The adoption rate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) projects has varied considerably across the United States. Local governments and developers face variation in the incentives and barriers while implementing LEED-ND projects across four key dimensions – economic, policy, public awareness, and organizational. This paper investigated the drivers of variation using a mixed-methods approach including a two-stage Heckman model, a survey of Texas subdivision developers and interviews with local planning officials. Results indicate that initial public funding may lead to more LEED-ND projects being completed, but with a diminishing return as these projects become established within the region. Support for local programs including tax abatement, public-private partnerships, and other incentives were also demonstrated to help facilitate LEED-ND project adoption. Overall this paper underscored the important role, especially early on, the public sector and local governments play in initiating local LEED-ND projects to inform and motivate the land development industry. • U.S. LEED-ND projects face variation in adoption rates, barriers, and incentives. • 4 key dimensions identified – economic, policy, public awareness, and organizational. • Initial public funding may lead to more LEED-ND projects being completed. • Local interviews find support for local programs to incentivize further projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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6. BEST PAPER AWARD.
- Author
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Delatte, Norb
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COLLEGE teachers , *PERIODICALS , *AWARDS - Abstract
Reports that Jose M. Rosset and James T. P. Yao, professors at the Texas A&M University in College Station, were presented the 1999-2000 Best Paper Award of the periodical `Journal of Professional Issues in Education and Practice' for their paper titled `Roles of Civil Engineering Faculty.'
- Published
- 2001
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7. CAMBRIDGE CENTER, QUALITY SAFETY EDGE ISSUE CALL FOR PAPERS.
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CONFERENCES & conventions , *ACCIDENT prevention - Abstract
Reports on the call for papers for the Behavioral Safety Now Conference in Houston, Texas, issued by the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies and Quality Safety Edge. Schedule of the conference.
- Published
- 2001
8. Electrodialysis of concentrated brines: Effects of multivalent cations.
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Severin, Blaine F. and Hayes, Thomas D.
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SHALE gas , *ELECTRODIALYSIS , *TECHNOLOGY , *CATIONS - Abstract
Highlights • The flux of multivalent cations across non-selective CMX membranes was 1.4 times > sodium. • A CMX-S membrane at the cathode boundary reduced the flux of Ca, Mg, and Ba into the electrode rinse. • Ca, Mg and Ba interfered by blocking transfer sites on the CMX-S membrane at the cathode barrier. • Overall flux was improved by unblocking the CMX-S membrane with periodic polarity reversal. • Soluble Fe precipitated throughout the stack and within the diluate and concentrate tanks. Abstract Electrodialysis is an electrochemically driven membrane technology usually used for treating feed water containing several thousand mg/l total dissolved solids (TDS). This research investigated the use of conventional ED for the treatment of flowback water from shale gas hydraulic fracturing that contains up to tens of thousands of mg/l TDS and contain a mixture of multivalent cations. This paper discusses efforts to treat concentrated brines with electrodialysis and focuses on the mitigation of the detrimental effects of multivalent cations such as calcium, magnesium, barium, iron, and in the feedstock. A previous paper detailed the effects of calcium under defined lab conditions. The apparent calcium fouling (in and around) the electrode cells was mitigated by changing the single cathode chamber boundary membrane to a (CMX-S) that was more selective for monovalent cations. This paper covers efforts undertaken to mitigate problems associated with high concentrations of calcium, barium, iron, and magnesium. Four field samples of produced water from oil and gas operations in from the Marcellus shale formation (generally Pennsylvania, USA) and the Barnett shale formation (generally north central Texas, USA) were also tested. These results from field samples were similar to the results from lab defined tests. Mechanisms of process interference by the different multivalent cations appear different for each species. Calcium, magnesium, barium, and iron were preferentially transported from the diluate to the concentrate compared to sodium by a factor of about 1.4:1 on a charge basis resulting in a suppression of the flux of sodium to the concentrate. A single CMX-S membrane selective for monovalent cations was placed at the cathode barrier resulting in a reduced flux of calcium, magnesium and barium into the electrode rinse. However total ion flux was inhibited caused by apparent blockage of the cation transfer sites on the CMX-S membrane by the stagnant multivalent cations. A series of tests with periodic pulse polarity-reversal (anode and cathode reversed for a brief time) indicted the blockage by calcium and barium was immediately reversable, however, iron was more problematic and may have precipitated on membrane surfaces other than the cathode barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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9. Energy-water interdependencies across the three major United States electric grids: A multi-sectoral analysis.
- Author
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Mongird, Kendall, Rice, Jennie S., Oikonomou, Konstantinos, and Homer, Juliet
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ELECTRIC power distribution grids , *WATER management , *THERMOELECTRIC cooling , *COOLING of water , *WATER supply , *ENTERPRISE resource planning - Abstract
As climate change impacts become increasingly severe, it is critical to have a comprehensive understanding of interactions between climate, energy, and water. Previous energy-water nexus studies have focused primarily on specific dependencies, such as water for thermoelectric cooling, rather than the potential for cascading impacts of supply disruptions at broader scales. This paper explores relative energy-water interdependencies across multiple sectors at the scale of the three primary electricity interconnections within the United States. Our results indicate the need for and potential benefits of integrated policy, planning, and management of energy and water resources based on an interdependent systems perspective. • Interconnection-level Sankeys provide insights into potential vulnerabilities • Electricity generation in the Eastern US is susceptible to water disruptions • Energy intensities of public water supply and agriculture are highest in the West • Electricity and industry sectors in Texas grid have the highest fuel dependence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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10. Seeking papers on gerontology for conference.
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GERONTOLOGY , *EDUCATION associations , *CONFERENCES & conventions - Abstract
Reports on the acceptance by Association for Gerontology in Higher Education of papers to be presented at the 21st Annual Meeting on February 23 to 26, 1994 in Fort Worth, Texas. Deadline; Theme of the meeting; Contact.
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- 1994
11. Women's experiences across disasters: a study of two towns in Texas, United States.
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Villarreal, Melissa and Meyer, Michelle A.
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DISASTER resilience , *HURRICANE Harvey, 2017 , *GENDER inequality , *DISASTERS , *EXPLOSIONS , *SMALL cities , *CITIES & towns , *WOMEN'S empowerment - Abstract
Gender, although gaining attention, remains under‐researched in disaster risk reduction protocols and response and recovery efforts. This study examines women's experiences of two disasters in small towns in the United States, utilising qualitative interviews with residents of Granbury and West, Texas, during the first year of disaster recovery. Granbury was struck by an EF‐4 tornado on 15 May 2013, whereas an explosion occurred at a local fertiliser facility in West on 17 April 2013. The paper explores how women's experiences of inter‐gender power dynamics in decision‐making, the prioritisation of childcare, and women's participation in the community affect their post‐disaster recovery. Previous research highlights different forms of human response and recovery vis‐à‐vis 'natural' and technological disasters, with less attention paid to gender differences. The results point to the persistent, and similar, effect of gender stratification on women's experiences across different types of disasters in the US and the continued importance of gender‐sensitive disaster policies and programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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12. The demographics of fracking: A spatial analysis for four U.S. states.
- Author
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Zwickl, Klara
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DEMOGRAPHIC characteristics , *U.S. states , *GEOGRAPHIC spatial analysis , *AMERICAN Community Survey , *DEMOGRAPHIC surveys , *GEOLOGICAL modeling , *DISCLOSURE laws , *EDUCATIONAL attainment - Abstract
Using data on the geographic location of fracking wells in four U.S. states with mandatory disclosure between 2011 and 2013 — Colorado, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas — this paper analyzes the socio-demographic characteristics of people living close to fracking activity. Geo-coded well data from the FracFocus registry are merged to blockgroup-level socio-demographic data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey and population density and land use data from EPA's Smart Location Database 2010. Different buffer zones around fracking wells are applied to capture effects at different spatial scales and to compare only areas with similar geological properties. We explain the distance to the nearest well within a county with fracking activity or within a buffer zone by race/ethnicity, income, educational attainment, various land-use control variables, and county fixed-effects. We find robust evidence that minorities, especially African Americans, disproportionately live near fracking wells, but less consistent evidence for environmental injustice by income or educational attainment. Strong heterogeneity across states can be observed, suggesting that an improvement in disclosure laws in other states, that would make similar analyses possible, is of great importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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13. Landscapes of impunity and the deaths of Americans LaVena Johnson and Sandra Bland.
- Author
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Dowler, Lorraine and Christian, Jenna
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VIOLENCE against women , *BLACK Lives Matter movement , *FEMINIST ethics , *BLACK feminists , *IMPUNITY , *WOMEN of color , *DEATH - Abstract
On July 19th, 2005, American Army Private First Class LaVena Johnson died in Balad, Iraq, just 8 days shy of her 20th birthday. On July 13th, 2015, almost 10 years later, 28-year-old Sandra Bland's life came to an abrupt end in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas. Both women's deaths were ruled suicides, and both women's families and friends reject these judgments. Instead, they insinuate foul play by the state, which directly governed the militarized spaces within which the women both died. At first glance, these women appear to have had very different life trajectories, one a United States soldier and the other a Black Lives Matter activist. However, in both of their cases, the ruling of the suspicious deaths as suicides illustrates the state's attempt to render their deaths banal, and thereby diminish the state's own culpability. In understanding the unremitting acts of violence, on women's bodies, especially women of color, this paper focuses on how a Black feminist praxis extends feminist notions of an ethics of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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14. Assessment of waste characteristics and their impact on GIS vehicle collection route optimization using ANN waste forecasts.
- Author
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Vu, Hoang Lan, Bolingbroke, Damien, Ng, Kelvin Tsun Wai, and Fallah, Bahareh
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VEHICLE routing problem , *WASTE products , *AIR travel , *GEOGRAPHIC information systems , *ARTIFICIAL neural networks , *ROUTE choice - Abstract
• Coupling of ANN waste forecasts with GIS collection route optimization. • GIS routes with minimum travel distances are sensitive to waste composition. • Results of 36 scenarios yield changes in travel distance of up to 19.9% • Dual compartment trucks reduce travel distance but increase waste collection time. Combining an artificial neural network (ANN) waste prediction model with a geographic information system (GIS) waste collection route optimization, the paper shows how the compositional features of waste materials affect the optimized truck route time, distance, and air emissions. Using data from Austin, Texas, USA, a nonlinear autoregressive ANN model is used to predict the waste generation rate of the recycling and garbage streams for the year 2023 in four sub-areas of the city. This ANN model resulted in mean absolute percentage errors ranging from 10.92% to 16.51%. Modified compositions of the recycling and garbage streams are then used as inputs, along with the year 2023 generation rates, to create 6 modified and 3 non-modified scenarios that reflect possible future changes in waste composition. These waste stream scenarios are then used as input parameters to determine optimal waste collection routes with minimal travel distance in each of the four sub-areas using the GIS vehicle routing problem network analysis tool. Results of these 36 scenarios yield changes in travel distance of up to 19.9%, when compared to the non-modified composition. Further, dual compartment trucks were compared to single compartment trucks and found to save between 10.3 and 16.0% in travel distance and slightly reduce emissions but had a 15.7–19.8% increase in collection time. Results suggest temporal changes in waste composition and characteristics are important in GIS route optimization studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
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15. A new marine palynomorph from the Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) in the USA.
- Author
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Dodsworth, Paul and Eldrett, James S.
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DINOFLAGELLATE cysts , *ASTRONOMICAL models , *AGE distribution , *DINOFLAGELLATES , *GYMNODINIUM - Abstract
Abstract This paper documents a previously undescribed marine palynomorph, Doricodinium obscurum gen. et sp. nov., from Upper Cretaceous sections in the central and southern Western Interior of the USA. Although an archaeopyle has not been confirmed, a case is made here for a probable dinoflagellate cyst, possible peridinioid affinity. The type locality of D. obscurum is the Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of Turonian Stage, at Pueblo, Colorado, where it consistently occurs in intra-Lower to middle Turonian deposits. The taxon also occurs consistently in intra-Lower Turonian strata from the Iona-1 core, SW Texas, where astronomical age modelling gives an age range of 93.92–93.25 ± 0.12 Ma in that section. Outside the USA, it has until now only been recorded from the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary interval in Pakistan. Highlights • Description of Doricodinium obscurum gen. et sp. nov., a marine palynomorph, a probable dinoflagellate cyst. • Distribution calibrated at the GSSP for the Turonian Stage, Pueblo, Colorado. • Astronomical age modelling of its distribution in the Iona-1 core, SW Texas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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16. Chemoprophylaxis against group A streptococcus during military training.
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Webber, Bryant J., Kieffer, John W., White, Brian K., Hawksworth, Anthony W., Graf, Paul C.F., and Yun, Heather C.
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MILITARY medicine , *NECROTIZING fasciitis , *STREPTOCOCCUS , *CHEMOPREVENTION , *PENICILLIN G - Abstract
Chemoprophylaxis with intramuscular benzathine penicillin G has been used widely by the U.S. military to prevent epidemics of group A streptococcus infections during basic training. The recent global shortage of benzathine penicillin prompted a detailed analysis of this issue in 2017 by military preventive medicine and infectious disease authorities in San Antonio, Texas, and San Diego, California, USA. This paper explores the history of group A streptococcus and chemoprophylaxis in the U.S. military training environment, current policy and practice, and challenges associated with widespread chemoprophylaxis. In light of the history presented, preventive medicine authorities at basic training centers should be extremely cautious about discontinuing benzathine penicillin chemoprophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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17. Understanding Curricular Student Expectations in Texas: Readiness Standards vs. Supporting Standards.
- Author
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Harlow, Kevin, Weber, Natalie, Koch, Nicole, and Hendricks, Kandy
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PSYCHOLOGY of students , *EDUCATIONAL standards , *EDUCATIONAL change ,UNITED States. Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965 ,EVERY Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (United States) ,NO Child Left Behind Act of 2001 - Abstract
Current context for educational reform in the United States is codified in revisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. Periodic reauthoriations reflect changing national and educational landscapes (Klein, 2015). The most recent re authorisation, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 (USDE, 2015), is currently undergoing the regulatory process and is scheduled to go into effect during the 2017-2018 school year (USDE, 2017). This paper mil examine the impact of standards based accountability (SBA) reform within a changing national context from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorisation of2002 (USDE, 2002) to ESSA in 2015 through the Texas context of SBA, a descriptive analysis of types of standards, and a statistical analysis of performance by cohort from 2013 to 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
18. Informality on the urban periphery: Housing conditions and self-help strategies in Texas informal subdivisions.
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Sullivan, Esther and Olmedo, Carlos
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HOUSING , *HOME ownership , *SELF-help housing , *LOW-income housing , *POOR communities ,HOUSING & economics - Abstract
Most scholarship on informal housing focuses on developing countries and little research investigates how low-income populations in the US participate in homeownership through self-built and self-provided housing. Meanwhile, informally developed areas are increasingly being uncovered in the US, especially in the urban periphery of growing metropolitan regions. This paper documents and analyses largely unknown housing conditions and needs for the growing number of people that live in such communities. Data for this paper were collected through a survey of 133 households in two unincorporated low-income, self-help settlements in Central Texas. In this survey we address (1) household composition, (2) specific housing conditions, and (3) reported structural and infrastructural problems. Through regression analyses we identify factors that mitigate or aggravate the severity of overall housing problems and identify the most significant concerns for residents. Our results offer future lines of action regarding property titles, financing and dwelling upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2015
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19. Texas LPG fire: Domino effects triggered by natural hazards.
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Naderpour, Mohsen and Khakzad, Nima
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PETROLEUM refineries , *VALUE at risk , *ACCOUNTING methods , *FIRE , *FIRE victims , *HURRICANE Harvey, 2017 - Abstract
• A general Natech risk assessment methodology is presented. • The methodology takes into account the possible domino effects. • The methodology relies upon Bayesian networks capabilities. • The methodology is implemented in a real case study. On February 2007, a massive fire in a propane de-asphalting unit in an oil refinery in Texas, USA happened due to liquid propane release from a cracked pipe in a control station injuring four people, damaging extensive equipment, causing significant business interruption, and resulting in more than $50 million losses. The accident was triggered by a natural hazard: freezing of piping at a control station caused an inlet pipe elbow to crack, which in turn, led to the release of high-pressure liquid propane which was rapidly ignited. In addition, there were two near-miss events due to potential domino effects. In fact, the accident could reasonably have resulted in much more severe consequences due to the exposure of large butane storage spheres and chlorine containers, increasing the possibility of a catastrophic domino effect. This paper develops a Natech (natural hazard triggering technological disasters) risk assessment methodology that relies upon Bayesian network capabilities and takes into account the potential Natech domino effects. The methodology is implemented in the intended refinery and mathematically graphically represents the dynamic cause–effect relations between units involved in the scenario, and handles uncertainties among the interactions. In addition, the methodology can provide a risk value for the entire scenario that can be used further for risk-based decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
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20. Chronic Disease Profile of Galveston County Residents.
- Author
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Moran, Jacob and Veeranki, Sreenivas P.
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CHRONIC diseases , *PUBLIC health , *MEDICAL care , *PREVENTIVE medicine - Abstract
The burden of chronic disease continues to increase in the US and the world. The socio-demographics profile of the US population is comparable to the population profiles at the state and county level suggesting the chronic diseases burden might be the same at the local/county level. In this paper, we present the socio-demographics, chronic diseases and associated risk factor's profile of Galveston County and draw comparisons with Texan and US general populations. Additionally, we propose recommendations for chronic disease prevention and control in the Galveston County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
21. John Shary, Charles Pease, and contested irrigation landscapes in early-twentieth-century South Texas.
- Author
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Brannstrom, Christian
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IRRIGATION , *IRRIGATION water , *WATER pumps - Abstract
The paper contributes to notions of 'hybrid' historical geographies of irrigation by focusing on contested visions for irrigation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Adding to geographical work using biography, notions of performance, and racialized landscapes, the paper analyzes debates between John Shary and Charles Pease. Shary and Pease were protagonists, respectively, of pumping water from the Rio Grande and a gravity scheme reliant on action by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The pumping system survived; the gravity system was never constructed. However, the debate between Shary and Pease illustrates tensions within the Anglo elite. The analysis focuses on three early-twentieth-century moments. The first is a 1918 crisis in Shary's irrigation company, followed by a 1927 debate between Shary and Pease over the flaws of the pumping system and benefits of gravity irrigation. Finally, the paper focuses on Shary and Pease's constructions of racialized landscapes that subordinated Hispanics as voters to be utilized for Shary's accumulation strategy, or as 'non-water users' that should be excluded from water politics. The paper argues that Shary and Pease projected similarly exclusionary social visions onto the irrigated landscape in spite of their differences on irrigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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22. A three-stage resilience analysis framework for urban infrastructure systems
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Ouyang, Min, Dueñas-Osorio, Leonardo, and Min, Xing
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INFRASTRUCTURE (Economics) , *CITIES & towns , *HURRICANE damage , *POWER transmission , *SYSTEM analysis , *RANDOM data (Statistics) - Abstract
Abstract: This paper proposes a new multi-stage framework to analyze infrastructure resilience. For each stage, a series of resilience-based improvement strategies are highlighted and appropriate correlates of resilience identified, to then be combined for establishing an expected annual resilience metric adequate for both single hazards and concurrent multiple hazard types. Taking the power transmission grid in Harris County, Texas, USA, as a case study, this paper compares an original power grid model with several hypothetical resilience-improved models to quantify their effectiveness at different stages of their response evolution to random hazards and hurricane hazards. Results show that the expected annual resilience is mainly compromised by random hazards due to their higher frequency of occurrence relative to hurricane hazards. In addition, under limited resources, recovery sequences play a crucial role in resilience improvement, while under sufficient availability of resources, deploying redundancy, hardening critical components and ensuring rapid recovery are all effective responses regardless of their ordering. The expected annual resilience of the power grid with all three stage improvements increases 0.034% compared to the original grid. Although the improvement is small in absolute magnitude due to the high reliability of real power grids, it can still save millions of dollars per year as assessed by energy experts. This framework can provide insights to design, maintain, and retrofit resilient infrastructure systems in practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2012
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23. Going global in physical therapist education: International service-learning in US-based programmes.
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Pechak, Celia and Thompson, Mary
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ANALYSIS of variance , *EMPLOYEES , *EXCHANGE of persons programs , *EXPERIENCE , *GROUNDED theory , *INTERVIEWING , *RESEARCH methodology , *SCIENTIFIC observation , *PHYSICAL therapy education , *RESEARCH funding , *STATISTICAL sampling , *SERVICE learning , *TELEPHONES , *TERMS & phrases , *QUALITATIVE research , *ORGANIZATIONAL structure , *JUDGMENT sampling , *TEACHING methods , *HEALTH occupations school faculty , *HUMAN services programs , *EVALUATION of human services programs - Abstract
Background and Purpose. Internationalization is expanding its presence in higher education in the United States. Reflecting this trend that includes incorporating global perspectives in the curricula, physical therapist education programmes increasingly offer international opportunities such as International Service-Learning (ISL) to their students. Service-learning, a teaching strategy that integrates community service with structured learning activities, has gained broad acceptance in health professions education including physical therapy, and is therefore the focus of this paper. The specific purposes of this paper were to identify and analyse the commonalities that existed among established ISL programmes within physical therapist education programmes in terms of structures and processes, and to consider its broader implications for physical therapist education. Methods. A descriptive, exploratory study was performed using grounded theory. Snowball and purposive, theoretical sampling yielded 14 faculty members with experience in international service, international learning or ISL in physical therapist education programmes. Faculty were interviewed by phone. Interview transcriptions and course documents were analysed applying grounded theory methodology. Data from eight programmes which met the operational definition of established ISL were used to address the purposes of this paper. Results. Five phases of establishing an ISL programme were identified: development, design, implementation, evaluation, and enhancement. Although no single model exists for ISL in physical therapist education; commonalities in structures and processes were identified in each phase. However, attention to service objectives and outcomes is lacking. Conclusions. While analysis revealed that each programme shared commonalities and demonstrated differences in structures and processes compared with the other programmes, the study demonstrated a general lack of focus on formal community outcomes which raises ethical concerns. Future research and dialogue is warranted to explore ethics and good practice in ISL and other global health initiatives in physical therapy. This study may facilitate reflections and creative solutions by individual faculty and the profession. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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24. The Five-Year White Elephant: Building the Davis Mountains Indian Lodge.
- Author
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Taylor, Lonn
- Subjects
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ORAL history - Abstract
The Indian Lodge resort hotel in Davis Mountains State Park was one of the first Civilian Conservation Corps projects in Texas. In spite of present-day tendencies to praise the work of the C.C.C., the papers of the National Park Service, whose architects supervised C.C.C. projects in Texas state parks, reveal the construction of the Lodge to have been fraught with difficulties, including incompetent supervision by political appointees, cost overruns, misappropriation of materials, absence of purchasing procedures, and faulty construction. As a result, it took more than five years, rather than the projected two years, to complete the project. The National Park Service papers provide an insight into the workings of the Civilian Conservation Corps that is at variance with many published histories based on oral history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
25. Return to the River: Environmental Flow Policy in the United States and Canada.
- Author
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MacDonnell, Lawrence J.
- Subjects
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RIVERS -- Law & legislation , *ENVIRONMENTAL protection , *LAW , *ENVIRONMENTAL law , *RIVERS - Abstract
This paper provides an overview and summary of United States and Canadian federal, state, and provincial laws that offer some form of legal protection for environmental flows. Special attention is given to the new “second generation” law established in Texas and to ways western states are beginning to encourage transactions that help restore dewatered streams. Progress in the eastern states and some Canadian provinces to provide environmental flow protection is addressed. Based on this review, this paper presents recommended elements of a “model” environmental flow policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
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26. RFID Student Educational Experiences at the UNT College of Engineering: A Sequential Approach to Creating a Project-Based RFID Course.
- Author
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Vaidyanathan, Vijay V., Varanasi, Murali R., Kougianos, Elias, Wang, Shuping, and Raman, Han
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RADIO frequency identification systems , *ENGINEERING students , *ADULT education workshops , *CONFERENCES & conventions - Abstract
This paper describes radio frequency identification (RFID) projects, designed and implemented by students in the College of Engineering at the University of North Texas, as part of their senior-design project requirement. The paper also describes an RFID-based project implemented at Rice Middle School in Piano, TX, which went on to win multiple prizes both at the school and regional level. The goal of the RFID endeavor is to develop an RFID elective course that is current, industry-oriented, and methodically built to enable faculty to design, develop, and deliver the course to a diverse group of engineering students. The sequence of events through which the course evolved was as follows: 1) conduct an industry-supported workshop for students in the College of Engineering with funding received from the National Science Foundation (NSF); 2) assign an RFID-based design project for the senior students who attended the workshop; 3) use the first senior design project as a model to encourage subsequent senior students to create their own RFID projects or enable the students to contact companies seeking to accomplish RFID solutions to a problem; 4) involve middle school students in RFID-based projects by using the senior design projects as an enticement; 5) use the successful projects as the basis for practical laboratory experiences to be created in a new elective course on RFID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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27. Application of high resolution land use and land cover data for atmospheric modeling in the Houston–Galveston metropolitan area, Part I: Meteorological simulation results
- Author
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Cheng, Fang-Yi and Byun, Daewon W.
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- *
LAND use , *DATA analysis , *ATMOSPHERIC models , *COMPUTER simulation , *LANDSAT satellites , *CITIES & towns & the environment - Abstract
To predict atmospheric conditions in an urban environment, the land surface processes must be accurately described through the use of detailed land use (LU) and land cover (LC) data. Use of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 25-category data, currently in the Fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5), with the Noah land surface model (LSM) and MRF (medium-range forecast) planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes resulted in the over-prediction of daytime temperatures in the Houston downtown area due to the inaccurate representation as a completely impervious surface. This bias could be corrected with the addition of canopy water in the urban areas from the evapotranspiration effects of urban vegetation. A more fundamental approach would be to utilize an LULC dataset that represents land surface features accurately. The Texas Forest Service (TFS) LULC dataset established with the LANDSAT satellite imagery correctly represents the Houston–Galveston–Brazoria (HGB) area as mixtures of urban, residential, grass, and forest LULC types. This paper describes how the Noah LSM and PBL schemes in the MM5 were modified to accommodate the TFS-LULC data. Comparisons with various meteorological measurements show that the MM5 simulation made with the high resolution LULC data improves the boundary layer mixing conditions and local wind patterns in the Houston Ship Channel, which is a critically important anthropogenic emission area affecting the HGB air pollution problems. In particular, when the synoptic flows are weak, the improved LULC data simulates the asymmetrically elongated Houston heat island convergence zone influencing the location of the afternoon Gulf of Mexico sea-breeze front and the Galveston Bay breeze flows. This paper is part I of a two-part study and focuses on the meteorological simulation. In part II, effects of using the different meteorological inputs on air quality simulations are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. The Loss of Agricultural Land Among Black Farmers.
- Author
-
MEREM, EDMUND
- Subjects
- *
AFRICAN American farmers , *LAND use , *SOCIAL conditions of farmers , *AGRICULTURE , *FACTORS of production , *AGRICULTURAL economics , *GOVERNMENT policy - Abstract
This paper analyzes the issue of landlessness within the Black farming community. Emphasis is on the factors associated with the trend. This is based upon three case studies with a focus on different geographic levels covering the state of Texas, the southern region and private land ownership at the national level. Land retention efforts at the margin and several strategies for dealing with the problem are also provided. In the political economy of capitalism, access to land ownership ranks high as one of the critical factors of production. Not only are landed properties traded in the market place, financial institutions honor them as collaterals. Yet, as society approaches the middle of the first decade of the twenty first century, the African American farming community continues to experience landlessness in a land of opportunity and freedom with serious implications for present and future generation. According to the literature, agricultural land loss among Black farmers has been occurring at an alarming proportion with grave consequences for the community. While several efforts have been made to reverse the trend, the Black community has continuously endured the proliferation of a landless generation within its population. The gravity of the trend demands policy reforms, the adoption of sustainability principles and regional cooperation. The paper suggests education for the youth and research as well as the design of a minority land information system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
29. Scenario Planning for Strategic Regional Transportation Planning.
- Author
-
Zegras, Christopher, Sussman, Joseph, and Conklin, Christopher
- Subjects
- *
URBAN planning , *TRANSPORTATION planning , *URBAN transportation , *CITIES & towns - Abstract
This paper proposes a framework for using business and organizational scenario-planning techniques for regional strategic transportation-planning purposes. The paper provides a brief history of scenario planning as it emerged from business-strategic planning activities and gives an overview of its goals and limitations. The paper then reviews the context for scenario planning in regional transportation planning as well as precedents of its application in this field. The paper continues with a presentation of a scenario-planning framework for transportation as refined and applied to the Houston metropolitan area. The major findings and lessons from this application are discussed, together with conclusions and observations regarding further potentials and refinements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Wind loads on attached canopies and their effect on the pressure distribution over arch-roof industrial buildings
- Author
-
Paluch, M.J., Loredo-Souza, A.M., and Blessmann, J.
- Subjects
- *
AERODYNAMICS , *WIND pressure - Abstract
Arch-roof industrial buildings are very wind sensitive. The current aerodynamic coefficients in wind codes do not contemplate the possibility of existence of canopies attached to the buildings. This paper presents the results of an investigation on the influence exerted by canopies on the static wind actions on arch-roof industrial buildings. Six scale models of these arch-roof buildings were tested, with five types of canopies attached. Three of these canopies were instrumented and the static wind pressures were measured. The tests were done at the boundary layer wind tunnel of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. The results show that the aerodynamic coefficients for the roof are not affected by the canopies, in the case of axial incidence. However, the influence on the pressure distribution is noticeable for wind incidence perpendicular to the main axis of the arch roofs and for other incidences as well. This influence is discussed in the paper. The aerodynamic coefficients for the design of the arch-roofs, with and without the attached canopies are given. Aerodynamic coefficients for design of the canopies are also suggested. Furthermore, the paper discusses the relation between the magnitude of the canopy design forces and the canopy width, as well as the relation between the canopy height location and the height of the building wall. The results were compared with design recommendations from previous work of Jancauskas and Holmes (in: US National Conference on Wind Engineering, Proceedings, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 1985) and Jancauskas and Eddleston (in: International Conference on Wind Engineering, Fotodruck J. Mainz, Aachen, 1987). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. School leadership in the context of accountability policies.
- Author
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Leithwood, Kenneth
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATIONAL accountability , *EDUCATIONAL leadership - Abstract
This paper explores the unique implications for leaders of the accountability-driven policy contexts common to schools in many countries at the present time. A four-fold classification of government approaches to educational accountability is used to frame this exploration. These market, decentralization, professionalization and management approaches are each rooted in different assumptions about the basic problems for school reform and the nature of the desirable solutions. The paper reviews both theoretical and empirical literature identifying school leadership practices likely to be productive in response to each of the four approaches to accountability. Discussed as well are the additional challenges facing school leaders arising from the eclectic adoption of different accountability approaches as part of most reform packages. The paper ends with four suggestions for future leadership research aimed at better understanding the important influence of context on leadership practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2001
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Family planning policy in the United States: the converging politics of abortion and contraception.
- Author
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Aiken, Abigail R.A. and Scott, James G.
- Subjects
- *
FAMILY planning , *ABORTION , *CONTRACEPTION , *HEALTH policy , *LEGISLATIVE bodies , *ABORTION laws , *HUMAN rights , *HEALTH services accessibility laws , *REPRODUCTIVE health laws , *PRACTICAL politics , *POVERTY , *PROBABILITY theory , *RESEARCH funding , *BIRTH control policy - Abstract
Objectives: Following decades of mainstream bipartisan support, contraception has reemerged as a controversial political issue in the United States. At the same time, opposition to abortion has intensified. State legislatures across the country have enacted highly visible policies limiting access to family planning. Perhaps the most striking example occurred in 2011 in Texas, when legislators instituted unprecedented requirements on abortion providers and cut public funding for contraception by two thirds. Yet, despite popular interpretations of this phenomenon as a simple byproduct of increasing partisan divisions, little is understood about the factors underlying such policy shifts.Study Design: We fit Bayesian ideal-point models to analyze correlation patterns in record-vote data in the Texas House of Representatives in the 2003 and 2011 Legislatures. Both sessions had large Republican majorities and saw the passage of restrictive abortion bills, but they differed markedly with respect to public funding for contraception.Results: We demonstrate that variation in voting on family-planning issues cannot be fully attributed to partisanship in either session. However, the politics of abortion and contraception have converged over time, and - at least for Democrats - the correlation between constituency characteristics and voting behavior on family-planning legislation is markedly higher in 2011 than in 2003. These shifts have been partly driven by legislators from high-poverty, majority Latino districts near the US-Mexico border.Conclusions: Recent dramatic shifts in family-planning policy go beyond simple partisan divisions. As the politics of abortion and contraception have converged, policies that are increasingly hostile to reproductive health and that disproportionately affect low-income minority women have emerged.Implications: Recent shifts in family-planning policy restrict women's access to contraception and abortion, yet little research has examined why such shifts are occurring. This paper analyzes factors underlying voting behavior on restrictive policies in Texas. Identification of these factors helps us to better understand the current political climate surrounding our field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Public Encounter with Human Remains In Texas.
- Author
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Potter, Daniel and Simons, Helen
- Subjects
- *
ARCHAEOLOGICAL human remains , *PILLAGE , *ARCHAEOLOGISTS , *EXCAVATION , *LANDOWNERS - Abstract
This paper presents data on human remains cases from the files of the Texas Historical Commission (THC), specifically the former Office of the State Archeologist, regarding looting, accidental discovery, uncontrolled movement, destruction, or other adverse effects to unmarked human remains in Texas. Utilizing records kept by the Commission for over 30 years, the paper surveys a range of THC cases and reports the typical types of action taken in handling cases involving human remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1998
34. CONCEPTIONS OF ENERGY SHORTAGES AND ENERGY CONSERVING BEHAVIOR.
- Author
-
Gottlieb, David and Matre, Marc
- Subjects
- *
EMBARGO , *PETROLEUM , *ENERGY conservation , *ENERGY policy , *ENERGY consumption , *ATTITUDE (Psychology) - Abstract
This paper explores the attitudes and behaviors of Texas citizens in response to the circumstances existing during and shortly after the Arab countries' oil embargo of Spring 1974. The focus is on the credibility of defining the situation in terms of incipient long-term energy shortages and on the adoption of energy conservation practices. The purpose of the paper is to elucidate the relationships between the attitudes which people held about the energy situation and their efforts to conserve energy. The authors found that most of those surveyed did not interpret energy shortages as simply a result of the Arab countries' oil embargo. Even fewer interpreted the events of the spring of 1974 as the advent of a serious energy crisis for the U.S. Skepticism about the reality of the crisis seemed linked to distrust of energy' producing corporations and leadership in the national government. The findings suggest that differences in energy conserving behavior were dependent on differences in the degree to which the energy crisis was credible and on differences in socioeconomic status. Many of those who could afford to pay the costs of higher priced energy continued their consumption patterns pretty much as before the period of shortages.
- Published
- 1976
35. Experiences With Sickle Cell Hemoglobin Testing in the Texas Newborn Screening Program.
- Author
-
Therrell Jr., Bradford L., Simmank, Jennifer L., and Wilborn, Mae
- Subjects
- *
SICKLE cell anemia in children , *HEMOGLOBINS , *NEONATAL diseases , *TESTING - Abstract
Provides information on the screening for sickle hemoglobin in newborn infants in Texas. Automated procedures for punching from filter paper during the 1970s; Preparation of the specimens for testing; Assessment of the validity of the analytical procedures on dried blood collected on filter paper.
- Published
- 1989
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. A Practical Overview of Regulations Governing Oil Spills from Oil and Gas Producing Facilities....
- Author
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RAILSBACK, RICK
- Subjects
- *
OIL spill laws , *LEGISLATIVE bills - Abstract
This paper is geared toward answering the questions of the small to intermediate-sized oil and gas operator, whom does not have the resources to hire an environmental consultant or manager to handle environmental compliance problems. The paper presupposes no prior understanding or familiarity with the applicable environmental laws or regulations. The main objective is to convey, in very concise format, exactly what an oil and gas producer (onshore and/or offshore) needs to do in order to be in compliance with all current federal and state environmental regulations regarding oil spills. Relevant legislation and regulations contained in and resulting from the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Texas Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, national, regional, area, and state spill contingency plans, and Texas Railroad Commission regulations are briefly reviewed. This legislation and regulations are summarized in a checklist of seven essential requirements for operators to follow in order to comply with all applicable federal regulations and state regulations specific to Texas. Regulations in other states will vary. Texas is utilized here as an example which is representative of most states in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1998
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Los México-americanos en San Antonio, Texas: Análisis de su inserción en autoempleo formal.
- Author
-
Manzanares Rivera, José Luis
- Subjects
- *
TEJANOS , *MEXICAN Americans , *HUMAN geography , *SELF-employment , *SURVEYS , *EMPLOYMENT - Abstract
This paper analyzes the insertion of the Mexican population in the job market in San Antonio, Texas. In particular, it responds to the question of what determines employment in individual, formally incorporated businesses. The methodology analyzes microdata from the American Community Survey (acs) using a logistic statistical estimation tool. The main results indicate that attributes such as command of the English language or an individual's origin could contribute to an understanding of job market insertion for the Mexican population living in the U.S. and do not necessarily constitute barriers for labor market insertion in the self-employment category in cities with traditional migration such as San Antonio, Texas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Substate Federalism and Fracking Policies: Does State Regulatory Authority Trump Local Land Use Autonomy?
- Author
-
Davis, Charles
- Subjects
- *
HYDRAULIC fracturing , *LAND use laws , *POLITICAL autonomy , *STATE government personnel , *ATTITUDE (Psychology) , *GOVERNMENT policy ,FEDERAL government of the United States - Abstract
State officials responsible for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations used in the production of oil and gas resources will inevitably confront a key policy issue; that is, to what extent can statewide regulations be developed without reducing land use autonomy typically exercised by local officials? Most state regulators have historically recognized the economic importance of industry jobs and favor the adoption of uniform regulatory requirements even if these rules preempt local policymaking authority. Conversely, many local officials seek to preserve land use autonomy to provide a greater measure of protection for public health and environmental quality goals. This paper examines how public officials in three states--Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas--address the question of state control versus local autonomy through their efforts to shape fracking policy decisions. While local officials within Texas have succeeded in developing fracking ordinances with relatively little interference from state regulators, Colorado and Pennsylvania have adopted a tougher policy stance favoring the retention of preemptive oil and gas statutes. Key factors that account for between state differences in fracking policy decisions include the strength of home rule provisions, gubernatorial involvement, and the degree of local experience with industrial economic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Assessing the Direct Employment Impact of Federal Economic Stimulus Funds on Construction Projects in Texas.
- Author
-
Kim, Dae Young, Persad, Khali R., Harrison, Robert, and Loftus-Otway, Lisa
- Subjects
- *
CONSTRUCTION projects , *PUBLIC works , *CONSTRUCTION industry personnel , *ECONOMIC stimulus , *EMPLOYMENT , *ECONOMICS ,AMERICAN Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 ,UNITED States economy, 1945- - Abstract
Owing to the 2008 economic downturn in the United States, the construction industry lost 632,000 jobs nationally, of which approximately 100,000 were in Texas. In response to the economic recession, a stimulus package known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), was signed by President Obama on March 6, 2009. This paper presents the results of a study examining the construction employment impact of ARRA spending on Texas transportation projects. The primary goal of this study was to estimate direct employment in the construction industry from spending on construction projects. By using regression analysis, the study assesses employment from data on Texas Department of Transportation projects that used ARRA funds, showing that employment generated by construction projects depends on project type, size, and location urbanization. The findings can be useful to policy makers in allocating funds on construction projects when employment stimulation is an objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Description of Injuries and Illnesses in the Transportation and Warehouse Sector in Texas and the United States, 2005-2009.
- Author
-
Serrano, Anna, Pinion, Clint, Read, Timothy D., Jing Su, Yoon, Jaennie, John, Julie St., Socias, Christina, Prosperie, Susan L., and Cooper, Sharon P.
- Subjects
- *
WORK-related injuries , *INDUSTRIAL safety , *TRANSPORTATION accidents ,WAREHOUSE accidents - Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this paper is to describe recent trends of occupational non-fatal injury in the Transportation and Warehouse private industry sector of Texas as compared to that of the U.S. Methods We conducted a descriptive examination of occupational injuries for the Transportation and Warehousing sector of the State of Texas and the United States using data obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Workplace Injuries Database for 2005-2009. We stratified data by age, race/ethnicity, gender, type of exposure and occupation. Results In the U.S. and in Texas, injuries and illnesses among workers in the Transportation and Warehousing sector were predominately distributed among White workers ages 35-44 and 45-54. In Texas, Hispanics dominated the majority of injuries and illnesses. In the U.S. and in Texas, bodily reaction and exertion was the major exposure associated with injuries and illness. During 2005-2009, workers in the Transportation and Warehousing sector experienced a decrease from 33,440 to 24,000 injuries and illnesses in the US and from 3,390 to 2,490 during the same time period in Texas. Conclusions Data obtained through the BLS revealed there were no substantial differences for injuries between Texas and the U.S. in distributions or total rates based on age, race/ethnicity, gender or exposure stratum within the Transportation and Warehousing industry. The severity of injuries and illnesses in this industry continue to remain an issue as demonstrated by the increasing rates for greater number of days missed from work within Texas. Future areas of examination include comparing economic employment trends with the presented injury and illness case information for the Transportation and Warehousing industry in Texas. Exploration of prevention and reduction programs should also be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
41. FOREWARD.
- Author
-
Wiseman, Zipporah Batshaw
- Subjects
- *
WOMEN'S rights , *SOCIAL conditions of women , *FEMINISM , *RESEARCH , *LEGAL status of women - Abstract
Introduces scholarly papers on women and feminism included in the "Texas Journal of Women and the Law," volume 11 number 2, published in the Spring of 2003. Purpose of the interdisciplinary conference entitled "Subversive Legacies" and sponsored by the University of Texas School of Law; Comments on the papers' focus and themes; Prospects for the women's rights movement.
- Published
- 2003
42. Impact of three interactive Texas state regulatory programs to decrease ambient air toxic levels.
- Author
-
Capobianco, Tara, Hildebrand, Susana M., Honeycutt, Michael, Lee, Jong-Song, McCant, Darrell, and Grant, Roberta L.
- Subjects
- *
AIR pollutants , *AIR quality standards , *PUBLIC health , *GOVERNMENT programs , *ENVIRONMENTAL policy , *FEDERAL government - Abstract
The Federal Clean Air Act (FCAA) framework envisions a federal-state partnership whereby the development of regulations may be at the federal level or state level with federal oversight. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards to describe “safe” ambient levels of criteria pollutants. For air toxics, the EPA establishes control technology standards for the 187 listed hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) but does not establish ambient standards for HAPs or other air toxics. Thus, states must ensure that ambient concentrations are not at harmful levels. The Texas Clean Air Act authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas state environmental agency, to control air pollution and protect public health and welfare. The TCEQ employs three interactive programs to ensure that concentrations of air toxics do not exceed levels of potential health concern (LOCs): air permitting, ambient air monitoring, and the Air Pollutant Watch List (APWL). Comprehensive air permit reviews involve the application of best available control technology for new and modified equipment and ensure that permits protect public health and welfare. Protectiveness may be demonstrated by a number of means, including a demonstration that the predicted ground-level concentrations for the permitted emissions, evaluated on a case-by-case and chemical-by-chemical basis, do not cause or contribute to a LOC. The TCEQ's ambient air monitoring program is extensive and provides data to help assess the potential for adverse effects from all operational equipment in an area. If air toxics are persistently monitored at a LOC, an APWL area is established. The purpose of the APWL is to reduce ambient air toxic concentrations below LOCs by focusing TCEQ resources and heightening awareness. This paper will discuss examples of decreases in air toxic levels in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, resulting from the interactive nature of these programs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Four major disaster occurrences and the Spanish language media: a lack of risk communication.
- Author
-
Benavides, Abraham David
- Subjects
- *
EMERGENCY management , *TORNADOES , *HISPANIC Americans , *SPANISH language , *CRISIS management - Abstract
Purpose – The Hispanic community is the fastest growing ethnic group in the USA and is currently the largest minority group with tremendous buying power. This trend has seen a significant growth with respect to the Spanish-language media in recent years. Along with the media's ability to entertain, comes the responsibility to educate and warn its audiences of eminent threats and disasters. The aim of this paper is to look at the Spanish-language media's efforts to warn and prepare its listeners for local and national emergencies. Design/methodology/approach – Using descriptive and explanatory methods the author looks at the failures of the Spanish language media to communicate emergency warnings in both the Saragosa, Texas tornado and in the case of hurricane Katrina. Findings – Research indicated that pressure from constituents, however, forced a change on the Spanish language industry. Research limitations/implications – The research was limited by not having first hand contact with the Spanish language media. Practical implications – The practical implication of this research which has social overtones is that providing disaster warnings to the non-English speaking population in the USA is achievable. Emergency managers and first responders need to be aware of issues regarding non-English speakers. Social implications – The implications for this research is that all individuals will be notified of emergencies even non-English speakers. Originality/value – The issues on non-English speakers in emergency situations have come up before. Nevertheless, this work identifies a practical solution by involving the Spanish language media in emergency alerts. It is essential that this tremendous resource be involved in emergency alerts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Cabeza de Vaca in Texas.
- Author
-
Hickerson, Nancy P.
- Subjects
- *
SPANIARDS , *NATIVE American-White relations , *NATIVE Americans , *ANTHROPOLOGY , *GEOGRAPHICAL discoveries , *HISTORY , *SIXTEENTH century , *HISTORY of the Americas ,SPANISH colonies ,TEXAS state history - Abstract
For more than a century, studies of Cabeza de Vaca's "odyssey," from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the Rio Culiacan in western Mexico, have been focused almost entirely on the few, and often vague, references to landscape and other features of the physical environment contained in his narrative. This approach may have been justified a century ago, when American scholars began the discussion. However, recent historical and anthropological research have made it feasible to relate his experiences to their socio-cultural context--an exciting prospect, since Cabeza de Vaca was a sensitive and sympathetic observer of the Native American groups that he came to know. As a step in this direction, this paper deals with the segment of Cabeza de Vaca's travels between departure from Galveston Island (Malhado) in spring 1532, and arrival at La Junta de los Rios, on the Rio Grande, in autumn 1535. His account of this period is here contextualized both anthropologically by reference to research dealing with aboriginal territoriality, trade, and intertribal relations; and historically, by reference to the experiences of other early explorers, most notably the Espejo party of 1582-83. The interpretation presented supports a "trans-Texas" view of Cabeza de Vaca's transcontinental route; it is incompatible with the southern, or "trans-Mexico" approach, which favors a route almost entirely through Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
45. Sustainability and vulnerability: integrating equity into plans for central city redevelopment.
- Author
-
Mueller, Elizabeth J. and Dooling, Sarah
- Subjects
- *
NEIGHBORHOODS , *SUSTAINABLE urban development , *SUSTAINABLE development , *URBAN planning - Abstract
Cities around the US are promoting redevelopment efforts in central city neighborhoods in order to foster more-sustainable development patterns. In this paper, we argue that such plans must be grounded in an assessment of the current conditions and existing populations in these neighborhoods. We propose a new way to frame plans for existing communities, using the concept of vulnerability to help us connect current conditions and future goals. Through a case study of the planning process for a transit-oriented redevelopment plan for a central neighborhood in Austin, Texas, we illustrate the difference between current approaches and an alternative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Southwestern Collection.
- Subjects
- *
UNITED States history , *CONFERENCES & conventions , *HISTORY , *SOCIETIES ,TEXAS state history - Abstract
The article discusses various topics related to the field of Southwestern U.S. history. It presents a call for papers for the 117th Annual Meeting of the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, from February 28 to March 2, 2013. The author announces that the 2012 annual convention of the North American Society of Oceanic Historians (NASOH) will take place at the Tremont Hotel in Galveston, Texas from April 22 to April 26, 2012. The article also lists individuals who have become members of the TSHA, including Susan Edwards, Carol Sayle, and Levi Goode.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. Voting for president in the U.S.–Mexico border region
- Author
-
Adkisson, Richard V. and Saucedo, Eduardo
- Subjects
- *
VOTING , *PRESIDENTIAL candidates , *PANEL analysis , *DATA analysis ,UNITED States presidential elections - Abstract
Abstract: Reasoning that life in the U.S.–Mexico border region is sufficiently different from life in non-border regions this paper asks whether proximity to the border has a significant impact on presidential voting. County level data from four border states, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, over five presidential elections, 1992–2008, are examined using a both cross-sectional and panel data analysis. The authors conclude that there is a border effect that favors Democratic candidates and that fades as distance from the border increases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Microlending for housing in the United States. A case study in colonias in Texas
- Author
-
Giusti, Cecilia and Estevez, Luis
- Subjects
- *
MICROFINANCE , *HOUSING finance , *INTERVIEWING , *POVERTY , *STATISTICAL sampling , *HOUSING policy , *COMMUNITY development , *HISPANIC Americans ,DEVELOPING countries - Abstract
Abstract: Applying the concept of microlending to housing is gaining momentum as a practical alternative for those who are on the margin of mainstream financial services. Microlending has been widely researched in the context of developing countries, but less is known about how – and if – it works on marginalized groups in developed countries, specifically in relation to housing. Using the case of South Texas colonias, this paper explores a microlending program for home improvements and its capacity to impact the local economy. Basic data comes from the Nuestra Casa lending program database (609 clients) and from face to face interviews with a randomly selected sample of 138 clients. Our findings show that this program targets and serves clients from the unbanked population, who do not have access to other lending alternatives; further, 70% of the current clients are living below the poverty threshold; defaults rates are found to be low, indicating a capacity to pay loans based on income-to-debt instead of loan-to-debt ratios; and finally, it positively impacts the local economy, since labor and materials necessary to implement the improvements, are purchased locally. These findings should give us policy guidelines to evaluate lending programs that attached to local economies and are suited to serve the target populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Immigrant Suburban Settlement and the 'Threat' to Middle Class Status and Identity: The Case of Farmers Branch, Texas.
- Author
-
Brettell, Caroline B. and Nibbs, Faith G.
- Subjects
- *
MIDDLE class , *IMMIGRANTS , *SOCIAL status , *SOCIAL classes , *CLASS identity , *SUBURBS , *RURAL population ,UNITED States emigration & immigration - Abstract
In the United States, the failure to achieve immigration reform at the national level has resulted in numerous responses in local communities that have been most impacted by the settlement of new immigrants. Some of these responses have emerged in suburban communities that have experienced a rapid rise in the foreign-born population during the last twenty years. This essay offers an in-depth analysis of one such community, Farmers Branch, Texas, covered nationally for a series of anti-immigrant ordinances passed by its City Council. Following a description of the history of this community, the growth of its foreign-born population, and the legal manoeuvres to control unauthorized immigration, the essay argues that anti-immigrant legislation in local places like Farmers Branch is at its core a reflection of a debate about and anxiety over American identity -- how it is defined and how it is changing. In particular, these responses are about a perceived threat to middle class status and identity. This is discussed first in relationship to issues of home ownership and income and then, in relation to cultural dimensions of class, including matters of taste and the spatializations of middle class identity. Finally, the paper unpacks the concept of 'rule of law'. By invoking the claim that Americans are law abiding while unauthorized immigrants have broken the law, lawfulness becomes an exclusionary tool and gives those who support anti-immigrant ordinances a platform for legislating a certain quality of life, and de-Americanizing those who do not fit their conceptualization of what it means to be American. Rule of law becomes a weapon in the fight for middle class status and the status quo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Mayer Halff: Pioneer Jewish Cattleman.
- Author
-
Troxclair, Mary E.
- Subjects
- *
JEWISH pioneers , *CATTLE breeders , *RANCHING , *RANCHERS ,AMERICAN Jewish history - Abstract
During historic times, the Big Bend region of Texas was enriched by peoples from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many had endured hardships in their former lives and were well prepared for the harshness of the country. Among such pioneers were people who began the journey from their land of origin roughly 3,000 years ago, the Jews. The Texas Jewish population's influence on Texas culture has been significant, especially considering the low state census numbers for adherents to Judaism. People of Jewish origin arrived in Texas in three main movements: during the Spanish Inquisition in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries; during the European migration of 1850-1920; and from Latin America over the last twenty years. For the purposes of this paper, by way of introduction, the earliest recorded migration from Spain will be summarized, followed by a study of one man from Europe of particular interest to Southwest Texas, Mayer Halff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
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