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Thesis (PhD) -- University of Alabama, 1997

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on Nov. 16, 2009. "October 2009." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering." "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." Major professor: Charles Birdsong, Ph.D. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-77).

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to measure the costs of the perceived safety threat from triple trailer operation in Oregon. This is done using the political referendum model of a common non-market valuation technique, contingent valuation. Specifically, the average cost of allowing triples will be found so that comparison with previously estimated benefits will provide a measure of net social welfare associated with triple trailer use. The data were collected through in-person interviews conducted in five regions in Oregon. Questions relating to the respondents' attitudes toward triple trailer trucks, driving experience, education and other demographics were asked. The empirical model estimates the probability that respondents will vote to ban triple trailers. The results of this study suggest that there are concerns about the safety of triple trailer operation. However, there seem to be still greater benefits; a result which is consistent with the recent ballot measure. / Graduation date: 1995

My artwork reflects my search for my own artistic voice. Life demands examination from me at inconvenient times, but with the intention of growing as a person I proceed willingly, and as an artist, equipped with a paintbrush. My search has led me to discover new materials and techniques and my structured self-reflection has uncovered a new source of inspiration. I now combine the physical layering of art materials with layers of personal meaning as well. My work has an autobiographical theme which I have interpreted through the filter of my sense of humor. Working so intimately with my own personal history and visually expressing myself by combining multiple techniques has transformed my understanding of myself as an artist and a person.

This study uses corporate takeovers as a setting to examine how tax uncertainty affects managers' real investment decisions. Specifically, I investigate whether uncertainty about target firms' income taxes influences takeover premiums. Drawing on theories from finance, I predict that tax uncertainty leads to increased divergence of opinion among target shareholders about target value, which in turn leads to higher takeover premiums. I also predict a positive direct association between measures of target tax uncertainty and takeover premiums because investments with tax uncertainty provide flexibility in reporting book income that bidding managers value. Consistent with both predictions, I find a positive association between divergence of target shareholder opinion about taxes and takeover premiums as well as a positive association between target tax uncertainty and takeover premiums. The association between tax uncertainty and premiums is more positive when the acquiring firm faces greater capital market pressures. Finally, all positive associations persist in recent years despite newly required financial statement disclosures of tax uncertainty. / text

Parabens are the esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and are commonly used as preservatives in personal care products, pharmaceutical preparations and cosmetics. Recently parabens have been found to be estrogenic, bringing into question if exposure to them is adversely affecting human health. Given exposure to multiple xenoestrogens is constant; research has been carried out to determine what effect combinations of xenoestrogens might have on human and environmental health. Parabens are almost always present in combinations in formulae as this increases their antimicrobial activity, so it is important to know what the effect of this is. The main aim of this study was to determine what the effect of combining methylparaben and butylparaben together has on the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which proliferate in the presence of estrogen. This study was carried out by exposing MCF-7 breast cancer cells to combinations of methylparaben and butylparaben and measuring cell proliferation by counting cells using a cytometer. The results show that butylparaben caused a greater increase in cell proliferation compared to methylparaben. When methylparaben and butylparaben were combined together, the resulting cell proliferation was greater than the cell proliferation produced by either methylparaben or butylparaben alone at a concentration twice the amount of either paraben concentration contained within the mixture. These results were analysed using Analysis of Variance, which determined the combination treatments were statistically different from the single treatments according to Fishers method. This suggests that there is a synergistic effect produced when methylparaben and butylparaben are combined together, however large variation and dose dependent discrepancies means this result is uncertain and further studies need to be carried out.

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