This study aims to investigate the important indicators that contribute to happiness among Beijing residence. The residents of Beijing were taken as the target population for the survey. A questionnaire was used as the main statistical instrument to collect the data from the residents in Beijing. In so doing the investigation employs Factor analyses and chi-square analyses as the main statistical tools used for the analyses in this research. The study found that Beijing residents gained greater happiness in the family, interpersonal relationships, and health status. The analysis also shows that generally, the residence of Beijing feels happier and also in terms of gender basis, females in Beijing feel happier as compare to their male counterpart. It will find that gender, age and education are statistically significant when dealing with happiness.

Psychologists and human resources personnel have used personality profiling as a predictor of human behavior in various environments for many decades. Knowing the personality traits of a particular individual allows management to tailor an environment ideally suited for an individual, attempting to maximize a person's productivity and job satisfaction. Measurements of personality are classically achieved through a self-reporting survey. This method has a potential inaccuracy due to its lack of objectivity and a bias due to cultural influences. This research explores the relationships between specific computer user behavior patterns and personality profiles. The results may provide a partial map between personality profile traits and computer user behavior. In an attempt to discover such correlations, forty-five fraternity and sorority students from Texas A&M University were selected to participate in a personality survey and three computer based tests. One test measured the subject's perceptive abilities, another measured their decision-making requirements, and a third measured their methods employed in organizing a task. The results show conclusively that some personality profile traits do influence how people visually interpret information presented on a computer screen. Individuals who exhibit high conscientiousness or agreeableness scores on a personality assessment survey take less time to find an icon among a collection during an icon search test. However, the results also show a significantly large variability in individuals, indicating that many other factors may influence attempts to measure an individual's personality traits. This indicates that the tests presented in this study, even though they show that behavior is related to personality traits, cannot be used as diagnostic tools. Further research will be required to obtain that goal.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) or Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), released into water system. They will adsorb to particles, and incorporate into sediments. Thus the concentrations of PCBs and HCB in surface sediments provide information on recent contaminations. Besides, organisms in marine environment are influenced by the concentration in sediments, and so as the food chain. This study investigated the concentrations and characteristics of PCBs and HCB in surficial sediments of Kao-Ping Chi Estuary and nearby areas. The concentrations of PCBs and HCB in sediments were ranged from 1.432 to 6.681 (ng/g dry wt), and from 0.151 to 8.109 (ng/g dry wt¡^¡Awith an average of 3.219 and 1.978, respectively. Both of PCBs and HCB did not exceed the concentrations suggested by several sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Compared with studies in other countries, the sediments in Kao-Ping coastal areas were more polluted by HCB. Neither PCBs nor HCB could correlate well with mean particle size or total organic carbon (TOC). The Toxic equivalents (TEQ) of dioxin-like PCBs and HCB were ranged from 0.014 to 0.061 pg-TEQ/g, and from 0.015 to 0.811 pg-TEQ/g, respectively. Using Principal Component Analysis, four possible principal components were found. These four principal components could account for 89.29% of the total variance. The first principal component was composed of highly chlorinated PCBs. The second principal component was composed of particle mean size and TOC. And the third and the fourth principal component were composed of di-, tri- PCBs and HCB. According to the factor score plot, the sample stations in this study could be divided into four groups. The first group was the stations that near the shore. The second group which contained stations were 4Km offshore. The third group contained stations with highly chlorinated PCBs. And the fourth group only contained one stations, D16. It was possible that there were other sources influenced station D16. In conclusion, the pollution in the surficial sediments was influenced by the distances from the pollutant sources and the particle size affected by tidal effect.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-76).

The purpose of this study was to describe the predictors of evacuation intention among coastal residents in the State of Florida and to determine if there are meaningful segments of the population who intend to evacuate when told to do so by governmental officials because of a major hurricane. In the America’s and the Caribbean, 75,000 deaths have been attributed to hurricanes in the 20 th century. A well planned evacuation can reduce injury and death, yet many people do not have an evacuation plan and do not intend to evacuate when told to do so. The study used secondary data from the Harvard School of Public Health, Hurricane in High Risk Areas study, a random sample of 5,046 non-institutionalized persons age 18 and older in coastal counties of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Surveys for the State of Florida were segregated and used in this analysis, resulting in a study sample of 1,006 surveys from 42 counties. When asked if they would evacuate in the future if told to by government officials, 59.1% of Floridians surveyed said they would leave, 35.2% said they would not leave and 5.6% said it would depend. In Florida, 65.7% of the population had been threatened or hit by a major hurricane in the last three years and 26.6% of those had left their homes because of the hurricane. Of those whose communities were threatened by a hurricane, 83.3% of the communities were damaged and 33.8% experienced major flooding associated with the hurricane. Bivariate statistics and logistic regression were used to explore the interactions of predictors and evacuation intention. The best predictor of evacuation intention was prior evacuation from a hurricane (chi-square= 45.48, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.266). Significant relationships were also demonstrated between evacuation intention and worry a future hurricane would hit the community (chi-square = 22.75, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.11), the presence of pets (chi-square = 6.57, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.084), concern the home would be damaged (chi-square = 19.41, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.10), belief the home would withstand a major hurricane (chi-square = 19.55, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.10), length of time in the community (chi-square = 26.59, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.12), having children in the household (chi-square = 11.13, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.11), having a generator (chi-square = 17.12, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.13), age (chi-square = 24, p < .01, Cramer’s V = 0.16) and race (chi-square = 12.21, p = .02, Cramer’s V = 0.12). Logistic regression of the predictors of evacuation intention resulted in significant relationships with previous evacuation experience (OR = 4.99, p < .001), age 30 to 49 compared to age over 65 (OR = 2.776, p < .01), the presence of a generator (OR = .447, p < .01), having a home not very likely to be damaged compared to a home very likely to be damaged (OR =.444, p = .018), and experiencing poor prior government and voluntary agency response to previous hurricanes compared to excellent response (OR = .386, p < .027). Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) was used to identify segments of the population most likely and least likely to evacuate when told to do so. Those most likely to evacuate had evacuated due to a previous hurricane. Those least likely to evacuate when told to do so had not evacuated in a previous storm, do not own a generator and are over the age of 65. Information from this study can be used in planning for evacuation response by governmental entities. Available demographic information can be used to determine numbers of persons likely to evacuate before a storm. The results of this study can be used to inform a marketing strategy by government officials to encourage evacuation among those who say they would not evacuate when told to do so. Further research is needed to determine additional characteristics of the populations who say they will and will not evacuate when told to do so.

No description available.

I uppsaten analyseras skrävlets narrativa och ideologiska implikationer i enlighet med det Jameson kallar social symbolhandling i Dan Anderssons Amerika-skildring Chi-mo-ka-ma från 1920. Här noteras textens antitetiska relation till den billiga läsning som den vanligtvis vänsterradikale Andersson beskrev boken som i brev till Bonniers, liksom till populära eller reifierade genremarkörer och den ideologi som denna konsumtionskultur är ett uttryck för. Den paradoxala narration som därmed uppstår, främst i bilden av indianerna, kan även tolkas som de textuella följderna av en reell subtext, som, tillsammans med underklassens villkor, kan betraktas som en politiskt undermedveten nivå av realism. Då skrävlets ideologem glider mellan att förvränga verkligheten till sin motsats och mimetisk upplösning i ren verklighetsflykt kan vår förståelse hur detta fungerar inte användas som en säker tolkningskod för att avtäcka den subversiva nivån i en allegorisk läsning. Boken blir därmed ambivalent mellan anti-mimetisk modernism, populism och en indirekt antydd subversiv realism. Den sista nivån blir dock tydligt signalerad genom den underminering av den kapitalistiska och populistiska ideologin som utgör bokens sociala symbolhandling.

In 1986, Vietnam opened up the country’s economy by launching the Doi Moi (renovation) policy, which made the process of economic liberalisation possible. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s biggest city, has undergone rapid growth of population, urbanisation and industrialisation. While achieving remarkable economic growth, the city faces considerable urban environmental challenges. The rapid growth of urbanisation and industry has placed increasing pressure on available freshwater resources, through excessive water use and increasing volumes of untreated wastewater. Firstly, the urban water sector has had to meet growing demand for water use for domestic purposes during the dry season. Secondly, groundwater levels have experienced a substantial drawdown in outlying urban districts as a result of over-abstraction. Thirdly, rapidly expanding industrial activities are causing severe demand on water resources. The city’s major supply sources have developed an alarming level of pollutants discharged by industry. The aim of this thesis is to formulate an integrated approach to the sustainable management of water resources in Ho Chi Minh City. In order to achieve this, the research was designed to examine institutional frameworks and arrangements and to explore the perception of water value by water users and stakeholders. The underlying reasons for ineffective management are anchored in fragmented management practices which result from inadequate institutional frameworks and arrangements, inadequate regulations and inappropriate water governance. Weak enforcement of law and insufficient cooperation between government agencies and departments in Ho Chi Minh City and their counterparts in neighbouring provinces also limit management efficacy. The research results show that stakeholders have different perceptions of water resources. Overall, water value has been considered as a social and economic good by both the urban respondents and government officials. However, most urban residents view water as a social good rather than an economic one. Public involvement in the water sector is limited. Most urban dwellers have little understanding and knowledge about the city’s water issues or the available channels to access information on water resources. Many government officials are inadequately trained, poorly qualified, inexperienced and have irrelevant or outdated background knowledge about their field of management. Government respondents did not provide consistent data and information on the water profile because there is no shared common information on water issues in place. Findings from the fieldwork show that decentralisation, privatisation and using rainwater as a potential alternative water source are preferred. Finally, the study proposes a schematic revision of existing management structures and mechanisms between local government agencies. This thesis proposes a model for a water conservation strategy for which the management and use of water resources is aligned with adequate institutional arrangements and effective regulations. Water governance and management of water resources need to work with economic and urbanisation growth. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1331639 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2008

In 1986, Vietnam opened up the country’s economy by launching the Doi Moi (renovation) policy, which made the process of economic liberalisation possible. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s biggest city, has undergone rapid growth of population, urbanisation and industrialisation. While achieving remarkable economic growth, the city faces considerable urban environmental challenges. The rapid growth of urbanisation and industry has placed increasing pressure on available freshwater resources, through excessive water use and increasing volumes of untreated wastewater. Firstly, the urban water sector has had to meet growing demand for water use for domestic purposes during the dry season. Secondly, groundwater levels have experienced a substantial drawdown in outlying urban districts as a result of over-abstraction. Thirdly, rapidly expanding industrial activities are causing severe demand on water resources. The city’s major supply sources have developed an alarming level of pollutants discharged by industry. The aim of this thesis is to formulate an integrated approach to the sustainable management of water resources in Ho Chi Minh City. In order to achieve this, the research was designed to examine institutional frameworks and arrangements and to explore the perception of water value by water users and stakeholders. The underlying reasons for ineffective management are anchored in fragmented management practices which result from inadequate institutional frameworks and arrangements, inadequate regulations and inappropriate water governance. Weak enforcement of law and insufficient cooperation between government agencies and departments in Ho Chi Minh City and their counterparts in neighbouring provinces also limit management efficacy. The research results show that stakeholders have different perceptions of water resources. Overall, water value has been considered as a social and economic good by both the urban respondents and government officials. However, most urban residents view water as a social good rather than an economic one. Public involvement in the water sector is limited. Most urban dwellers have little understanding and knowledge about the city’s water issues or the available channels to access information on water resources. Many government officials are inadequately trained, poorly qualified, inexperienced and have irrelevant or outdated background knowledge about their field of management. Government respondents did not provide consistent data and information on the water profile because there is no shared common information on water issues in place. Findings from the fieldwork show that decentralisation, privatisation and using rainwater as a potential alternative water source are preferred. Finally, the study proposes a schematic revision of existing management structures and mechanisms between local government agencies. This thesis proposes a model for a water conservation strategy for which the management and use of water resources is aligned with adequate institutional arrangements and effective regulations. Water governance and management of water resources need to work with economic and urbanisation growth. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1331639 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2008

In 1986, Vietnam opened up the country’s economy by launching the Doi Moi (renovation) policy, which made the process of economic liberalisation possible. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s biggest city, has undergone rapid growth of population, urbanisation and industrialisation. While achieving remarkable economic growth, the city faces considerable urban environmental challenges. The rapid growth of urbanisation and industry has placed increasing pressure on available freshwater resources, through excessive water use and increasing volumes of untreated wastewater. Firstly, the urban water sector has had to meet growing demand for water use for domestic purposes during the dry season. Secondly, groundwater levels have experienced a substantial drawdown in outlying urban districts as a result of over-abstraction. Thirdly, rapidly expanding industrial activities are causing severe demand on water resources. The city’s major supply sources have developed an alarming level of pollutants discharged by industry. The aim of this thesis is to formulate an integrated approach to the sustainable management of water resources in Ho Chi Minh City. In order to achieve this, the research was designed to examine institutional frameworks and arrangements and to explore the perception of water value by water users and stakeholders. The underlying reasons for ineffective management are anchored in fragmented management practices which result from inadequate institutional frameworks and arrangements, inadequate regulations and inappropriate water governance. Weak enforcement of law and insufficient cooperation between government agencies and departments in Ho Chi Minh City and their counterparts in neighbouring provinces also limit management efficacy. The research results show that stakeholders have different perceptions of water resources. Overall, water value has been considered as a social and economic good by both the urban respondents and government officials. However, most urban residents view water as a social good rather than an economic one. Public involvement in the water sector is limited. Most urban dwellers have little understanding and knowledge about the city’s water issues or the available channels to access information on water resources. Many government officials are inadequately trained, poorly qualified, inexperienced and have irrelevant or outdated background knowledge about their field of management. Government respondents did not provide consistent data and information on the water profile because there is no shared common information on water issues in place. Findings from the fieldwork show that decentralisation, privatisation and using rainwater as a potential alternative water source are preferred. Finally, the study proposes a schematic revision of existing management structures and mechanisms between local government agencies. This thesis proposes a model for a water conservation strategy for which the management and use of water resources is aligned with adequate institutional arrangements and effective regulations. Water governance and management of water resources need to work with economic and urbanisation growth. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1331639 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2008