Current ACS guidelines recommend routine screening for cancer (ACS, 2002). Motivation to adhere to guidelines may be different for individuals with and without a family history of melanoma (Jonna, et al., 1998). Prior research examining the relationship between family history and skin cancer detection behaviors (Berwick et al., 1996; Friedman et al., 1993; Oliveria et al., 1999) have failed to utilize a theoretical framework to derive hypotheses. The purpose of the present study was to examine the utility of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) in explaining intentions to engage in skin cancer screening (SCS) and skin self-examination (SSE). In addition, the present study explored whether PMT variables explained the relationship between having a family history of melanoma and SCS/SSE intentions. The research design was cross-sectional with 101 participants in the positive family history group and 80 participants in the negative family history group. Using a standardized, self-report measure, participants were assessed on demographic characteristics, melanoma risk factors, PMT variables, family history, and SCS/SSE behaviors and intentions. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi square for categorical variables, t-tests for continuous variables, correlational analyses, and multiple regression analyses. The majority of participants (N = 181) were Caucasian (97%) and female (59%). As expected, findings indicated that greater perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, and response efficacy were associated with greater SCS intentions (p greater or less than .0001). Additionally, greater self-efficacy and response efficacy were associated with greater SSE intention (p greater or less than .01). Additionally, positive family history individuals reported greater perceived vulnerability, greater self-efficacy, and less perceived severity than negative family history individuals (p greater or less than .01). Individuals with a family history of melanoma also had greater SCS intentions and were more likely to have a healthcare provider who recommended SCS. Finally, perceived vulnerability and self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between group status and SCS intentions. The present study confirms and extends prior research on psychological factors associated with SCS/SSE intentions and on individuals with a family history of melanoma. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

The Video Suggestibility Scale for Children (VSSC) was developed by Scullin and colleagues (Scullin & Ceci, 2000; Scullin & Hembrooke, 1998) as a tool for discriminating between children who have different levels of suggestibility. The scale requires children to view a 5-minute video about a birthday party, and to subsequently participate in an interview consisting of 18 yes/no questions. The VSSC consists of two main subscales; Yield (a measure of children's willingness to respond affirmatively to misleading questions about the video) and Shift (a measure of the children's tendency to change their responses after negative feedback from the interviewer). Preliminary research by Scullin and colleagues suggested that the scale possesses satisfactory internal consistency and that children's scores on the VSSC can predict their performance in another suggestibility paradigm. This thesis presents two studies, which further examine the validity and usefulness of the VSSC in an Australian sample of 3- to-5-year-old children. In Study One, children's performance on the VSSC (N = 77) was compared to their performance using other measures of suggestibility. These measures included children's willingness to assent to a false event as well as the number of false interviewer suggestions and new false details that the children provided in their accounts about an independent true-biased and an independent false (non-experienced) event. An independent samples t-test revealed that those children who assented to the false activity generated higher scores on the Yield measure. This pattern was also observed for the Shift subscale although it was not significant. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that Yield was a significant predictor of the number of false details reported about the false activity, but not the true-biased activity. There was no significant relationship between the Shift Vlll subscale and any of the dependent variables. Overall this study provided partial support for the construct validity of the VSSC. However, it indicated that children's performance on this scale may not be generalisable across different contexts and interview paradigms, and that the Yield subscale is more generalisable than the Shift subscale. Study Two examined whether various group and individual factors that have previously been shown to relate suggestibility (i.e., age, IQ, memory, socio-economic status, gender, temperament) could predict suggestibility as measured by the VSSC. Two hundred and twenty children were recruited from kindergartens, and were divided into two broad socio-economic categories (based predominantly on income). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that age, intelligence and memory inversely predicted children's Yield suggestibility. Further, children of low socio-economic backgrounds were more suggestible than children of high socio-economic background, and boys were more suggestible than girls on the Yield measure. Although shyness and other internalised and externalised characteristics were explored, no reliable significant relationships were found with Yield. With regard to the Shift subscale, no reliable relationships were found for any of the independent variables except for SES. Overall, results of Study 2 indicated that the VSSC is a potentially useful measure for discriminating between children's suggestibility on the basis on their individual characteristics, although benefits were observed mainly in relation to the Yield subscale. With reference to the findings of these two studies, the potential contribution of the VSSC for research and applied forensic contexts was discussed.

隨著經濟穩定發展，使得公共事務日益繁雜，導致政府的職能與角色備受關注。而政府職能的推動與落實，公務人員著實扮演著重要而且關鍵的角色，透過考選的制度，對應試人員作智能的鑑別，視其優劣以為任用之依據，並考量其所具有的專業能力，一直是政府在施政上的重要議題。 公務人員考選制度從舉辦考試的報名書表開始，經過應考資格的審查、彌封作業、闈場作業、場務作業、考試作業、應考人提出試題疑義作業、卷務作業、成績評閱作業到成績放榜作業、應考人申請成績複查考成績處理及不服成績評定而進行之訴願，行政訴訟等都是考選制度之重要環結。本研究從行政法之公平原則角度將考選制度分為三部分略為探討： 一．事前部分：應考資格審查部分及體格檢查標準部分－即從現行各種考試之應考資格及體檢標準規定先敘明，再以行政法之公平原則－平等原則、比例原則、依法行政原則及正當法律程序原則，再加以分析其訂定各種應考資格及體檢標準之公平性與否。 二．事中部分：典試機關之命題，試題疑義部分及評閱部分－敘明目前法令之規定與實際執行情形，若與法令有所違背，是否有改進之處。 三．事後部分：複查制度部分與行政救濟部分－探討考生對於因試務機關行政疏失之補救之道，以個別案例歸納目前救濟制度之執行情形，並提出可改進之道。 本文盼藉著行政法制之公平原則分析我國現行考選制度之優缺點與改進之道，以建立健全，公平，合理之國家考試制度，冀能維人事制度之健全及人事行政工作之正常運作。

Marine turtle numbers are in a state of flux around the world. Six of the seven remaining species of these long-lived animals are threatened; with the seventh being listed data deficient. Reasons for these fluctuations are speculated to be due to human related impacts (direct) and increase in disease occurrence caused by changes in the natural environment (indirect). Most direct impacts have been identified and strategies implemented to mitigate their effects with varying degrees of success; however the indirect effects on marine animals remain an understudied area. This thesis outlined the development of ante- and post-mortem diagnostic techniques to identify prevalent diseases affecting two marine turtle species in southern Queensland over a four year (2006-2009) period. This data was used to determine the impact of disease on turtle survivorship. Two-hundred and ninety green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Moreton and Shoalwater Bays were captured, clinically assessed and blood sampled. Clinically healthy animals (n = 211) were used to derive biochemical and haematological reference intervals using two methods. Comparisons with clinically unhealthy animals (n = 25) indicated all unhealthy animals had at least some plasma biochemical and haematological values outside the derived intervals (albumin, 48% of unhealthy animals; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 35%; aspartate transaminase (AST), 13%; creatinine, 30%; globulin, 3%; glucose, 34%; lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), 26%; phosphorus, 22%; sodium, 13%; thrombocytes, 57%; and monocytes, 5%). Amongst small immature animals, those with Chelonibia testudinaria plastron barnacle counts of at least 20 were approximately three times more likely to be unhealthy than turtles with no barnacles. In addition, small immature and mature turtles were more likely to be unhealthy than large immature turtles (Chapter 2). By the same method, 101 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Moreton Bay were assessed and bled. Clinically healthy animals (n = 63) were used to derive intervals. Comparisons with clinically unhealthy animals (n = 23) indicated 82% and 45% had at least one biochemical and hematological result, respectively, outside of at least one of the calculated intervals. Neither sex nor maturity (mature versus large immature) influenced the risk of being clinically unhealthy (Chapter 3). A standardised approach to post-mortem examination of marine turtles for veterinary clinicians with a concurrent descriptive review of gross and microscopic pathological lesions commonly seen during examination in Australia (Chapter 4) was used to accurately determine diseases and causes of death in 100 green turtles submitted from various regions of southern Queensland for examination. Spirorchiid parasitism was found to be the most frequently occurring cause of mortality (41.8%), followed by gastrointestinal impaction (11.8%), microbiological infectious diseases (5.2%) and trauma (5.2%). Spirorchiid parasitism with associated inflammation (75%) was the most frequently occurring disease followed by gastrointestinal impaction (5.1%). Season and turtle age had limited influences on disease. Severity of spirorchiidiasis in the brain was independent of severity in other organs (Chapter 5). From these examinations, the most prevalent disease syndrome (spirorchiidiasis) and a previously unreported finding in Australian waters (corneal fibropapillomatosis) were selected to be examined in greater detail. Spirorchiid parasites from four organs in five green turtles were identified by established morphological and molecular techniques. Morphological study of adults identified Carettacola sp. in the serosal wall of the gastrointestinal tract, Hapalotrema mehrai in the heart and Learedius learedi in the spleen. Worms from the brain probably belonged to the genus Neospirorchis. DNA sequences from a portion of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene were obtained; but only matches for Hapalotrema mehrai and Learedius learedi were made. The prevalence and severity of this disease warrants further investigation into development of molecular techniques for use as a prognostic tool for turtles entering rehabilitation (Chapter 6). Chelonid corneal fibropapillomatosis, a previously unreported disease manifestation in Australia, was identified in 0.5% of 787 examined green turtles in 2008 (Chapter 7). This novel syndrome was shown to reduce visibility, potentially negatively affecting turtle survivorship and should be monitored for further spread. Findings from this thesis and the published literature were used to derive a mathematical model to determine the effects of identified diseases on Moreton Bay green turtle survivorship. This model demonstrated diseases at current prevalence will not negatively affect survivorship but an adverse environmental disruption or an increase in current disease frequency may threaten these animals (Chapter 8). Information presented in this thesis was used to test the general hypothesis ‘Differences in disease and health between stranded and functional populations of marine turtles will indicate major and currently unmeasured causes of population decline.’ This hypothesis was partially upheld. Differences in disease and health status between stranded and functional populations were demonstrated, but more work is required to comprehensively examine these statuses. Diagnostics and continued environmental assessment should become the focus of future investigations. These findings should be incorporated in future management strategies.

In the 1930s and 1940s, less than one percent of the Swedish population were in higher education. By the beginning of 1990s this proportion had reached 2.4%. During the 1990s, however, a new economic current flowed in Swedish higher education. A period of general economic stringency brought the costs of higher education under scrutiny. Further expansion, therefore, was to be accompanied by a reduction of unit costs. A discourse of expansion was to be joined by discourse of efficiency. By the end of the 1990s, however, an efficiency discourse based on quality assurance was facing difficulties. The educational merits of the efficiency reforms were not easily discerned. A new educational - or pedagogical - emphasis emerged. Quality and effectiveness were to be augmented via ‘quality enhancement processes’ and by ‘mobilising the inner resources’ of each institution. The emphasis of such thinking was on development of institutional practices that ‘best favour the development of activities’ that, in turn, lead to the ‘best long-term outcomes in teaching and research’. For these reasons, the student body had entered a new world by the start of the third millennium. The proportion of traditional students was matched by the proportion of non-traditional students. These changes, demographic and economic, represented a challenge to policy-makers and practitioners in Swedish higher education. Was it possible to ‘mobilise inner resources’ to meet the challenge of this new body of students? This thesis focuses on one of the responses to this challenge – the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) as an integral part of the pedagogics of higher education. Can ICT, therefore, become an add-in rather than an add-on to higher education. In particular, this thesis focuses not on teaching in general but, rather on an add-in issue; that is, can formative assessment be used as an integral support for learning. Five papers provide perspectives on this response; and the introduction sets the scene by identifying the key ideas that hold the studies together, reporting the development projects that were used to clarify these ideas; clarifying the events and ideas which governed the preparation of the five papers; and, finally, summarising the conclusions that arise from my research. The landscape of learning, like the physical landscape, is constantly changing. But are these changes superficial? Are they the result of ideas and tools that merely till the surface of the learning landscape? Or do these tools contribute to shaping the new knowledge that is expected of the learning society? This thesis explores these overarching questions. It concludes that the distinction between ICT as add-on or as an add-in remains central to the organisation of formal education in Sweden.

An experimental investigation of the binary system Co-Cr and the ternary system C-Co-Cr has been carried out in the present thesis. The experimental strategy adopted for the binary system was to measure the thermodynamic activities of Cr, the molar heat capacity as function of time, the phase transformation temperatures with corresponding enthalpies, the Curie transition temperature as well as melting temperatures with corresponding enthalpies. In the ternary system the strategy was to determine the solubility of Co in the Cr7C3 phase as well as the C and Cr contents in the Co rich (fcc) binder phase. The experimental results were compared with atomistic simulations of the solubility of Co in the Cr7C3 phase. Solid state galvanic cell measurements were conducted with both ZrO2-7.5 mol % CaO and CaF2 as the solid electrolyte. In view of possible errors in the measurements with ZrO2-7.5 mol % CaO, as a result of electronic contributions to the conduction of the solid electrolyte, new measurements were conducted with CaF2 as the solid electrolyte. The results indicated that the measured EMF values showed trends which were contrary to the thermodynamic behaviour expected from phase diagram considerations. It was concluded that further detailed experimentation was necessary in order to throw more light on the thermodynamic behaviour of the Co-Cr system. Two different series of DSC measurements were conducted, i.e. one in an atmosphere of pure hydrogen and another in pure argon. In the first investigation, conducted in an atmosphere of pure hydrogen in the temperature interval 318-1660 K, evidence was obtained for the existence of a phase transformation around 900 K in the compositional range 20.7-67.1 wt.% Cr. No indications of such a phase transformation had earlier been seen. In the second investigation, conducted in an atmosphere of pure argon in the temperature interval 298-1823 K, special attention was given to alloys in the Co rich corner of the phase diagram, i.e. 0-10 wt.% Cr. This investigation verified earlier findings of a phase transformations around 900 K in the compositional range 20.7-67.4 wt.% Cr. The magnetic transition temperatures for alloys low in Cr content were also obtained. With the use of the DTA technique the melting temperatures with corresponding enthalpy values for alloys in the compositional range 0.9-7.7 wt.% Cr were obtained. The three-phase triangle fcc+Cr7C3+graphite was investigated at 1373 K, 1423 K and 1473 K. The obtained results showed that the solubility of cobalt in the Cr7C3 phase was significantly higher than previously predicted by thermodynamic calculations. / QC 20100930

Farewell in the Garden is a Qing dynasty (1644-1911) copy of a parting gift painted by Wen Zhengming (1470-1559) for his student Wang Chong (1494-1533) to mark the occasion of Wang Chong’s visit before he left to write the civil service examination. In addition to this painting, three other versions bearing similar poetic inscriptions exist. These four paintings present an intriguing riddle and oppourtunity to consider copies as works worthy of scholarly attention. The compelling scene of farewell between teacher and student who both failed the examinations numerous times resonated with audiences who empathized with their disappointments. A longing to serve in the government is visible when these paintings are considered in relation to earlier literati art. The sketch-like traces of a ledge that is in all of the copies except Farewell in the Garden, hint to the visual possibility of this scene being situated on a shore. Wen Zhengming, through his subtle lines, alludes to this powerful site of parting which is frequently depicted in literati landscape painting and associated with scholar officials and men of merit. This thesis situates Farewell in the Garden and its copies within the wider tradition of literati painting through the theme of service. Government service, as a Confucian ideal, and as a recurring theme in literati painting, transforms in appearance over time, reflecting political, economic, and philosophical shifts. In the Ming dynasty, the ideal of service is manifest and demonstrated in the continued pursuit to serve in office, and the garden, reminiscent of the locations depicted in literati painting, becomes a suitable setting for this enactment. I argue that this parting scene of Wen Zhengming and Wang Chong came to implicitly represent the commitment to serve in government. The cogent Confucian ideal demonstrated by teacher and student is the unyielding determination to serve, and it is this very sentiment or quality in the copies of the farewell painting – the tenacious endeavour to be of service – that is at once consoling and persuasive.

Thesis (M.A.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2008. / Directed by Thomas Kwapil; submitted to the Dept. of Psychology. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jan. 28, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1982.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences