One of the difficulties encountered by therapists working with individuals with obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms/disorder is the resistance of OC symptoms to change. A factor that may affect the prognosis for such individuals is the extent to which their symptoms result in positive or negative functional consequences. The current study describes the development, reliability, and validity of a new scale — the Obsessive Compulsive Self-Syntonicity of Symptoms Scale (OCSSSS) - that measures the positive and negative functional consequences of OC symptoms. Items were generated by the principal investigator and major professor after examining the research literature for OC and related disorders. Fifty-four items were generated, which yielded a robust, seven component structure through principal components analysis. Items were rated on a 1-5 Likert scale (1=extremely inconsistent - 5=extremely consistent) with an option of "not applicable" (coded as "0"). Higher scores on the OCSSSS indicated more perceived functional consequences of OC symptoms in an individual's daily life. The sample consisted of 634 students, who responded to an advertisement describing general examples of OC symptoms and who completed several measures online, including: 1) Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Self Report (Y-BOCS-SR); 2)Obsessive Compulsive Inventory Revised (OCI-R); 3) University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA); 4) self-report of frequency of prior/current therapy; evaluation of the effectiveness of prior therapy; evaluation of the expected effectiveness of future therapy; and willingness to participate in future therapy; and 5) social/work adjustment. The OCSSSS was reliable and most items correlated with total score. The OCSSSS's total score and individual component scores were correlated with symptom severity, symptom type, subjective evaluations of treatment experiences, willingness to participate in treatment, avoidance, work and social adjustment, and stage of change. Regression analyses indicated the OCSSSS significantly predicts stage of change, controlling for symptom severity. / Master of Science

Wal Mart, which contains nation's largest private employers (1.2 million workers), sellers of retail goods($280 billion), and owner of corporate real estate(911 million square feet), is now locally and globally getting more dominant. Its simple but straight forward strategy is enough to make customers' pockets open and buy goods. However, these strategies are also getting bumped into the risks for high quality oriented markets which have been targeted for upper income class. Furthermore, on the reason that maintains enormously occupied box storage concept outside the town, Wal Mart is blamed for making the town more boundless and uncharacteristic as well as killing many retail shops in downtown. Architecturally. reconsidering Wal Mart to be more distinctively balancing to proper urban issues and practical designs is now more imperative than ever. Therefore, this thesis work will be new grope of possibilities of that Wal Mart can be futurally constructive being more friendly approached to the town and communities in a revitalization view of rural towns. / Master of Architecture

Yes / Background: Human vision is vital in determining our interaction with the outside world. In this study we characterize our ability to judge changes in the direction of motion of objects-a common task which can allow us either to intercept moving objects, or else avoid them if they pose a threat. Methodology/Principal Findings: Observers were presented with objects which moved across a computer monitor on a linear path until the midline, at which point they changed their direction of motion, and observers were required to judge the direction of change. In keeping with the variety of objects we encounter in the real world, we varied characteristics of the moving stimuli such as velocity, extent of motion path and the object size. Furthermore, we compared performance for moving objects with the ability of observers to detect a deviation in a line which formed the static trace of the motion path, since it has been suggested that a form of static memory trace may form the basis for these types of judgment. The static line judgments were well described by a 'scale invariant' model in which any two stimuli which possess the same two-dimensional geometry (length/width) result in the same level of performance. Performance for the moving objects was entirely different. Irrespective of the path length, object size or velocity of motion, path deviation thresholds depended simply upon the duration of the motion path in seconds. Conclusions/Significance: Human vision has long been known to integrate information across space in order to solve spatial tasks such as judgment of orientation or position. Here we demonstrate an intriguing mechanism which integrates direction information across time in order to optimize the judgment of path deviation for moving objects. / Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust, NIH

No / Mechanochemical synthesis, i.e., reactions conducted by grinding solid reactants together with no or minimal solvent, has been demonstrated as an excellent technique for the formation of both organic and inorganic compounds. Mechanochemistry is viewed as an alternative approach to chemical synthesis and is not always considered when developing manufacturing processes of fine chemicals. Here, recent advances are highlighted regarding mechanochemical synthesis, by utilizing a well‐developed continuous technique – extrusion, and the advantages it offers to further support its use in the manufacturing of these chemicals. To put this work into context, it is shown how extrusion plays a vital role for manufacturing in the food, polymer, and pharmaceutical industries, and how the research carried out by these respective industrialists provides great insight and understanding of the technique, with the results being applicable in the chemical industry. The synthesis of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is highlighted herein as an excellent example showcasing the advantages that extrusion provides to the manufacture of these materials, one advantage being the exceptional space time yields (STYs) reported for these processes, at three orders of magnitude greater than conventional (solvothermal) synthesis. / EPSRC. Grant Number: EP/L019655/1

Overweight and obesity have been increasing dramatically in the United States. Certain ethnic and sociodemographic subsets of the population, including Latino children, tend to suffer proportionally higher rates of overweight. The first body figure scale was published in 1983 by Stunkard, Sørensen, and Schulsinger, researchers delineating the influence of genetics. Body figure scales consist of a series of similar figures, ranging in appearance from emaciated to obese. Respondents circle the figure that resembles the person or ideal of interest. Currently no figure scale targets multi-ethnic or minority pre-adolescent populations. This study sought to discern the favored design parameters, including format and stance, for the creation of an evidence-based body figure scale for use with mixed populations of youth. Eighty-nine fourth and fifth-grade students from four ethnically diverse elementary schools in northern Virginia were surveyed using novel and standard body figure scales, and assessed for anthropometric measures. Approximately 37% of subjects were at-risk of overweight or overweight; levels varied between and within ethnic groups. Subjects identified best with photographic format scales with figures shown in a three-quarters stance with their arms at their sides. The choice of a "self" figure on both the novel and Collins (1991) figure scales was related to BMI-for-age percentile and body image. The novel scale allowed differentiation of mean self-identified figure choices between ethnic groups. There is hope that body figure scales will one day provide rapid, inexpensive assessment of overweight and obesity. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study is to determine which items on a personality rating scale are most valid in describing individuals who have been selected on the basis of social acceptance.

Syfte: Denna studies syfte är att öka förståelsen för vilka personlighetsdrag konsumenter tillskriver varumärken beroende på logotypens färg. Metod: Eftersom studiens syfte har varit att öka förståelsen för ämnet har en kvalitativ metod använts och färgerna blå, grön, gul, röd och svart har legat till grund för undersökningen. För att samla in empiriskt material har semistrukturerade intervjuer utförts med tolv deltagare. Materialet har analyserats med hjälp av Aakers (1997) Brand Personality Scale samt tematisering. Resultat & slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att den blå logotypen associeras med kompetens, den gröna med uppriktighet och den gula med spänning. Den röda logotypen har även den associerats med kompetens och den svarta med robusthet, i Aakers (1997) Brand Personality Scale. Reaktionerna för den blå och den gröna logotypen har visat sig vara enklast för deltagarna att placera samt visat sig överensstämma med tidigare forskningsresultat. Den gula, röda och svarta logotypen har upplevts svårare och resultaten har avvikit mer från tidigare forskning. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Våra förslag för framtida forskning är att istället för att studera färger, studera vilken påverkan logotypens utformning har på varumärkets personlighet. Vidare kan framtidens forskning studera flerfärgade logotyper. Vår studie studerar endast en speciell subgrupp och framtida forskning kan därför studera en annan subgrupp för jämförelse. Uppsatsens bidrag: Som bidrag till framtida forskning ser vi att denna studie beskriver samband mellan färgerna blå, grön, gul, röd och svart och dimensionerna som återfinns i Aakers (1997) Brand Personality Scale. Detta tillägg ser vi skulle fungera som ett utvecklande ramverk och därför bidra till det teoretiska perspektivet i framtida studier utförda i Sverige. Som rekommendation kan företag rent praktiskt använda sig av dessa resultat när de ska välja färg för sin logotyp. / Aim: In this study we aim to increase understanding of the personality traits consumers ascribe to brands depending on the color of the logo. Method: Due to the aim of the study, which was to increase understanding of the topic, a qualitative method has been used. To collect empirical data semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve participants. The material was analyzed using Aaker’s (1997) Brand Personality Scale and thematisation. Result & Conclusions: Results show that the blue logo is associated with competence, green with sincerity and yellow with excitement. The red logo has also been associated with competence and the black with ruggedness, in Aaker’s (1997) Brand Personality Scale. The reactions of the blue and green logo has proven to be the easiest for the participants to place and shown to be consistent with previous research. The yellow, red and black logo has been perceived more difficult and the results have deviated more from previous research. Suggestions for future research: Our suggestions for future research is that instead of examining colors, examine the impact of the logo design in brand personality. Furthermore, future research could investigate multi-color logos. Our study examines only a specific subgroup and future research can explore a different subgroup for comparison. Contribution of the thesis: As a contribution to future research, this study describes the relationship between the colors blue, green, yellow, red and black and the dimensions found in Aakers (1997) Brand Personality Scale. This addition would serve as a developed framework and thus contribute to the theoretical perspective in future studies carried out in Sweden. As a recommendation, companies can practically use these results when they are designing their logo.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The world is increasingly being faced with the challenge of effectively exploiting available renewable energy resources, not only to meet an ever growing energy demand, but also to preserve the available amount of fossil fuels and to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere by fossil fuelled power stations. Hence, every available renewable energy resource, even small rivers has a contribution to make in the attempt to reduce the amount of fossil fuel generated electricity. The focus of this study is the design and installation of a low cost grid-connected 10 kW micro hydro power system (MHPS). The process to determine the potential of the available water resource is first to be presented. The environmental aspects of these systems, based on the study that is undertaken for the implementation of the landmark example, are discussed. The complete design of a micro hydro power system for a specific site is presented. This design is based on using commercially available components and equipment in an attempt to minimise the total cost of a micro hydro power system. The designed micro hydro power system is installed in-field and the predicted performance of the designed system is verified with measured results of the implemented system. Based on the results of the micro hydro power system landmark example, it is shown through a complete economic study, that this investment is very worthwhile. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreld word daagliks meer en meer uitgedaag om beskikbare alternatiewe energiebronne effektief te benut, nie net om in die groeiende elektrisiteits aanvraag te voorsien nie, maar ook om die beskikbare fossiel brandstowwe te beskerm en ook om die hoeveelheid koolstofdioksied gasse wat deur fossiel brandstof kragstasies vrygestel word, te verminder. Dus het elke beskikbare alternatiewe energiebron, selfs klein riviertjies, ‘n bydrae om te lewer tot die poging om die hoeveelheid elektrisiteit wat deur fossiel brandstowwe opgewek word, te verminder. Die fokus van hierdie studie is op die ontwerp en implementering van ‘n lae koste netwerk gekoppelde 10 kW mikro hidro kragstelsel. Eerstens word die proses om die potensiaal van die beskikbare waterbron te bepaal, bespreek. Al die omgewings aspekte van hierdie mikro hidro kragstelsels word dan bespreek. Dit is ten volle gebaseer op die studies wat gedoen is vir die implementering van hierdie landmerk voorbeeld. Die volledige ontwerp van ‘n mikro hidro kragstelsel, vir ‘n spesifieke terrein, word bespreek. Hierdie ontwerp is hoofsaaklik gebasseer op die gebruik van kommersieel beskikbare komponente met die doel om die totale koste van die stelsel te minimeer. Die stelsel wat ontwerp is, is geïnstalleer op die terrein en die verwagte prestasie van die stelsel is toe geverifieer met gemete resultate van die geïnstalleerde stelsel. ‘n Volledige ekonomiese studie wat gebaseer is op die resultate van die geïnstalleerde stelsel, word dan bespreek en daar is gevind dat hierdie stelsel werklik finansieel die moeite werd is. / Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

Storage of mine tailings and waste concrete imposes economical and environmental impacts. Researchers have attempted to reuse wastes as construction material by utilizing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) to stabilize them. This method, however, has a number of limitations related to OPC. In this research, a recent technology called geopolymerization is used to stabilize mine tailings and concrete waste so that they can be completely recycled and reused. The research includes three main parts. The first part studies the effect of different factors on the mechanical properties, micro/nano structure, and elemental and phase composition of mine tailings-based geopolymer binder. The second part investigates the feasibility of producing geopolymer bricks using mine tailings. The physical and mechanical properties, micro/nano structure, durability, and environmental performance of the produced bricks are studied in a systematic way. Moreover, the enhancement of the mine tailings-based geopolymer bricks by adding cement kiln dust (CKD) is studied. The third part of the research investigates the recycling of the fines fraction of crushed waste concrete to produce binder through geopolymerization in order to completely recycle concrete waste. The results indicate the viability of geopolymerization of mine tailings by optimizing the synthesis conditions. By properly selecting these factors, mine tailings-based geopolymer bricks can be produced to meet the ASTM standard requirements and to be environmentally safe by effectively immobilizing the heavy metals in the mine tailings. The physical and mechanical properties and durability of the mine tailings-based geopolymer bricks can be further enhanced by adding a small amount of CKD. The results also show that the fines fraction of crushed waste concrete can be used together with fly ash to produce high performance geopolymer binder. Incorporation of calcium in the geopolymer structure and coexistence of the calcium products such as CSH gel and the geopolymer gel explains the enhancement of the mine tailings-based geopolymer bricks with CKD and the high performance of geopolymer binder from the waste concrete fines and fly ash. The research contributes to sustainable development by promoting complete recycling and utilization of mine tailings and concrete waste as construction material.

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