The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a variety of factors on environmental attitudes and behaviors. Studies have addressed a number of issues that are related to environmental matters. This examination extends the research in this area by incorporating educational attainment, political ideology, gender, marriage and family formation, religiosity and subjective spirituality, race and ethnicity, as well as several sociodemographic influences. The 2010 General Social Survey is selected for the analysis because it is the most recent data available and contains items pertaining to environmental concern and behavior, and the independent and control variables. Directions for future research in the area will be discussed.

Abortion remains a controversial contemporary social issue, spawning disparate and strongly held opinions among the American public. Pro-life activists play a central role in opposing abortion, mobilizing a disinterested public to public activism, and collectively working to restrict abortion access. This study focused on pro-life activism in Mississippi, the state with the most restrictive laws governing abortion, abortion clinics, and abortion doctors. Contrary to previous studies and media portrayals that homogenize pro-life activists and public pro-life activism, I find that diversity, rather than consensus, characterizes Mississippi pro-life activists who engage in public activism and direct action to stop abortion. Specifically, this study focuses on the diversity in turning points that propel activists into public activism, the multivalent ways activists construct abortion as a moral problem, and the ways activists create and use strategies of action to disseminate their worldviews and to stop abortion.

No description available.

This study seeks to find if there is a significant relationship between the amount of media coverage focused on public companies in the United States and the difference between GAAP financial performance and analyst-adjusted estimates of financial performance. I will answer this question by testing this difference among S&P 500 companies, as well as companies within that index as identified by a certain industry.

The effects of mimicry on pro-social sharing were investigated among 4-year-olds. During the priming phase, the experimenter either copied the actions of the children directly or responded contingently to their actions. The effect of mimicry on sharing behavior was assessed by the children’s performance on the resource allocation task. Results indicated that mimicry did not influence sharing above and beyond a positive interaction, with low levels of sharing found in both conditions. Experiment 2 was designed to determine whether the lack of communication during the priming phase of Experiment 1 was responsible for the levels of sharing found. During the priming phase, the experimenter either spoke to the children while they played, or did not. Results indicated that communication did not influence pro-social sharing, as the levels of sharing were no higher than those found in Experiment 1. Other influencing factors such as the nature of mimicry are discussed.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is the precursor of many neuropeptides which includ adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). ACTH has a biological activity in regulating adrenocortical function. In the present study, we will investigate the effect of POMC gene transfer on adrenal cortex cells in cell cultures and animal models. The study included adrenal cortical H295R cells for adenovirus-mediated gene delivery. The effects of POMC gene on H295R cell steroidogenesis and cell proliferation were investigated. In addition, there were 32 SD rats dividing into three groups. 1) Control, injected with normal saline via tail vein (n = 8); 2) Ad-GFP, injected with adenovirus containing GFP (n=12); 3) Ad-POMC, injected with adenovirus containing recombinant POMC gene (n=12). Body weight (BW) was measured. Adrenals were collected, fixed and a series of sections were cut for stains for PCNA and MC2-R. The plasma cortisol and VEGF levels of rats were measured. The results showed that Ad-POMC delivery significantly increased the ACTH and cortisol levels by 50-100 fold and 20-100% in H295R cells, respectively. In addition, Ad-POMC delivery significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and increased the apoptotic cells. The expression of MC2-R protein of H295R cells was also suppressed after Ad-POMC delivery. In the study of SD rats, the Ad-POMC-treated rats exhibited reduced weight gain compared with other groups in the first 2 weeks; however, there was no significant change in BW between Ad-POMC and Ad-GFP groups during the experimental period. The weight of adrenal in Ad-POMC-treated rats was significantly higher than Ad-GFP group in the 8th week. Comparing the sequential adrenal weights in Ad-POMC group, those in 6th week were significantly higher than in 2nd and 4th weeks. The plasma VEFG levels of Ad-POMC-treated rats were higher than Ad-GFP group in the 8th week. The adrenal sections showed that Ad-POMC treated rats had moreanti-PCNA stained cells than Ad-GFP treated rats in 8th week. However, less anti-MC2R stained cells were found in Ad-POMC treated rats in 8th week. Ad-POMC treated rats had higher plasma cortisol levels than those in Ad-GFP treated rats, however, there were no statistical significances. In conclusion, POMC gene transfer modulates the morphology and function of the adrenal cortex. POMC gene inhibits the H295R cells proliferation by inducing MC2-R down-regulation and cells apoptosis. In SD rat adrenal, however, it stimulates adrenal cortex in biphasic pattern. The rapid growing pattern noted in the later phase may be due to the effect of VEGF. Besides, the physical regulation of cortisol synthesis is much stricter than that of ACTH.

At this time lot of organization in Lithuania have local programmers made systems, which usually use small firms. Now it is time than coming world leader of Enterprise Resource Planning systems into Lithuania market and offers various discounts. So in work is compared different ERP systems functionalities and feature. Then was choose MFG/Pro system for deeper analyze and work. It is made comparison of different Mfg/Pro versions (9.0, eB2 and eB2.1). Now Lithuanian companies needs to submit Intra-EU trade reports, because European Union (EU) regulations require member nations to do this. The term Intrastat (for Intra-EU Trade Statistics Reporting) refers to the system used by customs officials to monitor this trade. MFG/PRO supports just part Intrastat reporting requirements. So was offered how to set up this module and what changes need to make for correct use in Lithuania. Was founded and described few bugs in standard MFG/Pro module. To create diagrams in projection stage was used “Rational Rose 2000 Enterprise Edition”.

Arguments in the debate over abortion can, for the most part, be categorized as aiming to provide an answer to one of two questions: “Is abortion Immoral?”, and “Should abortion be legal?” I will argue that those wishing to make arguments in support of the Pro-Choice position ought to focus on providing an answer to the legal question rather than the moral one. I will argue for two claims in support of this thesis, first, that the current state of the debate over the answer to the moral question is one of reasonable disagreement; second, if we accept David Boonin’s methodology of appealing to one’s opponent on terms that she is likely to accept, then it makes sense for the Pro-Choicer to focus on answering the legal question.

The effects of mimicry on pro-social sharing were investigated among 4-year-olds. During the priming phase, the experimenter either copied the actions of the children directly or responded contingently to their actions. The effect of mimicry on sharing behavior was assessed by the children’s performance on the resource allocation task. Results indicated that mimicry did not influence sharing above and beyond a positive interaction, with low levels of sharing found in both conditions. Experiment 2 was designed to determine whether the lack of communication during the priming phase of Experiment 1 was responsible for the levels of sharing found. During the priming phase, the experimenter either spoke to the children while they played, or did not. Results indicated that communication did not influence pro-social sharing, as the levels of sharing were no higher than those found in Experiment 1. Other influencing factors such as the nature of mimicry are discussed.

Zugl.: Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2006