Most risk perception research has focused on how people view the riskiness or acceptability of particular hazards. Less attention has been paid to how people determine whether or not the decisions taken by other parties (e.g., politicians, government agencies, industry, etc.) to address risk issues are acceptable decisions.After examining the structure of risk perception and acceptability, this study researched the judgement strategies which individuals employ when assessing the acceptability or unacceptability of risk related decisions. It also investigated whether or not individuals directly affected by risk related decisions utilise similar judgement strategies to those of individuals not directly affected by the same decisions. This provided insights as to the reasons why local communities often reject risk related decisions that others in the broader community consider acceptable.Questionnaire data were collected relating to a number of risk scenarios based on real world issues and decisions. The survey included Curtin University students, residents of a Perth suburb, and members of a resident action group involved in a local risk issue at the time of the study.Unlike previous studies of heterogeneous hazard sets, exploratory factor analyses of 8 hazard domains did not reveal a global factor structure that could represent the construct 'risk'. Instead, each of the hazard domains revealed a qualitatively different factor structure, highlighting the context specific nature of risk.Through the use of correlation, linear regression, and path analysis the relationship between perceived riskiness, risk acceptability and other risk attributes or characteristics was explored. These analyses revealed that a relationship between perceived risk and risk acceptability exists to varying but significant degrees across different types of hazards. For a specific risk item, only ++ / a limited number of characteristics appear to significantly influence perceived risk or acceptability with some characteristics influencing both.Respondents used a ranking and weighting procedure to indicate the relative importance of the various qualitative characteristics in determining the acceptability of risk related decisions. This analysis revealed that people utilise both the characteristics of a risk issue as well as aspects of the decision itself when assessing the acceptability of risk related decisions. The study suggests that individuals who are not directly affected by specific decision employ simple judgement strategies not that dissimilar to those of the risk experts. This contrasts with directly affected individuals who appear to employ additional considerations, such as the trust worthiness of the decision makers, when assessing the acceptability of decisions.The thesis identifies a number of areas of future research, such as the role of hazard prototypes, and explores the implications of the study's findings for future risk communication efforts.

A new technique, called the polymerization algorithm, is described for the hierarchical segmentation of polymerized volume data sets (PVDS) using the Lblock data structure. The Lblock data structure is defined as a 3dimensional isorectangular block of enhanced vertex information. Segmentation of the PVDS is attained by intersecting and merging Lblock coverings of the enhanced volumetric data. The data structure allows for easy compression, storage, segmentation, and reconstruction of volumetric data obtained from scanning a mammalian brain at submicron resolution, using threedimensional light microscopy (knifeedge scanning microscopy (KESM), confocal microscopy (CFM), and multiphoton microscopy (MPM)). A hybrid technique using the polymerization algorithm and an existing vectorbased tracing algorithm is developed. Both the polymerized and the hybrid algorithm have been tested and their analyzed results are presented.

A study for scaffolding strategies in the project approach for kindergarten teacher Abstract The purpose of this research is an inquiry for kindergarten teachers¡¦ implement of project approach and types of scaffolding strategies. This study used qualitative research methods, with an implementation project approach for early childhood teacher. Through the way of participation in observation, collect project approach interaction and dialogue, and analysis of inductive teaching scaffolding strategies types. In addition, analysis of interviews with the teacher implementation project approach, while collecting important files, classes for data of triangular detection. The conclusions of this study provided as follows: First, preschool teachers in the implementation of a project approach, in the course of their choice of topic is consistent with the child's interest. Chard (1998), proposed five features to review teachers implementation topics course of history, their schema definition, and structural characteristics, helping children's physical and mental development. Project approach teachers in topic scenarios enhance early childhood learning and improve mental development. Second, demonstrate seven types of scaffolding strategies, including language-scaffold being most often introduced. Teachers used scaffold strategy to assist in the construction of knowledge, or to construct preschool curriculum orientation. Third, teachers with scaffold strategies, certainly help young children learning. The effectiveness of teacher practical knowledge and capacity enhancement, cognitive schema provides a learning environment. The attitude of parents is another factor of obstacles. Finally, prevalent in present, manpower shortage problem led to the heavy workload for the teachers in the kindergartens. Eventually, it is worth concerning the teaching time was deprived and the teaching quality and effectiveness was affected as well.

The three marketing strategies, buying a put option, cash sale at harvest, and cash sale in June after December harvest, are simulated for six representative irrigated and dryland cotton farms in West Texas. Each marketing strategy is ranked using the net cash income probability distribution for the representative farms using stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF). SERF rankings were consistent across dryland and irrigated farms. The buying of a put option was found to be the marketing strategy that produced the highest certainty equivalent (CE) for normal risk averse decision makers. Cash sale at harvest followed by cash sale in June marketing strategies were ranked second and third, respectively. A sensitivity analysis increased the national baseline price used in the model by 45 percent. Cash sale at harvest then consistently became the highest ranked marketing strategy followed by buying a put option and then cash sale in June. The research found that if a strike price and premium that covered the production costs of the representative farm was available during the pre-harvest period, the decision maker may have the ability to increase utility by hedging with the put option.

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the relations between F. Scott Fitzgerald and his novel The Great Gatsby, with emphasis on 1920s¡¦ American society as portrayed in this novel. Since the novel is one of the greatest literary documents of this period, it is necessary to discuss the novel in relation to the historical background. Therefore, in this thesis, I focus on the main themes of the novel with a view to better understanding its contexts. This thesis falls into five parts. In the introduction, I points out why the novel seems to be an autobiographical one and give an outline of the whole thesis. In the first chapter, I explore the novel in association with the author¡¦s real life. In the second chapter, I examine the author¡¦s narrative strategies, including characterization, imagery, and symbolism. In the third chapter, I discuss the value systems with reference to the social and economic situation of the 1920s as presented in the novel. In the fourth chapter, I aim to delineate the development of the American Dream in the novel¡Xthe initial pursuit and the later corruption. Furthermore, taking Gatsby as an example, I conclude the chapter by arguing that it is the continuous progress that matters, instead of the success, whether it be material, or spiritual.

The study adopts literature review and questionnaire investigation methods to explore current practice, effectiveness, obstacles, solutions of educational marketing of elementary schools, and offers some suggestions to people who will apply it. Besides, the subjects of this study, with sample size of 595 subjects and 498 valid are selected from the principals, assistant principals and teachers at elementary schools. Data of this study was analyzed by means of statistical package of SPSS software. The conclusions of this study were as follows: 1. The elementary schools personnel all approve the establishment of specific personnel or unit to do the marketing. 2. The major emphasis of the elementary schools marketing was follows in order: "characteristic of school learning environment ", "performance of student¡¦s lives habit education " and " characteristic of school curriculum ". 3. The main targets of promoting are student¡¦s parents, community residents and students. 4. Elementary school marketing promotion measures vary, including "holding the PTA reception meetings, communicating with the parents "which were mostly used; "holding marketing workshop for educators" was rarely used. 5. Among the marketing strategies, the mostly used one was the promotion strategy , the least one was the place strategy. 6. The result of school marketing strategic implementation is good, the promotion strategy is the best, whereas the place strategy is the worst. 7. There were some effectiveness of practicing marketing strategies at elementary schools, but the degree was not very high, and still needed to improve. 8. The large-scale schools and the schools in Kaohsiung city had been rated the highest in promotion strategy implementation, the implementation result was also the best. 9. There are many obstacles to practicing educational marketing at elementary school. Among them, the most serious one was that lacked the funds, the personnel and the sole responsibility unit of educational marketing. 10. The degrees of solving the obstacles were not used very often. Among these, the mostly used one was the public relation with the community for marketing, the least one was being established sole responsibility organization to be responsible to educate the marketing the work asking for professional companies to help. 11. For elementary school staff, the degrees of understanding educational marketing concepts and its ways were not very high, it stays to the middle degree.

It is no doubt that the Internet has transformed the way enterprises doing business fundamentally. People even pointed that e-commerce is the next Industrial Revolution. How to take the advantages of the Internet has propagated all over the whole world. Facing the intensely competitive environment and the getting higher turnover rate of the sales representatives, KaoDu Motor, Ltd. is exploring the solutions. Due to the prosperous growth of e-commerce, the issue of how to fully take the advantages of the Internet has become very critical to KaoDu Motor Ltd. This purpose of this research is to explore what e-commerce strategies and applications that KaoDu should develop in order to get more competitive advantages by taking the advantages of the Internet. After reviewing the automobile industrial environment, the SWOT analysis was done for KaoDu. Through SWOT analysis, the weakness, strength, opportunities and threats that KaoDu has were summarized. Giving KaoDu¡¦s goals, seven e-commerce strategies were developed based on the results of SWOT analysis. For each strategy, many e-commerce applications have been identified. In addition, in order to let the e-commerce strategies and applications be realized successfully, several other strategies, such as alliance, business process reengineering and on-job training, have been identified too. So far, part of the strategies and applications has been implemented and there are several positive results reported.

A new technique, called the polymerization algorithm, is described for the hierarchical segmentation of polymerized volume data sets (PVDS) using the Lblock data structure. The Lblock data structure is defined as a 3dimensional isorectangular block of enhanced vertex information. Segmentation of the PVDS is attained by intersecting and merging Lblock coverings of the enhanced volumetric data. The data structure allows for easy compression, storage, segmentation, and reconstruction of volumetric data obtained from scanning a mammalian brain at submicron resolution, using threedimensional light microscopy (knifeedge scanning microscopy (KESM), confocal microscopy (CFM), and multiphoton microscopy (MPM)). A hybrid technique using the polymerization algorithm and an existing vectorbased tracing algorithm is developed. Both the polymerized and the hybrid algorithm have been tested and their analyzed results are presented.

The goal of this project was to develop a self-report inventory designed to assess constructs associated with academic motivation and various learning strategies including study strategies, time management, organizational techniques, attention and concentration, writing and research skills, and test taking strategies. The School Motivation and Learning Strategies Inventory (SMALSI) was developed in two forms, Child and Teen, measuring 9 and 10 constructs, respectively. Following a survey of available literature, items were constructed, subjected to review and revision, and then field tested. Following analyses of internal consistencies, items were removed to improve construct coherence. Revised forms were prepared and administered to a standardization sample of 2921 students. Additional tests of internal consistency were conducted and final versions were prepared for publication. Analyses suggest adequate reliability for both forms of the SMALSI with great consistency across age, gender, and ethnicity. Validity was assessed for 23 students completing the SMALSI Child Form and 24 students completing the SMALSI Teen Form using the Behavior Assessment System for Children – Self-Report Profile. Student Liabilities scales were positively correlated with measures of emotional, academic, and social maladjustment. In like form, Student Strengths scales were negatively associated with these measures. Interesting results were also obtained specifically regarding the relationship of depression to learning strategies. Validity was also assessed for 32 students completing the SMALSI Child Form and 53 students completing the Teen Form by obtaining Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores. Results for several of the constructs indicated small to moderate correlations in the expected direction. Guidelines for interpretation of the ten SMALSI constructs were presented along with suggestions for further investigation, including the use of clinical populations and standardized measures of achievement.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Oregon State University, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 212-228). Also available online.