This essay investigates how male hip-hop artists assert different masculine identities in their song lyrics. The study considers songs released by American, male hip-hop artists during a 20-year time span, 1990-2010. The 20-year period has been divided into four periods spanning five years each, i.e., 1990-1995, 1995-2000, 2000-2005, and 2005-2010, and songs from best-selling artists during these periods have been chosen. A total of 8 artists are considered in this study, representing 12 songs comprising the data. By focusing on the lexicon of the song lyrics, I show how three recurring heterosexual masculine identities are discursively constructed: the male artist as a womanizer, a misogynist, or a homophobe. I furthermore show how these identities are not mutually exclusive, but can rather co-exist and in this way contribute to an unmistakable alpha-male identity. Finally, the diachronic aspect of the data collection methodology enables an additional investigation of the evolution of identity construction in hip-hop, such that prevailing trends in the early 1990s can be compared to trends evident in the current hip-hop scene.

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium - MChD / Post-operative sore throat is a common minor complication following general anaesthesia via endotracheal intubation. Pharyngeal packing has often been implicated in this minor anaesthetic complication. In maxillo-facial and oral surgery, two types of throat packs are commonly used namely ribbon gauze and tampons. In order to establish the efficacy of these two types of throat packs a prospective, randomised, clinical study was conducted. The objectives of the study were threefold: to investigate the effect of the two different types of throat packs on the incidence of post-operative sore throat, to determine the quality of seal provided by the two different types of throat packs and finally, to formulate a faculty protocol. The study consisted of 70 patients undergoing third molar surgery. All the patients were intubated via endotracheal intubation and had a throat pack placed. Patients were also randomly selected and allocated to two groups. One group had ribbon gauze while the other group had a tampon as a throat pack. The study reflected no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative sore throat between the two groups. It was interesting to note that the symptoms of sore throat resolved quicker with the use of tampons. On the other hand, the ribbon gauze provided a better pharyngeal seal. / South Africa

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 139 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 128-134).

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 50).

The central theme of this study is to survey and critically examine existing Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) Management Development Programs (MDPs) in order to determine which areas of the current programs must be given priority and greater emphasis at Saudia, as well as to ascertain MDP's effects on managers, staff managers, and supervisors. The purposes of this study are (1) to review and evaluate the progress made in managerial development at Saudia from 1972 to 1977 in terms of objectives and effectiveness, and (2) to explore the development of Saudia's managerial needs. The criteria used in this analysis are based upon managerial effectiveness. Although scattered significant differences appeared in some of the data presented in this study, no specific patterns were found among these differences, and it appeared that MDP could not produce any change in the behavior of those managers, staff managers, and supervisors who participated in it. This was a clear indication that MDP was far from achieving its objectives. Several factors contributed to this result, including misunderstanding of Saudi Arabian culture and circumstances; lack of support from top management; lack of manpower analysis; lack of cooperation, coordination, and communication between the training department and other departments at Saudia; lack of formal plans for management succession; and other reasons related directly to MDP.

No description available.

Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 2013

Mathematics achievement has been of great concern to researchers involved in mathematics education. This concern has resulted in research seeking to determine for example, the factors that positively or negatively contribute to student performance in mathematics. Many of the reported studies in the literature have investigated the factors within the context of mathematics teaching and learning in general. Very few studies have investigated the factors contributing to student achievement in mathematics when learning takes place in a computer aided environment. With the pervasiveness of computers in education in general, studies in this direction become imperative. The present study fills this gap in the literature by examining the extent to which selected variables (mathematics attitude, mathematics aptitude, computer attitude, computer prior experience, computer ownership, proficiency in language of instruction, and learning style) contribute to students' achievements in pre-calculus algebra classes that are supplemented with a computer lab program. The participants in the study were 120 students sampled from the population of students enrolled in the second pre-calculus algebra course at the preparatory year program of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals during the 2003/2004 academic session. The instruments used to measure the study constructs were the mathematics attitude scale (Aiken, 1979), the computer attitudes scale (Loyd & Gressard, 1984a), and the learning styles questionnaire (Honey & Mumford, 1992). New instruments to measure computer prior experience and computer ownership were developed for the present study. Hypotheses formulated for the study were tested using multiple regression and other statistical techniques. The results show that mathematics aptitudes and English language proficiency are the most significant contributors to students' mathematics achievement. No other variables show statistically significant effects on students' achievement. Together, the selected variables explain more than 41 percent of the total variance of students' achievement. Theoretical and policy-making implications of the results are outlined and discussed. / Mathematical Sciences / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Mathematics achievement has been of great concern to researchers involved in mathematics education. This concern has resulted in research seeking to determine for example, the factors that positively or negatively contribute to student performance in mathematics. Many of the reported studies in the literature have investigated the factors within the context of mathematics teaching and learning in general. Very few studies have investigated the factors contributing to student achievement in mathematics when learning takes place in a computer aided environment. With the pervasiveness of computers in education in general, studies in this direction become imperative. The present study fills this gap in the literature by examining the extent to which selected variables (mathematics attitude, mathematics aptitude, computer attitude, computer prior experience, computer ownership, proficiency in language of instruction, and learning style) contribute to students' achievements in pre-calculus algebra classes that are supplemented with a computer lab program. The participants in the study were 120 students sampled from the population of students enrolled in the second pre-calculus algebra course at the preparatory year program of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals during the 2003/2004 academic session. The instruments used to measure the study constructs were the mathematics attitude scale (Aiken, 1979), the computer attitudes scale (Loyd & Gressard, 1984a), and the learning styles questionnaire (Honey & Mumford, 1992). New instruments to measure computer prior experience and computer ownership were developed for the present study. Hypotheses formulated for the study were tested using multiple regression and other statistical techniques. The results show that mathematics aptitudes and English language proficiency are the most significant contributors to students' mathematics achievement. No other variables show statistically significant effects on students' achievement. Together, the selected variables explain more than 41 percent of the total variance of students' achievement. Theoretical and policy-making implications of the results are outlined and discussed. / Mathematical Sciences / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)