Cooperative extension is one of three components, along with teaching and research that form the mission of land grant universities. The focus of extension work is to take knowledge gained through research conducted at the university, and disseminate the information, in a practical manner to the end user. In most instances, extension work revolves around agriculture. Within the extension system are personnel that help to foster this program of educating clientele who work in the agricultural industry. County level agents are in place to teach and address the needs of local constituents, specialists are generally housed at the university campus and are hired for their expertise in a specific field of agriculture, and administrators help to keep the system functioning. Many studies have been conducted on the leadership characteristics of county agents and extension administrators, however the current knowledge base concerning leadership behaviors of extension specialists is lacking. Traditionally, specialists were strictly used as a resource for subject matter information; however, changes overtime to cooperative extension have seen specialists move to a leadership position that involves leading agents groups and conducting programing that directly serves the clientele. With newly acquired expectations to perform in a leadership capacity, yet without training or educational background to ensure these skills, there is potential for complications to arise. Using a mixed methodological approach, this sequential explanatory study was conducted using Burn’s (1978) transformational leadership as a theoretical framework, with the purpose of examining current transformational leadership characteristics among extension specialists in addition to gaining information concerning demographic and professional information pertaining to this group. The sample group consisted of equine extension specialists, an initial survey was sent which contained questions relating to educational background, make-up and tenure of their position, as well as the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) to analyze self-perceived transformational leadership characteristics. This survey was followed by a voluntary individual interview with the researcher. The purpose of the semi-structured interview was to gain a broader example of the leadership perspectives of this particular group. Although no significant connections could be made concerning demographic information and MLQ leadership scores, the group as a whole registered below average for displaying transformational leadership characteristics, ranking in the 40th percentile for composite MLQ scores compared to the general population. The interview data showed that as a whole there was agreement with the concepts of transformational leadership, however MLQ scores and anecdotal evidence show that practical application of transformational leadership is lacking. Most participants indicated they did not feel prepared for their job, and many indicated that interpersonal relationship skills were used more often than their degree specialization. The findings from this study may help to encourage leadership training focused towards extension specialists, and to emphasize the need for leadership skills within this position.

Bakgrund Hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal inom prehospital sjukvård uttrycker att det skiljer sig mellan att vårda barn och vuxna. Detta baseras på de anatomiska skillnaderna mellan barn och vuxna, de känslomässiga utmaningarna som uppkommer samt på grund utav att barn är en patientgrupp som de ej har frekvent kontakt med. Detta är i sin tur faktorer som kan påverka patientsäkerheten negativt.  Syftet Syftet var att belysa specialistsjuksköterskors upplevelser av patientsäkerhet vid prehospitalt vård av barn. Metod För arbetet valdes en kvalitativ intervjustudie med en frågeguide som datainsamlingsmetod. Åtta sjuksköterskor som arbetat inom prehospital akutsjukvård i minst ett år intervjuades individuellt. Intervjuerna analyserades med en kvalitativ induktiv innehållsanalys. Resultat Resultatet påvisade att patientsäkerheten vid prehospital vård av barn påverkades av flertalet faktorer genom hela vårdkedjan. Faktorer som hur mycket information sjuksköterskorna kunde få från larmcentralen, till tryggheten och kompetensen gällande barns fysiologi, läkemedelsdoseringar samt behandlingsrutiner. Även faktorer som brist på utbildning och praktiska övningar gällande vård av barn samt icke optimala hjälpmedel för att transportera barnet på ett säkert sätt till vårdinrättning framkom.  Slutsats Denna studie ger en ökad kunskap om specialistsjuksköterskors upplevelser av patientsäkerheten vid prehospital vård av barn. Den visar att för att kunna uppnå god patientsäkerhet behövs tillgänglig, bättre storleksanpassad utrustning samt kontinuerlig medicinsk utbildning. Vidare behövs tydliga behandlingsrutiner samt hanteringsstrategier för att hälso- och sjukvårdspersonalen ska känna sig trygga i sitt omhändertagande av barn och på så sätt stärka patientsäkerheten ytterligare.

An analysis of the correspondence between Charles Lyell and Gideon Mantell from 1821 to 1852, in conjunction with other manuscript material, highlights the contrasting backgrounds and geological careers of the two men. It is also characterised by two underlying themes: the nature and timing of their geological work; and the influence of various social factors on their career plans and desire to achieve high social and scientific status. In turn, these points raise several wider issues and inter-related questions concerning the following aspects of English geology in the first half of the nineteenth century. When, why and how did an elite group of geologists emerge in England during this period? Who were its members and what were their characteristics in common? What was the nature and scope of the geological work carried out by the identified elite? In what way did it differ from Mantell's? What social and other barriers did Mantell encounter in his search for scientific and social status? What were the critical factors? In this thesis these issues are examined on a decade-by-decade basis, in three main chapters, as a prelude to examining the central question of why Mantell, unlike Lyell, did not achieve the status of an elite geologist. First, an elite group of English geologists is identified through a series of prosopographic and 'screening' analyses of all members of council of the Geological Society of London (GSL). Geologists who did not meet the prescribed criteria are taken into account. Thirteen geologists are identified in the penultimate and final stages of screening over the four decades. Mantell was the only provincial identified, but he did not attain a position in the final list, which consisted exclusively of a distinctive group of 'gentleman-specialists'. Second, the concept of a geological 'domain' is introduced to analyse the nature and scope of the geological work carried out by the identified group. A critical finding is that all members identified in the final 'screening' list established a 'domain' in one of four categories of the concept and were recognised as the leading authority or exponent of the domain they had fashioned. Finally, the impact and relative importance of specific social and other factors on the careers of Lyell and Mantell are examined. When the findings from each decade of the three chapters are brought together it is shown that by the end of the 1820s it was necessary for a future elite geologist to be so 'positioned' in terms of basic geological experience, location, income and available time that he was able to identify and subsequently fashion an appropriate geological 'domain'. 'Gentleman-specialists', such as Lyell, who were able to follow this strategy, constituted a clearly defined elite that dominated the GSL in the 1830s and 1840s. Mantell's failure to achieve elite geological status stemmed from the fact that he placed too much emphasis on fashioning his image and social status, rather than his scientific career. In doing so, he let the opportunity slip of establishing a major domain - British fossil reptiles - in the early 1830s.

近年全球產業競爭日趨激烈，我國國內專利訴訟亦日漸增加。加上我國財務會計準則公報第37號「無形資產之會計處理準則」及第35號「資產減損之會計處理準則」生效後，企業需要每年對專利權資產進行減損測試，使得國內專利權評價更顯複雜，同時亦產生較多盈餘操縱空間，導致專利權資訊之不確定性增加，間接降低財務報表資訊品質。為了增加財務報表使用者對於報表資訊之信賴，企業需要藉由慎選查核會計師以達到賦予財務報表公信力的目的，本研究首先分析近十年財務報表揭露之專利權資訊概況，接著探討其金額重大性與企業選任會計師決策之關聯。 實證結果顯示企業專利權金額重大性越高，越傾向於委任專長會計師事務所（含大型事務所、產業專長與專利權科目專長會計師事務所）查核財務報表，且專利權金額重大性之顯著，主要來自於第35號公報生效後之效果。 / As world competitions within industry strengthen, patent-related law suits have also increased these days. After the adoption of TSFAS No. 37 and No. 35, Taiwanese companies need to test patent impairment every year, which makes asset valuation complicated and increases patent information uncertainty. While bringing more room for earnings management, it also reduces financial reporting quality. To enhance users’ confidence, management needs to choose auditors of higher credibility. This study first analyzes patent disclosure information of publicly listed Taiwanese companies for the latest 10 years, and examines how the materiality of patent assets influences companies’ choice of specialist auditors. We find that the more important the materiality of a company’s patent assets, the more likely it will choose to hire a specialized auditor, being a large firm, an industry specialist, or an account specialist auditor. The significant positive association between patent materiality and choices of specialized auditors is mainly effected by the adoption of TSFAS No. 35.

Our public culture is rapidly shrinking: our nation is replete with residents instead of citizens. Part of the blame for the impoverishment of public life is the retreat and subsequent almost total isolation of intellectuals, those who put their deep training and experience to work in sociopolitical contexts in a public vernacular. The failure of most traditional intellectuals to reach a public audience is a failure of rhetoric; public intellectuals, on the other hand, mark rhetorical success in connecting the worlds of the public and the intellectual to advance change. This dissertation explores the interconnections between public intellectuals, rhetorical style and the public sphere to understand how and why public intellectuals are able to do what they do such that we may be able to encourage this work from others. Most importantly, this intersection may help explain how we can reclaim an active, democratic public sphere in the United States.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Magistro darbe nagrinėjamos aukštos kvalifikacijos gyvulininkystės specialistų rengimo dinamika ir problemos. Gyvulininkystės specialistų poreikį lemia didėjantys kokybės reikalavimai gyvulininkystės produkcijai, būtinumas diegti naujas pažangias technologijas bei investicijų į gyvulininkystės plėtrą augimas. Lietuvos veterinarijos akademija, rengianti aukštos kvalifikacijos gyvulininkystės specialistus, sėkmingai komplektuoja studentų kontingentą. Mūsų atlikta LVA studentų statistinė analizė parodė, kad 2003-2007 metais priėmimas į Akademiją padidėjo 20,6%. Tačiau tyrimas atskleidė ir gyvulininkystės specialistų rengimo neigiamas tendencijas: santykinai didelis procentas studentų nutraukia studijas, pastaruoju metu sumažėjo skaičius jaunuolių norinčių studijuoti gyvulininkystės technologijos studijų programą. Studentų, nutraukusių studijas, apklausos rezultatai leidžia teigti, kad pagrindinėmis studijų nutraukimo priežastimis yra per menkos studentų asmeninės pastangos, sunki materialinė padėtis, sveikatos ir šeimyninės problemos. Studijų nutraukimą iš dalies sąlygoja nepakankama specialybės pasirinkimo motyvacija. / This study was conducted to analyze dynamics and problems of training high-qualified animal husbandry specialists. The demand of animal husbandry specialists determines increasing quality requirements of animal production, necessity to inculcate the new innovative technologies and growing investments in stock-breeding development as well. Lithuanian Veterinary Academy training the high-qualified animal husbandry specialists successfully complements contingent of the students. This study of statistical analysis of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy students showed that during the year started at 2003 until 2007 admission into Academy increased 20.6 %. Nevertheless, our investigation inducted the negative tendencies of training animal husbandry specialists as well: comparative high percent of the students discontinue the studies, recently the number of young people who choose Animal Husbandry Technology study programme decreased. Examination results of students who discontinued their studies allow maintaining, that the main reason of discontinuing the studies are insignificant personal endeavour, difficult circumstances, problems in family or personal health. Discontinuing of the studies partially determine insufficient motivation of specialty choice.

Pendant la recherche expérimentale on a essayé de trouver les raisons des diplômés du département de la technologie de l’élévage d’animaux de l’Académie Vétérinaire Lituanienne que empêchent de concurrencer librement dans le marché du travail. On a aussi essayé de découvrir l’attitude des employeurs potenciaux et de analyser et de comparer les résultats de l’employement des diplômés des ans 2003 avec les résultats de l’employement des diplômés des émissions précédentes. La technique de la récherche a consisté des études de la litérature scientifique, de l’enquête des étudiants et des professeurs, de l’analyse des données statistiques, de la sistemation et des conclusions. La recherche des diplômés des ans 2003 du département de la technologie de l’élévage d’animaux de l’Académie vétérinaire lituanienne (LVA) a confirmé essentiellement la notre hypothèse que la position des experts cadets de qualification haute de l’élévage d’animaux dans le marché du travail s’améliore. Le niveau de l’employement des diplômés de 2003 a augmenté de 33 pour cents des points en comparant avec les données des diplômés de 1999-2002; le nombre des employées de la spécialité acquérie a augmentéde 16 pour cents. Malgré les changements positifs, l’intégration des experts cadets de qualification haute de l’élévage d’animaux au marché du travail reste encore problématique. Le pour cent des employées de la spécialité acquérie non a encore atteint la moyenne des diplômés universitaires de tout le pays... [to full text]

Darbo tikslas. Įvertinti darbo komandoje įgūdžius ir jų tobulinimo galimybes tarp visuomenės sveikatos priežiūros specialistų. Tyrimo metodika. Tyrimas buvo vykdomas Kauno visuomenės sveikatos centre (KVSC) ir KVSC teritoriniuose skyriuose 2007 m. gruodžio mėnesį. Tyrimui buvo naudojama anoniminė anketa į kurią be specialių klausimų buvo įtraukti ir užsienyje šiai problematikai tirti plačiai naudojami klausimynai (The Thomas – Kilmann conflict mode instrument, DISC behavioral instrument). Analizei buvo naudotos 133 anketos (atsako dažnis 80,1 proc.). Rezultatai. Tyrimo metu nustatyta, kad 46,9 proc. KVSC ir 62,9 proc. KVSC teritorinių skyri�� specialistų linkę dominuoti bendraujant su savo komandos nariais. Daugiau negu pusė (52,0 proc.) KVSC ir (54,3 proc.) KVSC teritorinių skyrių specialistų spręsti konfliktus yra linkę ieškant kompromisų. Mažiausią respondentų dalį sudarė tiriamieji, kurie konfliktus yra linkę spręsti konkuravimo būdu, tarp jų ir buvo nustatyti statistiškai reikšmingi skirtumai, KVSC dirbantys specialistai yra labiau linkę konkuruoti, negu, kad dirbantys KVSC teritoriniuose skyriuose (p<0,001). Dauguma (78,2 proc.) respondentų teigė, kad jie turi pakankamai darbui komandoje reikalingų įgūdžių, tačiau daugiau negu pusė visų tiriamųjų norėtų juos tobulinti. Išvados. Daugiau negu pusė tyrime dalyvavusių specialistų bendraujant yra linkę dominuoti, mažiausiai – būti iniciatyviais. Sprendžiant konfliktus specialistai yra linkę ieškoti kompromisų susidariusiai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of the study. To evaluate the skills of team work and possibilities for their improvement among public health specialists. Methods. The survey was carried in Kaunas Public Health Center in 2007. The questionnaire was designed and included questions about general skills for teamwork and special scales for evaluation of these skills (The Thomas – Kilmann conflict mode instrument, DISC behavioral instrument. Total number of returned questionnaires was 133 (a response rate of 80,1%). Results. Almost a half (46.9%) of PHCK and 62.9% of PHCK territorial departments specialists intended to dominate in communication with the members of a team. Moreover, 52.0% of PHCK and 54.3% of PHCK territorial departments specialists, were subjecs to look for compromises when dealing with the conflicts. The smalest part of respondents intecend to compeat when dealing with the conflicts, and statistically significant differences were estimated among them, specialists working in PHCK are subject to competition more than working in the territorial departments of PHCK (p<0.001). Results indicates, that 78.2% of respondents had skills for teamwork. However, more than half of them expressed the will to improve them. Conclusions. More than a half of specialists intended to dominate in communication with the members of a team, and the least characteristic – initiation. Respondents were likely to look for compromises in conflicts, and meanwhile only a small part for competition. Nevertheless... [to full text]