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In over three decades since their 1993 debut, the hip-hop artists known as RZA and Wu-Tang Clan created a world whose significance (for them) transcends the local contingencies of time, place, race, and religion. Whether it is by their creating a world based on filmic myths, by their conquering the world via hip-hop and finding their destiny in a Chinese sacred landscape, by their making themselves symbolic of a perennial worldview, or by their reimagining of their possibilities against the historical terrors of racism, in each case we find an ongoing quest for transcendence that at least for their leader, RZA, demonstrates the meaning of the Wu-Tang Clan. This study sets out to demonstrate this latter point. Framing its discussion in terms of world and worldmaking, I argue that the fundamental thread of significance that ties together the mythical world of the Wu, especially from the perspective of RZA, is a quest for transcendence, a project that is replete with stylistic, spiritual, existential, cross-cultural, and racial implications. While this is no biography of the Wu-Tang Clan, each chapter, starting with Chapter 2, asks how and why this quest takes shape in a sequentially ordered discussion of Wu’s worldmaking career. In arguing my point, I mainly take a phenomenological approach to RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan’s cultural productions, describing and interpreting various forms of Wu-associated media (songs, compact discs, album concepts and graphic designs, films, books, and more) from 1993 to the early 2020s. Between the practices of cultural criticism and interpretation, the study also draws from and contributes to Afro-Asian studies and Religious Studies. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This is a study of the Wu-Tang Clan, a hip-hop group from Staten Island, New York. It argues that for over two decades since their 1993 debut, the Wu-Tang Clan has come to produce not only a long resume of music and other media but a mythic world. Furthermore, for the purpose of maintaining this world across time, Wu’s leader, RZA (pronounced “Rizah’), has aimed to make the Wu-Tang Clan symbolic of a universal worldview that transcends their local culture, history, place of origin, religion, and race.

Background: Obesity has been associated with increased health care use, but it is unclear whether this is consistent across all measures of obesity. The objectives of this thesis were to compare obesity defined by four anthropometric measures, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and percent body fat (%BF), and to estimate their associations with health care use among Canadian adults. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted from 30,097 individuals aged 45-85 years from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Anthropometric measures were collected by trained research assistants and %BF, the reference standard, was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Obesity was defined as BMI≥30.0 kg/m2, WC≥88cm for females and ≥102cm for males, WHR≥0.85 for females and ≥0.90 for males, and %BF>35% for females and >25% for males. Approximately 18 months after baseline data collection, self-reported health care use in the past 12 months was collected, including any contact with a general practitioner, medical specialist, emergency department, and being a patient in a hospital overnight. Pearson correlation coefficients and sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted to compare anthropometric measures to %BF. Relative risks and risk differences were calculated for measures of health care use, adjusted for sex, age, education, income, urban/rural, marital status, smoking status, and alcohol use. Secondary analyses were also stratified by sex and age. Results: The prevalence of obesity defined by BMI was 29%, by WC was 42%, by WHR was 62%, and by %BF was 73%. BMI and WC were highly correlated with %BF (r=0.75 and r=0.70, respectively) and WHR was weakly correlated with %BF (r=0.29). BMI and WC cut points demonstrated high specificity (>93%) and lower sensitivity (<58%) in predicting obesity defined by %BF. WHR cut points demonstrated high sensitivity (95%) and lower specificity (28%) in males, but lower sensitivity (44%) and high specificity (83%) in females in predicting %BF- defined obesity. There was an increased relative and absolute risk of health care use for all measures of obesity and all health care services. For example, WC-defined obesity was associated with increased relative risk (RR) of hospital overnight stay (RR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.28- 1.54) and the risk difference (per 100) was 2.6 (95% CI:1.9-3.3). The risk of health care use was similar amongst females and males with obesity although relative risks and risk differences attenuated in the oldest adult group aged 75 and older compared to the youngest group aged 45- 54. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity among Canadian adults varied substantially by anthropometric measure. BMI and WC have stronger correlations and concordance with %BF than does WHR, however all measures were positively associated with increased health care use. Further research should be conducted on obesity cut points to discern the best measure to predict health care use. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH)

本論文採用民國六十七年至九十一年人力資源調查五月份的資料，建構人力資源調查合併資料檔案，根據相異指數、以及Tam（2001b）的標準化女性比例，進行職業層次、產業層次、工作層次性別隔離的程度和樣貌的趨勢分析，並以三維立體圖形方法呈現結果。研究結果顯示，職業層次的性別隔離近乎整合且標準化女性比例的百分比座落在60％至70％之職業有逐漸增多的趨勢、產業層次的性別隔離也呈現整合而中性職業增加的趨勢、至於工作層次性別隔離程度則逐漸下降且也呈現出整合的趨勢變化，而工作層次性別隔離程度高過職業層次性別隔離程度。另採用民國六十九年與七十九年台閩地區戶口及住宅普查資料完整母體資料所建構的工作層次資料，以檢驗使用人力運用調查的樣本資料得出之工作層次資料的結果，證明後者的分析具有效度。而採用普查資料進行探究也發現，無論是在更細緻的職業層次（三分位職業代碼）和工作層次（三分位職業代碼與二分位行業代碼的工作代碼組合）、或者是在與人力資源調查相同的職業層次（二分位職業代碼）和工作層次（二分位職業代碼與二分位行業代碼的工作代碼組合）的分析層次下，採用相異指數和標準化女性比例的結果皆是性別隔離程度下降、也呈現出整合的趨勢變化，工作層次性別隔離程度也高過職業層次性別隔離程度，然其僅提供十年間的資訊，實為可惜之處。 / This study uses data from 1978-2002 Manpower Utilization Survey (MUS) for analyzing, ultimately, job-level sex segregation in Taiwanese workplace. Taking into account the limitation of large amount of small-N job cells due to the relatively smaller sample sizes, the method of mid-point of interval estimation and 5-year aggregation is applied with its strength of consecutive data series: pooling data across 1978 to 1982 as estimation for year 1980, and so on, to construct 5-year aggregated MUS data. To view the job-level sex segregation pattern, job-level datasets are established by the “combination of occupation and industry codes”, from which there are units of analysis, job cells. And discarding small-N reliable sampled jobs in MUS is essential to avoid biased results for they contain extreme sex composition after comparing with those from population data of 1980 and 1990 Taiwanese Censuses. Findings indicate that the degree of occupational, industrial, and job-level sex segregation is somewhat increasing by Duncan and Duncan’s Dissimilarity Index, by which it is unable to measure the exact segregation degree because of its margin-dependent trait. However, by using Tam’s margin-free index: Standardized Percent Women, findings indicate that: (1) for occupational-level sex segregation, there is a trend of integration, and those occupations with 60%- 70% SPWOM shows a slight increase; (2) for industrial sex segregation, the trend almost remain the same, just that gender-neutral industries increase a bit, especially in recent years; (3) as for the degree of job-level sex segregation, it is declining, and there is a long-term trend of integration in Taiwanese workplace over the past 25 years. Therefore, job-level analysis does show what the past occupational and industrial analysis cannot present. And the findings from MUS are robust, based on the contrast analysis from population data of 1980 and 1990 Taiwanese Censuses; in addition, research outcomes from Census data also show integrated pattern in occupational and job-level sex segregation in that decade.

For gaseous fire extinguishing systems, the maximum percent of agent in pipe, i.e., pipe volume vs. agent liquid volume should be determined for proper system design and performance by confirming the maximum length of pipe run in which their flow calculation methods can predict the discharge pressures and agent concentration. It is the purpose of this paper to determine the ability and limitations of the NFPA 12 flow calculation methodology to identify the maximum percent of agent in pipe by conducting full scale low-pressure CO2 system discharge tests. A total of twenty low-pressure CO2 system discharge tests were conducted under different conditions. If all the measured pressures at the three node points of pipe runs and the measured CO2 concentrations in the test enclosures did not deviate from the predicted values of computerized flow calculations by more than ¡¾10 percent, the tests were judged to be acceptable. In the test results, the low-pressure CO2 system with a pipe run exceeding 492 ft (150 m) was not likely to achieve the concentration required for fire extinguishment within the determined discharge time although the pipe network was installed in compliance with the calculations based on the pressure drop equation in NFPA 12.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T16:58:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 David Luiz Mazzanti.pdf: 2133856 bytes, checksum: 42bf84db8b1bbaacf676eaac575aceed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-10-27 / Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo / This study is a qualitative research that aims to looked at four pairs of students in the 3rd grade of high school segment of the education of the Education of Young and Adults (EJA) from a public school and the central municipality of Franco da Rocha. These students solved problems four situations-problems, which were guided by the Ethnomathematics Ubiratan D'Ambrosio (1975), involving the Calculations labor using the mathematical concepts and Percentage of Rule of Three. Focus our research seeking to answer the following questions: 1) Why do students of the EJA have both interest and curiosity in learning calculations labor? What are those interests? 2) What have previous knowledge that students of EJA need for the resolution of situations-problem involving the calculations labor? 3) What are the difficulties presented by students of the EJA when solve situations-problem involving the calculations labor? 4) What impact caused when the math is presented in a contextualized way to the life of pupils of EJA? We used two instruments for research, the Instrument 1 that identified the labor concepts that the students surveyed had an interest in knowing and learning and Instrument 2 composed of four-problem situations and developed after the Instrument 1. Using us as some elements of the engineering teaching, we seek to build situations that could lead students to an autonomous stance with problem-solving strategies proposed, engaging them and making them actors of the learning process. Both search engines were sufficient to answer the four questions proposed above, and consequently the results were satisfactory, indicating that contextualizing the teaching of rule of three percent and the calculations using labor, the impact on the lives of students is seen so positive, making the learning process more meaningful / Este estudo é uma pesquisa qualitativa que tem como objetivo analisar quatro duplas de alunos da 3ª série do Ensino Médio do segmento de ensino da Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA) de uma escola pública e central do município de Franco da Rocha. Esses alunos resolveram quatro situações-problemas contextualizadas, que foram norteadas pela Etnomatemática de Ubiratan D Ambrósio (1975), envolvendo os Cálculos Trabalhistas utilizando os conceitos matemáticos de Porcentagem e Regra de Três. Focamos nossa pesquisa buscando responder às seguintes questões: 1) Por que os alunos da EJA têm tanto interesse e curiosidade na aprendizagem dos cálculos trabalhistas? Quais são esses interesses? 2) Quais os conhecimentos prévios que os alunos da EJA necessitam para a resolução de situações-problema envolvendo os cálculos trabalhistas? 3) Quais as dificuldades apresentadas pelos alunos da EJA quando solucionam situações-problema que envolvam os cálculos trabalhistas? 4) Qual o impacto causado quando a matemática é apresentada de uma maneira contextualizada para a vida dos alunos da EJA? Utilizamos dois instrumentos de pesquisa, o Instrumento 1 que identificava os conceitos trabalhistas que os alunos pesquisados tinham o interesse em conhecer e aprender e o Instrumento 2 composto de quatro situações-problema e elaborado após o Instrumento 1. Utilizando-nos assim de alguns elementos da engenharia didática, buscamos construir situações que levassem os alunos a uma atitude autônoma com estratégias de resolução de problemas propostos, engajando-os e tornando-os atores do processo de aprendizagem. Os dois instrumentos de pesquisa foram suficientes para responder as quatro questões propostas acima e, em conseqüência os resultados obtidos foram satisfatórios, o que revela que contextualizando o ensino de regra de três e porcentagem utilizando os cálculos trabalhistas, o impacto na vida dos alunos é visto de maneira positiva, tornado o processo de aprendizagem mais significativo

Plugged and abandoned well pads throughout the Uintah Basin face reclamation challenges due to factors including a harsh climate, invasive species, and high salt loads. Finding ways to alleviate soil sodicity could improve soil reclamation success. Gypsum, sulfur, activated carbon, and Biochar are being applied to improve soil parameters negatively impacted by sodicity, but the direct impact of these amendments on Uintah Basin soils is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was two-fold. (1) Evaluate the effectiveness of gypsum, sulfuric acid, Biochar, activated carbon, and combinations of these amendments in reducing the impact of soil sodicity of the Desilt and Conglomerate soils by measuring amendment impact on percent dispersion, saturated hydraulic conductivity, crust bulk density, infiltration, and crust formation. (2) Compare a crust bulk density method using ImageJ to the clod wax density method and a modified linear extensibility percent equation to the linear extensibility percent equation to assess whether the novel methods can be used to accurately measure and calculate soil crust bulk density and shrink swell potential while reducing human error and analysis time.

Sverigedemokraterna är det enda partiet i Sverige som ökat antalet röster på alla nivåer sedan bildandet. Syftet med denna uppsats är att försöka identifiera vilka orsaker som kan förklara Sverigedemokraternas framgångar. För att göra detta har historie-institutionalismen, nedfrysningsteorin och diffusionsteorin använts. Vidare analyseras framgångarna även genom de olika – såväl endogena som exogena – faktorer sociologiprofessor Jens Rydgren tar upp. Resultatet visar att Sverigedemokraterna ända sedan bildandet 1988 haft en tydligt planerad strategi som hela tiden anpassats utifrån partiets storlek. / Since the inceptions of the democratic election system in Sweden the Sweden Democrats is the only party which has shown a continuously increasing numbers of voters. The aim of this essay is to try to identify the causes of the success of the Sweden Democrats.  In doing so, the thesis will apply historical-institutionalism, refrigeration theory and diffusion theory to this historical event. It will also analyze both endogenous and exogenous factors outlined by Professor Jens Rydgren with reference to the party's precedent history. The result shows that the Sweden Democrats since its foundation in 1988 has had a clear and planned strategy which has been constantly adjusted to the size of the party. / <p>2011-06-03</p>

The aim of this study is to investigate how the connection between fractions, decimals and percent are taught in grade 4-6 with more focuson the fractions. The empirical data was obtained by qualitative methods comprising interviews with four mathematic elementary school teachers, in addition to two observations with two classrooms in grade 6. The data presented is from one school. The theoretical framework is based on Liping Ma profound understanding of fundamental mathematics and theories of subject didactic concepts of Kilborn, Löwing, Karlsson &amp; Kilborn and MacIntosh. The results of the interviews and observations show that the connection between fractions, decimals and percent is being taught without illuminating how the mentioned are connected. The aspect of fractions, which has been taught to show the relation between fractions and decimals, was division as metaphor. While there was no aspect of fractions has been taught to show the relation between it and percent except that a percent is a hundredth. Such as 40% is equal with 40/100. In addition, fractions has been taught by using visual aids, but never taught by using number line. In conclusion the connection between fractions, decimals and percent has not been related clearly with basic concept fractions.

This diploma work deal with proposition of insurance portfolio for chosen bussines subjekt. In contains risk analysis and insurance portfolio proposition for pourposes of niminizing significant risk of the company by means of commercial insurance companies, so the risk jeopardizes the business activities of the company.