In this paper we investigate the relation between corporate governance mechanisms and performance of financial holding companies (FHCs). We find that irrecoverable loans will affect the accuracy of FHCs¡¦ performance. So we remove the factor of bad debts and use this new performance proxy. In addition, we investigate the difference of corporate governance mechanisms between the FHCs that have subsequently merged other banking firms and those that haven¡¦t. The results are as following. (1)The financial performance of FHCs and corporate governance mechanisms We find that the coefficients for the institutional investor ownership and board size are negative and statistically significant. This result is consistent with Pound¡¦s (1999) strategic alignment hypothesis and with Jensen (1993), Lipton and Lorsch (1992). However, the coefficients for the managerial, governmental ownership, and supervisor size are not statistically significant. When we investigate the 7 better FHCs as another samples. The coefficient for the governmental ownership is negative and statistically significant. We believe that the governmental ownership will make the firms conservative and is not good for company. (2)The subsequent mergers and corporate governance mechanisms The FHCs that have subsequently merged other banking firms have higher level of the managerial and institutional investor ownership, but less number of board size and supervisor size than those that haven¡¦t. But there is no difference in the governmental ownership. The findings are consistent with Amihud and Lev (1981) and Roll (1986). They believed that mangers will make money or non-money profit during merging and institutional investors will cooperate with managers to avoid the conflict of interest between them.

This research explores the influence of pregnancy loss and coping strategies employed while connecting to the fetus in a subsequent pregnancy following a late term loss. Nine participants were interviewed using a qualitative, phenomenological methodology to determine participant's experience. Four themes emerged within the data: (1) support network – participants acknowledged who was there for them and who was not, (2) emotional ups and downs – participants reported the emotional ups and downs from loss to the subsequent pregnancy to delivery and after birth, and how they connected during this process (3) coping – participants describe coping strategies used throughout their experience, and (4) moving forward – participants reported their process of finding their new normal and how this event changed their perspective on life. Limitations, future research and clinical implications were all identified and discussed. / Master of Science

Several studies have demonstrated that fixed-time (FT) schedules of stimulus delivery can function to reduce a variety of behaviors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and subsequent effects of FT food deliveries on mouthing. In Phase 1, a preference assessment showed that caramel popcorn, chocolate cookies and pretzels were highly preferred food items. Thus, providing the basis for use of food items during treatment. In Phase 2, a functional analysis showed that mouthing was a nonsocially maintained problem behavior. Phase 3 demonstrated the use of FT schedules of food deliveries as treatment for nonsocially maintained mouthing. Results indicated that FT schedules of food significantly reduced mouthing. In addition, levels of mouthing observed during post-FT observations were reliably lower than pre-FT observations. Treatment effects, operative mechanisms responsible for the treatment effects and the experimental arrangement used to investigate varying FT schedules are discussed.

<p>For over 50 years, the Satisfaction of Search effect, and more recently known as the Subsequent Search Miss (SSM) effect, has plagued the field of radiology. Defined as a decrease in additional target accuracy after detecting a prior target in a visual search, SSM errors are known to underlie both real-world search errors (e.g., a radiologist is more likely to miss a tumor if a different tumor was previously detected) and more simplified, lab-based search errors (e.g., an observer is more likely to miss a target ‘T’ if a different target ‘T’ was previously detected). Unfortunately, little was known about this phenomenon’s cognitive underpinnings and SSM errors have proven difficult to eliminate. However, more recently, experimental research has provided evidence for three different theories of SSM errors: the Satisfaction account, the Perceptual Set account, and the Resource Depletion account. A series of studies examined performance in a multiple-target visual search and aimed to provide support for the Resource Depletion account—a first target consumes cognitive resources leaving less available to process additional targets. </p><p>To assess a potential mechanism underlying SSM errors, eye movements were recorded in a multiple-target visual search and were used to explore whether a first target may result in an immediate decrease in second-target accuracy, which is known as an attentional blink. To determine whether other known attentional distractions amplified the effects of finding a first target has on second-target detection, distractors within the immediate vicinity of the targets (i.e., clutter) were measured and compared to accuracy for a second target. To better understand which characteristics of attention were impacted by detecting a first target, individual differences within four characteristics of attention were compared to second-target misses in a multiple-target visual search. </p><p>The results demonstrated that an attentional blink underlies SSM errors with a decrease in second-target accuracy from 135ms-405ms after detection or re-fixating a first target. The effects of clutter were exacerbated after finding a first target causing a greater decrease in second-target accuracy as clutter increased around a second-target. The attentional characteristics of modulation and vigilance were correlated with second- target misses and suggest that worse attentional modulation and vigilance are predictive of more second-target misses. Taken together, these result are used as the foundation to support a new theory of SSM errors, the Flux Capacitor theory. The Flux Capacitor theory predicts that once a target is found, it is maintained as an attentional template in working memory, which consumes attentional resources that could otherwise be used to detect additional targets. This theory not only proposes why attentional resources are consumed by a first target, but encompasses the research in support of all three SSM theories in an effort to establish a grand, unified theory of SSM errors.</p> / Dissertation

Priming exercise, or the ‘warm-up’, is an accepted practice prior to exercise participation, physical training or sporting competition. Traditionally, low intensity exercise has been used prior to both short- and long-duration events in an effort to prepare the athlete, but not fatigue them. Recently, however, a more scientific approach to priming exercise has been considered important, with some research suggesting that a high intensity intermittent priming strategy may be optimal. However, given the paucity of performance focussed ‘warm-up’ studies, and that existing data regarding high-intensity priming strategies is inconclusive, the aim of this thesis was to determine the effects of three high-intensity intermittent priming strategies on physiological responses and subsequent 3km laboratory time-trial (TT) performance. Ten well-conditioned endurance-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD: age, 28.3 ± 8.4 yr, body mass, 81.8 ± 11.6 kg, stature, 1.8 ± 0.1 m, O2peak, 4.6 ± 0.5 L•min−1) were recruited for this study. After an initial incremental exercise test to exhaustion, participants completed four 3km time trials (TT) on four separate occasions, each preceded by a different priming strategy. These included a ‘self-selected’ (control) condition, and three high-intensity intermittent priming strategies of varying intensity (100% and 150% of the power at O2peak, and all-out) and fixed duration (15 minutes), each in predetermined random order. Five minutes passive rest separated each priming exercise condition from the experimental 3km-TT. Oxygen uptake ( O2) and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously, while blood lactate concentration ([BLa]) and core temperature (TC) were recorded at rest, post-priming exercise, and immediately prior to and following the 3km-TT. In an attempt to provide a mechanistic explanation for changes in performance, O2 kinetic variables were determined from the O2 data. Performance was quantified as a mean power (Wmean) and total time taken to complete the 3km-TT. Mean power output and time taken for each 500m segment of the 3km-TT were also calculated. Results demonstrated that the athletes self-chosen priming condition (378.6 ± 44.0 W) resulted in Wmean that was slightly greater than both the lowest (376.3 ± 44.9 W; 0.7%; p = 0.57) and moderate (373.9 ± 47.8 W; 1.5%, p = 0.30) intensity intermittent priming condition, but significantly greater than the ‘all-out’ intermittent sprint priming condition (357.4 ± 44.5 W; 5.8%, p = 0.0033). Similar differences were observed for time. While differences existed in the O2 deficit (however, mainly non-significant), these differences did not provide clear explanations for the differences in performance, with the moderate priming condition displaying a significantly reduced O2 deficit (59.4 ± 15.6 L, p < 0.05), despite the non-significant change in Wmean, compared to the self-chosen priming condition (73.3 ± 18.6 L). Additionally no significant differences were observed in either the time constant or the mean response time of O2. Significant findings with regard to HR, [BLa] and TC were observed, but consistent with O2 kinetic variables, they were not related to, nor explain performance changes. In conclusion, regardless of intensity, different high-intensity intermittent priming exercise did not improve 3km-TT performance more than the control condition (self-chosen). A priming strategy that is overly intense was detrimental to subsequent cycling performance. The observed finding that a self-chosen priming strategy resulted in a comparable performance suggests that athletes are able to self-select (consciously or sub-consciously) a ‘warm-up’ that is of appropriate intensity/duration. Further work utilising the priming strategies from the current study with events of shorter duration is required to further clarify how priming strategies of this nature may affect track cycling performance.

Priming exercise, or the ‘warm-up’, is an accepted practice prior to exercise participation, physical training or sporting competition. Traditionally, low intensity exercise has been used prior to both short- and long-duration events in an effort to prepare the athlete, but not fatigue them. Recently, however, a more scientific approach to priming exercise has been considered important, with some research suggesting that a high intensity intermittent priming strategy may be optimal. However, given the paucity of performance focussed ‘warm-up’ studies, and that existing data regarding high-intensity priming strategies is inconclusive, the aim of this thesis was to determine the effects of three high-intensity intermittent priming strategies on physiological responses and subsequent 3km laboratory time-trial (TT) performance. Ten well-conditioned endurance-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD: age, 28.3 ± 8.4 yr, body mass, 81.8 ± 11.6 kg, stature, 1.8 ± 0.1 m, O2peak, 4.6 ± 0.5 L•min−1) were recruited for this study. After an initial incremental exercise test to exhaustion, participants completed four 3km time trials (TT) on four separate occasions, each preceded by a different priming strategy. These included a ‘self-selected’ (control) condition, and three high-intensity intermittent priming strategies of varying intensity (100% and 150% of the power at O2peak, and all-out) and fixed duration (15 minutes), each in predetermined random order. Five minutes passive rest separated each priming exercise condition from the experimental 3km-TT. Oxygen uptake ( O2) and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously, while blood lactate concentration ([BLa]) and core temperature (TC) were recorded at rest, post-priming exercise, and immediately prior to and following the 3km-TT. In an attempt to provide a mechanistic explanation for changes in performance, O2 kinetic variables were determined from the O2 data. Performance was quantified as a mean power (Wmean) and total time taken to complete the 3km-TT. Mean power output and time taken for each 500m segment of the 3km-TT were also calculated. Results demonstrated that the athletes self-chosen priming condition (378.6 ± 44.0 W) resulted in Wmean that was slightly greater than both the lowest (376.3 ± 44.9 W; 0.7%; p = 0.57) and moderate (373.9 ± 47.8 W; 1.5%, p = 0.30) intensity intermittent priming condition, but significantly greater than the ‘all-out’ intermittent sprint priming condition (357.4 ± 44.5 W; 5.8%, p = 0.0033). Similar differences were observed for time. While differences existed in the O2 deficit (however, mainly non-significant), these differences did not provide clear explanations for the differences in performance, with the moderate priming condition displaying a significantly reduced O2 deficit (59.4 ± 15.6 L, p < 0.05), despite the non-significant change in Wmean, compared to the self-chosen priming condition (73.3 ± 18.6 L). Additionally no significant differences were observed in either the time constant or the mean response time of O2. Significant findings with regard to HR, [BLa] and TC were observed, but consistent with O2 kinetic variables, they were not related to, nor explain performance changes. In conclusion, regardless of intensity, different high-intensity intermittent priming exercise did not improve 3km-TT performance more than the control condition (self-chosen). A priming strategy that is overly intense was detrimental to subsequent cycling performance. The observed finding that a self-chosen priming strategy resulted in a comparable performance suggests that athletes are able to self-select (consciously or sub-consciously) a ‘warm-up’ that is of appropriate intensity/duration. Further work utilising the priming strategies from the current study with events of shorter duration is required to further clarify how priming strategies of this nature may affect track cycling performance.

No description available.

Perinatal loss is a tragic event in a woman's life and is a time filled with much aguish and · grief. The care a women and her family receive during a perinatal loss experience can have an incredible impact on future subsequent pregnancies. Subsequent pregnancies have shown to be filled with apprehension and anxiety that can potentially lead to complications such as preterm labor or another loss. Depressive symptoms and decreased prenatal attachment are additional factors that play a role in the experience of a subsequent pregnancy. The purpose of this thesis was to complete a comprehensive review of research studies concerning the experiences of women and subsequent pregnancies after suffering a perinatal loss and develop strategies that can be used to promote effective coping in this population. A review of the literature was conducted using Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus with Full Text, PubMed, and Medline databases. Results found higher pregnancy anxiety, more depressive symptoms, and decreased prenatal attachment in couples with a history of perinatal loss, a lack of bereavement education for nurses and midwives, and emphasized the need for support for both families and health care providers. Coping strategies for women and their families were identified and specific nursing implications for practice were established in order to facilitate coping in women and families.

Rule 31.22 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 provides, as a general rule, that those who receive documents through disclosure during civil proceedings may use them only for the purpose of the proceedings at hand. The general rule is subject to three exceptions, and judges have discretion to authorise subsequent use for other purposes. However, the foundational presupposition underpinning CPR 31.22 is that subsequent use, generally speaking, is improper. The thesis has two primary aims: (1) to demonstrate that the rule governing subsequent use (as developed in the case law) is theoretically and practically flawed, and that maintaining a blanket, general rule against subsequent use is unsound in principle, unjust, and procedurally inefficient; and (2) to generate a normative and procedural framework suitable for reform. Part I outlines the content, origins and operation of CPR 31.22. Through historical analysis, it suggests that presumptively categorising as improper all forms of subsequent use beyond the original litigation contradicts traditional authority. By identifying and examining the three principal rationales said to justify the modern rule, it argues that none affords sound justification. By analysing the exceptions to the rule, including judicial discretion, it seeks to show that such measures are incapable of remedying the defects in the underlying rule. Part II attempts to formulate a theoretically defensible, procedurally viable model for reforming CPR 31.22. It suggests that the presumption against subsequent use should be abolished, and the law reoriented around two central norms: the harm principle and a balancing approach. It tests this theoretical model by applying it to seven paradigmatic categories of subsequent use. Finally, it outlines a possible structure for procedural reform.

No description available.