Raters have been shown to react differently to performance evaluation formats. However, reactions to a new and promising format, frame-of-reference scales (FORS), remains untested. This experiment found that FORS users reacted more positively compared to standard scale users overall, and results were attributable to perceived accuracy and fairness.

Leadership has been a much studied area within industrial and organizational psychology. Recently, scholars have begun to focus on the negative side of leadership; however, a lack of research has limited our understanding of toxic leadership. One step forward in this domain has been the development of the toxic triangle, which posits that toxic leaders are aided by toxic followers with a toxic environment. Although the leader has been studied within this triangle, relatively little has been researched regarding the follower or the environment. Specifically, that there has been a lack of research in the organizational environment that allows the rise of toxic leaders is concerning. In this study, a toxic work environment scale was developed to help capture pieces of organizational environments that contribute to the rise of toxic leadership. A refined scale was used along with a qualitative piece. Four other scales were used to establish convergent and divergent validity. From the results of this study, although refinement is needed, support for three of the dimensions was found: favoritism, perceived threat, and overall organizational climate. Additionally, through the qualitative portion, additional themes that emerged (e.g., bullying) could be utilized in future use of measures to help assess toxic work environment features. Finally, I recommend that researchers interested in the toxic triangle endeavor to conduct studies that examine all elements simultaneously.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-95).

Giant clams (Tridacnidae) are economic species which have been the main materials for ganbei. Due to a huge decline in population size, it was reported as an endangered species in CITES list. In this study, the effects of different preservative methods on the expression of DNA sequences in giant clams were examined and whether ganbai is made from giant clams were also determined. I collected samples from Kenting, Green Island, Orchid Island, Shaio-Liu-Chu and Penghu Islands. And, ganbei were bought from markets. Species identification was based on four DNA sequences (COI, 16S, 18S, 28S) and morphological characters. The distinction power of four preservative methods (-70 ¢J frozen, 70 % ethanol, dried and freeze dried) on clam samples was evaluated. DNA sequences of CO1 and 16S are the best fragments to distinguish samples at species level. Additionally, a cryptic species of Tridacna noae was found from Tridacna maxima. The 18S and 28S sequences have low variation among giant clam species which are more suitable for higher level of phylogeny. The DNA fragments with different preservative methods were mostly in good condition having extracted DNA size up to 10 Kb. The sequencing divergences of the four preservation were 0 - 0.020 within an individual and 0 - 0.070 among individuals. In conclusion, the four preservative methods are similar in sequence expression. Ganbei made from giant clams was not found in the market. Instead, commercial ganbei are made from scallops, mostly Patinopecten yessoensis and some Argopecten irradians.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Music. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38851

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-112).

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In resource polymorphism, ecological opportunity and selective predatory pressure can be considered key factors in phenotypic divergence. In post-glacial lakes of Scandinavia, the European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.) is a common species and has repeatedly diverged along the benthic - pelagic resource axis. Recent studies suggest that predation by northern pike (Esox lucius L.) induces rapid divergence in whitefish, leading to two reproductively isolated ecotypes: a dwarf planktivore and a giant benthivore. In lakes where pike is absent, whitefish are only found as monomorphic populations. In this study I estimated growth rates in two monomorphic and two polymorphic populations having giant and dwarf ecotypes. The aim was to use growth rates as a tool to distinguish between juvenile giants and dwarfs, but also to find out if a population's resource use was reflected in the growth rate. Scales were used to calculate growth rate, where like trees, variations in seasonal growth could be observed in a ring-like structure. Growth rates differed between the morphs, and mirrored their use of resources. The two monomorphic populations had the highest average growth rate the first six years (40.1 and 35.5 mm/year), and quickly reached maximum size. Dwarfs and giants in the dimorphic systems had equal growth the first two years, after which giants grew at a substantially higher rate. Categorization between juvenile giants and dwarfs could be done if an individual had passed its third growth season.