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Integration of Immigrants in Europe: An example of African Immigrants in the Czech Republic This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the integration of African immigrants in Europe by the case study example of the Czech Republic. The following procedure was chosen to achieve this goal; firstly to briefly introduce African migration in the Czech Republic in the context of migration to Europe and integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic, secondly to analyze the integration of African immigrants into the Czech Republic, and thirdly to evaluate the contribution of Czech institutions to the smooth integration. The research for the case study was carried out on a sample of 50 African immigrants in the Czech Republic selected by the purpose and the snowball sampling methods. The sampling methods determined that the study covered migrants predominantly from Central and West Africa, who do not form the largest but important African group living in the Czech Republic. It also focused mainly on the population living in the Czech Republic for a long time, usually over ten years, partly with the citizenship of the Czech Republic. Men predominated in the sample, just as they predominate in the African population in the Czech Republic. Emphasis was placed primarily on structural integration,...

In my PhD thesis I investigate the relationship between corporates' financial and environmental performances. The concept of quantitative environmental performance measures was introduced to enable to compare and analyse environmental impacts of different socio­economic units e.g. companies, countries, regions. In my dissertation, I use environmental performance measures to examine their effect on the financial performance of different companies. In the first chapter, I apply a meta­analysis to examine the results of the previous studies which investigate the impact of firms' environmental performance on their financial performance. The outcomes propose that it is important to account for the omitted variable bias such as unobserved firm heterogeneity. The results suggest that it takes time for the environmental regulation to materialize into the financial performance, too. In the subsequent two chapters I study Czech firms over 2004­2008. First I study the intertemporal effects of corporates' environmental performance on financial ...

The purposes of this project were to introduce (1) the four main college level English tests used in the People's Republic of China to expatriate English language educators, researchers, curriculum developers, and program designers; and (2) the college English language teaching situation in China to expatriates and give them information on where and how to apply for teaching positions there. The project produced two products to fulfill these goals. First, a paper titled an introduction to major university English tests in China: Their nature, development and importance is now ready to submit for publication. It is a paper that introduces all four of the main college level English tests in China to the outside world. It explains these high-stakes English tests to scholars outside of China. Second, a website, http://www.tesolinchina.blog.com, was created to fulfill the second goal of the project. It is the first website that provides those who are interested in teaching English in China with a complete list of major universities in each geographical region of China as well as other necessary information, and links to these universities.

Nitrate contamination of water is a worldwide issue. Nitrate is especially dangerous for young children, and may result in potentially fatal blue baby syndrome when concentration in drinking water is > 10 mg/L N-NO3. Nitrate in surface water may also lead to eutrophication. Sources of NO3- contamination include nitrate fertilizers, wastewater treatment plants, individual domestic septic systems, runoff from animal feedlots, and natural soil nitrogen. Nitrate contamination in the Elbe River drainage, covering 148,270 km2 in Germany and the Czech Republic, has been a long-term issue. This study examines the upper one-third of the basin, located almost entirely in the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, NO3- concentrations, which in some river reaches exceed the European Union (EU) standard of 50 mg/L, have decreased only slightly or remained constant since monitoring began in the 1960's. At the German border the calculated average 2000-2008 Elbe discharge is 9.4 x 109 m3/yr and annual NO3- loading is 37.4 x 106 kg/yr. The upper Elbe has four major tributaries: the Labe (Elbe), Berounka, Ohře, and Vltava whose percentages of total discharge and NO3- loading are 10.3/10.4, 28.0/33.3, 12.6/8.9, and 49.1/47.4 percent, respectively. Flow and NO3- concentrations for 138 locations were obtained from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. δ15N compositions, determined for 57 locations, were used to create a map showing the estimated spatial distribution of nitrate sources within the basin. Nitrate loading for each sample site was calculated using historical concentration and flow data for 2000-2008. Preliminary calculations suggest that ~ 76 percent of the nitrate load is from human/animal waste. Given that large feedlot operations are rare, the major source of nitrate in the region is likely small wastewater treatment plants and rural septic systems.

Yes / Sida requested the Helpdesk to present a ‘snapshot’ and analysis of the problem of conflict minerals in the Great Lakes region, and particularly of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In anticipation of instructions in the forthcoming country/results strategy for the DRC, Sida will use the report in order to identify possible Swedish efforts in the field. Sida requested that report should be presented with both a perspective on the Great Lakes region in general, as well as a more detailed analysis of the situation in DRC in a regional perspective.

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The severely neglected subject of Antifederalism is the focal point of this project. As the framing ideology opposed to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, Antifederalism has not been treated with the same historical care as Federalism, the successful and currently operational ideology. This is both an intellectual and ethical mistake that ignores the role that Antifederalism played in procuring the Bill of Rights, and still plays in the sphere of political dissent. The de facto successors to the Revolutionary mentality, Antifederalists took it upon themselves to conclusively secure the American conception of liberty, already wrested from British hands, from a growing threat—those whom they deemed domestic imperialists. Even Thomas Jefferson, architect of the Declaration of Independence, espoused the principles behind Antifederalism, especially when confronted with those of Hamiltonian Federalism. Moreover, Jefferson’s Revolution of 1800, which gave rise to the Democratic-Republicans, consisted of many former Antifederalists. While wholly relevant and increasingly indispensible, the few studies that do examine Antifederalism fall short of finding or acknowledging its lasting significance, owing to supposed internal dissension, socioeconomic in nature. However, Antifederalists featured ideological unanimity in at least one area: opposition to standing armies. This opposition is evident in both the theoretical (why they were against standing armies) and practical (what to do about it) areas. The imperial legacy of hostility, a historical and lived experience for Americans of the time, drove Antifederalists to make their objections to ratification obvious, of which the standing army issue played the most elemental part. Informed and inspired by this lengthy history of distrust for military forces maintained in time of peace, which included their own Revolution, Antifederalists sought to safeguard their liberties from future encroachments, for future generations. By arguing iii that Antifederalists, regardless of region or class, objected to standing armies, this thesis seeks to elevate Antifederalism to its rightful place in the contexts of political history and the encompassing American tale.

This research examines the percentage of imported foods sold in stores at three levels of the food retail hierarchy—small-sized retail food stores, known locally as colmados; medium-sized food retail stores, or super-colmados; and the large supermarkets, or supermercados —in the Dominican Republic. It also considers variations in sources of imported foods for the three types of stores. Data were collected during fieldwork conducted in Verónâ a small town located in the province of La Altagracia on the eastern end of the Dominican Republic—over a three-week period from August 15 to September 9, 2009. A stratified random sample was selected along the primary highway in Verón consisting of 15 stores. At these stores, the principal investigator collected inventory data and conducted interviews with storeowners and employees. The findings suggest that food import dependency increases as the level in the food retail hierarchy, or store size, increases. / Master of Science

Between the years of 1919 and 1933, the Weimar Republic was a world leader in art and entertainment. However, it was also torn apart by severe economic depressions and political violence. This intense atmosphere provided a powerful context for the art and films of the period. As the political and economic tides shifted, the style of painting and filmmaking changed, as well. The idealistic Expressionist art of the years immediately following the optimistic revolution subsided as a sober realism emerged. This New Objectivity was both evident in the paintings of artists such as Otto Dix and George Grosz, as well as in the films of G.W. Pabst. However, within the changing artistic and social climate of Weimar Germany, Pabst has received little attention by scholars. This thesis contextualizes G.W. Pabst, one of Weimar's leading film directors, within the artistic transitions and social climate of the era, specifically analyzing issues of class and gender within his silent features. / Master of Arts