This study was designed to investigate the moderating effect of embeddedness on the commitment and turnover intentions relationship. Embeddedness was examined as a key variable that links the commitment and turnover literatures together. Job embeddedness was expected to moderate the relationship between job commitment and job turnover intentions, while organizational embeddedness was expected to moderate the relationship between organizational commitment and organizational turnover intentions. Responses from 154 employed individuals were collect for this study. Data was collected using a web-based survey format. Psychometric data was collected with the use of a demographics questionnaire, as well as embeddedness (job and organizational), organizational commitment, and turnover intentions scales. A moderated regression analysis found that both job and organizational embeddedness moderated the commitment-turnover relationship, but in the opposite way as proposed. These relationships can help us better understand why employees remain within their organizations and jobs.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are cytotoxic, carcinogenic, and anti-carcinogenic in vivo and in vitro, and they produce many hazardous effects in humans and animals. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) also cross-link with DNA and/or protein. However, whether such cross-linking is important to the toxic action of PAs is not known. In addition, the exact mechanism underlying these DNA cross-links or cytotoxicity is also not clear. In three separate studies, I characterized the nature of PA-induced DNA cross-links and the relationships between PA structures and cross-linking potency. In the first study (Chapter II), I found that cross-linking potency of PA congeners coincided with their abilities to cause cytopathologic effects. Macrocyclic a,p-unsaturated diesters PAs and their pyrrolic metabolites were the most potent inhibitors of colony formation, and inducers of cytopathologic changes and megalocyte formation. The macrocyclic α, β-saturated diester PA and open diesters PAs slightly inhibited colony formation, and slightly changed cell morphology. Retronecine and indicine N-oxide were completely inactive. In the next study (Chapter Ill), I found that pyrrolic macrocyclic metabolites were more potent DNA cross-linkers than their parent compounds as determined by alkaline elution. The pyrroles of the macrocyclic diester PAs were potent DNADNA (inter- and/or intra) cross-linkers in BstEll-digested λ-phage DNA or pBR322 plasmid DNA but dehydroretronecine and indicine N-oxide were not. I also examined which DNA sequences were more susceptible to PA-induced cross-links by using a series of restriction endonucleases to determine sequence specificity. The most favorable cross-linking site for PAs appeared to be 5'd(GG) and 5'-d(GA) although other sites, 5'-d(CC) or 5'-d(CG), might be also preferable cross-linking targets. In the next study (Chapter IV), I characterized the nature of DNA-protein interactions induced by PAs, because I found in previous studies that PA-induced cross-links are largely protein associated. In PA or pyrrolic PA exposed cells, cross-linked proteins with molecular weights 40 - 60 kD were detected. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis revealed that these proteins were probably acidic in nature. In an in vitro system utilizing pBR322 or Bst Ell-digested λ-phage DNA. dehydrosenecionine induced DNAprotein cross-links with BSA, indicating that such interactions might be related to amino acid composition of protein. These results confirmed that PA-induced DNA cross-links (DNA-DNA, DNA-protein cross-links) are influenced by three structural features: the C1 ,2 unsaturation of pyrrolizidine ring, α, β-unsaturation, and size of the macrocyclic diester ring. The ability to form cross-links was closely related to the known toxic potencies of these PAs. From this research, I also conclude that DNA crosslinking is the most critical event leading to PA-related diseases and that crosslinking is due to pyrrolic metabolites of PAs, not via a common metabolite as was once thought.

This thesis presents the development and the seismic performance evaluation of steel MRFs with nonlinear replaceable links. Although existing MRFs can provide life safety during a design level earthquake, they are expected to sustain significant damage at the locations of flexural yielding fuses in the beams. The design of the fuse is also interlinked with the design of the beam, often resulting in over-design. These drawbacks can be mitigated by introducing replaceable links at the locations of expected inelastic action. Four full-scale beam-to-column subassemblages with two link types were tested under cyclic loading: i) double channels with bolted web connections, ii) W-sections with bolted end plate connections. The experiments demonstrated that MRFs with replaceable links can provide strength and ductility equivalent to existing MRFs. Finite element models were then developed to capture the observed experimental responses, including local buckling, bolt slipping, and bolt bearing. Finally, preliminary design guidelines were proposed.

This thesis presents the development and the seismic performance evaluation of steel MRFs with nonlinear replaceable links. Although existing MRFs can provide life safety during a design level earthquake, they are expected to sustain significant damage at the locations of flexural yielding fuses in the beams. The design of the fuse is also interlinked with the design of the beam, often resulting in over-design. These drawbacks can be mitigated by introducing replaceable links at the locations of expected inelastic action. Four full-scale beam-to-column subassemblages with two link types were tested under cyclic loading: i) double channels with bolted web connections, ii) W-sections with bolted end plate connections. The experiments demonstrated that MRFs with replaceable links can provide strength and ductility equivalent to existing MRFs. Finite element models were then developed to capture the observed experimental responses, including local buckling, bolt slipping, and bolt bearing. Finally, preliminary design guidelines were proposed.

This research is based on neo-functionalism to analysis the extent of cooperation in Taiwan and Mainland China in the sector of automobile industry, and how it will affect the government policy between Cross-Strait relations. Since Mainland China to open up its market, there are more and more Taiwanese businessmen to invest in Mainland China. The relation between Taiwan and Mainland China is more closely, especially after accession in WTO. According to the discourse of neo-functionalism interest groups¡]industrial elites¡^and political elites will affect the government attitudes in decision-making. The elite of automobile industry from both sides of Taiwan Straits press both governments to put the policy of ¡§three direct links¡¨ into practice, is the case in point.

This study aimed at discovering the role of lexical cohesive links in L2 reading comprehension. For this purpose, the researcher carried out lexical cohesion analysis of two TOEFL reading tests consisting of six texts. First, prior to the reading comprehension tests, the students were administered &ldquo / a vocabulary familiarity task&rdquo / . Second, the TOEFL reading tests were administered to fifty upper-intermediate and advanced level EFL students at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. Third, after each test, a post-reading &ldquo / Lexical links recognition task&rdquo / was given. Finally, the data were analyzed comparing reader performance on each item, both within and across the groups. The researcher analyzed the reading test results besides the results of the accompanying lexical cohesive links tasks to see if there is a &ldquo / significant relationship&rdquo / between the three factors: vocabulary knowledge, reading comprehension level and recognition of lexical cohesive links. The results have indicated that awareness of lexical cohesive links noticeably contributes to reading test scores in L2 and that recognition-level vocabulary knowledge alone may not guarantee better reading comprehension scores. Finally, it is suggested that reading and writing teachers can develop some pedagogic exercises to teach lexical cohesive devices and in this way improve students&rsquo / knowledge of lexical cohesive sub-types, thus enhancing their reading performance.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Ingram, Mary Ann; Committee Member: Durgin, Greg; Committee Member: Kenney, Steve; Committee Member: Landgren, Jack; Committee Member: Li, Ye. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

The present study explored three questions: What is the linking pattern of China’s cyber news space? What are the factors that contribute to this pattern? And what is the distribution of links in real geographic places? The concept of the cyber news space refers to the globally connected networks of online news production. It is a tool to understand the spatial distribution of online news production and the map of the world as presented in the media. This study is a content analysis of news Webpages from China’s four leading commercial portals. It sampled about 900 news Webpages during the spring of 2008. China’s commercial portals are news aggregators and distributors. They are the gatekeepers of China’s cyber news space. On their news Webpages there is one hyperlink that leads to the original publisher of the story. These links provide a clue of how news organizations were connected online. The content analysis coded these links and other information such as media type, production sites and locations of stories. This study found that the there was a pattern of concentration in terms of the distribution of links among online news organizations. A multiple regression model was used to test the factors that may contribute to this pattern. It was found that geographic location of news organizations was such a factor. The more central a news organization was located, the more links it attracted from the portals. In addition, this study also analyzed the distribution of links among difference provinces (or province level administrations) of China. It found that Beijing, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jilin, and Shanghai are hubs, while more remote provinces, such as Xinjiang, and Guizhou were largely bypassed. / text

A proteomic procedure for analyzing mouse left ventricular collagen by mass spectrometry has been developed. The procedure involves a purification step that removes non-collagenous cellular components from the collagen extracellular matrix, a step that solubilizes the collagen in aqueous solvents before it is proteolytically digested for analysis with ESI-LCMS/MS. Collagen from healthy and lathrytic mice has been positively identified by applying the SEQUEST database search algorithm to spectra from the collagen prepared using this procedure. Analysis shows that the relative percentage of collagen peptides detected in lathrytic tissue is significantly greater than that of the healthy tissue. These preliminary results suggest that the percentage of cross-linked collagen is lower in the lathrytic tissue as indicated by the greater protein sequence coverage obtained for this tissue. This procedure lays the ground work for future experimentation that has the ability to allow for the identification and quantification of cross-linked peptides.

In this thesis, investigations into the suitability of three 'weak-link' models, designed for the simulation of superconducting cluster systems, are reported. The focus of the investigation is on both the accuracy of the transport properties produced by these models, and the time taken to produce their results. The thesis develops the theory behind a previous approach which was exclusively used to model percolation systems for coverages below the critical coverage. The modifications made allow the simulations to extend to system coverages above the critical coverage. An additional 'current-ramping' algorithm, to simulate the systematic increase or decrease of current forced through the system, is described and explored. The results for the three models are compared, and their suitability for future investigations is discussed.