Study on the Application of TOPSIS Method to the Introduction of Foreign Players in CBA Games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhongyou, Xing

The TOPSIS method is a multiple attribute decision-making method. This paper introduces the current situation of the introduction of foreign players in CBA games, presents the principles and calculation steps of TOPSIS method in detail, and applies it to the quantitative evaluation of the comprehensively competitive ability during the introduction of foreign players. Through the analysis of practical application, we found that the TOPSIS method has relatively high rationality and applicability when it is used to evaluate the comprehensively competitive ability during the introduction of foreign players.

Fifth pathway in New Jersey. House officer preparatory course for US foreign medical graduates.

PubMed

McGrough, W E

1975-06-09

The Fifth Channel in New Jersey is a Fifth Pathway program for US foreign medical graduates. In its third year, 83 percent of its 81 graduates are house officers at 18 US medical school-affiliated hospitals. Performance as house officers is characterized as competitive with peers, including US graduates. Positive attitudes toward work load, fellow workers, and patients compared with those of fellow house staff are noted. Quality of performance as house officers correlates most strongly with the change in mean scores of two batteries of clinical National Board examinations taken during the Fifth Pathway and less strongly with mean scores of single batteries of National Boards, Intelligence quotient, Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) examination, ang age. Recommendations concerning the implementing of similar programs in other states are presented.

Economic consequences of commercial space operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, Barbara A.; Wood, Peter W.

1990-01-01

The potential economic benefits generated from increased industry involvement and investment in space activities and the subsequent cost implications are discussed. A historical overview of commercial industry involvement in space is given and sources of new economic growth in space are discussed. These include communications satellites, small satellites, positioning and navigation services, space transportation and infrastructure, remote sensing, and materials processing in space such as the manufacturing of protein crystals and zeolites. Macroeconomic trends and principles such as limits on technology trade, eased restrictions on international joint ventures, foreign investments in U.S. firms, and increased foreign competition are discussed. Earth observations and mapping are considered. Opportunities for private sector involvement in building space infrastructure and space transportation are highlighted.

Corporate Competition for Foreign Language Customers: Is There an Answer?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkins, Wynona H.

1976-01-01

The proliferation of private organizations offering foreign language instruction to the public, and the advertising approaches of these organizations, are discussed. Suggestions are made for foreign language teachers in high schools and colleges to use in attracting more students. (RM)

Trade, Foreign Investment, and Competitiveness. The Japan Business Study Program. Based on a Seminar Series entitled "Japan Business Study Program 1989" (Austin, Texas, October 12-27, 1989).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matsuo, Hirofumi, Ed.

Seven articles are presented addressing topics related to United States-Japan trade, foreign investment, and U.S. competitiveness in the global market. The first article, "Super 301 and the Changing Japan-American Relationship" by Glenn Davis describes recent U.S.-Japan trade frictions, epitomized by Super 301, and explains the influence…

US Industrial Base Dependence/Vulnerability. Phase 1. Survey of Literature

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-12-01

individuals and organizations on the Catalyst mailing list in addition to industrial , academic and non -Department of Defense organizations. ■^’> 3. More...competition could be inconsistent with either of the other goals. For example, a contract awarded to a non -NATO foreign firm would comply with neither...prevent foreign manufacturers from dominating the commercial market. 6. To become competitive, the U.S. bearing JBWG industry must invest more

Strategic Alliance: Competitiveness of Sino-Foreign Cooperative School Running Operation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xie, Lihui; Hou, Tao; Li, Ze

2011-01-01

Lying in a transformation period of economic development, economic prosperity, social progress and development in science and technology have to rely on strong competitiveness of a nation's universities to a large degree. Actually, universities' competitiveness is closely related to the improvement of a nation's competitiveness in human resources,…

46 CFR 550.102 - Scope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... petition, that a foreign government has promulgated and enforced or intends to enforce laws, decrees... owners, operators, agents or masters of foreign vessels engage in or intend to engage in competitive...

46 CFR 550.102 - Scope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... petition, that a foreign government has promulgated and enforced or intends to enforce laws, decrees... owners, operators, agents or masters of foreign vessels engage in or intend to engage in competitive...

15 CFR 14.43 - Competition.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Competition. 14.43 Section 14.43... GRANTS AND AGREEMENTS WITH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, HOSPITALS, OTHER NON-PROFIT, AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS Post-Award Requirements Procurement Standards § 14.43 Competition. All procurement transactions...

U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-04

competitive in world markets , these sales abroad are overshadowed by the huge demand by Americans for imported products. In 2006, U.S. exports of goods and...pressures for the government to do more to open foreign markets , to shield U.S. producers from foreign competition, or to assist U.S. industries to... markets . Compared to a Federal Reserve index of currencies weighted by importance to U.S. trade, the dollar has lost a third of its value since 2002. In

75 FR 24969 - China's Agricultural Trade: Competitive Conditions and Effects on U.S. Exports

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-06

... support and government programs related to agricultural markets, foreign direct investment policies, and... INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 332-518] China's Agricultural Trade: Competitive... investigation No. 332-518, China's Agricultural Trade: Competitive Conditions and Effects on U.S. Exports. DATES...

Federal Technical Information and U.S. Competitiveness: Needs, Opportunities, and Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Christopher T.

1989-01-01

Discusses the importance of competitiveness to the American economy and examines three areas where federal information policies affect American competitiveness: providing the private sector with technical information; making federal information resources available to industry; and restricting foreign access to those resources. For each area,…

77 FR 61026 - Olive Oil: Conditions of Competition Between U.S. and Major Foreign Supplier Industries

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-05

... INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 332-537] Olive Oil: Conditions of Competition... Commission (Commission) instituted investigation No. 332-537, Olive Oil: Conditions of Competition between U..., the report will include the following-- 1. An overview of the commercial olive oil industry in the...

Secondary Products (Markets, Competition, and Technological Improvements)

Treesearch

Philip A. Araman

1988-01-01

Competitiveness, imports, exports, and technological improvements--these are issues facing secondary wood-product manufacturers. The major problems focus on increasing foreign imports and the inability of U.S. industries to repell the imports. How and where should we, as researchers, allocate our efforts to enhance the competitiveness of secondary forest industries in...

48 CFR 5706.302-70 - Impairment of foreign aid programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... FOUNDATION ACQUISITION PLANNING COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS Other Than Full and Open Competition 5706.302-70... $100,000 or less for audit, evaluation or program support services to be provided abroad; (3) An award...

Implications of Sino-American Strategic Competition on Southeast Asia’s Post-Cold War Regional Order

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-12-01

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS IMPLICATIONS OF SINO-AMERICAN STRATEGIC COMPETITION ON SOUTHEAST ASIA’S...Implications of Sino-American Strategic Competition on Southeast Asia’s Post-Cold War Regional Order 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR Sidharto R...IMPLICATIONS OF SINO-AMERICAN STRATEGIC COMPETITION ON SOUTHEAST ASIA’S POST-COLD WAR REGIONAL ORDER Sidharto R. Suryodipuro Civilian, Foreign

Implementability of Benchmarking (Comparative) Technique in Sports Enterprises (Sample Elazig)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altungul, Oguzhan; Demirag, Resat

2017-01-01

Increasing competition in domestic and foreign markets in the globalizing world and increasing quality expectations of customers have led enterprises to develop and implement a range of different quality considerations in order to remain competitive or to increase competitive power. One of the most important of these approaches is called…

47 CFR 63.10 - Regulatory classification of U.S. international carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

.... For purposes of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, the relevant markets on the foreign end... access facilities or services on the foreign end of a particular route. (1) A U.S. carrier that has no... the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S. market. If the U.S. carrier...

47 CFR 63.10 - Regulatory classification of U.S. international carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

.... For purposes of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, the relevant markets on the foreign end... access facilities or services on the foreign end of a particular route. (1) A U.S. carrier that has no... the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S. market. If the U.S. carrier...

47 CFR 63.10 - Regulatory classification of U.S. international carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

.... For purposes of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, the relevant markets on the foreign end... access facilities or services on the foreign end of a particular route. (1) A U.S. carrier that has no... the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S. market. If the U.S. carrier...

Maximizing transportation efficiencies and economic impact of the Southwest Missouri foreign-trade zone.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-07-01

Overview of Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ or Zone) and their impact on economic development, goods : movement jobs creation and retention. Zones provide a competitive advantage for multi-national : manufacturing and distribution firms resulting in the ret...

Program Evaluation of the English Language Proficiency Program for Foreign Students a Case Study: University of the East, Manila Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salimi, Esmaeel Ali; Farsi, Mitra

2016-01-01

This study on evaluating an English program of studies for foreign students seeking admission to the UE Graduate School attempts to examine the prevailing conditions of foreign students in the UE Graduate School with respect to their competence and competitiveness in English proficiency. It looks into the existing English programs of studies in…

Austria: Media Dependence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Signitzer, Benno

1978-01-01

Describes the Austrian broadcast industry which is dominated by foreign influences. Suggests the restoration of autonomy of Austria's media through a system of promotion of and subsidies to Austrian media efforts, as well as a decentralization of foreign influence to increase the quality and competitiveness of domestic production. (JMF)

76 FR 23177 - Exchange Visitor Program-Summer Work Travel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-26

... adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of... and vetted third party overseas agents or partners (i.e., foreign entities) with whom sponsors have..., providing an estimated two million foreign college and university students the opportunity to work and...

Foreign civil aviation competition: 1976 summary and implications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alford, W. J., Jr.; Maddalon, D. V.

1976-01-01

A summary assessment is made of foreign civil aviation as it relates to the posture of the United States civil aviation industry. Major findings include: (1) Main competitors - European Economic Community (EEC) and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). (2) Largest commercial market - Transport aircraft. (3) Current market status and projections - U.S. currently dominates the civil aviation market but foreign markets show greater growth trends. (4) Competitive comparisons - Status comparisons are made in technology (aerodynamics, structures and materials, propulsion, avionics, systems, design coordination, and manufacturing); production runs; marketing; and postsales support. The U.S. generally leads except in aerodynamics and propulsion. (5) Multinational ventures - Joint U.S. industry/foreign government development of advanced technology engines is well developed; airframe industry discussions are now underway. (6) Implications - Although the U.S., is currently preeminent in most areas, this may be only a temporary condition. Past U.S. success in aviation has provided many benefits to the nation. These benefits may be lost.

Education and the Economy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hornsby, H. Heyward

This paper deals with the relationship between education and the decline in economic growth in the United States. Through lower costs, newly developed technology, and foreign capital, third world countries have developed competitive industrial capacities which intensify competition in markets the United States once dominated. Several high tech…

49 CFR 91.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... of the Secretary of Transportation INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION FAIR COMPETITIVE PRACTICES § 91.1... under sections 2 and 3 of the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974 to the end that U.S. flag air carriers operating in foreign air transportation are protected from all...

Maintenance Required: Charter Schooling in Michigan. Education Sector Reports: Charter School Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mead, Sara

2006-01-01

Michigan is no stranger to the effects of competition. The auto industry was forced to adjust to an onslaught of foreign competition in the 70s and 80s. Now, Michigan's public schools face their own competition in the form of public charter schools. Since 1993, when Michigan became one of the first states in the nation to enact charter…

National and international capital shortages slowing, perhaps preventing, American economic growth and leading to a decline in the domestic standard of living

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

It is shown that many of the basic industries that the U.S. has relied upon in the past for economic growth and development are now so obsolete, so old, and so technologically inferior to that of foreign competitors that the U.S. is losing its international competitive position. The most conservative estimate suggests that it will require $325 billion between now and 1982 merely to meet existing and currently anticipated pollution requirements and that it would take an additional $197 billion to replace outmoded existing facilities.

U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-06

pressures for the government to do more to open foreign markets , to shield U.S. producers from foreign competition, or to assist U.S. industries to...intervened in foreign exchange markets to keep the value of their currencies from rising too fast. The broadest measure of U.S. international economic... markets and a credit squeeze that is threatening the health of numerous businesses all over the world. A major problem is that exporting countries

Collaborating to improve the global competitiveness of US academic medical centers.

PubMed

Allen, Molly; Garman, Andrew; Johnson, Tricia; Hohmann, Samuel; Meurer, Steve

2012-01-01

President Obama announced the National Export Initiative in his 2010 State of the Union address and set the ambitious goal of doubling US exports by the end of 2014 to support millions of domestic jobs. Understanding the competitive position of US health care in the global market for international patients, University Health System Consortium (UHC), an alliance of 116 academic medical centers and 272 of their affiliated hospitals, representing 90 percent of the nation's non-profit academic medical centers partnered with Rush University, a private University in Chicago, IL and the International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA) to participate in the Market Development Cooperator Program. The goal of this private-public partnership is to increase the global competitiveness of the US health care industry, which represents over 16 percent of the GDP, amongst foreign health care providers. This article provides an overview of the US health care market and outlines the aims of the US Cooperative for International Patient Programs, the end result of the partnership between UHC, ITA and Rush University.

The Competitive Advantage of Foreign Languages and Cultural Knowledge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grosse, Christine Uber

2004-01-01

This study presents the results of an electronic survey of 2,500 randomly selected alumni from the graduating classes of 1970 through 2002 of Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management. Of the 2,500 alumni, 581 responded. Thunderbird required a minimum of 4 semesters of foreign language for graduation. The survey…

Local Produce, Foreign Labor: Labor Mobility Programs and Global Trade Competitiveness in Canada

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Preibisch, Kerry L.

2007-01-01

Temporary visa workers are increasingly taking on a heightened profile in Canada, entering the workforce each year in greater numbers than immigrant workers with labor mobility rights (Sharma 2006). This paper examines the incorporation of foreign workers in Canadian horticulture under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). I argue that…

The Migration of Foreign Students to Russia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pis'mennaia, E. E.

2010-01-01

According to forecasts, the competitive struggle on the worldwide scale to attract foreign students is going to get more intense, as many countries see students as the most desirable category of migrants. The world market of educational services has been estimated at $50-60 billion. The economically developed countries, such as the United States,…

46 CFR 550.403 - Contents of petitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... description and citation of the foreign law, rule, regulation, practice or competitive method complained of; (b) A certified copy of any law, rule, regulation or other document involved and, if not in English... competitive method; (d) A clear description, in detail, of the harm already caused or which may reasonably be...

The Global View of Vocational-Academic Integration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pritz, Sandra G.

Education's central challenge is to prepare learners for contributory and satisfying lives in a global economy in which they are productive enough for the nation to be globally competitive. Being globally competitive means that the benefits of foreign trade accrue to all on the basis of each country's pursuing its comparative advantages…

Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade: Key Issues for the 108th Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-03

which increased DOD activity in this area would be complementary or competitive to CIA operations remains to be seen. CRS Products: CRS Terrorism Briefing...unless justified as inherently governmental; 2) a reduction in the length of time for the completion of competitions (maximum of one year); and 3) a...The U.S. Trade Representative claims that the FTA has broken new ground in electronic commerce, competition policy, and CRS-61 government

Globalization in the pharmaceutical industry, Part II.

PubMed

Casadio Tarabusi, C; Vickery, G

1998-01-01

This is the second of a two-part report on the pharmaceutical industry. Part II begins with a discussion of foreign direct investment and inter-firm networks, which covers international mergers, acquisitions, and minority participation; market shares of foreign-controlled firms; international collaboration agreements (with a special note on agreements in biotechnology); and licensing agreements. The final section of the report covers governmental policies on health and safety regulation, price regulation, industry and technology, trade, foreign investment, protection of intellectual property, and competition.

An Empirical Study on the Distinctive Teaching Mode and Practice of International Business Innovation Class in GDUFS

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dongman, Cai; Wenzhong, Zhu

2016-01-01

Accommodating to the development of globalization, China witnesses a mounting demand for international business talents who are proficient in both foreign languages and business knowledge and adept at international cooperation and competition in business context. In order to meet this need, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, taking advantage…

47 CFR 63.14 - Prohibition on agreeing to accept special concessions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... possesses sufficient market power on the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S... Bureau's World Wide Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/ib. (b) A special concession is defined as an exclusive arrangement involving services, facilities, or functions on the foreign end of a U.S...

47 CFR 63.14 - Prohibition on agreeing to accept special concessions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... possesses sufficient market power on the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S... Bureau's World Wide Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/ib. (b) A special concession is defined as an exclusive arrangement involving services, facilities, or functions on the foreign end of a U.S...

47 CFR 63.14 - Prohibition on agreeing to accept special concessions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... possesses sufficient market power on the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S... Bureau's World Wide Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/ib. (b) A special concession is defined as an exclusive arrangement involving services, facilities, or functions on the foreign end of a U.S...

47 CFR 63.14 - Prohibition on agreeing to accept special concessions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... possesses sufficient market power on the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S... Bureau's World Wide Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/ib. (b) A special concession is defined as an exclusive arrangement involving services, facilities, or functions on the foreign end of a U.S...

47 CFR 63.14 - Prohibition on agreeing to accept special concessions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... possesses sufficient market power on the foreign end of the route to affect competition adversely in the U.S... Bureau's World Wide Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/ib. (b) A special concession is defined as an exclusive arrangement involving services, facilities, or functions on the foreign end of a U.S...

From Cooperation to Competition - The Future of U.S.-Russian Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

U.S. and Russian systems are inherently competitive, especially regard- ing Russia’s “near abroad,” NATO, Asia, and the Arctic. A clear U.S. policy that...illumi- nates the competitive nature of the two systems is a necessary step towards regaining the strategic initiative. • U.S. policy must...Russian foreign and security policy, in order to better anticipate future behavior. The project was grounded in systems thinking and aimed at building

The Role of Women in Foreign-Language Textbooks: A Collection of Essays. Collection d'"Etudes linguistiques" No. 24.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freudenstein, R., Ed.

Essays that consider the way that women are portrayed in foreign language textbooks are presented. The selected essays were submitted to a competition sponsored by the Federation Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes, which requested that language teachers assess such concerns as: (1) whether women were described in a stereotyped way;…

76 FR 51434 - Notice of Determinations Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-18

... imports of articles like or directly competitive with articles produced by such firm or subdivision have... foreign country of articles like or directly competitive with articles which are produced by such firm or... shifted production of the articles is a party to a free trade agreement with the United States; 2. The...

Spatial heterogeneity of plant-soil feedback affects root interactions and interspecific competition.

PubMed

Hendriks, Marloes; Ravenek, Janneke M; Smit-Tiekstra, Annemiek E; van der Paauw, Jan Willem; de Caluwe, Hannie; van der Putten, Wim H; de Kroon, Hans; Mommer, Liesje

2015-08-01

Plant-soil feedback is receiving increasing interest as a factor influencing plant competition and species coexistence in grasslands. However, we do not know how spatial distribution of plant-soil feedback affects plant below-ground interactions. We investigated the way in which spatial heterogeneity of soil biota affects competitive interactions in grassland plant species. We performed a pairwise competition experiment combined with heterogeneous distribution of soil biota using four grassland plant species and their soil biota. Patches were applied as quadrants of 'own' and 'foreign' soils from all plant species in all pairwise combinations. To evaluate interspecific root responses, species-specific root biomass was quantified using real-time PCR. All plant species suffered negative soil feedback, but strength was species-specific, reflected by a decrease in root growth in own compared with foreign soil. Reduction in root growth in own patches by the superior plant competitor provided opportunities for inferior competitors to increase root biomass in these patches. These patterns did not cascade into above-ground effects during our experiment. We show that root distributions can be determined by spatial heterogeneity of soil biota, affecting plant below-ground competitive interactions. Thus, spatial heterogeneity of soil biota may contribute to plant species coexistence in species-rich grasslands. © 2015 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2015 New Phytologist Trust.

Fueling the dragon: Alternative Chinese oil futures and their implications for the United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eberling, George G.

This study examines how Chinese oil energy will likely shape future Sino-American relations under conditions of dependency and non-dependency. The study will list and describe three possible Chinese oil energy futures or scenarios (Competitive Dependency, Competitive Surplus and Cooperative Surplus) using Scenario Analysis to subsequently estimate their associated likelihoods using the PRINCE forecasting system and discuss and evaluate their strategic implications for the United States. Further, this study will determine the most likely oil energy future or scenario. Finally, the study will list and describe the most likely United States political, economic and/or military policy responses for each future or scenario. The study contributes to the literature on Chinese and United States energy security, foreign policy, political economy and political risk analysis by showing how China will most likely address its growing oil energy dependence and by determining what will be the most likely U.S. foreign policy consequences based on the most current literature available on energy security and foreign policy.

34 CFR 691.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS...

34 CFR 691.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS...

34 CFR 691.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS...

34 CFR 691.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS...

A History of President Putin’s Campaign to Re-Nationalize Industry and the Implications for Russian Reform and Foreign Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-27

for civilian aircraft are so non- competitive in global markets, they likely will not be able to pay market prices for titanium, especially as demand...in general is not competitive on global markets, particularly in the civilian sector for larger vessels.71 Accordingly, OSK is going to seek niche...of the market. The only competition will come from abroad; Russian products will compete globally or be relegated to internal use only; in such case

Success or Failure of Primary Second/Foreign Language Programmes in Asia: What Do the Data Tell Us?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldauf, Richard B., Jr.; Kaplan, Robert B.; Kamwangamalu, Nkonko; Bryant, Pauline

2011-01-01

Primary school second/foreign language (SL/FL) programmes in Asia, as well as in other parts of the world, are becoming more common, with many targeting English as the SL or FL. The pressures for such English language programmes come from top-down notions that in a globalised world English is required for societies to be competitive, especially…

China’s Defense Industry on the Path of Reform

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

Strategy” (三三三转型升级 战 略). The strategy calls for a proactive approach to the development of three markets simultaneously: military, civilian, and foreign. 46...Plan to Leap Ahead in Core Competitive Power” (核心竞 争 力跃升计划). According to the plan, CETC called for strengthening the competitive power of products in

Reaching New Heights in Middle School Science: Straw Tower Competition Builds Student Interest

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pliskow, Tia

2008-01-01

Science educators face the challenge of piquing students' interest in subjects whose concepts are often entirely foreign to them. The author wanted to give her students a hands-on, "real world" experience rooted in scientific concepts. What evolved was an engineering design competition. The point of the project was two-fold: to work on real-world…

Strategy for Peace 1984. The Stanley Foundation US Foreign Policy Conference Report (25th, Annapolis, Maryland, October 11-13, 1984).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanley Foundation, Muscatine, IA.

Proceedings are summarized of a conference in which 62 foreign policy professionals met to recommend strategies for peace in the areas of U.S.-Soviet competition in the Third World, space weapons and arms control, objectives of U.S. economic and security assistance, and the United States and UNESCO. Four sections focusing on each of these areas…

The Mismatch between the Unmet Need for and Supply of Occupational English Skills: An Investigation of Higher Educated Government Staff in Norway

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hellekjaer, Glenn Ole; Fairway, Tone

2015-01-01

Nordic universities are involved in a global competition against American and UK universities, whose main competitive advantage is their placement in English-speaking countries. The authors argue that Nordic universities need to do more to offset this advantage than merely offer English-Medium (EM) courses to foreign and domestic students. They…

Perspectives on U.S. Competitiveness in Science and Technology. Conference Proceedings (Washington, DC, November 8, 2006)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Galama, Titus, Ed.; Hosek, James, Ed.

2007-01-01

Concern has grown that the United States is losing its competitive edge in science and technology (S&T). The factors driving this concern include globalization, the rise of science centers in developing countries such as China and India, the increasing number of foreign-born Ph.D. students in the United States, and claims of a shortage of…

77 FR 72412 - International Mail Contract

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-05

... Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Operators 1 product and identifies the TNT... of the TNT Agreement as the baseline agreement was confirmed in Order No. 840, issued September 7...

Occupational health and safety in China: the case of state-managed enterprises.

PubMed

Chen, Meei-Shia; Chan, Anita

2010-01-01

The widely held image, inside and outside China, of the total absence of an occupational health and safety (OHS) system in that country is not an accurate picture. This article argues that the unsafe working conditions and prevalent occupational diseases and injuries widely reported in the Chinese and foreign media occur mostly in private mines and in the Asian foreign-funded and domestic private manufacturing sectors. In contrast, the capital-intensive, larger state-owned enterprises and enterprises that have been transformed from state enterprises generally have better OHS systems. An in-depth study of two such enterprises reveals viable OHS systems, worker-management OHS committees, regular health and safety inspections, and trade unions' and workers congresses' oversight and supervision. Above all, there is an enterprise culture that regards accidents as avoidable, and both workers and management feel distressed and guilty when accidents happen. The authors believe it is important to acknowledge and champion these positive examples of "best practices" that can be emulated in workplaces throughout China, which is under great pressure from competitive domestic and global forces to relax its OHS standards.

Competitive advantage and higher fitness in native populations of genetically structured planktonic diatoms.

PubMed

Sildever, Sirje; Sefbom, Josefin; Lips, Inga; Godhe, Anna

2016-12-01

It has been shown that the planktonic diatom Skeletonema from neighbouring areas are genetically differentiated despite absence of physical dispersal barriers. We revisited two sites, Mariager Fjord and Kattegat, NE Atlantic, and isolated new strains. Microsatellite genotyping and F-statistics revealed that the populations were genetically differentiated. An experiment was designed to investigate if populations are locally adapted and have a native competitive advantage. Ten strains from each location were grown individually in native and foreign water to investigate differences in produced biomass. Additionally, we mixed six pairs, one strain from each site, and let them grow together in native and foreign water. Strains from Mariager Fjord and Kattegat produced higher biomass in native water. In the competition experiment, strains from both sites displayed higher relative abundance and demonstrated competitive advantage in their native water. The cause of the differentiated growth is unknown, but could possibly be attributed to differences in silica concentration or viruses in the two water types. Our data show that dispersal potential does not influence the genetic structure of the populations. We conclude that genetic adaptation has not been overruled by gene flow, but instead the responses to different selection conditions are enforcing the observed genetic structure. © 2016 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Seed Availability and Competition Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9

2013-01-04

House - 02/04/2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Seed Availability and Competition Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9

2011-01-18

House - 03/03/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

46 CFR 282.10 - Basis for determining foreign-flag competition.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... cost disadvantage of operating the subsidized vessels in the essential service. The Maritime... establishing the cost disadvantage of U.S. vessels in the service. (e) The determination of the principal...

Ethical Perceptions of Customers Towards the Services of Foreign Branch Banks in Northern Cyprus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veli Safakli, Okan

Nowadays, the ethical principles, which are institutionalized as generally accepted principles like the human rights, have become very popular in the banking sector like in many other sectors. The implementation of these principles provides public trust and reputation as well as competitive edge to the banks. The branches of the foreign banks, which have their head offices in foreign countries, are expected to be in harmony with the ethical principles more than the local banks. Therefore, ethical perceptions of customers towards the services of the foreign branch banks in Northern Cyprus have been researched in this study. According to this survey, it was found out that the foreign branch banks, generally, respect the ethical principles as expected. However, there is a necessity of institutional and administrative restructuring in the direction of improving the quality of the ethic standards used in these banks.

Foreign language affects the contribution of intentions and outcomes to moral judgment.

PubMed

Geipel, Janet; Hadjichristidis, Constantinos; Surian, Luca

2016-09-01

We examine whether the use of a foreign language, as opposed to the native language, influences the relative weight intentions versus outcomes carry in moral evaluations. In Study 1, participants were presented with actions that had positive outcomes but were motivated by dubious intentions, while in Study 2 with actions that had negative outcomes but were motivated by positive intentions. Participants received the materials either in their native or a foreign language. Foreign language prompted more positive moral evaluations in Study 1 and less positive evaluations in Study 2. These results show that foreign language reduces the relative weight placed on intentions versus outcomes. We discuss several theoretical accounts that are consistent with the results such as that foreign language attenuates emotions (triggered by intentions) or it depletes cognitive resources. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Building effective R&D capabilities abroad.

PubMed

Kuemmerle, W

1997-01-01

In the past, companies kept most of their research and development activities in their home country because they thought it important to have R&D close to where strategic decisions were being made. But today many companies choose to establish R&D networks in foreign countries in order to tap the knowledge there or to commercialize products for those markets at a competitive speed. Adopting a global approach entails new, complex managerial challenges. It means linking R&D strategy to a company's overall business strategy. The first step in adopting such an approach is to build a team to lead the initiative--a team whose members are sufficiently senior to be able to mobilize resources at short notice. Second, companies must determine whether an R&D site's primary objective is to augment the expertise that the home base has the offer or to exploit that knowledge for use in the foreign country. That determination affects the choice of location and staff. For example, to augment the home base laboratory, a company would want to be near a foreign university; to exploit the home base laboratory it would need to be near large markets and manufacturing facilities. The best individual for managing both types of site combines the qualities of good scientist and good manager, knows how to integrate the new site with existing sites, understand technology trends, and is good at gaining access to foreign scientific communities. As more pockets of knowledge emerge around the globe and competition in foreign markets mounts, only those companies that embrace an informed approach to global R&D will be able to meet the new challenges.

Of Coaches and Researchers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Groves, Richard

1977-01-01

Research information in sports physiology must be compiled in usable form, and coaches must incorporate the results into their coaching tactics and methods if American athletes are to be able to compete on equal terms in foreign competition. (MB)

Does the Effect of Enjoyment Outweigh That of Anxiety in Foreign Language Performance?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dewaele, Jean-Marc; Alfawzan, Mateb

2018-01-01

Interest in the effect of positive and negative emotions in foreign language acquisition has soared recently because of the positive psychology movement (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2014, 2016; MacIntyre, Gregersen & Mercer, 2016). No work so far has been carried out on the differential effect of positive and negative emotions on foreign language…

International photovoltaic program. Volume 2: Appendices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Costello, D.; Koontz, R.; Posner, D.; Heiferling, P.; Carpenter, P.; Forman, S.; Perelman, L.

1979-01-01

The results of analyses conducted in preparation of an international photovoltaic marketing plan are summarized. Included are compilations of relevant statutes and existing Federal programs; strategies designed to expand the use of photovoltaics abroad; information on the domestic photovoltaic plan and its impact on the proposed international plan; perspectives on foreign competition; industry views on the international photovoltaic market and ideas about the how US government actions could affect this market;international financing issues; and information on issues affecting foreign policy and developing countries.

JPRS Report, China.

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-28

in order to improve market competitive- west, and fine conditions for developing tourism. Uti - ness and foreign-exchange-earning capabilities. lizing...34 permitted to become lawyers, accountants, medical doc- or "naive wishful thinking." Moreover, it seems that tors, veterinarians, pharmacists

48 CFR 636.104-70 - Foreign Service Buildings Act of 1926, as amended.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... or limited to: (1) Host-country firms where required by international agreement; or (2) By the laws... preference. For purposes of determining competitive status, American-owned firms shall receive a ten (10...

76 FR 65985 - Importation of Litchi and Longan Fruit From Vietnam Into the Continental United States

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-25

... alleviate negative effects of increased foreign competition through alternative marketing arrangements or marketing channels. Executive Order 12988 This proposed rule would allow litchi and longan fruit to be...

Research and technology program perspectives for general aviation and commuter aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauchspies, J. S.; Simpson, W. E.

1982-01-01

The uses, benefits, and technology needs of the U.S. general aviation industry were studied in light of growing competition from foreign general aviation manufacturers, especially in the commuter and business jet aircraft markets.

Services under siege--the restructuring imperative.

PubMed

Roach, S S

1991-01-01

Recent job losses in the U.S. service sector do not reflect a temporary recession. Those jobs are gone, the result of a massive restructuring of the sector that is just getting under way. The explanation for the restructuring is quite simple. Until recently, services have been shielded by regulation and confronted by few foreign competitors. They have allowed their white-collar payrolls to become bloated, their investment in information technology to outstrip the paybacks, and their productivity to stagnate. Now competition is heating up and exposing these inefficiencies. Just as intense competition forced the restructuring of Smokestack America in the 1980s, deregulation and foreign direct investment are shaking out service companies that cannot confront their shortcomings. The need for sweeping change in the service sector may come as a great shock to Americans who saw services as the means to continued economic prosperity. But there is a painful irony at work: job creation, the very thing proponents use to demonstrate the U.S. service sector's strength, is in fact a symptom of the sector's chronic neglect of economic efficiency. It is precisely that neglect that makes the service sector vulnerable as the race for market share intensifies and new players shift the terms of competition. Services must respond to the new competitive environment, but not by indiscriminate cost cutting. Instead, they should balance financial discipline with a comprehensive and immediate reexamination of strategy.

EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVES IN A MUTUALISM OF SEPIOLID SQUID AND BIOLUMINESCENT BACTERIA: COMBINED USAGE OF MICROBIAL EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION AND TEMPORAL POPULATION GENETICS

PubMed Central

Soto, W.; Punke, E. B.; Nishiguchi, M. K.

2013-01-01

The symbiosis between marine bioluminescent Vibrio bacteria and the sepiolid squid Euprymna is a model for studying animal–bacterial Interactions. Vibrio symbionts native to particular Euprymna species are competitively dominant, capable of outcompeting foreign Vibrio strains from other Euprymna host species. Despite competitive dominance, secondary colonization events by invading nonnative Vibrio fischeri have occurred. Competitive dominance can be offset through superior nonnative numbers and advantage of early start host colonization by nonnatives, granting nonnative vibrios an opportunity to establish beachheads in foreign Euprymna hosts. Here, we show that nonnative V. fischeri are capable of rapid adaptation to novel sepiolid squid hosts by serially passaging V. fischeri JRM200 (native to Hawaiian Euprymna scolopes) lines through the novel Australian squid host E. tasmanica for 500 generations. These experiments were complemented by a temporal population genetics survey of V. fischeri, collected from E. tasmanica over a decade, which provided a perspective from the natural history of V. fischeri evolution over 15,000–20,000 generations in E. tasmanica. No symbiont anagenic evolution within squids was observed, as competitive dominance does not purge V. fischeri genetic diversity through time. Instead, abiotic factors affecting abundance of V. fischeri variants in the planktonic phase sustain temporal symbiont diversity, a property itself of ecological constraints imposed by V. fischeri host adaptation. PMID:22519773

12 CFR 211.602 - Investments by United States Banking Organizations in foreign companies that transact business in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... finance have undergone considerable growth and change in recent years. It is increasingly common, for... climate, United States banking organizations would be placed at a competitive disadvantage if their...

12 CFR 211.602 - Investments by United States Banking Organizations in foreign companies that transact business in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... finance have undergone considerable growth and change in recent years. It is increasingly common, for... climate, United States banking organizations would be placed at a competitive disadvantage if their...

12 CFR 211.602 - Investments by United States Banking Organizations in foreign companies that transact business in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... finance have undergone considerable growth and change in recent years. It is increasingly common, for... climate, United States banking organizations would be placed at a competitive disadvantage if their...

12 CFR 211.602 - Investments by United States Banking Organizations in foreign companies that transact business in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... finance have undergone considerable growth and change in recent years. It is increasingly common, for... climate, United States banking organizations would be placed at a competitive disadvantage if their...

12 CFR 211.602 - Investments by United States Banking Organizations in foreign companies that transact business in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... finance have undergone considerable growth and change in recent years. It is increasingly common, for... climate, United States banking organizations would be placed at a competitive disadvantage if their...

Growth Versus Government Management Improvement During Economic Downturn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podobnik, Boris; Baaquie, Belal E.; Bishop, Steven; Njavro, Djuro; Li, Baowen

2013-04-01

In estimating how economic growth depends on various inputs, economists commonly use long periods of data encompassing both main extremes to fluctuations in the economy: recession and expansion. Here we focus on recession years because during expansion even countries with bad economic policies may experience large growth. Specifically, we study how growth depends on the proportion of public-sector workforce, p and competitiveness, quantified by the Global Competitiveness Index, GCI. For the 2008-2011 economic downturn and for 57 countries, we find that the growth rate of GDP per capita, g, decreases with p, and increases with ΔGCI. Further, more competitive countries attract more foreign direct investments per capita, I, than less competitive countries, where I ~ GCIα. We propose a production function, divided into the private and public sectors, where GDP depends on market capitalization, the public (private)-sector workforce, and competitiveness level, used to quantify the public sector efficiency.

Growth versus government management improvement during economic downturn.

PubMed

Podobnik, Boris; Baaquie, Belal E; Bishop, Steven; Njavro, Djuro; Li, Baowen

2013-01-01

In estimating how economic growth depends on various inputs, economists commonly use long periods of data encompassing both main extremes to fluctuations in the economy: recession and expansion. Here we focus on recession years because during expansion even countries with bad economic policies may experience large growth. Specifically, we study how growth depends on the proportion of public-sector workforce, p and competitiveness, quantified by the Global Competitiveness Index, GCI. For the 2008-2011 economic downturn and for 57 countries, we find that the growth rate of GDP per capita, g, decreases with p, and increases with ΔGCI. Further, more competitive countries attract more foreign direct investments per capita, I, than less competitive countries, where I is proportional to GCI(α). We propose a production function, divided into the private and public sectors, where GDP depends on market capitalization, the public (private)-sector workforce, and competitiveness level, used to quantify the public sector efficiency.

Growth Versus Government Management Improvement During Economic Downturn

PubMed Central

Podobnik, Boris; Baaquie, Belal E.; Bishop, Steven; Njavro, Djuro; Li, Baowen

2013-01-01

In estimating how economic growth depends on various inputs, economists commonly use long periods of data encompassing both main extremes to fluctuations in the economy: recession and expansion. Here we focus on recession years because during expansion even countries with bad economic policies may experience large growth. Specifically, we study how growth depends on the proportion of public-sector workforce, p and competitiveness, quantified by the Global Competitiveness Index, GCI. For the 2008–2011 economic downturn and for 57 countries, we find that the growth rate of GDP per capita, g, decreases with p, and increases with ΔGCI. Further, more competitive countries attract more foreign direct investments per capita, I, than less competitive countries, where I ∝ GCIα. We propose a production function, divided into the private and public sectors, where GDP depends on market capitalization, the public (private)-sector workforce, and competitiveness level, used to quantify the public sector efficiency. PMID:23563321

76 FR 67496 - New Postal Product

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-01

... POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. CP2012-1; Order No. 919] New Postal Product AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to enter into an additional Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign...

76 FR 80412 - New Postal Product

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-23

... Service of Filing Functionally Equivalent Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreement with a Foreign... application for non-public treatment of certain materials. The Postal Service also provided a redacted copy of... that the Postal Service proposed adding other functionally equivalent agreements as price categories...

5 CFR 212.101 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... civil service laws by statute. (b) Competitive position means a position in the competitive service. (5... Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMPETITIVE SERVICE AND COMPETITIVE STATUS Competitive Service § 212.101 Definitions. In this chapter: (a) Competitive service has the...

5 CFR 212.101 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... civil service laws by statute. (b) Competitive position means a position in the competitive service. (5... Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMPETITIVE SERVICE AND COMPETITIVE STATUS Competitive Service § 212.101 Definitions. In this chapter: (a) Competitive service has the...

Evidence of fueling of the 2000 new economy bubble by foreign capital inflow: implications for the future of the US economy and its stock market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sornette, Didier; Zhou, Wei-Xing

2004-02-01

Previous analyses of a large ensemble of stock markets have demonstrated that a log-periodic power law (LPPL) behavior of the prices constitutes a qualifying signature of speculative bubbles that often land with a crash. We detect such a LPPL signature in the foreign capital inflow during the bubble on the US markets culminating in March 2000. We detect a weak synchronization and lag with the NASDAQ LPPL pattern. We propose to rationalize these observations by the existence of positive feedback loops between market-appreciation/increased-spending/increased-deficit-of-balance-of-payment/larger-foreign-surplus/increased-foreign-capital-inflows and so on. Our analysis suggests that foreign capital inflow has been following rather than causing the bubble. We then combine a macroeconomic analysis of feedback processes occurring between the economy and the stock market with a technical analysis of more than 200 years of the DJIA to investigate possible scenarios for the future, three years after the end of the bubble and deep into a bearish regime. We conclude that the low interest rates and depreciating dollar are the indispensable ingredients for a lower sustainable burden of the global US debt structure and for allowing the slow rebuilding of an internationally competitive economy. This will probably be accompanied by a weak stock market on the medium term as the growing Federal deficit is consuming a large part of the foreign surplus dollars and the stock market is remaining a very risky and unattractive investment. Notwithstanding strong surge of liquidity in recent months orchestrated by the Federal Reserve, this macroeconomic analysis which incorporates an element of collective behavior is in line with our recent analyses of the bearish market that started in 2000 in terms of a LPPL “anti-bubble”. We project this LPPL anti-bubble to continue at least for another year. On the short term, increased availability of liquidity (M1) and self-fulfilling bullish anticipations may hold the stock market for a while.

Use of internet technologies for students' communicative competence development in the process of professional foreign language study in technical universities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khasanova, A. N.

2017-01-01

Problems of mature thinking formation and development of foreign-language professional communicative competence of competitive graduates of technical universities are considered in the article. The most important factors influencing the achievement of high standard of knowledge, students' abilities and skills and increase of their abilities to establish deep meta-subject connections due to Internet technologies in the course of professional foreign language training are analyzed. The article is written on the basis of project material "Network School of National Research Nuclear University MEPhI" aimed at optimization of technological aspect of training. The given academic on-line program assigns to the teacher a part of an organizer who only coordinates creative, academic students' activity.

Andragogical Model in Language Training of Mining Specialists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondareva, Evgeniya; Chistyakova, Galina; Kleshevskyi, Yury; Sergeev, Sergey; Stepanov, Aleksey

2017-11-01

Nowadays foreign language competence is one of the main professional skills of mining engineers. Modern competitive conditions require the ability for meeting production challenges in a foreign language from specialists and managers of mining enterprises. This is the reason of high demand on foreign language training/retraining courses. Language training of adult learners fundamentally differs from children and adolescent education. The article describes the features of andragogical learning model. The authors conclude that distance learning is the most productive education form having a number of obvious advantages over traditional (in-class) one. Interactive learning method that involves active engagement of adult trainees appears to be of the greatest interest due to introduction of modern information and communication technologies for distance learning.

Assessment of DoD Processes in Support of Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Determinations and Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) Mitigation

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-10

that could impair national security). These transactions are defined as covered transactions and were defined as such in the Exon- Florio provision...the United States,” May 7, 1975; • The Exon- Florio Amendment to the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 100-418, 102 Stat. 1107...Council and the Economic Policy Board, as warranted. Introduction DODIG-2014-080│ 11 Exon‑ Florio Amendment Enacted under the Omnibus Trade and

Prospects for foreign applications of wind-energy systems, preliminary report in response to Public Law 96-345

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1981-11-01

Potential foreign applications were identified. Specific systems which would most closely match the applications requirements from a list of representative U.S. wind energy systems. The energy situation of each of 155 countries and 29 territories was reviewed. Wind resources availability for each country was assessed from existing data sources. The export potential was determined by analyzing a country's applications requirements, cost of alternative energy, financial condition, interest in the development of renewable energy technologies, and level of indigenous competition.

International Photovoltaic Program Plan. Volume II. Appendices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Costello, D.; Koontz, R.; Posner, D.

1979-12-01

This second volume of a two-part report on the International Photovoltaic Program Plan contains appendices summarizing the results of analyses conducted in preparation of the plan. These analyses include compilations of relevant statutes and existing Federal programs; strategies designed to expand the use of photovoltaics abroad; information on the domestic photovoltaic plan and its impact on the proposed international plan; perspectives on foreign competition; industry views on the international photovoltaic market and ideas about how US government actions could affect this market; international financing issues; and information on issues affecting foreign policy and developing countries.

The Information Age?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacVicar, Margaret L. A.

1985-01-01

The author examines the concept of information and how it relates to our future. She discusses the various waves of information about education: the decay of technology and the raid on educational institutions for brainpower made by business and industry, foreign competition, and the quality of education. (CT)

49 CFR 91.11 - Standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Standards. 91.11 Section 91.11 Transportation Office of the Secretary of Transportation INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION FAIR COMPETITIVE PRACTICES.... flag air carriers and on foreign air carriers, estimates and periodic adjustments will be used to...

34 CFR 691.1 - Scope and purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS..., fifth-year undergraduate students who are pursuing eligible majors in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or a critical foreign language meet the cost of their...

34 CFR 691.1 - Scope and purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS..., fifth-year undergraduate students who are pursuing eligible majors in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or a critical foreign language meet the cost of their...

34 CFR 691.1 - Scope and purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS..., fifth-year undergraduate students who are pursuing eligible majors in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or a critical foreign language meet the cost of their...

34 CFR 691.1 - Scope and purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CONTINUED) ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANT (ACG) AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS..., fifth-year undergraduate students who are pursuing eligible majors in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or a critical foreign language meet the cost of their...

Foreign launch competition growing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brodsky, R. F.; Wolfe, M. G.; Pryke, I. W.

1986-07-01

A survey is given of progress made by other nations in providing or preparing to provide satellite launch services. The European Space Agency has four generations of Ariane vehicles, with a fifth recently approved; a second launch facility in French Guiana that has become operational has raised the possible Ariane launch rate to 10 per year, although a May failure of an Ariane 2 put launches on hold. The French Hermes spaceplane and the British HOTOL are discussed. Under the auspices of the Italian National Space Plane, the Iris orbital transfer vehicle is developed and China's Long March vehicles and the Soviet Protons and SL-4 vehicles are discussed; the Soviets moreover are apparently developing not only a Saturn V-class heavy lift vehicle with a 150,000-kg capacity (about five times the largest U.S. capacity) but also a space shuttle and a spaceplane. Four Japanese launch vehicles and some vehicles in an Indian program are also ready to provide launch services. In this new, tough market for launch services, the customers barely outnumber the suppliers. The competition develops just as the Challenger and Titan disasters place the U.S. at a disadvantage and underline the hard work ahead to recoup its heretofore leading position in launch services.

76 FR 58561 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-21

... (202-622- 1276). Direct all written comments on foreign currency transactions and positions to: Gregory... associated with Reporting of International Capital and Foreign Currency Transactions and Positions--31 CFR... consideration. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments on international capital transactions and positions to...

Understanding China's Telecommunications Policymaking and Reforms: A Tale of Transition toward Liberalization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Bing

2002-01-01

Analyzes China's telecommunications policymaking mechanism by drawing on institutional theory and bargaining theory. Highlights include the telecommunications industry; implementation of telecommunications policy, including competition and foreign direct investment; and the impact of China's entry into the World Trade Organization on its…

78 FR 11109 - International Settlements Policy Reform

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

... to foreign carriers' anticompetitive behavior in and timely and effective manner. Eliminating the ISP... routes giving U.S. consumers competitive pricing when they make international calls. The Commission also adopts certain limited measures to improve the Commission's ability to protect U.S. consumers from the...

Modest Labor-Management Bargains Continue in 1984 Despite the Recovery.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruben, George

1985-01-01

Major collective bargaining agreements in 1984 resulted in modest settlements, due to concern about foreign competition, domestic deregulation, and inflation. Agreements occurred in the following industries: auto, soft coal, airlines, aircraft and aerospace, construction, petroleum refining, longshore industry, railroads, trucking, steel, West…

Job Prospects for Metallurgical Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basta, Nicholas

1985-01-01

Job prospects in mining, metal-extraction, steel, and refining industries are depressed, but technological discoveries are opening up new fields for metallurgical engineers. Enrollment/employment opportunities and salaries in these areas are discussed a well as the roles of foreign competition, plastics applications, and ceramics research and…

Job Prospects for Computer Engineers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basta, Nicholas

1988-01-01

Discusses the computer engineering industry in the United States. Recounts recent shifts in the computer industry and notes that despite foreign competition, the industry offers graduating computer engineers ample opportunities for employment. Claims that skill and technical knowledge are the most important assets for getting a job. (TW)

Ultrasonography in Detection of Vaginal Foreign Bodies in Girls: A Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Yang, Xiuzhen; Sun, Liying; Ye, Jingjing; Li, Xiaoying; Tao, Ran

2017-12-01

In this study we investigated the sonographic features of vaginal foreign bodies in girls and the diagnostic role of combined transperineal and transabdominal ultrasonography in the detection of vaginal foreign bodies in this population. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A retrospective review of the records of 249 girls seen in the outpatient pediatric and adolescent gynecology clinic of our hospital and referred to our department for sonographic evaluation of suspected vaginal foreign bodies between 2013 and 2016 was performed. All patients were transperineally and transabdominally scanned using an ultrasound machine with 3-MHz and 7.5-MHz transducers. The sonographic features of the detected foreign bodies were recorded and reported. All patients also underwent pelvic radiography. The presence of foreign bodies was confirmed using vaginoscopy. Two hundred forty-nine patients were included in this study, and vaginal foreign bodies were detected in 181 patients. Vaginal foreign bodies often present in girls aged from 2 to 12 years old. The most common vaginal foreign bodies were toilet paper, beads, small parts of toys, cap of water color brush, and crayons. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of transperineal/transabdominal sonography in the diagnosis of vaginal foreign bodies were 81%, 53%, 82%, and 51%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of transabdominal sonography were 33%, 49%, 63%, and 21%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of transperineal sonography were 64%, 49%, 77%, and 33%, respectively. Abnormal findings were detected using x-ray in only 43 of the 181 cases (23.7%). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of x-ray were 24%, 91%, 88%, and 31%, respectively. The size of the foreign bodies ranged from 2 mm to 35 mm. For foreign bodies larger than 5 mm, the rate of sonographic accuracy reached 100%. For foreign bodies smaller than 5 mm, 32 false positive results, and 34 false negative results were identified. One hundred thirty-nine of 181 foreign bodies were less than 2 cm from the vaginal orifice (77%). All foreign bodies were hyperechoic compared with adjacent tissues. Some vaginal foreign bodies had characteristic echo patterns. With the exception of 1 patient with a detained AAA battery that caused vaginal ulceration, the other patients had a full recovery. Vaginal foreign bodies were hyperechoic compared with adjacent tissues and often had characteristic echo patterns. The use of combined transperineal and transabdominal ultrasonography might be helpful in diagnosing foreign bodies, especially when the size of the foreign body is larger than 5 mm. Therefore, ultrasonography might be preferred for the initial evaluation of suspected vaginal foreign bodies, because it is a noninvasive, radiation-free, and inexpensive technique. Copyright © 2017 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Social outcomes due to the interplay between language competition and ideology struggle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barreira da Silva Rocha, André

2018-02-01

I study the interplay between language competition and ideology struggle in a country where there are two competing languages. Language transition is governed by a three-state model similar to Minett-Wang (2008) and Heinsalu et al. (2014). In this class of models, I further assume that among monolinguals of one of the competing languages there is an ideology struggle between assimilationist individuals who accept to deal with foreign language speakers and nationalist individuals who oppose any form of foreign culture. Ideology transition follows a two-state model as in Abrams-Strogatz (2003). Depending on both ideology and language status, the possible equilibria show that when nationalism is introduced in the language competition model, complete assimilation might take place and one language disappears with the entire population becoming monolingual. On the other hand, when bilingualism emerges, it is associated with a segregated society with a bilingual group surviving in the long run together with an isolated monolingual group entirely composed of nationalist individuals. Another kind of segregation might also emerge in the equilibrium, in which two monolingual groups survive in the long run, one of them entirely composed of nationalists. In the latter case, both linguistic segregation and isolation are the negative social outcomes of ideology struggle.

Global and Domestic Trends ``Imperil'' Future U.S. Science Workforce

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

The U.S. science and engineering workforce of the future ``is imperiled'' by increased global competition for talent and by flat or reduced domestic student interest in the physical sciences and other areas, according to a 19 November report by the U.S. National Science Board (NSB). Citing U.S. census data, the report indicates that the percentage of the foreign-born who are filling U.S. science and engineering occupations has risen sharply, from 14% in 1990 to 22% in 2000. Awards of doctorates to the foreign-born jumped from 24% to 28%, while those with master's degrees increased from 19% to 29%, and the bachelor's degree share rose from 11% to 17%. The census data reflects immigration patterns and the numbers of foreign specialists working in the U.S. with visas.

Impacts of foreign direct investment on efficiency in Swedish manufacturing.

PubMed

Svedin, Dick; Stage, Jesper

2016-01-01

A number of studies have found that foreign direct investment (FDI) can have positive impacts on productivity. However, while FDI has clearly positive impacts on technology transfers, its effects on resource use within firms is less clear and, in principle, efficiency losses might offset some of the productivity gains associated with improved technologies. In this paper, we study the impacts of FDI on efficiency in Swedish manufacturing. We find that foreign ownership has positive impacts on efficiency, supporting the earlier findings on productivity.

Coping with Demotivation: EFL Learners' Remotivation Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Falout, Joseph

2012-01-01

When foreign language education is compulsory, competitive, or coercive, how learners cope with stress can determine outcomes, including value of the subject, persistence on task, and level of proficiency. The development of adaptive or maladaptive coping processes toward situated learning goals is influenced by learners' beliefs about themselves…

Video Gambling in Foreign Air Transportation: Safety Effects, Competitive Consequences, Bilateral Issues & Legal Framework

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-03-01

In accordance with the Congress' directive, this study assesses: : 1)The effects of electronic entertainment systems and video gambling on air travel safety from both a technical standpoint and a behavioral standpoint, 2)the impact of the current U.S...

Entry and Competition in the U.S. Transit Bus Manufacturing Industry

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-03-01

This report is an analytic paper addressing the trend toward entry into the U.S. transit bus market by new foreign manufacturers. The purpose of this study is to provide an explanation, and outline the implications of why so many companies are intere...

On Finding and Keeping those Very Important Persons ...Counselors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gersten, Bob

1988-01-01

Discusses the critical nature of staff recruitment in the success of camps. Suggests directors contact domestic and foreign colleges as well as former campers. Stresses the importance of maintaining competitive salaries and making the working conditions as pleasant as possible to reduce staff turnover. (SKW)

14 CFR 158.25 - Applications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... foster opportunities for enhanced competition between and among such carriers, and the expected results...) Information on the consultation with air carriers and foreign air carriers having a significant business... study is required. (iii) The information required by §§ 158.25(b)(16) and 158.25(b)(17). (2) An...

Foreign Language Day--A Living Language Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Paul W.

St. Bonaventure University holds a Language Day each spring, hosting some 3,900 area junior high and high school students. The buildings and facilities of the university campus are used, and activities include language competitions (exhibits, interpretative readings, language productions, audio-visual presentations and essays); a fiesta; foreign…

22 CFR 228.39 - Special source rules for construction and engineering services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... engineering services. 228.39 Section 228.39 Foreign Relations AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RULES ON... engineering services. Advanced developing countries, eligible under Geographic Code 941, which have attained a competitive capability in international markets for construction services or engineering services are not...

22 CFR 228.39 - Special source rules for construction and engineering services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... engineering services. 228.39 Section 228.39 Foreign Relations AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RULES ON... engineering services. Advanced developing countries, eligible under Geographic Code 941, which have attained a competitive capability in international markets for construction services or engineering services are not...

31 CFR 9.4 - Criteria for determining effects of imports on national security.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... impact of foreign competition on the economic welfare of individual domestic industries. In determining whether such impact may impair the national security, any substantial unemployment, decrease in revenues... Secretary shall also consider other relevant factors in determining whether the national security is...

USSR Report Machine Tools and Metalworking Equipment

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-13

greater part of the meat-milk and food industry, particularly, to bread-making, canning and confectionery industries. One can- not do without assembling...competitiveness in the foreign market . An analysis of the national economic development plan for 1984 and the first four years of the current five

Climate change, diversified agriculture and adaptive capacity in Hawaii

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Export-oriented sugar cane and pineapple plantation agriculture once dominated Hawaii's economy but over the latter half of the 20th Century, there was a rapid decline in the production of these crops as Hawaii's competitive advantage over foreign producers dwindled. The decline of the plantations c...

31 CFR 9.4 - Criteria for determining effects of imports on national security.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... materials. (iv) Production equipment and facilities. (v) Other supplies and services essential to the... requirements. (5) The economic welfare of the Nation as it is related to our national security, including the impact of foreign competition on the economic welfare of individual domestic industries. In determining...

Training for a Transformed Labor Market.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Lawrence

1983-01-01

The author argues that the American labor market is in the midst of historic transition that will challenge human resource development professionals. Sweeping demographic changes will soon combine with a "Second Industrial Revolution" in technology and a quantum leap in the level and quality of foreign competition to raise sharply the importance…

Foreign Competition: Professors with Degrees from Abroad Are More Productive

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Peter

2009-01-01

This article highlights the findings from two studies about faculty productivity in the United States that were discussed at the American Educational Research Association's annual conference in San Diego this month. The first paper, titled "International Faculty: Experiences of Academic Life and Productivity in U.S. Universities," found…

International Student Flows for University Education and the Bilateral Market Integration of Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Min, Byung S.; Falvey, Rod

2018-01-01

Study at a foreign university can be an important way of developing international human capital. We investigate factors affecting international student flows for higher education and their consequences for bilateral market integration in Australia. Estimation results demonstrate that income, cost competitiveness, migration network effects and…

10 CFR 603.875 - Foreign access to technology and U.S. competitiveness provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS Award Terms Related to Other Administrative Matters Intellectual Property § 603.875... through the use of, any created intellectual property, will be manufactured substantially in the United... property counsel, may waive or modify the requirement of substantial manufacture in the United States at...

Human ecological sources of fishing heritage and its use in and impact on coastal tourism

Treesearch

Steve Jacob; Jeff Witman

2007-01-01

Commercial fishers and fishing-dependent communities are experiencing tremendous challenges. For at least a decade, commercial fishers have seen increasing regulations, rises in operational and capital costs, increasing foreign competition, resource depletion, environmental degradation, changing allocations from commercial to recreational use, and coastal...

Intercultural Business Communication: Prescription for Success.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joyce, Marguerite P. Shane

Cultural differences are very much a part of international trade and global competition and companies which are currently in, or would like to engage in, international trade must be willing to adapt to foreign cultures with a firm understanding of national and individual environmental factors. Successful intercultural communication includes an…

A Language Challenge to the Hispanic American.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nino, Miguel A.

The Hispanic-American, because he or she is bilingual and bicultural, could play an important role in the future economic development of the United States. Declines in steel, automotive, and electronics industries due to foreign competition and market saturation have caused industrial displacement and unemployment. The Maquiladora or Twin Plant…

Between War: A Competitive Global Framework Examining Reconstitution and National Power

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-04-01

reforms, their central leadership is in transition. In Stockholm on Dec 14, 1992, Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev , speaking to 50 nations at the...expeditionary force mirroring a national emphasis on technological 62 superiority and mobility. Further, there is a balance required in the national power

Competing Higher Education Futures in a Globalising World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lefrere, Paul

2007-01-01

Globalisation, together with readier access to capability-enhancing technologies and to technological insights once restricted to a few leading economies, are resulting in greater competition within Europe, and more widely within the developed world, for influence of all kinds (not just influence over the choices that foreign students make about…

Collaboration in the 21st Century.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Axelrod, Valija M.

In the 1980s, interest in collaboration between vocational education and the private sector was stimulated by changes taking place in the economy and society (changes such as a maturing society, the lure of the sunbelt, the computer revolution, declining superpowers, rise of minorities, foreign competition, progress of women, and medical…

Development Administration: Obstacles, Theories and Implications for Planning. IIEP Occasional Papers No. 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodman, Peter W.

In developing countries, public administration is hampered by a number of obstacles foreign to large industrialized nations. Some of these obstacles are shortages of tools and skilled personnel, outmoded organizational structures, political competition, and cultural and attitudinal barriers. The administrative obstacles and their…

The New Face of College Sports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Robin; Wolverton, Brad

2008-01-01

For decades, college coaches in many sports have been recruiting internationally to stock their teams with the best players they can find. American universities in the NCAA's Division I gain competitive advantages with gifted young athletes from overseas, and the proportion of foreign players in many Division I sports has doubled since the…

Assessing the Relationship between Airlines' Maintenance Outsourcing and Aviation Professionals' Job Satisfaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCamey, Rotorua

The current economic and security challenges placed an additional burden on U.S. airlines to provide optimum service at reasonable costs to the flying public. In efforts to stay competitive, U.S. airlines increased foreign-based outsourcing of aircraft major repair and overhaul (MRO) mainly to reduce labor costs and conserve capital. This concentrated focus on outsourcing and restructuring, ignored job dissatisfaction among remaining employees which could reduce and or eliminate an airline's competitiveness. The purpose of this quantitative study was (a) to assess the relationship between increased levels of foreign-based MRO outsourcing and aviation professionals' job satisfaction (Y1); (b) to assess the influence of increased levels of foreign-based outsourcing on MRO control (Y2), MRO error rate (Y3), and MRO technical punctuality (Y4) as perceived by aviation professionals; and (c) to assess the influence of increased levels of foreign-based MRO outsourcing on technical skills (Y5) and morale ( Y6) as perceived by aviation professionals. The survey instrument was utilized based on Paul Spector's Job Satisfaction Questionnaire and MRO specific questions. A random sample of 300 U.S. airline participants was requested via MarketTools to meet required sample size of 110 as determined through a priori power analysis. Study data rendered 198 useable surveys of 213 total responses, and correlation, multiple regression, and ANOVA methods were used to test study hypotheses. The Spearman's rho for (Y 1) was statistically significant, p = .010 and multiple regression was statistically significant, p < .001. A one-way ANOVA indicated participants differed in their opinions of (Y2) through (Y6), Recommendations for future research include contrasting domestic and global MRO providers, and examining global aircraft parts suppliers and aviation technical training.

Do immigrants working illegally reduce the natives' legal employment? Evidence from Italy.

PubMed

Venturini, A

1999-01-01

This paper examines how immigrants working illegally in the shadow economy affect the legal employment of native and foreign workers in the official economy of Italy. The data set used was provided by the Central Statistical Office and includes information regarding the units of labor employed both in official production and in underground production; employment in the latter is subdivided into native workers and foreign workers. Estimates were then made as to how "legal employment" has reacted to changes in "illegal employment", with special reference to the effect of the foreign component of "illegal labor". The results of the cross sector-time series analysis of the demand for legal labor in the Italian economy from 1980 to 1995 showed that the increase of illegal units of labor produces a reduction in the use of legal labor, albeit a very limited one. An analysis by sectors shows that the competitive effects of illegal foreign workers is not homogeneous and is strongest in the agricultural sector while complementarity between the two categories of labor is evident in the nontradable services sector. When comparing the number of effects of illegal foreign and illegal native workers, illegal native workers are lower than the illegal foreign workers. Despite regularization in Italy and the lack of flexibility in the labor market, neither regular nor nonregular foreign workers have begun to openly displace native workers.

Neuroglian-positive plasmatocytes of Manduca sexta and the initiation of hemocyte attachment to foreign surfaces.

PubMed

Nardi, James B; Pilas, Barbara; Bee, Charles Mark; Zhuang, Shufei; Garsha, Karl; Kanost, Michael R

2006-01-01

Observations of hemocyte aggregation on abiotic surfaces suggested that certain plasmatocytes from larvae of Manduca sexta act as foci for hemocyte aggregation. To establish how these particular plasmatocytes form initial attachments to foreign surfaces, they were cultured separately from other selected populations of hemocytes. While all circulating plasmatocytes immunolabel with anti-beta-integrin monoclonal antibody (MAb), only these larger plasmatocytes immunolabel with a MAb to the adhesion protein neuroglian. Neuroglian-negative plasmatocytes and granular cells that have been magnetically segregated from the majority of granular cells adhere to each other but fail to adhere to foreign substrata; by contrast, neuroglian-positive plasmatocytes that segregate with most granular cells adhere firmly to a substratum. Hemocytes form stable aggregates around the large, neuroglian-positive plasmatocytes. However, if neuroglian-positive plasmatocytes are separated from most granular cells, attachment of these plasmatocytes to foreign surfaces is suppressed.

22 CFR 506.2 - Review of positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Review of positions. 506.2 Section 506.2 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM § 506.2 Review of positions... feasibility of converting them to part-time. Among the criteria which may be used when conducting this review...

Physics through the 1990s: An overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The volume details the interaction of physics and society, and presents a short summary of the progress in the major fields of physics and a summary of the other seven volumes of the Physics through the 1990s series, issues and recommended policy changes are described regarding funding, education, industry participation, small-group university research and large facility programs, government agency programs, and computer database needs. Three supplements report in detail on international issues in physics (the US position in the field, international cooperation and competition-especially on large projects, freedom for scientists, free flow of information, and education of foreign students), the education and supply of physicists (the changes in US physics education, employment and manpower, and demographics of the field), and the organization and support of physics (government, university, and industry research; facilities; national laboratories; and decision making). An executive summary contains recommendations for maintaining excellence in physics. A glossary of scientific terms is appended.

Russian Universities: Towards Ambitious Goals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodionov, Dmitriy Grigorievich; Fersman, Natalia Gennadievna; Kushneva, Olga Alexandrovna

2016-01-01

An increased competition in the world market of educational services has brought about new tools to raise the prestige of higher education institutions in the opinion of students and employers. The most important of these tools are the rankings of the best universities in the world, regularly compiled by well-known foreign agencies. The Russian…

Northwestern Pennsylvania Cooperative Demonstration Project (High Technology). Process Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania. Center for Vocational Personnel Preparation.

This process manual explains the procedures followed by a project that provided training for employees of manufacturing industries. It also focuses on the project's attainment of two other objectives: (1) helping industry in the target area become more competitive with foreign rivals; and (2) building a network between industry and education. A…

77 FR 70481 - Fasco, A Division of Regal Beloit Corporation, Including On-Site Leased Workers From Penmac...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-26

... distribution of electric motors, as well as engineering, customer service and information technology (IT... portion of the supply of engineering services (or like or directly competitive services) to a foreign..., Missouri, who were engaged in employment related to the supply of warehousing, distribution, engineering...

Performance evaluation of intensive, pond-based culture systems for catfish production in Mississippi: year one

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Catfish farming is the leading form of aquaculture in the U.S. and has a significant economic impact in the southern states. Increased feed and energy costs, and competition from foreign imports have recently caused catfish farmers to intensify production as a means of improving efficiency and profi...

13 CFR 108.720 - Small Businesses that may be ineligible for financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... law, or inconsistent with free competitive enterprise. (g) Foreign investment—(1) General rule. You... a direct Financing to such Small Businesses would cause any of your investors to incur unrelated...). Your investment of funds in such corporation(s) will not constitute a violation of § 108.730(a). (c...

75 FR 52989 - Specialty Minerals, Inc., Franklin, VA; Notice of Negative Determination Regarding Application...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-30

... Register on July 1, 2010 (75 FR 38142). The workers produced precipitated calcium carbonate used in the... precipitated calcium carbonate from the subject firm to a foreign country; nor was there any increase in imports of articles like or directly competitive with precipitated calcium carbonate produced at the...

The Quest for Global Competitiveness: Promotion of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Universities in Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mok, Ka Ho

2015-01-01

The economy of Singapore has been continuously reforming since its independence. In the late 1980s, the economy of Singapore depended heavily on the vibrant manufacturing sector formed by foreign direct investment and multinational companies. This article critically reviews the policies and reform measures adopted by the Singapore government in…

Standards Setting and Federal Information Policy: The Escrowed Encryption Standard (EES).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gegner, Karen E.; Veeder, Stacy B.

1994-01-01

Examines the standards process used for developing the Escrowed Encryption Standard (EES) and its possible impact on national communication and information policies. Discusses the balance between national security and law enforcement concerns versus privacy rights and economic competitiveness in the area of foreign trade and export controls. (67…

22 CFR 518.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Metric system of measurement. 518.15 Section... ORGANIZATIONS Pre-Award Requirements § 518.15 Metric system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205), declares that the metric system is...

22 CFR 145.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Metric system of measurement. 145.15 Section... system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205) declares that the metric system is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and...

22 CFR 145.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Metric system of measurement. 145.15 Section... system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205) declares that the metric system is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and...

22 CFR 518.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2012-04-01 2009-04-01 true Metric system of measurement. 518.15 Section 518... Pre-Award Requirements § 518.15 Metric system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205), declares that the metric system is the...

22 CFR 145.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Metric system of measurement. 145.15 Section... system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205) declares that the metric system is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and...

22 CFR 145.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Metric system of measurement. 145.15 Section... system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205) declares that the metric system is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and...

22 CFR 145.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Metric system of measurement. 145.15 Section... system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205) declares that the metric system is the preferred measurement system for U.S. trade and...

22 CFR 518.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Metric system of measurement. 518.15 Section 518... Pre-Award Requirements § 518.15 Metric system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205), declares that the metric system is the...

22 CFR 518.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2013-04-01 2009-04-01 true Metric system of measurement. 518.15 Section 518... Pre-Award Requirements § 518.15 Metric system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205), declares that the metric system is the...

22 CFR 518.15 - Metric system of measurement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2011-04-01 2009-04-01 true Metric system of measurement. 518.15 Section 518... Pre-Award Requirements § 518.15 Metric system of measurement. The Metric Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205), declares that the metric system is the...

Competitive strategy for the proposed Texas high speed rail project : a system dynamics/ CLIOS process approach.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-09-10

The Texas High-Speed Rail (HSR) is an unprecedented US project proposed by a private company. This project has many uncertainties because it will be funded only by the private sectors and it is the first US HSR project using foreign technology. The H...

A FLES Handbook: French, Spanish, German, Grades K-6. Third edition, revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Medlin, Dorothy

Classroom activities for foreign language in the elementary school (FLES) are presented. The languages covered are French, Spanish, and German. Suggestions are offered for use of repetition in the classroom for reading and writing, for testing, and for creating lesson plans. Classroom techniques such as dramatics, songs, and team competition are…

15 CFR 705.4 - Criteria for determining effect of imports on the national security.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... assure such growth; and (5) Any other relevant factors. (b) In recognition of the close relation between... imported article under investigation, consider the following: (1) The impact of foreign competition on the... relevant factors that are causing or will cause a weakening of our national economy. ...

15 CFR 705.4 - Criteria for determining effect of imports on the national security.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... assure such growth; and (5) Any other relevant factors. (b) In recognition of the close relation between... imported article under investigation, consider the following: (1) The impact of foreign competition on the... relevant factors that are causing or will cause a weakening of our national economy. ...

75 FR 69469 - Supermedia, LLC, Formerly Known as Idearc Media, LLC, a Subsidiary of Supermedia Information...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-12

... Known as Idearc Media, LLC, a Subsidiary of Supermedia Information Services, LLC, Troy, NY; Notice of... the findings that worker separations are not attributable to increased imports of articles like or directly competitive with telephone directories or a shift/acquisition of these articles to a foreign...

Exploring research priorities for the North American hardwood industry

Treesearch

David Brinberg; Earl Kline; Delton Alderman; Philip Araman; Ed Cesa; Steve Milauskas; Tom Walthousen; Jan Wiedenbeck

2008-01-01

With the increase of globalization, the North American hardwood industry is facing many challenges to remain competitive and sustainable, facing drastic changes in the areas of labor, land, manufacturing, markets and marketing, and supply chain. The hardwood industry is especially vulnerable, with the influx of foreign manufacturers and suppliers with greater natural...

Taiwan's Responses to Globalisation: Internationalisation and Questing for World Class Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Song, Mei-Mei; Tai, Hsiou-Hsia

2007-01-01

In recent years, Taiwan has demonstrated strong policy change to counteract the potential threats brought upon by globalisation such as the opening of the higher education market to a foreign trade partner and increasing competition from neighbouring countries. In light of these challenges, the Taiwanese government launched a series of…

Playing to Learn: A Review of Physical Games in Second Language Acquisition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomlinson, Brian; Masuhara, Hitomi

2009-01-01

This article focuses on the potential of competitive games involving physical movement to facilitate the acquisition of a second or foreign language and argues that such activities can promote educational development too. It first provides a critical overview of the literature on physical games in language learning. Then, it outlines our…

46 CFR 282.11 - Ranking of flags.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 8 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Ranking of flags. 282.11 Section 282.11 Shipping... COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES Foreign-Flag Competition § 282.11 Ranking of flags. The operators under each... priority of costs which are representative of the flag. For liner cargo vessels, the ranking of operators...

Grass Roots' Voices on the CLIL Implementation in Tertiary Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fitriani, Ika

2016-01-01

Twenty-first Century era has brought great challenges in Indonesian education system, i.e. the increasing demand for the students to have foreign language skills to succeed in global world competition. Particularly in the higher education, the awareness of learning English leads some lecturers in Accounting Department Faculty of Economics State…

48 CFR 225.7008 - Waiver of restrictions of 10 U.S.C. 2534.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) (USD(AT&L)), without power of delegation, may...) United States producers of the item would not be jeopardized by competition from a foreign country, and that country does not discriminate against defense items produced in the United States to a greater...

Issues and Challenges for Small Countries in Attracting and Hosting International Students: The Case of Lithuania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Urbanovic, Jolanta; Wilkins, Stephen; Huisman, Jeroen

2016-01-01

The spread of the neo-liberal ideology internationally has encouraged increased marketisation of higher education systems right around the world. With marketisation promoting competition, efficiency and revenue generation, many countries have begun to recruit more foreign students. Higher education has moved towards becoming a profitable commodity…

The Influence of Nationalistic Cultural Behavior in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borkovich, Debra J.

2012-01-01

In the early 21st century of global, technological, and highly competitive national economies, foreign ownership of United States companies is more prevalent than ever. Over fifty years of cultural business studies reflect that learning from other cultures is one of the most effective ways of getting new ideas for management, organization,…

A Challenging High School Education for All

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

US Department of Education, 2006

2006-01-01

High school is the training ground for college and work. Today, most good jobs require a college education. The way for children to get ready for college is to take challenging courses. The level of math, science and foreign language education students receive will be important for American global competitiveness and national security. In…

77 FR 71593 - Robert Bosch GmbH; Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Orders To Aid Public Comment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-03

... state identification number or foreign country equivalent, passport number, financial account number, or... for licensing certain patents which may be used in the implementation of two industry standards... elimination of the direct competition between Robinair and Bosch would allow the combined entity to exercise...

Outsourcing of IT Services: Studies on Diffusion and New Theoretical Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mann, Arti

2012-01-01

Information technology (IT) outsourcing, including foreign or offshore outsourcing, has been steadily growing over the last two decades. This growth in IT outsourcing has led to the development of different hubs of services across nations, and has resulted in increased competition among service providers. Firms have been using IT outsourcing to…

Privatization and environmental pollution in an international mixed Cournot model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, Fernanda A.

2016-06-01

In this paper, we consider a competition between a domestic public firm and a foreign private firm, supposing that the production processes generates environmental pollution. Introducing the residents' environmental preference into the public firm's objective function, we analyse its economic impacts. We also analyse the economic impacts of the privatization.

Cooperative Games and Children's Positive Behaviors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Finlinson, Abbie Reynolds; Austin, Ann M. Berghout; Pfister, Roxane

2000-01-01

Examined impact of cooperative and competitive games on 4-year-olds' behavior over 6 weeks. Found that more positive behaviors were observed during cooperative games than competitive games, and more negative behaviors were observed during competitive games, but only during the first week of competitive games. Found that teachers' warmth and…

17 CFR 151.8 - Foreign boards of trade.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Foreign boards of trade. 151.8... LIMITS FOR FUTURES AND SWAPS § 151.8 Foreign boards of trade. The aggregate position limits in § 151.4... a foreign board of trade, provided that: (a) Such Referenced Contracts settle against any price...

22 CFR 501.1 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Policy. 501.1 Section 501.1 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS § 501.1 Policy. It is the policy of the Broadcasting Board of Governors that Foreign Service Officers occupy positions in which there is a need and...

22 CFR 501.1 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Policy. 501.1 Section 501.1 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS § 501.1 Policy. It is the policy of the Broadcasting Board of Governors that Foreign Service Officers occupy positions in which there is a need and...

Processing changes when listening to foreign-accented speech

PubMed Central

Romero-Rivas, Carlos; Martin, Clara D.; Costa, Albert

2015-01-01

This study investigates the mechanisms responsible for fast changes in processing foreign-accented speech. Event Related brain Potentials (ERPs) were obtained while native speakers of Spanish listened to native and foreign-accented speakers of Spanish. We observed a less positive P200 component for foreign-accented speech relative to native speech comprehension. This suggests that the extraction of spectral information and other important acoustic features was hampered during foreign-accented speech comprehension. However, the amplitude of the N400 component for foreign-accented speech comprehension decreased across the experiment, suggesting the use of a higher level, lexical mechanism. Furthermore, during native speech comprehension, semantic violations in the critical words elicited an N400 effect followed by a late positivity. During foreign-accented speech comprehension, semantic violations only elicited an N400 effect. Overall, our results suggest that, despite a lack of improvement in phonetic discrimination, native listeners experience changes at lexical-semantic levels of processing after brief exposure to foreign-accented speech. Moreover, these results suggest that lexical access, semantic integration and linguistic re-analysis processes are permeable to external factors, such as the accent of the speaker. PMID:25859209

A Qualitative Research on the Teaching Strategies and Class Applications of the High School Teachers Who Teach English in Turkey as a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gocer, Ali

2010-01-01

Nowadays, whichever position the individuals work in, they feel the need to learn a foreign language even a second foreign language. In parallel with the need for a foreign language, the importance of the foreign language teaching increases. In language teaching, conditions such as the facilities of the environment, learner's features, the social…

Washington's energy mess: after ten years of Federal meddling in the oil business, we're over a barrel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sawyer, J.

1980-09-01

New regulations in response to a 1970 call for decontrolling the petroleum industry encouraged foreign production and imports while discouraging domestic exploration. The oil industry was strong enough to profit from government programs, but not enough to prevent pervasive interference in its operations and investments. The result has been supply disruptions and more dependence on foreign oil. The price control system operating during the 1970s had no provision for inflation and was biased toward refineries having access to domestic crude oil. This led to an entitlements program that modified competition further. A review of these and other programs, such asmore » the mandatory crude-oil buy/sell program, shows how they altered the relationships between suppliers and buyers. The 1980 Windfall Profit Tax continues a decade of favoring foreign production, reflecting public aversion to true decontrol, and a public addiction to Federal intervention. (DCK)« less

External referencing and pharmaceutical price negotiation.

PubMed

Garcia Mariñoso, Begoña; Jelovac, Izabela; Olivella, Pau

2011-06-01

External referencing (ER) imposes a price cap for pharmaceuticals, based on prices of identical or comparable products in foreign countries. Suppose a foreign country (F) negotiates prices with a pharmaceutical firm, whereas a home country (H) can either negotiate prices independently or implement ER, based on the foreign price. We show that country H prefers ER if copayments in H are relatively high. This preference is reinforced when H's population is small. Irrespective of relative country sizes, ER by country H harms country F. Our model is inspired by the wide European experience with this cost-containment policy. Namely, in Europe, drug authorization and price negotiations are carried out by separate agencies. We confirm our main results in two extensions. The first one allows for therapeutic competition between drugs. In the second one, drug authorization and price negotiation take place in a single agency. 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

5 CFR 352.805 - Position to which entitled on reemployment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... in the same competitive level; or (iii) Another position for which otherwise qualified at the same grade or level and in the same competitive area. (2) The employing agency determines under paragraph (a... same competitive area at the grade or level as the position last held, is entitled, if the employee...

5 CFR 352.805 - Position to which entitled on reemployment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... in the same competitive level; or (iii) Another position for which otherwise qualified at the same grade or level and in the same competitive area. (2) The employing agency determines under paragraph (a... same competitive area at the grade or level as the position last held, is entitled, if the employee...

Competition Field Perceptions of Table-tennis Athletes and their Performance

PubMed Central

Liu, Ying-Chieh; Wang, Ming-Yueh; Hsu, Chi-Yueh

2018-01-01

Abstract The distinction between positive and negative perceptions is fundamental in perception models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between field perceptions of table tennis players and the outcome (net result) during the matches in a competition. Experimental data were collected from 10 elite table tennis players and analysed. The results addressed the following three competition field perceptions: (1) before the service, the player’s positive perceptions had significant effect on the positive outcome (winning rate) of that service; (2) the perception after the net result of the previous service increased the positive outcome of the next service, and (3) the player’s positive/negative perception during the matches affected the win/loss outcome of that competition. In conclusion, the player’s positive perceptions enhanced their winning rate during table tennis competitions. Therefore, during the training program, coaches need to develop positive perceptions and strengthen the psychological quality of table tennis players. PMID:29599876

Procurement of construction services: a case study on bidding competition in Singapore public sector contracts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oo, B. L.; Yan, Y.

2018-04-01

There are many variables that public clients need to consider in their bidding procedure to enhance efficiency in their procurement for construction services. This paper focusses on the competitive bidding process for public sector procurement of construction services in Singapore. A distinctive feature of the Singapore government competitive bidding process is that full bidding feedback information is released to all competing bidders (and public). The specific objectives are: (i) to examine the degree of competition in the construction markets; and (ii) to examine the bidding performance of competing bidders. Based on a collection of bidding data for a 15-month period, the results show the market environment of the Singapore public sector construction contracting is highly competitive with long bidder lists. In selection of contractors, only 50% of the contracts were awarded to lowest bidders. The results also show that the competing contractors can be broadly classified into three groups based on their bidding performance in terms of number of bidding attempts, bidding success rate and bidding competitiveness. These results provide a useful insight into the bidding competition in the Singapore public sector construction contracting, especially to new market entrants and foreign contractors who want to bid for jobs in Singapore.

International Professional Positions - Adjusting to the Japanese Culture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friend, Megan

2015-04-01

Starting a new professional position in a foreign country offers some exciting and wonderful new prospects, as well as many challenging ones. Unique experiences, the opportunity to learn about and become intimately familiar with a new culture, the chance to learn a new language, and, of course, the opportunity to pursue research opportunities not available in the US, are all positive aspects of deciding to join a foreign research institute. Adjusting to a new culture, and particularly a new workplace culture, can be very difficult, however. I will relay my experiences as a postdoc, and then an assistant professor, at one of the leading research institutes in Japan. Having lived and worked there for over two and a half years, I have discovered both the positive (ramen and ``onsen'' - outdoor public bath) and negative (``karoushi'' - death from overwork) sides of this major life decision. I hope to answer questions prospective foreign researchers may have about the difficult and very rewarding prospect of joining a foreign research institute.

Foreign Investment in the U.S.: Costs and Benefits. Headline Series 249.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zupnick, Elliot

The document discusses the implications and positive and negative aspects of foreign direct investment in the United States. The objective is to determine whether a restrictive U.S. policy as it relates to foreign direct investment in the United States is desirable. It is presented in five chapters. Chapter I defines foreign direct investment…

The contradiction of space: Oil, imperialism and the accumulation of capital

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Labban, Mazen

This essay examines the relations between the production of oil and gas, the global expansion of capital and the territorial control and division of geographical space. The main argument is that the historical expansion of capital, and the subsequent inter-capitalist competition, has produced and has come to depend on a geographical contradiction between an open and integrated world economy and its division into exclusive economic territories. This contradiction is the result of the contradiction between the conditions for accumulation for individual (national) capitals and the conditions for accumulation for capital as a whole. The objective natural conditions of accumulation are of specific importance, and they gain more importance as capital accumulation comes to rely on more intensive and expansive exploitation of natural resources---specifically crucial resources such as oil and gas. The development of productivity and the concentration of capital cause the rates of profit to decline; the exploitation of natural resources at an increasing scale results from the increase in the mass of raw material required to counter the tendency of the rate of profit ton fall and to resume the accumulation of capital at an expanded scale. This is common to all branches of industry, including the extractive industry---the competition for natural resources is ultimately determined by the competition for increasing, or at least maintaining, the profitability of competing capitals. The contemporary competition among US, Japanese, Indian, Chinese and Western European transnational oil and gas companies for investment in the oil and gas industry of Russia and Iran is examined against the ongoing competition among the US, Russia, China and India for the geopolitical control of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. This process is a development of the inter-imperialist competition that began in the late nineteenth century and which resumed in full force since the 1980s after being concealed for a while under the illusions of the Cold War. Certainly, oil and gas play an important part in this competition---particularly as domains for foreign capital investment---but the competition in Central Asia is irreducible to "geopolitics of oil". Indeed, geopolitical competition itself in this context is part of a broader geoeconomic globalization---one means in the struggle among rivals for stronger positions in the world economy. This renewed inter-imperialist rivalry, not unlike its nineteenth century precursor that lasted until the Second World War, is essentially competition among capitals at different stages of development, only that the objects of the inter-imperialist struggles of past have become active participants in the competition. In Asia, the development of China, India and Southeast Asia as major global economic competitors has only made the competition more global and more intense. Access to oil and gas resources is crucial for determining the course and outcome of the competition among developed and developing economies---this essay is an attempt at determining why should that be the case.

JAL/JAS Integration: Toward a New Era of Competition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kanenari, Hideyuki

2003-01-01

On October 2, 2002, JAL and JAS established a new holding company after obtaining the necessary approval from the government bodies. Full integration is planned to take place in April 2004. This paper will primarily explain how JAL/JAS integration will enable JAL to compete effectively with ANA, the giant in the domestic market, and how it will reinforce JAL's competitiveness through further cost reduction and revenue enhancement. In addition, the paper will explain how the keener domestic competition brought about by this integration could resolve the following two issues for the first time in the Japanese aviation history. Those two issues are: (1) providing better service to domestic customers, and (2) making Japanese airlines more competitive against foreign airlines in the international market. As a result, the paper will argue that such an integration, a logical outcome of the post-war civil aviation history of Japan, will significantly benefit customers, Japanese aviation industry and Japanese society as a whole.

The Corporate Culture Climate at the Crossroads: Back to the Future.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meussling, Vonne

In an era of deregulation, technology, foreign competition, and merger mania, corporations are forced to respond to a changing corporate culture climate. Traditionally based on a top-down structure, corporate culture--loosely defined as the sum total of how employees and management think, feel, act, or do not act--is changing toward a structure in…

76 FR 64417 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-18

.... Competitive market makers may request appointments to options classes traded on the Exchange, subject to the... foreign currency options. (1) On a quarterly basis, the Exchange shall assign points to each options class... whenever, in the Exchange's judgment, the interests of a fair and orderly market are best served by such...

75 FR 61624 - Promotion of Development, Reduction of Royalty Rates for Stripper Well and Heavy Oil Properties

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-06

...-241A.00] RIN 1004-AE04 Promotion of Development, Reduction of Royalty Rates for Stripper Well and Heavy... economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or..., investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based...

76 FR 39350 - Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System, Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-06

..., promotion of the safety of all users of those lands, and minimization of conflicts among the various uses of... affect in a material way the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or..., productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises...

International Business: Stumbling Through the Communications Corridor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waltz, Loren E.

The increasing need for employees of U.S. businesses to speak the language of the customer is explored. It is shown that the need for foreign language skills in business far exceeds the supply and continues to increase. In the past, the detrimental impact of lack of language skills in U.S. business has been masked by the competitive advantage…

An Effective Model of Developing Teacher Leaders in STEM Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sublette, Heidi

2013-01-01

In the last 5 years, industries have begun to recognize a growing gap in the production of college graduates in areas of STEM. Researchers in various industries believe this gap will create a significant loss of competitive edge in the STEM fields, which will leave the United States pursuing STEM graduates from foreign countries and may ultimately…

Vocational Education and the Work Ethic in a Changing Workplace. ERIC Digest No. 78.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naylor, Michele

Studies have shown that employers have traditionally agreed on the behaviors and attitudes they expect from employees and on the security and benefits that they are willing to provide in return. Various factors, including rapid technological advancement and increased foreign competition, have changed this. Today's workers generally have less job…

Cross-Cultural Knowledge Management of University Professors in India

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rajasekhar, Mamilla

2005-01-01

To be consistent with WTO promulgations at Cancun 2003 meet, India as one of the founding members has made open to foreign and private universities to enter into India to do trade in higher education services from January, 2005 onwards. To withstand this imminent competition, the author in this survey based research article tries to suggest…

Oil dependence and Thai foreign-policy behavior during the Arab-Israeli war of October 1973

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keophumihae, S.

1985-01-01

The purpose of this study is to explain Thai foreign-policy behavior toward the Arab-Israeli conflict during the Arab oil embargo of 1973-1974 in the wake of the October 1973 War. The major hypothesis is that Thai foreign policy behavior shifted from a neutral to a pro-Arab position after the Arab oil embargo. This shift was motivated by Thai oil-import dependence on OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries). Oil has assumed an economic as well as a political dimension. Therefore, its political influence over the oil-dependent states cannot be dismissed. Thai foreign-policy behavior in the Arab-Israeli conflict is analyzed throughmore » the use of the dependence approach, which contends that external reliance is a potent factor for explaining behavior of actors. Thailand's foreign-policy stand is first delineated through the use of documents containing policy statements by Thai delegates to the United Nations. It was found that although Thai public policy statements were never bluntly anti-Israel, they moved from between neutrality before the oil crisis to a pro-Arab position after the oil crisis of 1973-1974. This shift of Thailand's foreign policy behavior position was then measured against its UN voting records. Results of the voting analysis indicated that the shifting of Thai foreign policy behavior during the October war was motivated by Thailand's oil-import dependence.« less

STS pricing policy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, C. M.; Stone, B.

1982-01-01

In 1977 NASA published Shuttle Reimbursement Policies for Civil U.S. Government, DOD and Commercial and Foreign Users. These policies were based on the principle of total cost recovery over a period of time with a fixed flat price for initial period to time to enhance transition. This fixed period was to be followed with annual adjustments thereafter, NASA is establishing a new price for 1986 and beyond. In order to recover costs, that price must be higher than the initial fixed price through FY 1985. NASA intends to remain competitive. Competitive posture includes not only price, but other factors such as assured launch, reliability, and unique services. NASA's pricing policy considers all these factors.

Partnering at the National Laboratories: Catalysis as a Case Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

JACKSON,NANCY B.

1999-09-14

The role of the national laboratories, particularly the defense program laboratories, since the end of the cold war, has been a topic of continuing debate. The relationship of national laboratories to industry spurred debate which ranged from designating the labs as instrumental to maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness to concern over the perception of corporate welfare to questions regarding the industrial globalization and the possibility of U.S. taxpayer dollars supporting foreign entities. Less debated, but equally important, has been the national laboratories' potential competition with academia for federal research dollars and discussions detailing the role of each in the national researchmore » enterprise.« less

Briefing book: Major projects in the upstream, downstream, petrochemical and power sectors of Vietnam. Final definitional mission report. Export trade information

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1998-04-06

The purpose of the briefing book is to provide project information to U.S. Businesses who seek cooperative partnerships with Vietnamese officials on a number of major development projects. The report is divided into the following sections: (1) Executive Summary; (2) Overview of Vietnam; (3) Overview of the Upstream Sector; (4) Overview of the Downstream Sector; (5) Overview of the Petrochemical Sector; (6) Overview of the Electric Energy Sector; (7) Project Development Processes; (8) Project Financing; (9) Foreign Competition and U.S. Competitiveness; (10) Project Profiles; (11) Key Contracts; (12) U.S. Commercial Service.

31 CFR 128.23 - Special survey reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Special survey reports. 128.23... Reports on Foreign Currency Positions § 128.23 Special survey reports. The Secretary may prescribe special survey reports with respect to foreign exchange positions and related information at such times as the...

31 CFR 128.23 - Special survey reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Special survey reports. 128.23... Reports on Foreign Currency Positions § 128.23 Special survey reports. The Secretary may prescribe special survey reports with respect to foreign exchange positions and related information at such times as the...

31 CFR 128.23 - Special survey reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Special survey reports. 128.23... Reports on Foreign Currency Positions § 128.23 Special survey reports. The Secretary may prescribe special survey reports with respect to foreign exchange positions and related information at such times as the...

31 CFR 128.23 - Special survey reports.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Special survey reports. 128.23... Reports on Foreign Currency Positions § 128.23 Special survey reports. The Secretary may prescribe special survey reports with respect to foreign exchange positions and related information at such times as the...

5 CFR 300.603 - Coverage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Schedule position in the competitive service by any individual who within the previous 52 weeks held a General Schedule position under nontemporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service in the... requirements, such as qualification standards: (1) Appointment based on selection from a competitive...

5 CFR 330.205 - Employment restrictions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) The restrictions in paragraph (b) of this section apply to the filling of all competitive service... permanent or temporary competitive service position by: (1) A new appointment, unless the individual...) Detail or position change (promotion, demotion, reassignment); or (ii) Conversion to competitive...

5 CFR 330.205 - Employment restrictions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) The restrictions in paragraph (b) of this section apply to the filling of all competitive service... permanent or temporary competitive service position by: (1) A new appointment, unless the individual...) Detail or position change (promotion, demotion, reassignment); or (ii) Conversion to competitive...

5 CFR 319.402 - Scientific and professional positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... REGULATIONS EMPLOYMENT IN SENIOR-LEVEL AND SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS Recruitment and Examination § 319.402 Scientific and professional positions. (a) ST positions are filled without competitive... in applicable appropriations acts. (c) ST employees acquire competitive status immediately upon...

75 FR 8189 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-23

... before March 25, 2010 to be assured of consideration. Domestic Finance International Portfolio Investment... information on foreign exchange contracts purchased and sold; foreign exchange futures purchased and sold... timely information on foreign exchange spot, forward and futures purchased and sold; net options position...

Cross-Mating Compatibility and Competitiveness among Aedes albopictus Strains from Distinct Geographic Origins - Implications for Future Application of SIT Programs in the South West Indian Ocean Islands.

PubMed

Damiens, David; Lebon, Cyrille; Wilkinson, David A; Dijoux-Millet, Damien; Le Goff, Gilbert; Bheecarry, Ambicadutt; Gouagna, Louis Clément

2016-01-01

The production of large numbers of males needed for a sustainable sterile insect technique (SIT) control program requires significant developmental and operational costs. This may constitute a significant economic barrier to the installation of large scale rearing facilities in countries that are undergoing a transition from being largely dependent on insecticide use to be in a position to integrate the SIT against Aedes albopictus. Alternative options available for those countries could be to rely on outsourcing of sterile males from a foreign supplier, or for one centralised facility to produce mosquitoes for several countries, thus increasing the efficiency of the mass-rearing effort. However, demonstration of strain compatibility is a prerequisite for the export of mosquitoes for transborder SIT applications. Here, we compared mating compatibility among Ae. albopictus populations originating from three islands of the South Western Indian Ocean, and assessed both insemination rates and egg fertility in all possible cross-mating combinations. Furthermore, competitiveness between irradiated and non-irradiated males from the three studied strains, and the subsequent effect on female fertility were also examined. Although morphometric analysis of wing shapes suggested phenoptypic differences between Ae. albopictus strains, perfect reproductive compatibility between them was observed. Furthermore, irradiated males from the different islands demonstrated similar levels of competitiveness and induced sterility when confronted with fertile males from any of the other island populations tested. In conclusion, despite the evidence of inter-strain differences based on male wing morphology, collectively, our results provide a new set of expectations for the use of a single candidate strain of mass-reared sterile males for area-wide scale application of SIT against Ae. albopictus populations in different islands across the South Western Indian Ocean. Cross-mating competitiveness tests such as those applied here are necessary to assess the quality of mass reared strains for the trans-border application of sterile male release programs.

Cross-Mating Compatibility and Competitiveness among Aedes albopictus Strains from Distinct Geographic Origins - Implications for Future Application of SIT Programs in the South West Indian Ocean Islands

PubMed Central

Damiens, David; Lebon, Cyrille; Wilkinson, David A.; Dijoux-Millet, Damien; Le Goff, Gilbert; Bheecarry, Ambicadutt; Gouagna, Louis Clément

2016-01-01

The production of large numbers of males needed for a sustainable sterile insect technique (SIT) control program requires significant developmental and operational costs. This may constitute a significant economic barrier to the installation of large scale rearing facilities in countries that are undergoing a transition from being largely dependent on insecticide use to be in a position to integrate the SIT against Aedes albopictus. Alternative options available for those countries could be to rely on outsourcing of sterile males from a foreign supplier, or for one centralised facility to produce mosquitoes for several countries, thus increasing the efficiency of the mass-rearing effort. However, demonstration of strain compatibility is a prerequisite for the export of mosquitoes for transborder SIT applications. Here, we compared mating compatibility among Ae. albopictus populations originating from three islands of the South Western Indian Ocean, and assessed both insemination rates and egg fertility in all possible cross-mating combinations. Furthermore, competitiveness between irradiated and non-irradiated males from the three studied strains, and the subsequent effect on female fertility were also examined. Although morphometric analysis of wing shapes suggested phenoptypic differences between Ae. albopictus strains, perfect reproductive compatibility between them was observed. Furthermore, irradiated males from the different islands demonstrated similar levels of competitiveness and induced sterility when confronted with fertile males from any of the other island populations tested. In conclusion, despite the evidence of inter-strain differences based on male wing morphology, collectively, our results provide a new set of expectations for the use of a single candidate strain of mass-reared sterile males for area-wide scale application of SIT against Ae. albopictus populations in different islands across the South Western Indian Ocean. Cross-mating competitiveness tests such as those applied here are necessary to assess the quality of mass reared strains for the trans-border application of sterile male release programs. PMID:27806056

12 CFR 956.3 - Prohibited investments and prudential rules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... section 12(b) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1432(b)). (b) Foreign currency or commodity positions prohibited. A Bank may not take a position in any commodity or foreign currency. A Bank may participate in consolidated obligations denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars or linked to equity or commodity...

Imported Talents: Demographic Characteristics, Achievement and Job Satisfaction of Foreign Born Full Time Faculty in Four-Year American Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Zeng; Pearce, Richard; Wang, Weirong

2009-01-01

The information-based economy globalizes the competition for talents and has changed the nature of international migration in recent decades. The rise of America has historically benefited from imported talents, and higher education has played a crucial role. By using 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF04), this research tries to…

Intercultural Competency at the Geographic Combatant Command Level

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-04

side. Individualistic cultures value self-reliance and initiative. Competition is generally accepted and expected. Collectivistic cultures tend to...investors. A significant historic example of collectivistic culture is the Japanese. During World War II, their emphasis was on the empire. This...to incorporate available intercultural competency assets at the GCC level to leverage existing cultural expertise: Foreign Area Officers (FAOs), DoD

East Europe Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-02-06

precisely the less favorable variant preventing extrication from foreign indebtedness. In addition to the trend toward stagnation of growth rate...another alarming economic indicator is precisely the decline in export capabilities on the sector most important to us, namely, in the sales of Polish...market economy, become a huge exporter with a tremendous competitive strength precisely on the markets on which we still have something to say. And

77 FR 9969 - Affinity Express, Inc., a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of LiveIT Investment, Ltd, a Member of the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-21

...' firm supplies print and advertising services. The revised notice was published in the Federal Register... from a foreign country the supply of services that is like or directly competitive to the printing and advertising services supplied by the workers of the subject firm. The amended notice applicable to TA-W-80,286...

Private Relations' Last Stand: U.S. Steel vs. the U.S.A..

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olasky, Marvin N.

1987-01-01

Discusses how (1) the "private relations" that existed between U.S. Steel and the government between 1930 and 1960 ended in steel crisis of 1962 and (2) this policy was viewed as inadequate by both an angry public and the Kennedy Administration when the steel industry tried to match foreign competition on quality and prices by raising…

76 FR 21034 - Dex One, et al.; Amended Certification Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-14

... firm acquiring from a foreign country services like or directly competitive with the services supplied..., Including On-Site Leased Workers of Advantage XPO, Fort Myers, Maitland, and Ocala, FL TA-W-75,172A Dex One... Advantage XPO, Arlington Heights, Chicago, Lombard, Springfield, and Tinley Park, IL TA-W-75,172B Dex One...

Geothermal Program Review XIV: proceedings. Keeping Geothermal Energy Competitive in Foreign and Domestic Markets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

The U.S. Department of Energy`s Office of Geothermal Technologies conducted its annual Program Review XIV in Berkeley, April 8-10, 1996. The geothermal community came together for an in-depth review of the federally-sponsored geothermal research and development program. This year`s theme focused on ``Keeping Geothermal Energy Competitive in Foreign and Domestic Markets.`` This annual conference is designed to promote technology transfer by bringing together DOE-sponsored researchers; utility representatives; geothermal developers; equipment and service suppliers; representatives from local, state, and federal agencies; and others with an interest in geothermal energy. Program Review XIV consisted of eight sessions chaired by industry representatives. Introductorymore » and overview remarks were presented during every session followed by detailed reports on specific DOE-funded research projects. The progress of R&D projects over the past year and plans for future activities were discussed. The government-industry partnership continues to strengthen -- its success, achievements over the past twenty years, and its future direction were highlighted throughout the conference. The comments received from the conference evaluation forms are published in this year`s proceedings. Individual papers have been processed for inclusion in the Energy Science and Technology Database.« less

Method and system for sensing and identifying foreign particles in a gaseous environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Sang H. (Inventor); Park, Yeonjoon (Inventor)

2008-01-01

An optical method and system sense and identify a foreign particle in a gaseous environment. A light source generates light. An electrically-conductive sheet has an array of holes formed through the sheet. Each hole has a diameter that is less than one quarter of the light's wavelength. The sheet is positioned relative to the light source such that the light is incident on one face of the sheet. An optical detector is positioned adjacent the sheet's opposing face and is spaced apart therefrom such that a gaseous environment is adapted to be disposed there between. Alterations in the light pattern detected by the optical detector indicate the presence of a foreign particle in the holes or on the sheet, while a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) signature associated with the foreign particle indicates the identity of the foreign particle.

Metacognitive Beliefs and Strategies in Learning Chinese as a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Jinghui; Spencer, Ken; Xing, Minjie

2009-01-01

The study investigates the effects of second-year university students' metacognitive beliefs and strategies on learning Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL). The analysis shows that metacognitive beliefs, which identify students who are confident about their ability to learn a foreign language, are positively associated with students' CFL…

Opportunities in Foreign Language Careers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huebener, Theodore

This guide to careers requiring knowledge of a foreign language details a wide range of positions. It begins with a general survey of the field of foreign languages--historical background, need for trained personnel, attributes necessary for success, comments of business and professional people. Educational preparation in high school, college, and…

Market assessment of photovoltaic power systems for agricultural applications in Colombia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steigelmann, W.; Neyeloff, S.

1981-01-01

The market potential for photovoltaic systems in the agricultural sector of Colombia is assessed. Consideration was given to over twenty specific livestock production, crop production, and rural services applications requiring less than 15 kW of power without backup power. Analysis revealed that near-term potential exists for photovoltaic technology in applications in coffee depulging, cattle watering, rural domestic users, rural water supply and small irrigation, rural telephones, rural health posts, and vaccine refrigeration. Market size would be in the 1200 to 2500 kWp range in the 1981 to 86 timeframe. Positive factors influencing the market size include a lack of electrical services, potential for developing the Llanos Orientales Territory, high fuel costs in remote areas, balance of system availability, the presence of wealthy land owners, and a large government-sponsored contract for photovoltaic (PV)-powered rural telephone systems. The anticipated eligibility of photovoltaic equipment for loans would be a further positive factor in market potential. Important negative factors include relatively inexpensive energy in developed locations, reliance on hydropower, lack of familiarity with PV equipment, a lack of financing, and established foreign competition in PV technology. Recommendations to American PV manufacturers attempting to develop the Colombian market are given.

Market assessment of photovoltaic power systems for agricultural applications in Colombia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steigelmann, W.; Neyeloff, S.

1981-11-01

The market potential for photovoltaic systems in the agricultural sector of Colombia is assessed. Consideration was given to over twenty specific livestock production, crop production, and rural services applications requiring less than 15 kW of power without backup power. Analysis revealed that near-term potential exists for photovoltaic technology in applications in coffee depulging, cattle watering, rural domestic users, rural water supply and small irrigation, rural telephones, rural health posts, and vaccine refrigeration. Market size would be in the 1200 to 2500 kWp range in the 1981 to 86 timeframe. Positive factors influencing the market size include a lack of electrical services, potential for developing the Llanos Orientales Territory, high fuel costs in remote areas, balance of system availability, the presence of wealthy land owners, and a large government-sponsored contract for photovoltaic (PV)-powered rural telephone systems. The anticipated eligibility of photovoltaic equipment for loans would be a further positive factor in market potential. Important negative factors include relatively inexpensive energy in developed locations, reliance on hydropower, lack of familiarity with PV equipment, a lack of financing, and established foreign competition in PV technology. Recommendations to American PV manufacturers attempting to develop the Colombian market are given.

China, the United States, and competition for resources that enable emerging technologies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gulley, Andrew L.; Nassar, Nedal T.; Xun, Sean

2018-01-01

Historically, resource conflicts have often centered on fuel minerals (particularly oil). Future resource conflicts may, however, focus more on competition for nonfuel minerals that enable emerging technologies. Whether it is rhenium in jet engines, indium in flat panel displays, or gallium in smart phones, obscure elements empower smarter, smaller, and faster technologies, and nations seek stable supplies of these and other nonfuel minerals for their industries. No nation has all of the resources it needs domestically. International trade may lead to international competition for these resources if supplies are deemed at risk or insufficient to satisfy growing demand, especially for minerals used in technologies important to economic development and national security. Here, we compare the net import reliance of China and the United States to inform mineral resource competition and foreign supply risk. Our analysis indicates that China relies on imports for over half of its consumption for 19 of 42 nonfuel minerals, compared with 24 for the United States—11 of which are common to both. It is for these 11 nonfuel minerals that competition between the United States and China may become the most contentious, especially for those with highly concentrated production that prove irreplaceable in pivotal emerging technologies.

Cost and performance of coal-based energy in Brazil

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Temchin, J.; DeLallo, M.R.

1998-07-01

As part of the US Department of Energy's (DOE) efforts to establish the strategic benefits of Clean Coal Technologies (CCT), there is a need to evaluate the specific market potential where coal is a viable option. One such market is Brazil, where significant growth in economic development requires innovative and reliable technologies to support the use of domestic coal. While coal is Brazil's most abundant and economic fossil energy resource, it is presently under utilized in the production of electrical power. This report presents conceptual design for pulverized coal (PC) and circulating fluidized-bed combustion (CFBC) options with resulting capital, operatingmore » and financial parameters based on Brazil application conditions. Recent PC and CFBC plant capital costs have dropped with competition in the generation market and have established a competitive position in power generation. Key issues addressed in this study include: Application of market based design approach for FBC and PC, which is competitive within the current domestic, and international power generation markets. Design, fabrication, purchase, and construction methods which reduce capital investment while maintaining equipment quality and plant availability. Impact on coast and performance from application of Brazilian coals, foreign trade and tax policies, construction logistics, and labor requirements. Nominal production values of 200 MWe and 400 MWe were selected for the CFBC power plant and 400 MWe for the PC. The 400 MWe size was chosen to be consistent with the two largest Brazilian PC units. Fluidized bed technology, with limited experience in single units over 200 MW, would consist of two 200 MWe circulating fluidized bed boilers supplying steam to one steam turbine for the 400 MWe capacity. A 200 MWe capacity unit was also developed for CFBC option to support opportunities in re-powering and where specific site or other infrastructure constraints limit production.« less

Infection status of endoparasites in foreigner workers living in Cheonan City, Chungnam Province, Korea.

PubMed

Jung, Suk-Yul; Ahn, Mi-Jung; Oh, Joo-Yeon; Nam, Hae-Seon; Hong, Sung-Tae; Yun, Yeon-Han; Seo, Min

2015-04-01

At present, more than 500,000 foreigner workers, most of them from Asian countries with high parasitic infection rates, are working in Korea. Since investigation into the prevalence of parasitic infections in foreigner workers has not yet been conducted in Korea, the present study was performed to determine the parasitic infection status of foreigner workers living in Cheonan City, Chungcheongnam-do (Chungnam Province) and to plan, on that basis, effective control measures. From October to December 2013, the parasitic infection status of 231 foreigner workers employed at selected Cheonan-si small businesses was investigated by both stool examination and ELISA. A total of 60 individuals (26.0%) were found to be infected with parasites. The stool examination detected 14 positive cases (6.1%), and ELISA revealed 50 positive people (21.6%), for at least a kind of parasitic disease. The most common infection was cysticercosis (8.7%), followed by toxocariasis (7.8%) and clonorchiasis (7.4%). Since it was proved that parasitic infections were prevalent among foreigner workers living in Cheonan City, more comprehensive study is urgently needed in order to understand the nationwide status of parasitic infections in foreigner workers.

Energy options and strategies for Western europe.

PubMed

Häfele, W; Sassin, W

1978-04-14

Western Europe, now largely dependent on oil imports, has to prepare for strong competition for oil and energy imports in general before the year 2000. The more unlikely it is for Western Europe to secure from outside rich supplies of coal or uranium at readily acceptable economic and political conditions, the more serious this competition becomes. Even exceptionally low projections of economic growth and optimistic assumptions about energy conservation urgently call for vigorous and simultaneous development of indigenous coal and nuclear sources, including the breeder. Long-term contracts for the possession and deployment of foreign oil, gas, and coal deposits are mandatory and should be negotiated in view of the possible aggravation of north-south confrontation.

75 FR 53611 - Direct Investment Surveys: BE-577, Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad-Direct...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-01

... sample data on transactions and positions between U.S.-owned foreign business enterprises and their U.S... commentator may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive... positions between U.S.-owned foreign business enterprises and their U.S. parents. The sample data are used...

5 CFR 319.402 - Scientific and professional positions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... § 319.402 Scientific and professional positions. (a) ST positions are filled without competitive examination under 5 U.S.C. 3325. (b) ST positions are not subject to the citizenship requirements in 5 CFR... in applicable appropriations acts. (c) ST employees acquire competitive status immediately upon...

Economic growth, CO2 emissions, renewable waste and FDI relation in Pakistan: New evidences from 3SLS.

PubMed

Bakhsh, Khuda; Rose, Sobia; Ali, Muhammad Faisal; Ahmad, Najid; Shahbaz, Muhammad

2017-07-01

First attempt has been made to find the effects of foreign direct investment on environmental pollution and economic growth, in addition to finding the determinants of foreign direct investment inflows in Pakistan using the annual data set for the period of 1980-2014. Simultaneous equation model has been used to find relation between the variables of concern. Results from technique and composition effects show that increase in economic growth leads towards more pollution emissions. Scale effect shows stock of capital and labor have positive effect on the economic growth of Pakistan while pollution has negative effect on growth. In case of capital accumulation effect, economic growth and foreign direct investment have positive and significant effect on stock of capital. Although increase in economic growth increases pollution, however, economic growth declines as pollution crosses a certain limit. Foreign direct investment is also found positively related with pollution. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Diversity of multinucleated giant cells by microstructures of hydroxyapatite and plasma components in extraskeletal implantation model.

PubMed

Morishita, Kota; Tatsukawa, Eri; Shibata, Yasuaki; Suehiro, Fumio; Kamitakahara, Masanobu; Yokoi, Taishi; Ioku, Koji; Umeda, Masahiro; Nishimura, Masahiro; Ikeda, Tohru

2016-07-15

Foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) and osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs), both of which are formed by the fusion of macrophage-derived mononuclear cells. Osteoclasts are distinct from FBGCs due to their bone resorption ability; however, not only morphological, but also functional similarities may exist between these cells. The characterization and diversity of FBGCs that appear in an in vivo foreign body reaction currently remain incomplete. In the present study, we investigated an in vivo foreign body reaction using an extraskeletal implantation model of hydroxyapatite (HA) with different microstructures. The implantation of HA granules in rat subcutaneous tissue induced a foreign body reaction that was accompanied by various MNGCs. HA granules composed of rod-shaped particles predominantly induced cathepsin K (CTSK)-positive FBGCs, whereas HA granules composed of globular-shaped particles predominantly induced CTSK-negative FBGCs. Plasma, which was used as the binder of ceramic granules, stimulated the induction of CTSK-positive FBGCs more strongly than purified fibrin. Furthermore, the implantation of HA composed of rod-shaped particles with plasma induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive MNGCs in contrast to HA composed of globular-shaped particles with purified fibrin, which predominantly induced CTSK-negative and TRAP-negative typical FBGCs. These results suggest that CTSK-positive, TRAP-positive, and CTSK- and TRAP-negative MNGCs are induced in this subcutaneous implantation model in a manner that is dependent on the microstructure of HA and presence or absence of plasma. We attempted to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the foreign body reaction induced by the implantation of hydroxyapatite granules with different microstructures in rat subcutaneous tissue with or without plasma components as the binder of ceramic granules. By analyzing the expression of two reliable osteoclast markers, we detected tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated giant cells, cathepsin K-positive multinucleated giant cells, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase- and cathepsin K-negative multinucleated giant cells. The induction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated giant cells was plasma component-dependent while the induction of cathepsin K-positive multinucleated giant cells was influenced by the microstructure of hydroxyapatite. This is the first study to show the conditions dividing the three kinds of multinucleated giant cells in the foreign body reaction. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

17 CFR 151.8 - Foreign boards of trade.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Foreign boards of trade. 151.8... FUTURES AND SWAPS § 151.8 Foreign boards of trade. The aggregate position limits in § 151.4 shall apply to... board of trade, provided that: (a) Such Referenced Contracts settle against any price (including the...

17 CFR 151.8 - Foreign boards of trade.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 17 Commodity and Securities Exchanges 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Foreign boards of trade. 151.8... FUTURES AND SWAPS § 151.8 Foreign boards of trade. The aggregate position limits in § 151.4 shall apply to... board of trade, provided that: (a) Such Referenced Contracts settle against any price (including the...

15 CFR 806.15 - Foreign direct investment in the United States.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... million (positive or negative). Form BE-15(EZ) must be filed every other year by each U.S. affiliate for... § 806.15 Foreign direct investment in the United States. (a) Specific definitions—(1) Foreign direct... parent of the affiliate. (6) Ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) is that person, proceeding up the ownership...

77 FR 6057 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-07

... the United States, which is conducted every five years. The data are used in the preparation of the U... Parent (BE-605) is a sample survey that collects data on transactions and positions between foreign-owned... foreign affiliates of their foreign parents). The sample data are used to derive universe estimates in...

Restoring America's Leadership through Scholarships for Undergraduates from Developing Countries: The Uniting Students in America (USA) Proposal. Joint Hearing before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session (June 19, 2008). Serial Number 110-189 (Committee on Foreign Affairs). Serial Number 110-96 (Committee on the Education and Labor)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

US House of Representatives, 2008

2008-01-01

This joint hearing follows a hearing focused on a report issued by the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight entitled, "The Decline in America's Reputation, Why?" based on a series of some 10 hearings. The report documented the dramatic decline in international approval for American leadership from historic…

5 CFR 6.3 - Method of filling excepted positions and status of incumbents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... SERVICE RULES EXCEPTIONS FROM THE COMPETITIVE SERVICE (RULE VI) § 6.3 Method of filling excepted positions... persons without civil service eligibility or competitive status and such persons shall not acquire competitive status by reason of such appointment: Provided, That OPM, in its discretion, may by regulation...

5 CFR 6.3 - Method of filling excepted positions and status of incumbents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... SERVICE RULES EXCEPTIONS FROM THE COMPETITIVE SERVICE (RULE VI) § 6.3 Method of filling excepted positions... persons without civil service eligibility or competitive status and such persons shall not acquire competitive status by reason of such appointment: Provided, That OPM, in its discretion, may by regulation...

Ghana's education reform 2007: A realistic proposition or a crisis of vision?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuyini, Ahmed Bawa

2013-07-01

Ghana's recent "Education Reform 2007" envisions a system that strives to achieve both domestic and internationally-oriented goals emanating (1) from the Education for All (EFA) initiative, (2) from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and (3) from global trends in education. Emboldened by the implementation of foreign-donor-funded programmes such as EFA, the restructuring of the Ghana Education Sector Project (EdSeP) and the Science Resource Centres (SRC) project, both the education reform of 2007 and recent educational policy debates have reiterated the need to emphasise the teaching of science and information and communication technology to make Ghana's students/graduates more competitive in the global labour market. However, the bulk of Ghana's economic activity actually remains domestic or unglobalised. And given a weak economy and declining social spending due to strict adherence to the prescribed structural adjustment policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), there is concern that a focus on international competitiveness may be a crisis of vision. On the basis of the Ghanaian government's failure to meet the stated goals of previous reforms such as that of 1974, and the education system's continuing dependence on foreign donor support, this paper argues that the goals of the new reform may be unachievable on a sustainable basis. It also argues that rather than subjugate national domestic priorities to a mirage of international credibility/competitiveness, Ghana should concentrate on capacitating her students/graduates to make maximum impact at domestic and local community levels.

From "Ecoles Superieures de Commerce" to "Management Schools": Transformations and Continuity in French Business Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blanchard, Marianne

2009-01-01

Part of the national system of grandes Ecoles, French Business schools have known radical changes since the 1980s, notably in size, and have become more attractive to students both at a national and an international level. As a consequence, the French elitist system has been questioned by the competition of foreign--especially Anglo-Saxon--models.…

Expendable launch vehicle propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fuller, Paul N.

1991-01-01

The current status is reviewed of the U.S. Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) fleet, the international competition, and the propulsion technology of both domestic and foreign ELVs. The ELV propulsion technology areas where research, development, and demonstration are most needed are identified. These propulsion technology recommendations are based on the work performed by the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC), an industry panel established by the Dept. of Transportation.

USSR Report, International Affairs

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-03-26

international competitions for the best textbooks and reading books for learning foreign languages and belles lettres. It also recommends other...agreements on cooperation signed by Poland recently relate to the manufacture of several parts for motor vehicles produced in the Soviet Union, the...rigs over five years is envisaged. According to an agreement concluded with the Yerevan Motor -Vehicle Works, the Truck Plant imeni B. Berut in the

Higher Education in the United Arab Emirates: An Analysis of the Outcomes of Significant Increases in Supply and Competition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkins, Stephen

2010-01-01

During the last decade, several countries across the Middle and Far East have established higher education hubs, some of which have grown rapidly by attracting foreign universities to set up international branch campuses. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is by far the largest host of international branch campuses globally, having over 40 providers…

Education for Global Leadership: The Importance of International Studies and Foreign Language Education for U.S. Economic and National Security. Executive Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Committee for Economic Development, 2006

2006-01-01

As we begin the twenty-first century, technological, economic, political, and social forces have created a new era. Technological advancements and lower trade barriers have paved the way for the globalization of markets, bringing intense competition to the U.S. economy. Political systems and movements around the world are having a profound impact…

San Francisco Bay Area Cargo Forecast.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-06-01

Though sugar manufacturers face competition from non-nutritive sweetners, high fructose corn syrups , and foreign suppliers, the Hawaiian-San...approach, provides background on recent levels of trade, and presents the baseline, high , and low forecasts for 1985, 1990, 2000 and 2020. The major...cargo sectors is cargo that would be carried by high technology ships such as Ro/Ro vessels and barge carriers. In recent years, these vessel designs

New life for expendable launchers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, Ramon L.; Waskul, Greg

The U.S. commercial expendable launch vehicle (ELV) industry is examined. The use of Titan, Delta, Atlas-Centaur, and Liberty boosters to launch domestic and foreign commercial payloads is analyzed. The ELV commercialization agreement which explains the division of liability between the parties is described. Consideration is given to the competition to the U.S. industry from Europe's Ariane, China's Long March, and the Soviet Proton launchers.

Russia, China, and the United States in Central Asia: Prospects for Great Power Competition and Cooperation in the Shadow of the Georgian Crisis

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-01

energy, public health, and food safety) shape Chinese foreign relations with neighboring states. Professor Wishnick also writes about great power...Dismisses Georgia’s Leader as ‘Political Corpse’,” The New York Times, September 3, 2008, p. A10; Ellen Barry, “Russians with Pumpkins Protest Many U.S

Local and national impact of aerospace research and technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccarthy, J. F., Jr.

1981-01-01

An overview of work at the NASA Lewis Research Center in the areas of aeronautics space, and energy is presented. Local and national impact of the work is discussed. Some aspects of the U.S. research and technology base, the aerospace industry, and foreign competition are discussed. In conclusion, U.S. research and technology programs are cited as vital to U.S. economic health.

Korean Affairs Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-18

cooperation among themselves and to give top priority to preparing for the Asian Games . The president directed the sports minister to complete construction at...should conduct a nationwide campaign to promote public order, kindness and cleanliness. Chon also asked the sports minister to boost the competitive ...Jan 86) 4 Daily Views Soviet Foreign Minister’s Visit to North (Editorial; THE KOREA HERALD, 25 Jan 86) 5 OLYMPIC GAMES State Advisors

The effect of the tariff on the maple industry

Treesearch

Paul E. Sendak

1972-01-01

The U. S. maple tariff is a tax on maple syrup and sugar imports from Canada into the United States. An analysis of the maple tariff indicates that it was never very effective in protecting the domestic maple industry from foreign competition. The tariff has been especially ineffective since World War II. Its removal will not hurt the U. S. maple syrup industry.

English in Public Primary Schools in Colombia: Achievements and Challenges Brought about by National Language Education Policies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Correa, Doris; González, Adriana

2016-01-01

In an effort to become more competitive in the global market, Colombia, as many other Latin American countries, has declared English the dominant foreign language to be taught in schools and universities across the country. To support this measure, in the last 16 years, the government, through its National Ministry of Education, has launched a…

Healthy Competition and Unsound Comparison: Reforming Educational Competition in Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christensen, Søren

2015-01-01

It is frequently claimed that the "competition state" responds to external competition by making competition increasingly central to its internal processes as well. This article discusses education reform in Singapore as departing from the opposite position. In Singapore "excessive" competition in education is now targeted by…

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among foreign students in Lübeck, Germany tested with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus.

PubMed

Gallegos Morales, Elia Noemi; Knierer, Johannes; Schablon, Anja; Nienhaus, Albert; Kersten, Jan Felix

2017-01-01

The tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate in foreign-born individuals has been increasing in Germany in recent years. Foreign students may be an important source of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in low-incidence countries. In Germany, there are no guidelines for LTBI screening of foreign students. The aim of the study was to estimate LTBI prevalence and evaluate associated risk factors among foreign students in Germany. The second purpose of our study was to compare the results of the new generation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) to those of its predecessor QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT). This cross - sectional study was conducted between February 2016 and March 2016. Foreign students and young professionals attending the university and higher education institutes in Lübeck, Germany were tested with QFT-Plus and QFT-GIT. Participants filled out a questionnaire for the purpose of LTBI risk assessment and analysis. Variables associated with a positive test result were analyzed using logistic regression. One hundred thirty four students participated in the study. The overall prevalence as regards positive results from both tests, QFT-Plus and QFT-GIT, was 9.7%, and the prevalence of positive QFT-Plus results was 8.2%. The main independent variables associated with a positive QFT-Plus result were a) being born in a high-incidence country (OR = 6.7, 95% CI: 1.3-34.3) and b) previous contact with a person with active TB (OR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1-18.3). Higher age (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 0.7-11.3) and male gender (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.4-6.7) showed a tendency toward positive QFT-Plus results but this was not statistically significant. Agreement between QFT-Plus and QFT-GIT results was κ = 0.85, p  < 0.001. The LTBI prevalence among foreign students was about 10%. We recommend implementing a policy whereby all foreign students are screened by means of a questionnaire about LTBI risk factors, so that only students with present risk factors are tested for LTBI. The agreement between the new QFT-Plus and the QFT-GIT (κ = 0.85) was good. QFT-Plus might be used in the same format as its predecessor.

Cracking the Chinese Character: Radical Sensitivity in Learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language and Its Relationship to Chinese Word Reading

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tong, Xiuli; Yip, Joanna Hew Yan

2015-01-01

Radicals are building blocks of Chinese complex characters and exhibit certain positional, phonological and semantic regularities. This study investigated whether adult non-native learners of Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) were aware of the positional (orthographic), phonological and semantic information of radicals, and whether such…

"New York Times" Editorial Position and the U.S. Foreign Policy: The Case of Iran.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malek, Abbas

A study examined the similarity or dissimilarity between the "New York Times'" editorial position on Iran and Iranian affairs and the official United States foreign policy towards Iran as reflected in the "Department of State Bulletin" for the period of 1968-1981. Each piece was categorized by major category and sub-category by…

Ultrasound detection of simulated intra-ocular foreign bodies by minimally trained personnel.

PubMed

Sargsyan, Ashot E; Dulchavsky, Alexandria G; Adams, James; Melton, Shannon; Hamilton, Douglas R; Dulchavsky, Scott A

2008-01-01

To test the ability of non-expert ultrasound operators of divergent backgrounds to detect the presence, size, location, and composition of foreign bodies in an ocular model. High school students (N = 10) and NASA astronauts (N = 4) completed a brief ultrasound training session which focused on basic ultrasound principles and the detection of foreign bodies. The operators used portable ultrasound devices to detect foreign objects of varying location, size (0.5-2 mm), and material (glass, plastic, metal) in a gelatinous ocular model. Operator findings were compared to known foreign object parameters and ultrasound experts (N = 2) to determine accuracy across and between groups. Ultrasound had high sensitivity (astronauts 85%, students 87%, and experts 100%) and specificity (astronauts 81%, students 83%, and experts 95%) for the detection of foreign bodies. All user groups were able to accurately detect the presence of foreign bodies in this model (astronauts 84%, students 81%, and experts 97%). Astronaut and student sensitivity results for material (64% vs. 48%), size (60% vs. 46%), and position (77% vs. 64%) were not statistically different. Experts' results for material (85%), size (90%), and position (98%) were higher; however, the small sample size precluded statistical conclusions. Ultrasound can be used by operators with varying training to detect the presence, location, and composition of intraocular foreign bodies with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.

A National Plan for a Use-Oriented Foreign Language System. NFLC Position Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lambert, Richard D.

The significant progress made in the United States' foreign language education system in recent decades is not enough. If the current system is to expand adult foreign language competency and use, both a change of perspective and a new organizational superstructure are necessary to serve those needs more directly, which in turn demands a…

17 CFR 140.735-4 - Receipt and disposition of foreign gifts and decorations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 applies. (4) Decoration means an order, device, medal, badge... description of the gift and the circumstances justify acceptance; (C) The identity, if known, of the foreign... justifying acceptance; (C) The identity, if known, of the foreign government and the name and position of the...

17 CFR 140.735-4 - Receipt and disposition of foreign gifts and decorations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 applies. (4) Decoration means an order, device, medal, badge... description of the gift and the circumstances justify acceptance; (C) The identity, if known, of the foreign... justifying acceptance; (C) The identity, if known, of the foreign government and the name and position of the...

Competition among Turkish hospitals and its effect on hospital efficiency and service quality.

PubMed

Torun, Nazan; Celik, Yusuf; Younis, Mustafa Z

2013-01-01

The level of competition among hospitals in Turkey was analyzed for the years 1990 through 2006 using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). Multiple and simple regression analyses were run to observe the development of competition among hospitals over this period of time, to examine likely determinants of competition, and to calculate the effects of competition on efficiency and quality in individual hospitals. This study found that the level of competition among hospitals in Turkey has increased throughout the years. Also, competition has had a positive effect on the efficiency of hospitals; however, it did not have a significant positive effect on their quality. Moreover, there are important differences in the level of competition among hospitals that vary according to the geographical region, the type of ownership, and the type of hospital. This study is one of the first to evaluate the effects of health policies on competition as well as the effects of increasing competition on hospital quality and efficiency in Turkey.

[Important differences between faculties of medicine. Implications for family and community medicine].

PubMed

González Lopez-Valcarcel, Beatriz; Ortún, Vicente; Barber, Patricia; Harris, Jeffrey E

2014-03-01

To determine if there are significant differences between universities in the proclivity to choose Family and Community Medicine (FCM), given the constraints imposed by the number of choice. To test the hypothesis that the Schools of Medicine that have the FCM as a compulsory subject in the degree (3 of 27) had the highest preference for this specialty. Observational study on the data file of all the individuals taking the MIR examination between 2003 and 2011. Spain. All those who sat the examinations called by MIR 2003-2011. Position in the ranking of each candidate, elected position (specialty and center), post code of residence, sex, nationality and university in which they studied, and post code location for the residence chosen. The percentage electing FCM is highly correlated with the position in the ranking: 8% of graduates for the 'best' college, 46% for the worst. Very noticeable and consistent differences in the preparation for the MIR among the 27 medical schools. Ranking in the exam, female and foreigner, help predict the choice of FCM. The FCM compulsory curriculum from three universities does not seem to exert any influence. The convenient yardstick competition between the schools of medicine, FCM in their curriculum and the emphasis on the most attractive attributes of the specialty can contribute to the necessary renewal of FCM. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Foreign body granuloma of the penis caused by occupational glass fibre exposure.

PubMed Central

Hinnen, U; Elsner, P; Barraud, M; Burg, G

1997-01-01

We report a patient who presented with the suspected diagnosis of syphilis. Clinical findings included a penile ulcer, positive history of syphilis more than 20 years ago, and positive syphilis serology (TPHA, FTA-Abs). A biopsy showed a plasma-cell rich inflammation with granuloma formation. Since a birefractory structure was observed in the biopsy possibly corresponding to a foreign body, the patient's occupational exposure was investigated. Working in the fiber reinforced plastics industry, he was heavily exposed to glass fibre that was even detected on the inside of his underwear. Taking the serological pattern into account that was not consistent with active syphilis, a penile ulcer following a foreign body reaction was diagnosed. This case report demonstrates the difficulties of differentiating foreign body granuloma of the genital region from venereal diseases with granuloma formation. Images PMID:9582491

Survey of Employment Opportunities Open to Graduates in Foreign Language Education, English as a Second Language, and Applied Linguistics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herold, William R.

A survey of employed recipients of the doctorate from the Foreign Language Education Center at the University of Texas was conducted to determine the nature of positions the graduates are holding and to identify those positions for which their background and training would qualify them. The scope of the survey extends to career opportunities for…

5 CFR 1.4 - Extent of the excepted service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... the Civil Service Act or from the competitive service by or pursuant to statute or by OPM under § 6.1... service”, or “unclassified civil service”, or “positions outside the competitive civil service” as used in... position”, or “position excepted by law”, or “position excepted by executive order”, or “position excepted...

5 CFR 1.4 - Extent of the excepted service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... the Civil Service Act or from the competitive service by or pursuant to statute or by OPM under § 6.1... service”, or “unclassified civil service”, or “positions outside the competitive civil service” as used in... position”, or “position excepted by law”, or “position excepted by executive order”, or “position excepted...

Performance evaluation of the insurance companies based on AHP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Manhong; Zhu, Kunping

2018-04-01

With the entry of foreign capital, China's insurance industry is under increasing pressure of competition. The performance of a company is the external manifestation of its comprehensive strength. Therefore, the establishment of a scientific evaluation system is of practical significance for the insurance companies. In this paper, based on the financial and non-financial indicators of the companies, the performance evaluation system is constructed by means of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In the system, the weights of the indicators which represent the impact on the performance of the companies will be calculated by the process. The evaluation system is beneficial for the companies to realize their own strengths and weaknesses, so as to take steps to enhance the core competitiveness of the companies.

Low cost space operations - Empty promise or future reality. [cost effectiveness problems of NASA programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bader, M.

1976-01-01

Organizational obstacles to the achievement of a cost-effective Space Shuttle service are examined. Among the factors considered are the difficulties of fostering concern for cost-effectiveness among the NASA research and development team and elimination of unnecessary systems and personnel. The effect of foreign or commercial competition and the extent to which governmental funding and control should be implemented are considered.

Defense Production Act: Purpose and Scope

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-14

appropriate, or to prohibit, transactions found to threaten impairment of national security. This is the so-called Exon- Florio Amendment, which designates a...Order 11858, “Foreign (continued...) Defense Production Act: Purpose and Scope Congressional Research Service 5 Exon- Florio authority was first... Florio was enacted on August 23, 1988, as Title V, Subtitle A, Part II, § 5021 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (H.R. 4848, P.L

Insight into Foreign Thoughtworlds for National Security Decision Makers

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-01-01

ideals our nation espouses. And bent on global hegemony : as if Americans’ main comfort in life was to await the day when “the United States will...t]he matter-of-fact acceptance of our hegemony is wearing off.”5 This trend is accelerated by the image of arrogance. Compellance, then, appears...individual integration into groups • Masculinity (versus femininity), an indicator of relative assertiveness and competitiveness • Uncertainty

CAM Highlights (FY 82)

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-01

rate of productivity growth for several years. As a result, foreign products have become more competitive in markets that were previously dominated by...the US. In order to retain an edge in the markets , the US has concen- trated on introducing new technology. One area of heavy technology...by at least 20%. When MMT effort 6 7430 was completed in 1979, the philosophy and principles of group technology were applied as a means for

The Role of Social Science Research Institutes in the Formulation and Execution of Soviet Foreign Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-03-01

L FOREWORD In the long-term global competition between capitalism and socialism, the Soviet union designs and implements complex strategies which...successful communist resolution of the struggle by exploiting Soviet opportunities and Western vulnerabilities. Such complex strategies, involving as they...fact, a subject of controversy among Soviet theoreticians, the CPSU’s leading theoretical journal, Kommunist, has explained its appli - cation thus

Assessment of the competitive position of the forest products sector in southeast Alaska, 1985-94.

Treesearch

David J. Brooks

2001-01-01

This paper provides an assessment of the competitive position of the forest products sector in southeast Alaska relative to that of its major competitors. An analytical framework relying on the economic concepts of comparative and competitive advantage is first developed, with emphasis on the relative cost and productivity of productive inputs such as labor, capital,...

Prosperity Games prototyping with the board of governors of the Electronic Industries Association, January 20--21, 1994

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bermann, M.; VanDevender, J.P.

1994-08-01

Prosperity Games are an outgrowth and adaptation of move/countermove and seminar War Games. Prosperity Games are simulations that explore complex issues in a variety of areas including economics, politics, sociology, environment, education and research. These issues can be examined from a variety of perspectives ranging from a global, macroeconomic and geopolitical viewpoint down to the details of customer/supplier/market interactions in specific industries. All Prosperity Games are unique in that both the game format and the player contributions vary from game to game. This report documents the Prosperity Game conducted under the sponsorship of the Electronic Industries Association. Almost all ofmore » the players were from the electronics industry. The game explored policy changes that could enhance US competitiveness in the manufacturing of consumer electronics. Four teams simulated a presidentially appointed commission comprised of high-level representatives from government, industry, universities and national laboratories. A single team represented the foreign equivalent of this commission, formed to develop counter strategies for any changes in US policies. The deliberations and recommendations of these teams provide valuable insights as to the views of this industry concerning policy changes, foreign competition, and the development, delivery and commercialization of new technologies.« less

Debt swapping as a tool for economic and social stabilization in Russia's closed nuclear cities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

JL Fuller; KM Leek

2000-03-08

The magnitude of Russian foreign debt, both official bilateral and commercial, compounded by collapse of the Russian economic system, is an obstacle in preventing the Russian Federation from effectively increasing the domestic priority of drawing down its nuclear weapons complex and providing a healthy, competitive environment to its nuclear cities. Debt-for-nature swaps, introduced in the early 1980s, provide debtor nations with a means of converting a portion of foreign debt into local currency, often at steep discounts, to use for purposes such as environmental protection that serve both a domestic and international need. This paper presents the debt-for-nature concept asmore » a model for providing an infusion of funds to further U.S. and international nonproliferation objectives to help stabilize Russian closed city economic conditions through direct work on proliferation problems and remediation of the environment. A specific proposal is presented to demonstrate the utility and efficacy of the dept swap concept through initial collaboration with the city administration of Ozersk. The purpose of the proposal is to facilitate making Ozersk a safe, healthy competitive city, providing useful employment for its scientists and population and converting its superior infrastructure into productive activities.« less

L. V. Shcherba: A "New Slant" on Modern Foreign Languages in the School Curriculum?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell-Thomson, Olga

2017-01-01

In this paper, I offer a critical reflection on the thesis of the general educational value of foreign languages developed by Russian linguist Lev Vladimirovich Shcherba. I do so against the background of current debates on the positioning of foreign languages in the school curriculum in the United Kingdom (UK). I argue that Shcherba's thesis,…

Internationalization of Higher Education in China: Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools and the Introduction of High-Quality Foreign Educational Resources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Zhen

2009-01-01

With the acceleration of the internationalization process of higher education in China, the Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools (CFCRS) has been developing at an expeditious pace nowadays. It positively enhances the internationalization process of Chinese higher education and greatly contributes to providing the society with talents.…

Existence and global attractivity of positive periodic solutions of periodic n-species Lotka-Volterra competition systems with several deviating arguments.

PubMed

Fan, M; Wang, K; Jiang, D

1999-08-01

In this paper, we study the existence and global attractivity of positive periodic solutions of periodic n-species Lotka-Volterra competition systems. By using the method of coincidence degree and Lyapunov functional, a set of easily verifiable sufficient conditions are derived for the existence of at least one strictly positive (componentwise) periodic solution of periodic n-species Lotka-Volterra competition systems with several deviating arguments and the existence of a unique globally asymptotically stable periodic solution with strictly positive components of periodic n-species Lotka-Volterra competition system with several delays. Some new results are obtained. As an application, we also examine some special cases of the system we considered, which have been studied extensively in the literature. Some known results are improved and generalized.

[Effects of pharmacy market deregulation regarding patient-centred drug care in Germany from a health economics perspecitve].

PubMed

Rumm, R; Böcking, W

2013-03-01

This article analyses the impact of a potential deregulation Germany's pharmacy market by allowing foreign ownership of pharmacies and removing the limit of the number pharmacies that can be owned by a pharmacist. Based on a mathematical model and empirical values of foreign countries, scenarios for the German market are calculated and the impact on all participants of the health care system analysed. The key outcomes are:- A deregulation would enables the creation of pharmacy chains- In all simulated scenarios the total number of pharmacies would drastically grow- The increased pharmacy density improves patient centred drug care- The competition among pharmacies increases and leads to the closure of many independently owned and operated pharmacies. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

An Industry Analysis of the MBA Market and the Competitive Positioning of the GSBPP

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 1 I. INTRODUCTION Traditional business schools face threats to their competitive positioning as the educational...MBA market were competition between business schools , buyers of business education including both students and employers, faculty as the key...Representative Core Course Requirement While business schools consider it their mission to educate students for their entire career, they are

Hyperspectral imaging for differentiation of foreign materials from pinto beans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehrubeoglu, Mehrube; Zemlan, Michael; Henry, Sam

2015-09-01

Food safety and quality in packaged products are paramount in the food processing industry. To ensure that packaged products are free of foreign materials, such as debris and pests, unwanted materials mixed with the targeted products must be detected before packaging. A portable hyperspectral imaging system in the visible-to-NIR range has been used to acquire hyperspectral data cubes from pinto beans that have been mixed with foreign matter. Bands and band ratios have been identified as effective features to develop a classification scheme for detection of foreign materials in pinto beans. A support vector machine has been implemented with a quadratic kernel to separate pinto beans and background (Class 1) from all other materials (Class 2) in each scene. After creating a binary classification map for the scene, further analysis of these binary images allows separation of false positives from true positives for proper removal action during packaging.

Gender Differences in Emotional Responses to Cooperative and Competitive Game Play

PubMed Central

Kivikangas, J. Matias; Kätsyri, Jari; Järvelä, Simo; Ravaja, Niklas

2014-01-01

Previous research indicates that males prefer competition over cooperation, and it is sometimes suggested that females show the opposite behavioral preference. In the present article, we investigate the emotions behind the preferences: Do males exhibit more positive emotions during competitive than cooperative activities, and do females show the opposite pattern? We conducted two experiments where we assessed the emotional responses of same-gender dyads (in total 130 participants, 50 female) during intrinsically motivating competitive and cooperative digital game play using facial electromyography (EMG), skin conductance, heart rate measures, and self-reported emotional experiences. We found higher positive emotional responses (as indexed by both physiological measures and self-reports) during competitive than cooperative play for males, but no differences for females. In addition, we found no differences in negative emotions, and heart rate, skin conductance, and self-reports yielded contradictory evidence for arousal. These results support the hypothesis that males not only prefer competitive over cooperative play, but they also exhibit more positive emotional responses during them. In contrast, the results suggest that the emotional experiences of females do not differ between cooperation and competition, which implies that less competitiveness does not mean more cooperativeness. Our results pertain to intrinsically motivated game play, but might be relevant also for other kinds of activities. PMID:24983952

Does competition improve financial stability of the banking sector in ASEAN countries? An empirical analysis.

PubMed

Noman, Abu Hanifa Md; Gee, Chan Sok; Isa, Che Ruhana

2017-01-01

This study examines the influence of competition on the financial stability of the commercial banks of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) over the 1990 to 2014 period. Panzar-Rosse H-statistic, Lerner index and Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) are used as measures of competition, while Z-score, non-performing loan (NPL) ratio and equity ratio are used as measures of financial stability. Two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimates demonstrate that competition measured by H-statistic is positively related to Z-score and equity ratio, and negatively related to non-performing loan ratio. Conversely, market power measured by Lerner index is negatively related to Z-score and equity ratio and positively related to NPL ratio. These results strongly support the competition-stability view for ASEAN banks. We also capture the non-linear relationship between competition and financial stability by incorporating a quadratic term of competition in our models. The results show that the coefficient of the quadratic term of H-statistic is negative for the Z-score model given a positive coefficient of the linear term in the same model. These results support the non-linear relationship between competition and financial stability of the banking sector. The study contains significant policy implications for improving the financial stability of the commercial banks.

Does competition improve financial stability of the banking sector in ASEAN countries? An empirical analysis

PubMed Central

Gee, Chan Sok; Isa, Che Ruhana

2017-01-01

This study examines the influence of competition on the financial stability of the commercial banks of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) over the 1990 to 2014 period. Panzar-Rosse H-statistic, Lerner index and Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) are used as measures of competition, while Z-score, non-performing loan (NPL) ratio and equity ratio are used as measures of financial stability. Two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimates demonstrate that competition measured by H-statistic is positively related to Z-score and equity ratio, and negatively related to non-performing loan ratio. Conversely, market power measured by Lerner index is negatively related to Z-score and equity ratio and positively related to NPL ratio. These results strongly support the competition-stability view for ASEAN banks. We also capture the non-linear relationship between competition and financial stability by incorporating a quadratic term of competition in our models. The results show that the coefficient of the quadratic term of H-statistic is negative for the Z-score model given a positive coefficient of the linear term in the same model. These results support the non-linear relationship between competition and financial stability of the banking sector. The study contains significant policy implications for improving the financial stability of the commercial banks. PMID:28486548

Gender differences in emotional responses to cooperative and competitive game play.

PubMed

Kivikangas, J Matias; Kätsyri, Jari; Järvelä, Simo; Ravaja, Niklas

2014-01-01

Previous research indicates that males prefer competition over cooperation, and it is sometimes suggested that females show the opposite behavioral preference. In the present article, we investigate the emotions behind the preferences: Do males exhibit more positive emotions during competitive than cooperative activities, and do females show the opposite pattern? We conducted two experiments where we assessed the emotional responses of same-gender dyads (in total 130 participants, 50 female) during intrinsically motivating competitive and cooperative digital game play using facial electromyography (EMG), skin conductance, heart rate measures, and self-reported emotional experiences. We found higher positive emotional responses (as indexed by both physiological measures and self-reports) during competitive than cooperative play for males, but no differences for females. In addition, we found no differences in negative emotions, and heart rate, skin conductance, and self-reports yielded contradictory evidence for arousal. These results support the hypothesis that males not only prefer competitive over cooperative play, but they also exhibit more positive emotional responses during them. In contrast, the results suggest that the emotional experiences of females do not differ between cooperation and competition, which implies that less competitiveness does not mean more cooperativeness. Our results pertain to intrinsically motivated game play, but might be relevant also for other kinds of activities.

Comparison of Anthropometry and Lower Limb Power Qualities According to Different Levels and Ranking Position of Competitive Surfers.

PubMed

Fernandez-Gamboa, Iosu; Yanci, Javier; Granados, Cristina; Camara, Jesus

2017-08-01

Fernandez-Gamboa, I, Yanci, J, Granados, C, and Camara, J. Comparison of anthropometry and lower limb power qualities according to different levels and ranking position of competitive surfers. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2231-2237, 2017-The aim of this study was to compare competitive surfers' lower limb power output depending on their competitive level, and to evaluate the association between competition rankings. Twenty competitive surfers were divided according to the competitive level as follows: international (INT) or national (NAT), and competitive ranking (RANK1-50 or RANK51-100). Vertical jump and maximal peak power of the lower limbs were measured. No differences were found between INT and NAT surfers in the anthropometric variables, in the vertical jump, or in lower extremity power; although the NAT group had higher levels on the elasticity index, squat jumps (SJs), and counter movement jumps (CMJs) compared with the INT group. The RANK1-50 group had a lower biceps skinfold (p < 0.01), lower skinfolds in the legs (Front thigh: p ≤ 0.05; medial calf: p < 0.01), lower sum of skinfolds (p ≤ 0.05), higher SJ (p < 0.01), CMJ (p < 0.01), and 15 seconds vertical CMJ (p ≤ 0.05); also, maximal peak power of the right leg (MPPR) and left leg (MPPL) were higher in the RANK1-50 group. Moderate to large significant correlations were obtained between the surfers' ranking position and some skinfolds, the sum of skinfolds, and vertical jump. Results demonstrate that surfers' physical performance seems to be an accurate indicator of ranking positioning, also revealing that vertical jump capacity and anthropometric variables play an important role in their competitive performance, which may be important when considering their power training.

The foreign-language effect: thinking in a foreign tongue reduces decision biases.

PubMed

Keysar, Boaz; Hayakawa, Sayuri L; An, Sun Gyu

2012-06-01

Would you make the same decisions in a foreign language as you would in your native tongue? It may be intuitive that people would make the same choices regardless of the language they are using, or that the difficulty of using a foreign language would make decisions less systematic. We discovered, however, that the opposite is true: Using a foreign language reduces decision-making biases. Four experiments show that the framing effect disappears when choices are presented in a foreign tongue. Whereas people were risk averse for gains and risk seeking for losses when choices were presented in their native tongue, they were not influenced by this framing manipulation in a foreign language. Two additional experiments show that using a foreign language reduces loss aversion, increasing the acceptance of both hypothetical and real bets with positive expected value. We propose that these effects arise because a foreign language provides greater cognitive and emotional distance than a native tongue does.

The Great Game redux: Energy security and the emergence of tripolarity in Eurasia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozdamar, Ibrahim Ozgur

Securing energy resources has become a key aspect of foreign policy-making since the 1970s. States have used military and economic foreign policy tools to secure the supply of energy to their domestic markets. With the fall of the USSR in 1991, political and economic competition for penetration into energy-rich regions spread through Eurasia. Inspired from the nineteenth century term to describe Russian-British rivalry in the region, the current rivalry among great powers and their allies is called the "New Great Game". This project analyzes three political conflicts that are shaped by such rivalry that can threaten global energy security. Empirical results from the expected utility model (Bueno de Mesquita 1985) suggest the rivalry among the Western (i.e. EU, US) and Eastern (i.e. Russia, China) powers about the Iranian nuclear program, Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia conflicts is likely to continue and shows some Cold War characteristics. I have also found out the expected outcomes of these conflicts and foreign policy tools and obvious and unseen strategic moves available to actors. The major conclusion of the study is that the EU and US should pursue a coordinated foreign policy and balance the Russian and Chinese influence in the region to secure access to energy resources. Most effective foreign policy tools to achieve such aim appear to be the use of economic relations as leverage against Russia and China and support economic and democratic developments of the newly established republics in Eurasia.

3 CFR - Rulemaking Concerning the Standards for Designating Positions in the Competitive Service as...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 3 The President 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Rulemaking Concerning the Standards for Designating Positions in the Competitive Service as National Security Sensitive and Related Matters Presidential Documents Other Presidential Documents Memorandum of January 25, 2013 Rulemaking Concerning the Standards for Designating Positions in the...

National security and national competitiveness: Open source solutions; NASA requirements and capabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cotter, Gladys A.

1993-01-01

Foreign competitors are challenging the world leadership of the U.S. aerospace industry, and increasingly tight budgets everywhere make international cooperation in aerospace science necessary. The NASA STI Program has as part of its mission to support NASA R&D, and to that end has developed a knowledge base of aerospace-related information known as the NASA Aerospace Database. The NASA STI Program is already involved in international cooperation with NATO/AGARD/TIP, CENDI, ICSU/ICSTI, and the U.S. Japan Committee on STI. With the new more open political climate, the perceived dearth of foreign information in the NASA Aerospace Database, and the development of the ESA database and DELURA, the German databases, the NASA STI Program is responding by sponsoring workshops on foreign acquisitions and by increasing its cooperation with international partners and with other U.S. agencies. The STI Program looks to the future of improved database access through networking and a GUI; new media; optical disk, video, and full text; and a Technology Focus Group that will keep the NASA STI Program current with technology.

Competitive strategies in fashion industries: Portuguese footwear industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marques, A. D.; Guedes, G.; Ferreira, F.

2017-10-01

Portugal is an important player in the European fashion industry. The Portuguese footwear industry, “low-tech” and traditional industry, dominated by SMEs and located in two main clusters, is a success case in the Portuguese economy. After a long period of decline until 2009, the footwear companies prepared new strategies that made big changes in the image and performance achieved. Since 2009, exports have increased more than 55% and the Portuguese footwear has grown in almost all the most important foreign markets. The competitive strategies followed by the Portuguese footwear companies are different and they can be clearly identified according Porter’s three generic competitive strategies: cost leadership, differentiation and focus strategy. This paper had analysed seven Portuguese footwear companies (seven cases, case study strategy) and the results obtained shows how important is to have the right approach to the markets, according the internal and external resources that each firm has available. The footwear clusters in Portugal and the sectorial organizations are also very important in this competitive performance achieved by the companies. Last years the Portuguese governments recognize this increasing importance of the fashion industries and prepared several programs to promote these industries in Europe and other continents.

Annual Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-12

industries—so-called beggar-thy-neighbor policies such as competitive currency devaluations , import tariffs, and/or export subsidies—risk unleashing a...in domestic and foreign spending or to devalue the Venezuelan currency and draw down government hard currency reserves to avoid a major economic...early as late 2009. The IMF , which recently released its revised forecast for 2009 projecting an anemic 0.5 percent increase in the global economy

Canary Islands (Spain): Their Importance in NATO’s Strategy.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-04-22

zones, up to 1,000 feet (300 meters), subtropical crops are grown on land irrigated with water drawn from inside the mountains. Bananas are the most...difficult the mechanization of agriculture. Bananas , the leading crop, are protected in the Spanish market against foreign competition. Another major...export. Cereals must be imported. The cultivation of flowers and plants is a new industry, exporting most of the crop to Europe. The surrounding seas

China’s Foreign Policy: What Does It Mean for U.S. Global Interests

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-07-18

economic competitiveness.36 The 2005 EAS meeting is part of a trend in growing Sino- ASEAN regional cooperation. In addition to being included in an...independence activism on Taiwan, and the benefits and complications accompanying China’s own rapid economic growth. As defined in a series of White...observers may CRS-15 32 Prime Minister Tony Blair, “Doctrine of the International Community,” in a

Temperament and self-based correlates of cooperative, competitive and individualistic learning preferences.

PubMed

Gocłowska, Małgorzata A; Aldhobaiban, Nawal; Elliot, Andrew J; Murayama, Kou; Kobeisy, Ahmed; Abdelaziz, Ashraf

2017-06-01

People vary in the extent to which they prefer cooperative, competitive or individualistic achievement tasks. In this research, we conducted two studies designed to investigate correlates and possible roots of these social interdependence orientations, namely approach and avoidance temperament, general self-efficacy, implicit theories of intelligence, and contingencies of self-worth based in others' approval, competition and academic competence. The results indicated that approach temperament, general self-efficacy and incremental theory were positively related, and entity theory was negatively related to cooperative preferences (|r| range from .11 to .41); approach temperament, general self-efficacy, competition contingencies and academic competence contingencies were positively related to competitive preferences (|r| range from .16 to .46); and avoidance temperament, entity theory, competitive contingencies and academic competence contingencies were positively related, and incremental theory was negatively related to individualistic preferences (|r| range from .09 to .15). The findings are discussed with regard to the meaning of each of the three social interdependence orientations, cultural differences among the observed relations and implications for practitioners. © 2015 International Union of Psychological Science.

Mother-Tongue Diversity in the Foreign Language Classroom: Perspectives on the Experiences of Non-Native Speakers of English Studying Foreign Languages in an English-Medium University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruen, Jennifer; Kelly, Niamh

2017-01-01

This paper considers the position of university language students whose mother tongue is other than the medium of instruction. Specifically, it investigates the attitudes and experiences of non-native English speakers studying either German or Japanese as foreign languages at an English-medium university. The findings indicate that the non-native…

Difficulties in Determining If Nuclear Training of Foreigners Contributes to Weapons Proliferation. Report by the Comptroller General of the United States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. House Committee on Appropriations.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) conclusion that it is impossible to determine the contribution of U.S. nuclear training of foreigners to the spread of nuclear weapons is presented. The GAO position is that there is no way to ascertain the true intentions of foreign nationals being trained or the motivations of their countries. Issues…

Le Dilemme du professeur de langue: theorie ou pratique? Essai d'un bilan (The Foreign Language Teacher's Dilemma: Theory or Practice? An Attempt at an Assessment)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rebuffo, Jacques

1977-01-01

A discussion of the crisis in foreign language methodology and a short evaluation of methods employed at present. The pivotal position of the language teacher in choosing a combination of methods to respond to student needs and the importance of foreign languages in education are discussed. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

The utility of a handheld metal detector in detection and localization of pediatric metallic foreign body ingestion.

PubMed

Nation, Javan; Jiang, Wen

2017-01-01

To test the ability of a handheld metal detector (HHMD) to identify the presence and location of ingested metallic foreign bodies (MFBs) in children. Prospective case series enrolling children suspected of metallic foreign body ingestion presenting to the Emergency Department. Thirty-eight children were enrolled and the HHMD was used to detect the presence and location of a MFB. Results were compared to standard radiographic studies. Thirty-seven of the 38 ingested foreign bodies were MFBs. Of the 37 MFBs, the HHMD positively identified 33, and 4 were missed by HHMD but identified on radiography. When positive, the location indicated by HHMD correlated 100% with radiograph. There were 33 true positives, 0 false positives, 4 false negatives, and 1 true negative. This resulted in a sensitivity of 89% (95% CI of 75%-96%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI of 2.5%-100%). Our study demonstrates the accuracy of HHMD in the identification and localization of metallic foreign bodies. We propose an emergency room foreign body protocol that uses HHMD as an early screening tool in triage in order to expedite the process of obtaining Otolaryngology consultation and potentially shorten the wait time to the operating room or discharge. In instances were outside films are previously performed, HHMD use may be able to minimize the overall radiation exposure to children by obviating the need for repeat radiographs. As the sensitivity is not 100%, a negative HHMD screening does not negate the need for a standard radiograph in order to avoid missed MFBs. HHMD is best suited for detection of coins, which accounts for the majority of the MFB ingestions, and may not be suitable for all metallic objects since the amount of metal may decrease its sensitivity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Competitiveness of the match for interventional radiology and neuroradiology fellowships.

PubMed

Chen, Jim Y; Agarwal, Vikas; Orons, Philip D

2014-11-01

Overall resident interest in certain subspecialties changes with time. We sought to investigate the latest 6-year trend in interventional radiology (IR) and neuroradiology fellowship applications and how it has affected competitiveness in obtaining a position. We analyzed statistics published by the National Resident Matching Program in Results and Data: Specialties Matching Service from 2008 to 2013. From these data, we calculated the positions per IR applicant (PPIRA) and positions per neuroradiology applicant (PPNRA) for each year. The number of positions per applicant is one way to assess specialty competitiveness on a supply-and-demand basis. A lower PPIRA or PPNRA indicates a more competitive year. PPIRA has decreased every year, from 1.71 to the present 0.84, and contributed to 52 applicants being unmatched in 2013, up from 9 in 2008. Accordingly, the number of unfilled positions has decreased from 86 in 2008 to 8 in 2013. PPNRA waxed and waned from 2008 to 2010 but stabilized at around 1.15 thereafter. The number of unfilled positions has never dropped below 46. The number of unmatched applicants was consistently in the teens, except in 2011, when it increased to 23. Interest in IR fellowship has increased significantly over the past 6 years, whereas interest in neuroradiology fellowships has plateaued. IR fellowships have become increasingly competitive, leading to many unmatched residents. Copyright © 2014 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

12 CFR 614.4900 - Foreign exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... with relationship to the customer's financial capability to bear the financial risks assumed. The bank..., where such transactions or positions normally reduce risks in the conduct and management of..., liabilities, and foreign exchange contracts. (3) Outstanding contracts with individual customers and banks. (4...

12 CFR 614.4900 - Foreign exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... with relationship to the customer's financial capability to bear the financial risks assumed. The bank..., where such transactions or positions normally reduce risks in the conduct and management of..., liabilities, and foreign exchange contracts. (3) Outstanding contracts with individual customers and banks. (4...

12 CFR 614.4900 - Foreign exchange.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... with relationship to the customer's financial capability to bear the financial risks assumed. The bank..., where such transactions or positions normally reduce risks in the conduct and management of..., liabilities, and foreign exchange contracts. (3) Outstanding contracts with individual customers and banks. (4...

5 CFR 330.102 - Federal employment information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... must notify OPM promptly of: (A) Open competitive examinations; (B) Vacancies in the competitive... list of agency vacancy announcements for positions in the competitive service. Under § 330.707 of this chapter, agencies must notify OPM promptly of competitive service vacancies to be filled for more than 120...

Sharing organs with foreign nationals.

PubMed

Bruni, Rebecca; Wright, Linda

2011-03-01

Organs for transplantation are an absolute scarcity throughout the world, and many countries do not offer transplantation. Developed countries with transplant programs receive requests to list foreign nationals for transplantation. Any national standard deserves justification by a thorough exploration of the issues. In this article, the issues regarding organ transplantation for foreign nationals in Canada are explored. Currently Canada has no policy on listing foreign nationals for transplantation. Three topics are reviewed: (1) arguments for and against the transplantation of organs from deceased donors to foreign nationals, (2) relevant legislation and position statements, and (3) relevant practices in other countries. Finally, practical policy options are suggested. This article's analysis of the issues will provide guidance for health care professionals and policy makers in Canada and developed countries exploring listing foreign nationals for transplantation.

An Index of Competition Based on Relative Crown Position and Size

Treesearch

Dwight D. O' Neal; Allan E. Houston; Edward R. Buckner; James S. Meadows

1995-01-01

A new competition index, the Crown Position Index (CPI) was evaluated using a 41-year-old, well stocked, upland hardwood stand in southwestern Tennessee. CPI wss based on relative crown position and crown size as expressed by crown projections and relative heights of crop trees and their competitors. Comparisons were made among CPI, the Hegyl (1974)...

Bifurcation structure of positive stationary solutions for a Lotka-Volterra competition model with diffusion I

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kan-On, Yukio

2007-04-01

This paper is concerned with the bifurcation structure of positive stationary solutions for a generalized Lotka-Volterra competition model with diffusion. To establish the structure, the bifurcation theory and the interval arithmetic are employed.

Domestic Appliances and Industrial Design: The Italian White-Goods Industry during the 1950s and 1960s.

PubMed

Paris, Ivan

The white-goods sector was one of the industries that led economic development in Italy following World War II and featured companies that achieved notable results in foreign markets. According to the literature on the subject, price competitiveness generated mainly by the lower cost of labor was the key to this success. This article explores the as-yet unstudied role played by industrial design, and not only for its ability to significantly facilitate the reduction of production costs. It shows how industrial design played a wider and more decisive role in reinventing Italian white goods by differentiating the products of Italian producers from those of their main foreign competitors. Therefore the article contributes to understanding how and why certain products and technologies are reworked, assimilated, and diffused in the ways they are.

Foreign Languages and "Help Wanted": A Survey of Advertisements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savell, Don P.

1978-01-01

A survey of 360 "Positions Available" advertisements in "The Wall Street Journal" shows that there is a demand in the business and commercial world for persons with business, technical, or scientific training who can speak one or more foreign languages. (Author/SW)

Positioning for Competition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lapovsky, Lucie; Hubbell, Loren Loomis

2000-01-01

Analyzes results of the 1999 National Association of College and Business Officers tuition discounting survey and identifies trends. Finds colleges and universities are reactively responding to market pressures and proactively trying to analyze and position themselves ahead of the competition, often regional rather than national, for the…

Are marketing campaigns in Taiwan by foreign tobacco companies targeting young smokers?

PubMed Central

Wen, C; Chen, T; Tsai, Y; Tsai, S; Chung, W; Cheng, T; Levy, D; Hsu, C; Peterson, R; Liu, W

2005-01-01

Objective: To assess the impact of promotions on cigarette sales in Taiwan after the cigarette market opened to foreign companies, and to assess whether young smokers were targeted by these companies. Methods: Trends in cigarette sales, advertising expenditure, brand preference, and cigarette consumption were examined for the period following the 1987 opening of the cigarette market. Tobacco industry internal documents from Legacy Tobacco Documents Library of the University of California, San Francisco, were searched for corporate strategies on promoting youth consumption in Taiwan. Results: Between 1995 and 2000, the inflation adjusted advertising expenditures by all foreign firms increased fourfold. Much of the expenditure was spent on brand stretching the Mild Seven (Japan) and Davidoff (Germany) brands in television advertising. By 2000, the market share of foreign cigarettes exceeded domestics by three to one among young smokers and the leading brand preferred by this segment shifted from the most popular domestic brand (Long Life) to a foreign brand (Mild Seven). Furthermore, there was a sudden increase of 16.4% in smoking rates among young adults (from 36.1% to 42.0%) during the first five years after the market opened. This was also accompanied by increased per capita cigarette consumption and decreased age of smoking initiation. Industry documents confirmed the use of strategies targeted at the young. In particular, establishing new point of sale (POS) retail stores or promotional activities at POS were found to be more effective than advertising in magazines. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that advertising increased with increased competition following the market opening, which, in turn, spurred cigarette sales and consumption. Foreign tobacco companies have deliberately targeted youth in Taiwan and succeeded in gaining three quarters of their cigarette purchases within a decade. Expanding youth consumption will incur excessive future health care costs borne by society. Foreign tobacco companies should be obligated to reimburse these expenses through higher tariffs on cigarettes. PMID:15923447

Are marketing campaigns in Taiwan by foreign tobacco companies targeting young smokers?

PubMed

Wen, C P; Chen, T; Tsai, Y-Y; Tsai, S P; Chung, W S I; Cheng, T Y; Levy, D T; Hsu, C C; Peterson, R; Liu, W-Y

2005-06-01

To assess the impact of promotions on cigarette sales in Taiwan after the cigarette market opened to foreign companies, and to assess whether young smokers were targeted by these companies. Trends in cigarette sales, advertising expenditure, brand preference, and cigarette consumption were examined for the period following the 1987 opening of the cigarette market. Tobacco industry internal documents from Legacy Tobacco Documents Library of the University of California, San Francisco, were searched for corporate strategies on promoting youth consumption in Taiwan. Between 1995 and 2000, the inflation adjusted advertising expenditures by all foreign firms increased fourfold. Much of the expenditure was spent on brand stretching the Mild Seven (Japan) and Davidoff (Germany) brands in television advertising. By 2000, the market share of foreign cigarettes exceeded domestics by three to one among young smokers and the leading brand preferred by this segment shifted from the most popular domestic brand (Long Life) to a foreign brand (Mild Seven). Furthermore, there was a sudden increase of 16.4% in smoking rates among young adults (from 36.1% to 42.0%) during the first five years after the market opened. This was also accompanied by increased per capita cigarette consumption and decreased age of smoking initiation. Industry documents confirmed the use of strategies targeted at the young. In particular, establishing new point of sale (POS) retail stores or promotional activities at POS were found to be more effective than advertising in magazines. This study provides evidence that advertising increased with increased competition following the market opening, which, in turn, spurred cigarette sales and consumption. Foreign tobacco companies have deliberately targeted youth in Taiwan and succeeded in gaining three quarters of their cigarette purchases within a decade. Expanding youth consumption will incur excessive future health care costs borne by society. Foreign tobacco companies should be obligated to reimburse these expenses through higher tariffs on cigarettes.

Is Radiologic Evaluation Necessary to Find out Foreign Bodies in Nasal Cavity?

PubMed

Oh, Hoon; Min, Hyun Jin; Yang, Hoon Shik; Kim, Kyung Soo

2016-01-01

Although there were previous studies on the clinical aspects such as etiology, treatment modalities, studies regarding the necessity of radiologic evaluation for nasal foreign body were limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the necessity and indication of radiologic evaluation for nasal foreign bodies. There are consecutive patients aged less than 10 years who presented with suspected foreign bodies in nasal cavity. We reviewed the patient's age and sex, including the methods of evaluation, management tools, and types of foreign bodies. There were 35 cases (11.4%) on whom radiographs were performed in the 24 uncooperative patients and 11 cooperative patients who were not identified with any foreign bodies via nasal endoscopy. Among them, only 4 cases had positive reports of foreign body and the others were normal radiologic findings. We suggest that the radiologic evaluation is always not necessary to find the location of nasal foreign bodies. It, however, should be performed in cases of negative findings of physical examination with anterior rhinoscopy or sinus endoscopy and unwitnessed foreign bodies to rule out metallic contents, especially button type battery.

Off-Line Evaluation of Mobile-Centric Indoor Positioning Systems: The Experiences from the 2017 IPIN Competition

PubMed Central

Moreira, Adriano; Lungenstrass, Tomás; Lu, Wei-Chung; Seco, Fernando; Nicolau, Maria João; Farina, Joaquín; Morales, Juan Pablo; Lu, Wen-Chen; Cheng, Ho-Ti; Yang, Shi-Shen

2018-01-01

The development of indoor positioning solutions using smartphones is a growing activity with an enormous potential for everyday life and professional applications. The research activities on this topic concentrate on the development of new positioning solutions that are tested in specific environments under their own evaluation metrics. To explore the real positioning quality of smartphone-based solutions and their capabilities for seamlessly adapting to different scenarios, it is needed to find fair evaluation frameworks. The design of competitions using extensive pre-recorded datasets is a valid way to generate open data for comparing the different solutions created by research teams. In this paper, we discuss the details of the 2017 IPIN indoor localization competition, the different datasets created, the teams participating in the event, and the results they obtained. We compare these results with other competition-based approaches (Microsoft and Perf-loc) and on-line evaluation web sites. The lessons learned by organising these competitions and the benefits for the community are addressed along the paper. Our analysis paves the way for future developments on the standardization of evaluations and for creating a widely-adopted benchmark strategy for researchers and companies in the field. PMID:29415508

Off-Line Evaluation of Mobile-Centric Indoor Positioning Systems: The Experiences from the 2017 IPIN Competition.

PubMed

Torres-Sospedra, Joaquín; Jiménez, Antonio R; Moreira, Adriano; Lungenstrass, Tomás; Lu, Wei-Chung; Knauth, Stefan; Mendoza-Silva, Germán Martín; Seco, Fernando; Pérez-Navarro, Antoni; Nicolau, Maria João; Costa, António; Meneses, Filipe; Farina, Joaquín; Morales, Juan Pablo; Lu, Wen-Chen; Cheng, Ho-Ti; Yang, Shi-Shen; Fang, Shih-Hau; Chien, Ying-Ren; Tsao, Yu

2018-02-06

The development of indoor positioning solutions using smartphones is a growing activity with an enormous potential for everyday life and professional applications. The research activities on this topic concentrate on the development of new positioning solutions that are tested in specific environments under their own evaluation metrics. To explore the real positioning quality of smartphone-based solutions and their capabilities for seamlessly adapting to different scenarios, it is needed to find fair evaluation frameworks. The design of competitions using extensive pre-recorded datasets is a valid way to generate open data for comparing the different solutions created by research teams. In this paper, we discuss the details of the 2017 IPIN indoor localization competition, the different datasets created, the teams participating in the event, and the results they obtained. We compare these results with other competition-based approaches (Microsoft and Perf-loc) and on-line evaluation web sites. The lessons learned by organising these competitions and the benefits for the community are addressed along the paper. Our analysis paves the way for future developments on the standardization of evaluations and for creating a widely-adopted benchmark strategy for researchers and companies in the field.

A Manpower, Budget, Structure, Synergism (MBSS) Model for the Comparison of US-Soviet Military-Space Research Efforts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-08-01

particular markets . The US government, on the other hand, has no competition except from foreign governments. Judgments as to the adequacy of...Defense Burden," Naval War College Review, Jul-Aug 81, p 41. 20 TABLE 2-3 SOVIET DEFENSE COST CATEGORY MIX Percentages Rosenfielde CIA () (2...consistent that virtually identical ruble - dollar conversion rates over that period are plausible. The CIA also prepares estimates of cost category mixes

Implications of China’s Growing Military Diplomatic Clout for the United States: Cooperation, Competition or Conflict

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

conflicts and wars; • Stands for effective disarmament and arms control that are just, reasonable, comprehensive and balanced in nature; • Opposes nuclear ...proliferation, and endeavors to advance the process of international nuclear disarmament; • Observes the purposes and principles of the UN Charter... disaster relief operations; and • Plays an active part in maintaining global and regional peace and stability.16 The CPC, Foreign Ministry, and

Two Wars: Overseas Contingency Operations and the War on Drugs

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-08

competition over territory and smuggling routes accounts for some of the current violence in Mexico.49 Two particular DTOs, the Gulf and Sinaloa cartels...Amherst Junction, Wisconsin Foreign Policy Association, 2009), 19. 49 Cook, Mexican Drug Cartels, 14. 44 the Sinaloa cartel over drug turf, is backed...by a local street gang the Aztecas, while the Sinaloa is backed by the gang Artistas Asesinos.50 Not only are they battling for control of the

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategy Essay Competition: Essays 1999

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-08-01

notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a...NUMBER OF PAGES 102 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT unclassified b. ABSTRACT unclassified c. THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form... person " or of publishing ’%mtruths." It also prohibited local broadcasters from the common practice of rebroadcasting foreign programs, in effect

Status of the lead/acid battery industry in Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, J.

The Malaysian automotive battery industry has an over-capacity and is experiencing a highly competitive situation in the domestic market. In the medium term, therefore, the industry will concentrate on making advances in battery design and technology, and on improving productivity. The manufacture of industrial batteries is similarly under pressure, particularly from foreign products. At present, it is not feasible to produce locally all the various types of industrial batteries required by the home market.

Prosperity Games prototyping with the American Electronics Association, March 8--9, 1994

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berman, M.; VanDevender, J.P.

1994-08-01

Prosperity Games are an outgrowth and adaptation of move/countermove and seminar War Games. Prosperity Games are simulations that explore complex issues in a variety of areas including economics, politics, sociology, environment, education and research. These issues can be examined from a variety of perspectives ranging from a global, macroeconomic and geopolitical viewpoint down to the details of customer/supplier/market interactions in specific industries. All Prosperity Games are unique in that both the game format and the player contributions vary from game to game. This report documents the Prosperity Game conducted under the sponsorship of the American Electronics Association in conjunction withmore » the Electronics Subcommittee of the Civilian Industrial Technology Committee of the National Science and Technology Council. Players were drawn from government, national laboratories, and universities, as well as from the electronics industry. The game explored policy changes that could enhance US competitiveness in the manufacturing of consumer electronics. Two teams simulated a presidentially appointed commission comprised of high-level representatives from government, industry, universities and national laboratories. A single team represented the foreign equivalent of this commission, formed to develop counter strategies for any changes in US policies. The deliberations and recommendations of these teams provide valuable insights as to the views of this diverse group of decision makers concerning policy changes, foreign competition, and the development, delivery and commercialization of new technologies.« less

Tuning in and tuning out: Speech perception in native- and foreign-talker babble

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Heukelem, Kristin; Bradlow, Ann R.

2005-09-01

Studies on speech perception in multitalker babble have revealed asymmetries in the effects of noise on native versus foreign-accented speech intelligibility for native listeners [Rogers et al., Lang Speech 47(2), 139-154 (2004)] and on sentence-in-noise perception by native versus non-native listeners [Mayo et al., J. Speech Lang. Hear. Res., 40, 686-693 (1997)], suggesting that the linguistic backgrounds of talkers and listeners contribute to the effects of noise on speech perception. However, little attention has been paid to the language of the babble. This study tested whether the language of the noise also has asymmetrical effects on listeners. Replicating previous findings [e.g., Bronkhorst and Plomp, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 92, 3132-3139 (1992)], the results showed poorer English sentence recognition by native English listeners in six-talker babble than in two-talker babble regardless of the language of the babble, demonstrating the effect of increased psychoacoustic/energetic masking. In addition, the results showed that in the two-talker babble condition, native English listeners were more adversely affected by English than Chinese babble. These findings demonstrate informational/cognitive masking on sentence-in-noise recognition in the form of linguistic competition. Whether this competition is at the lexical or sublexical level and whether it is modulated by the phonetic similarity between the target and noise languages remains to be determined.

Competition overwhelms the positive plant-soil feedback generated by an invasive plant.

PubMed

Crawford, Kerri M; Knight, Tiffany M

2017-01-01

Invasive plant species can modify soils in a way that benefits their fitness more than the fitness of native species. However, it is unclear how competition among plant species alters the strength and direction of plant-soil feedbacks. We tested how community context altered plant-soil feedback between the non-native invasive forb Lespedeza cuneata and nine co-occurring native prairie species. In a series of greenhouse experiments, we grew plants individually and in communities with soils that differed in soil origin (invaded or uninvaded by L. cuneata) and in soils that were live vs. sterilized. In the absence of competition, L. cuneata produced over 60% more biomass in invaded than uninvaded soils, while native species performance was unaffected. The absence of a soil origin effect in sterile soil suggests that the positive plant-soil feedback was caused by differences in the soil biota. However, in the presence of competition, the positive effect of soil origin on L. cuneata growth disappeared. These results suggest that L. cuneata may benefit from positive plant-soil feedback when establishing populations in disturbed landscapes with few interspecific competitors, but does not support the hypothesis that plant-soil feedbacks influence competitive outcomes between L. cuneata and native plant species. These results highlight the importance of considering whether competition influences the outcome of interactions between plants and soils.

[Distribution and drug resistance of the pathogenic bacteria from sputum specimens of 1 125 children with tracheo bronchial foreign bodies].

PubMed

Wen, Xin; Su, Jinzhu; Cui, Li; Wang, Juan; Zuo, Lujie

2015-02-01

To analyze the distribution and drug susceptibility of the pathogenic bacteria in the airway secretions in children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies so as to assist physicians in clinical prescription. Sputum specimens of 1 125 children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies were collected in removal of the foreign bodies by rigid bronchoscope, and the drug susceptibility test was performed. Pathogenic bacteria were detected in 218 (19.4%) of 1 125 sputum specimens. Among the pathogenic bacteria, 126 (57.79%) strains were gram-negative bacilli, consisting of 76 (34.86%) strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 10 (4.59%) strains of Escherichia coli, 7 (3.21%) strains of Sewer enterobacter, 7 (3.21%) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 6 (2.75%) strains of Klebsiella bacillus; and 92 (42.21%) strains were gram-positive bacilli, consisting of 80 (36.69%) strains of Streptococcus pneumonia and 10 (4.59%) strains of Escherichia coli. Most of detected gram-negative bacilli were highly sensitive to cefepime, ceftazidine, imipenem and amikacin, no strains were resistant to meropenem and ciprofloxacin. None of the detected gram-positive bacilli were resistant to cefepime, vancomycin, levofloxacin and teicoplanin. The Haemophilus influenzae of gram-negative bacilli and the Streptococcus pneumonia of gram-positive bacilli are the main pathogenic bacteria existing in the airway secretions of children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies. The Haemophilus influenzae were highly sensitive to cephalosporin, imipenem and amikacin, and the Streptococcus pneumonia to cefepime, vancomycin, levofloxacin and teicoplanin.

Predictors of discordant tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube results in various high-risk groups.

PubMed

Weinfurter, P; Blumberg, H M; Goldbaum, G; Royce, R; Pang, J; Tapia, J; Bethel, J; Mazurek, G H; Toney, S; Albalak, R

2011-08-01

Persons in whom targeted testing for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended in Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; and central North Carolina, United States. To compare the performance of an interferon-gamma release assay (QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube [QFT-GIT]) with the tuberculin skin test (TST) among foreign-born, homeless, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and substance abuse persons tested for LTBI. A cross-sectional study requiring participants to have a blood test, a TST and data collected. Of 1653 persons, 19.5% were TST-positive and 14.0% were QFT-GIT-positive. Overall concordance was moderate (kappa 0.53; 95%CI 0.47-0.58). Compared to concordant positive results, TST+/QFT-GIT- discordance was associated with HIV infection and sex, while TST-/QFT-GIT+ discordance was associated with HIV and inversely associated with foreign birth. Compared to concordant negative results, TST-/QFT-GIT+ discordance was associated with foreign birth and age ≥50 years, while TST+/QFT-GIT-discordance was associated with foreign birth, age 30-49 years, being Black and inversely associated with HIV. HIV infection was significantly associated with indeterminate QFT-GIT results. QFT-GIT may be an improvement over the TST for diagnosing LTBI in foreign-born and older persons, and may be as useful as the TST in HIV-infected persons. The sensitivity of both tests may be low in HIV-infected persons.

Are Competition and Extrinsic Motivation Reliable Predictors of Academic Cheating?

PubMed Central

Orosz, Gábor; Farkas, Dávid; Roland-Lévy, Christine

2013-01-01

Previous studies suggest that extrinsic motivation and competition are reliable predictors of academic cheating. The aim of the present questionnaire study was to separate the effects of motivation- and competition-related variables on academic cheating by Hungarian high school students (N = 620, M = 264, F = 356). Structural equation modeling showed that intrinsic motivation has a negative effect, and amotivation has a positive indirect effect on self-reported academic cheating. In contrast, extrinsic motivation had no significant effect. Indirect positive influence on cheating, based on some characteristics of hypercompetition, was also found, whereas attitudes toward self-developmental competition had a mediated negative influence. Neither constructive nor destructive competitive classroom climate had a significant impact on academic dishonesty. Acceptance of cheating and guilt has significant and direct effect on self-reported cheating. In comparison with them, the effects of motivational and competition-related variables are relatively small, even negligible. These results suggest that extrinsic motivation and competition are not amongst the most reliable predictors of academic cheating behavior. PMID:23450676

Are competition and extrinsic motivation reliable predictors of academic cheating?

PubMed

Orosz, Gábor; Farkas, Dávid; Roland-Lévy, Christine

2013-01-01

Previous studies suggest that extrinsic motivation and competition are reliable predictors of academic cheating. The aim of the present questionnaire study was to separate the effects of motivation- and competition-related variables on academic cheating by Hungarian high school students (N = 620, M = 264, F = 356). Structural equation modeling showed that intrinsic motivation has a negative effect, and amotivation has a positive indirect effect on self-reported academic cheating. In contrast, extrinsic motivation had no significant effect. Indirect positive influence on cheating, based on some characteristics of hypercompetition, was also found, whereas attitudes toward self-developmental competition had a mediated negative influence. Neither constructive nor destructive competitive classroom climate had a significant impact on academic dishonesty. Acceptance of cheating and guilt has significant and direct effect on self-reported cheating. In comparison with them, the effects of motivational and competition-related variables are relatively small, even negligible. These results suggest that extrinsic motivation and competition are not amongst the most reliable predictors of academic cheating behavior.

The influence of parenting practices and parental presence on children's and adolescents' pre-competitive anxiety.

PubMed

Bois, Julien E; Lalanne, Julien; Delforge, Catherine

2009-08-01

We examined parental influence on athletes' pre-competitive anxiety. The effect of parental presence during competition was studied as was the role of parenting practices. Data were collected from a sample of 341 athletes (201 basketball players and 140 tennis players) before an official competition. Analysis of variance indicated that the presence of both parents was associated with higher pre-competitive anxiety for all participants, except male tennis players. The absence of both parents did not result in less anxiety. A second analysis of variance revealed that females tennis players at provincial and national level perceived greater parental pressure than most other participants. Canonical correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between pre-competitive anxiety and parenting practices for tennis players, but not for basketball players. Directive behaviours and pressure were positively associated with pre-competitive anxiety for all tennis players, whereas praise and understanding was negatively related to anxiety for female tennis players only.

Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers' Beliefs about Competition in Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harvey, Stephen; O'Donovan, Toni M.

2013-01-01

The discourse of competitive sport is, and has been, a defining feature of physical education for many years. Given the privileged and dominant position competition holds in physical education curricula, it is concerning that competitive physical education remains steeped in traditional pedagogies and that these pedagogies are constrained by…

Children's Development through Sports Competition: Derivative, Adjustive, Generative, and Maladaptive Approaches

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi, Hong Suk; Johnson, Britton; Kim, Young K.

2014-01-01

Sports competition can play an important role for children because it contributes to developmental outcomes for a healthy lifestyle. Through sports competition, children can learn about physical, social, and cognitive skills. Sports competition can be either positive or negative in terms of development, depending on how experiences are perceived…

Where are you from? A validation of the Foreigner Objectification Scale and the psychological correlates of foreigner objectification among Asian Americans and Latinos.

PubMed

Armenta, Brian E; Lee, Richard M; Pituc, Stephanie T; Jung, Kyoung-Rae; Park, Irene J K; Soto, José A; Kim, Su Yeong; Schwartz, Seth J

2013-04-01

Many ethnic minorities in the United States consider themselves to be just as American as their European American counterparts. However, there is a persistent cultural stereotype of ethnic minorities as foreigners (i.e., the perpetual foreigner stereotype) that may be expressed during interpersonal interactions (i.e., foreigner objectification). The goal of the present study was to validate the Foreigner Objectification Scale, a brief self-report measure of perceived foreigner objectification, and to examine the psychological correlates of perceived foreigner objectification. Results indicated that the Foreigner Objectification Scale is structurally (i.e., factor structure) and metrically (i.e., factor loadings) invariant across foreign-born and U.S.-born Asian Americans and Latinos. Scalar (i.e., latent item intercepts) invariance was demonstrated for the two foreign-born groups and the two U.S.-born groups, but not across foreign-born and U.S.-born individuals. Multiple-group structural equation models indicated that, among U.S.-born individuals, perceived foreigner objectification was associated with less life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms, and was indirectly associated with lower self-esteem via identity denial, operationalized as the perception that one is not viewed by others as American. Among foreign-born individuals, perceived foreigner objectification was not significantly associated directly with self-esteem, life satisfaction, or depressive symptoms. However, perceived foreigner objectification was positively associated with identity denial, and identity denial was negatively associated with life satisfaction. This study illustrates the relevance of perceived foreigner objectification to the psychological well-being of U.S.-born Asian Americans and Latinos.

Anxiety about speaking a foreign language as a mediator of the relation between motivation and willingness to communicate.

PubMed

Wu, Chia-Pei; Lin, Huey-Ju

2014-12-01

The purpose of this study was to examine whether anxiety about speaking a foreign language mediated the relation between motivation and a willingness to communicate among 107 Taiwanese students sampled from two public universities and one private university. A regression analysis indicated that motivation was negatively related to university students' anxiety about speaking a foreign language and positively related to willingness to communicate. Furthermore, anxiety about speaking a foreign language was negatively related to university students' willingness to communicate, and also partially mediated the relationship between motivation and willingness to communicate. The findings suggest that high motivation and low anxiety about speaking a foreign language are needed for Taiwanese students to demonstrate a stronger willingness to communicate.

The role of growth form and correlated traits in competitive ranking of six perennial ruderal plant species grown in unbalanced mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dietz, Hansjörg; Steinlein, Thomas; Ullmann, Isolde

1998-02-01

The competitive abilities of six perennial ruderal plants of three different growth forms were compared via yield measures using an additive diallel experimental design with unbalanced mixtures (9:3 or 3:9 plants per pot, respectively). Thus, in a given mixture species A was grown in two configurations: three individuals in centre position of the pot together with nine plants of species B in border position and vice versa. Effect competitive abilities as well as response competitive abilities of the species were significantly related to canopy height and plant biomass. The species with lower rosette growth form and smaller biomasses were weaker competitors than the species possessing elevated canopies along with higher biomasses, whereas total leaf area was not significantly correlated with competitive ability between species. Species differences in competitive ability were stronger between the plants grown in the central position than between those grown in the border position. Furthermore, interactions between species-specific traits and configuration could be observed, indicating the importance of species proportions and arrangement patterns for evaluation of competitive outcome in the field. The degree of complete transitivity of the competitive network of the six ruderal species, which was significantly higher than expected under the null model in our experimental design, also seemed to depend on species proportions in mixture. Shifts in root:shoot ratio of the centre plants when faced with competition by the border plants were in the direction of higher shoot allocation for the weak competitors with rosette growth form irrespective of the neighbour species, except for Bunias orientalis, which showed a more plastic response. The stronger competitors showed higher root allocation ( Urtica dioica) or were hardly affected at all. Consistent with the results of our experiment, the weaker competitors occur at rather frequently disturbed and therefore transient field sites whereas the stronger competitors predominate at infrequently disturbed sites during several phases of succession.

Foreign direct investments and their impact on the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Susic, I.; Stojanovic-Trivanovic, M.; Susic, M.

2017-05-01

From the perspective of macroeconomic indicators, investment is a significant determinant of economic development in general, as well as the development indicator of economic entities in the micro segment. Investments are an essential element of any economic policy, because their implementation provides a platform not only for economic development, but also are prerequisite for the stability of economic and social trends. Foreign direct investment plays an important role in the financing of the global economy, and it represents the most frequent feature in financing the national economies of developing countries and countries in transition. Demand for foreign investment in the global market is large, and thus the governments have been conducting many activities in order to create a more favorable environment to attract investors. In this paper, special attention was paid to direct investments in financing the economy on a global scale, their importance for the development of the global economy and the impact of foreign direct investment in the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The major activities, which are necessary to be done to attract investments in the highest possible volume, have been emphasized. With the use of statistical and quantitative analysis, the paper shows that the inflow of foreign capital is one of the basic prerequisite of economic growth acceleration and that the inflow of foreign capital has a positive impact on the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By monitoring and analyzing the various instruments of foreign capital inflow, with an emphasis on investment in the free zone and a joint venture with foreign investors, it has been clearly pointed out the fact that they have diverse, but proven positive impact on macroeconomic variables in the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

22 CFR 506.7 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Exceptions. 506.7 Section 506.7 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM § 506.7 Exceptions. The Director of the Board and the Associate Director for Management may except positions from inclusion in this...

22 CFR 506.7 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2012-04-01 2009-04-01 true Exceptions. 506.7 Section 506.7 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM § 506.7 Exceptions. The Director of the Board and the Associate Director for Management may except positions from inclusion in this...

22 CFR 506.7 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2013-04-01 2009-04-01 true Exceptions. 506.7 Section 506.7 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM § 506.7 Exceptions. The Director of the Board and the Associate Director for Management may except positions from inclusion in this...

Foreign Language Immersion Programs and School Policy: Conflicting Agendas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson Beal, Heather K.; Haj-Broussard, Michelle; Boudreaux, Nicole

2012-01-01

In this position article, we explore what happens when school district policies regarding desegregation, accountability, and foreign language immersion education collide. Specifically, we contrast 2 immersion programs that experienced distinct outcomes as a result of the conflicting agendas underlying these 3 policies. One program, originally…

22 CFR 506.7 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Exceptions. 506.7 Section 506.7 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM § 506.7 Exceptions. The Director of the Board and the Associate Director for Management may except positions from inclusion in this...

22 CFR 506.7 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 22 Foreign Relations 2 2011-04-01 2009-04-01 true Exceptions. 506.7 Section 506.7 Foreign Relations BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM § 506.7 Exceptions. The Director of the Board and the Associate Director for Management may except positions from inclusion in this...

Competitiveness, production, and productivity of cocoa in Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fahmid, I. M.; Harun, H.; Fahmid, M. M.; Saadah; Busthanul, N.

2018-05-01

Cocoa is one of Indonesia’s five foreign exchange earner, thus cocoa must stay competitive for the export market. Aims of this study are: analyze the cost structure, production and productivity of cocoa farming, the level of competitiveness, and map the types of government policies that affect the competitiveness of cocoa plants. The method used is descriptive qualitative and quantitative. Data analysis is done by using PAM (Policy Analysis Matrix). The results showed, structures are at the cost of production of cocoa farming in Indonesia almost 50 percent for wages, and 31.6 percent for land rental. The big percentage of workers wages indicates that cocoa farming is labor intensive production. In Indonesia total productive cocoa farms only 27.6%, with a productivity level of 655,515 kg per hectare. Cocoa farming in Indonesia is carried out with protective policies, the value of EPC 4.29, indicating the government’s policy towards the inputs and outputs of cocoa has been effective. While the PCR value of 0.51, indicating cocoa farming has a competitive advantage, but it does not have a comparative advantage. In conclusion, productivity, out-put prices, and exchange rates should be raised, and input prices should be lowered, so that cocoa farming can provide higher net transfer values for farmers. To improve the competitiveness of cocoa farming, the islands of Sulawesi and Sumatra are two islands that require special policies, especially on out-put price policy, input prices, and productivity, as well as improvement of other cocoa commodity farming systems, as these two islands contributed more the 80 percent of Indonesia cocoa bean production.

Seroprevalence of HIV infection among the foreign students at Agra during a fifteen year period (1988-2002).

PubMed

Hussain, Tahziba; Kulshreshtha, K K; Sood, Sumita; Arif, Mohd; Sinha, Shikha; Yadav, V S; Sengupta, U; Katoch, V M

2005-11-01

The present study reports a retrospective analysis of data of HIV testing of foreign students from Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and Europe, studying as well as staying at Agra, over a period of 15 yr (1988 to 2002). Of the 2653 [2092 (78.85%) were from the Sub-Saharan African countries, 377 (14.21%) from the South-East Asian countries, and 184 (6.93%) from the European countries], foreign students tested for HIV, only 26 were found to be positive for HIV-1/2 antibodies by the ELISA, rapid and Western Blot assays. Out of 26 HIV-positive, 17 males and 7 females were from Sub-Saharan Africa and 2 males were from the European countries. The range of HIV-positivity over a period of 15 yr varied greatly. When the five-year (1988-1992, 1993-1997 and 1998-2002) results were compared, the HIV-seropositivity showed a decline from 1.85, 0.50 to 0.36 per cent in the first, second and third 5 yr slots, respectively. While the data were not representative of all foreign students in India, this reflected the population tested in this centre was not a growing focus of HIV infection in this part of the country.

5 CFR 2.2 - Appointments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE RULES APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE... appointment system for positions subject to competitive examinations which will permit adjustment of the... system for stabilizing the Federal work force. A competitive status shall be acquired by a career...

5 CFR 2.2 - Appointments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE RULES APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE... appointment system for positions subject to competitive examinations which will permit adjustment of the... system for stabilizing the Federal work force. A competitive status shall be acquired by a career...

Quantification of Accelerometer Derived Impacts Associated With Competitive Games in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I College Football Players.

PubMed

Wellman, Aaron D; Coad, Sam C; Goulet, Grant C; McLellan, Christopher P

2017-02-01

Wellman, AD, Coad, SC, Goulet, GC, and McLellan, CP. Quantification of accelerometer derived impacts associated with competitive games in National Collegiate Athletic Association division I college football players. J Strength Cond Res 31(2): 330-338, 2017-The aims of the present study were to (a) examine positional impact profiles of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division I college football players using global positioning system (GPS) and integrated accelerometry (IA) technology and (b) determine if positional differences in impact profiles during competition exist within offensive and defensive teams. Thirty-three NCAA division I Football Bowl Subdivision players were monitored using GPS and IA (GPSports) during 12 regular season games throughout the 2014 season. Individual player data sets (n = 294) were divided into offensive and defensive teams, and positional subgroups. The intensity, number, and distribution of impact forces experienced by players during competition were recorded. Positional differences were found for the distribution of impacts within offensive and defensive teams. Wide receivers sustained more very light and light to moderate (5-6.5 G force) impacts than other position groups, whereas the running backs were involved in more severe (>10 G force) impacts than all offensive position groups, with the exception of the quarterbacks (p ≤ 0.05). The defensive back and linebacker groups were subject to more very light (5.0-6.0 G force) impacts, and the defensive tackle group sustained more heavy and very heavy (7.1-10 G force) impacts than other defensive positions (p ≤ 0.05). Data from the present study provide novel quantification of positional impact profiles related to the physical demands of college football games and highlight the need for position-specific monitoring and training in the preparation for the impact loads experienced during NCAA division I football competition.

Endodontic management of a foreign body.

PubMed

Kalyan, Satish R; Sajjan, Girija

2010-07-01

The discovery of a foreign object embedded in a tooth is relatively uncommon. Some people have a habit of placing foreign objects to remove food plugs from the teeth. However, occasionally, these objects may be lodged in the teeth. These foreign objects may act as a potential source of infection and may later lead to a painful condition. A detailed case history, clinical, and radiographic examination is required to ascertain the size, position, and likely composition of the object, and also difficulty involved in its retrieval. This paper describes the successful retrieval of stapler pin located in the apical portion of root canal by simple orthograde nonsurgical technique.

Endodontic management of a foreign body

PubMed Central

Kalyan, Satish R.; Sajjan, Girija

2010-01-01

The discovery of a foreign object embedded in a tooth is relatively uncommon. Some people have a habit of placing foreign objects to remove food plugs from the teeth. However, occasionally, these objects may be lodged in the teeth. These foreign objects may act as a potential source of infection and may later lead to a painful condition. A detailed case history, clinical, and radiographic examination is required to ascertain the size, position, and likely composition of the object, and also difficulty involved in its retrieval. This paper describes the successful retrieval of stapler pin located in the apical portion of root canal by simple orthograde nonsurgical technique. PMID:22114412

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in foreign-born persons living in San Francisco.

PubMed

Suwanpimolkul, Gompol; Jarlsberg, Leah G; Grinsdale, Jennifer A; Osmond, Dennis; Kawamura, L Masae; Hopewell, Philip C; Kato-Maeda, Midori

2013-05-01

In San Francisco, 70% of the tuberculosis cases occur among foreign-born persons, mainly from China, the Philippines, and Mexico. We postulate that there are differences in the characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis among these populations. To determine the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of tuberculosis caused by recent infection and rapid evolution in the major groups of foreign-born and the U.S.-born populations. We analyzed data from a 20-year prospective community-based study of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. We included all culture-positive tuberculosis cases in the City during the study period. We calculated and compared incidence rates, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and risk factors for being a secondary case between the various foreign-born and U.S.-born tuberculosis populations. Between 1991 and 2010, there were 4,058 new cases of tuberculosis, of which 1,226 (30%) were U.S.-born and 2,832 (70%) were foreign-born. A total of 3,278 (81%) were culture positive, of which 2,419 (74%) had complete data for analysis. The incidence rate, including the incidence rate of tuberculosis due to recent infection and rapid evolution, decreased significantly in the U.S.-born and the major foreign-born populations. The clinical and microbiological characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent infection differed among the groups. There are differences in the characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent transmission among the major foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in San Francisco. These differences should be considered for the design of targeted tuberculosis control interventions.

Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of chronic hepatitis B infection in a cohort of immigrant and Italian patients from Ferrara, Italy.

PubMed

Contini, Carlo; Badia, Lorenzo; Cultrera, Rosario; Grilli, Anastasio; De Togni, Aldo

2012-01-01

Italy has recently become a land of immigration. Two hundred and fifty thousand carriers are immigrants and chronic HBV infection is the prevalent form. Considering the elevated number of foreigners resident in our province and the potential risk of transmission to local people, we retrospectively investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in 154 patients (76 foreigners, 78 Italians) observed in our Institution, with regard to demographic and clinical/laboratory characteristics. The immigrants were younger (mean age 31 years) compared to Italians (51.5) and mainly came from East Europe. Regarding exposure to HBV, the intra-familial risk factor was most frequently observed in foreigners, compared to Italians (p = 0.03). Foreigners also showed a higher prevalence of HBeAg positive forms, HDV co-infection (7.9%) and abnormal ALT and/or HBV-DNA values, compared to Italians. HBeAg positivity was more associated with increased ALT (OR = 36.6, p = 0.001) than with elevated HBV viremia (OR = 6.5, p = 0.049); age was a protective factor (OR = 0.1; p = 0.014). No significant association was found between increased ALT and foreign nationality. The simultaneous presence of increased ALT and viremia was more frequent among foreigners, (OR = 7.6, p = 0,014) and increased with age (OR = 1.06, p = 0.013). Antiviral therapy was given in 7.8% of foreign citizens. Immigrants constitute a vulnerable population subgroup that would benefit from a more active approach regarding doctor patient relationship for early recognition of HBV and treatment programmes.

Improvement of DNA transfer frequency and transposon mutagenesis of Erwinia carotovora subsp. betavasculorum.

PubMed Central

Rella, M; Axelrood, P E; Weinhold, A R; Schroth, M N

1989-01-01

The production of antibiotics and their role in microbial competition under natural conditions can be readily studied by the use of transposon mutants. Several antibiotic-producing strains of Erwinia carotovora subsp. betavasculorum were unable to accept foreign DNA. A plasmid delivery system was developed, using ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis, which entailed isolating E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum mutants able to accept foreign DNA and transfer it to other strains. This enabled transposon mutagenesis of a wild-type antibiotic-producing strain of E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum. Twelve antibiotic-negative mutants were isolated, and one of these showed a reduction in antibiotic production in vitro. Many of these mutants also showed a reduction in their ability to macerate potato tissue. The mutants were classified into four genetic groups on the basis of their genetic and phenotypic characteristics, indicating that several genes are involved in antibiotic biosynthesis by E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum. PMID:2543291

5 CFR 2635.204 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... $20. Example 3: On four occasions during the calendar year, an employee of the Defense Logistics... position. (i) Meals, refreshments and entertainment in foreign areas. An employee assigned to duty in, or on official travel to, a foreign area as defined in 41 CFR 301-7.3(c) may accept food, refreshments...

5 CFR 2635.204 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... $20. Example 3: On four occasions during the calendar year, an employee of the Defense Logistics... position. (i) Meals, refreshments and entertainment in foreign areas. An employee assigned to duty in, or on official travel to, a foreign area as defined in 41 CFR 301-7.3(c) may accept food, refreshments...

A Year-Round Professional Development Model for World Language Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steele, Tracy M.; Peterson, Margaret D.; Silva, Duarte M.; Padilla, Amado M.

2009-01-01

The Bay Area Foreign Language Program (BAFLP), one of nine regional sites of the California Foreign Language Project, offers ongoing, year-round professional development programs for world language educators. In addition, its leadership program prepares selected educators to assume leadership positions at their school sites, building capacity for…

Constructing a Brand Identity Scale for Higher Education Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goi, Mei Teh; Goi, Chai Lee; Wong, David

2014-01-01

Malaysia is a newly industrialized market economy and reliant upon foreign direct investment to increase its economic outlook. Being located in a strategic position between Asia, Australasia and Oceania has made it an attractive proposition for foreign higher education providers wanting to expand their international presence. Despite this, there…

Bild- und Tontraeger im Fremdsprachenunterricht. Eine rentable Investition? (Visual and Sound Media in Foreign Language Teaching--A Profitable Investment?)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macht, Konrad

1978-01-01

Discusses a "rational concept" of integration of audiovisual teaching aids into the foreign language teaching process that would be based on a positive evaluation of teacher-centered instruction. Offers a model for integration of human and technical media. (IFS/WGA)

Report of Survey on Business Use of Foreign Language.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laverty, Grace E.

In 1978 a study was initiated to determine the use and importance of foreign language proficiency in Pennsylvania businesses. Two hundred eighty-four respondents represented the commercial, health, and municipal domains. Positive responses (indicating employment of personnel skilled in languages other than English) were received from 41% of…

Health and foreign policy in question: the case of humanitarian action.

PubMed

Thieren, Michel

2007-03-01

Health has gained recognition as a foreign policy concern in recent years. Political leaders increasingly address global health problems within their international relations agendas. The confluence of health and foreign policy has opened these issues to analysis that helps clarify the tenets and determinants of this linkage, offering a new framework for international health policy. Yet as health remains profoundly bound to altruistic values, caution is required before generalizing about the positive outcomes of merging international health and foreign policy principles. In particular, the possible side-effects of this framework deserve further consideration. This paper examines the interaction of health and foreign policy in humanitarian action, where public health and foreign policy are often in direct conflict. Using a case-based approach, this analysis shows that health and foreign policy need not be at odds in this context, although there are situations where altruistic and interest-based values compete. The hierarchy of foreign policy functions must be challenged to avoid misuse of national authority where health interventions do not coincide with national security and domestic interests.

Die Liberalisierung de Telekommunikationsbranche in Deutschland( The Liberalization of the Telecommunication-Industry in Germany)

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-03-01

however, the German telecommunication-industry has, like the telecommunication in other European countries, had dramatic development experiences...liberalization-measures are described and are analyzed their effects on the different markets. While the competition in the markets for fine - and foreign...ýonstige 0.182 0.267 . 0.566 1.093 2.108 6umme 0.161 1.235 2.740 3.489 4.589 4.872 17,09 Anmerk-ung: Negat ive Werte stellen eine negative Verlndemng der und

France: Factors Shaping Foreign Policy, and Issues in U.S.-French Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-03

national governments to expend public funds on enhancing the competitiveness of key companies. See Bennhold, Katrin , “ Sarkozy Urges Europe to Forge...consternés par la fragilité de leur puissance,” Le Monde, Sept. 3, 2005, p. 3; “ Hurricane Katrina: French Assistance,” doc. supplied by French embassy, Sept...the United States as having feet of clay. Hurricane Katrina fueled this sentiment. The French media was both puzzled by and critical of the U.S

Global trade in satellites and launch services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Space of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives is presented. Written testimony, submittals for the record, and responses to written questions are included. Topics concerning the global trade in satellites and launch services include foreign competition, the China and Russia trade agreements, Commerce licensing on international sales and export, trade control, technology transfer, satellite communications and the economy, satellites and the global information infrastructure, commercial space revenues, and enforcement of trade policies.

Prevailing in a Well-Armed World: Devising Competitive Strategies Against Weapons Proliferation

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-03-01

mysterious. It comes from within, and we are more concerned with the final product than with the process of its production . Teaching policy as art...large economies of scale, and no substitute products often lead to oligopolies or monopolies and high profit margins. 34 At this point we do not... Policy , New York, NY: Council on Foreign Relations Press, 1993, pp. 234, 239-240. 12. On these points, see Chris Williams, "DoD’s Counter

International Interdisciplinary Conference (1st) on the Influence of Culture (Japanese/American) on Technological Innovation

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-11-01

associated with compact discs. He had to negotiate with Philips about technical issues for standardization and also with Japanese companies. The laser...competition (c. Davidson 1984; Kotler et a. 1985; Ozawa 1974). For example, such a firm can easily parcel out production among its foreign subsidiaries and...of indawial po4 1925-1975. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Caldoria Jer, Philip , Lrn Fahb", and Sonshid Jaetnaiak 1M6 77e New conendou Prentie

The U.S. Automobile Industry: Will It Survive Increasing International Competition

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-04-22

the best selling automobile in the country by almost a 2:1 margin was the Japanese designed Honda Accord. 1 It has been estimated that since 1980 over...the industry made to U.S. war efforts. I will compare the American automobile industry to its foreign competi- tors, take a look at the strategies used...during WW II in bomber pro- duction with excellent results. After the war, Deming’s methods were ignored by domestic automobile producers. Nissan was

NASA's Space Research and Technology Program. Report of a workshop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The status of the spacecraft and subsystem industry and the civil and military uses of space were examined. Genetic and specific enabling technologies were identified. It was found that U.S. spacecraft manufacturers support civil and commercial uses, the military and NASA and, in turn, are supported by subsystem suppliers. However, no single spacecraft program carries sufficient resources to develop advanced critical subsystem technologies and increasingly, U.S. suppliers are facing strong competition from foreign industry that is government subsidized.

Standards, Regulation and Registration of Dental Laboratories. An Industry Update.

PubMed

Giovannone, Paul L

2015-01-01

State dental associations are showing increased interest in maintaining current standards and regulations affecting the dental laboratory industry as mandated by the Food and Drug Administration. The domestic dental laboratory industry is being significantly stressed by foreign competition, rapid technology development and unprecedented consolidation, which are changing the way that prosthetic devices and restorations are manufactured and delivered to dentists. Of paramount importance to the prescribing dentist is the accurate documentation of the source and materials being used in prostheses being delivered to patients.

The US Army Foreign Comparative Test fuel cell program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bostic, Elizabeth; Sifer, Nicholas; Bolton, Christopher; Ritter, Uli; Dubois, Terry

The US Army RDECOM initiated a Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) Program to acquire lightweight, high-energy dense fuel cell systems from across the globe for evaluation as portable power sources in military applications. Five foreign companies, including NovArs, Smart Fuel Cell, Intelligent Energy, Ballard Power Systems, and Hydrogenics, Inc., were awarded competitive contracts under the RDECOM effort. This paper will report on the status of the program as well as the experimental results obtained from one of the units. The US Army has interests in evaluating and deploying a variety of fuel cell systems, where these systems show added value when compared to current power sources in use. For low-power applications, fuel cells utilizing high-energy dense fuels offer significant weight savings over current battery technologies. This helps reduce the load a solider must carry for longer missions. For high-power applications, the low operating signatures (acoustic and thermal) of fuel cell systems make them ideal power generators in stealth operations. Recent testing has been completed on the Smart Fuel Cell A25 system that was procured through the FCT program. The "A-25" is a direct methanol fuel cell hybrid and was evaluated as a potential candidate for soldier and sensor power applications.

Industrial espionage today and information wars of tomorrow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joyal, Paul

1996-03-01

In this report we review case histories of industrial espionage publicized in the media and in Congressional hearings. The threat to the United Stages as the world's largest investor in R&D is magnified by the transition from a cold war military confrontation of the super powers to an economic competition in global markets. To sustain their market share, France, Japan and Russia have initiated national programs to acquire U.S. technical know-how. Former intelligence staff now distill fragments of sensitive information into meaningful knowledge to guide industrial and national efforts to ascertain dominance. This threat is amplified by the exponential proliferation of global communication networks, like INTERENET, that reach into corporate America and permit unseen adversaries to probe the vast U.S. data stores for unprotected intelligence. Counter intelligence in industrial espionage by the United Stages on a national level is virtually impossible because of public scrutiny in our open society. On the positive side, the upheaval of a rapid transition from high-tension and high economic stability to low-tension and high economic instability is prompting international collaboration against international terrorism. On the corporate level, strategic alliances with foreign firms are expanding to sustain competitiveness and innovation in areas of specialty. A national security plan to protect the U.S. information resources is needed; and a viable policy to operate our information highways as safe conduits for electronic business. The well being of the global economy, not just that of our nation, is at stake and should not be left to chance and provocation.

5 CFR 930.203 - Cost of competitive examination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) PROGRAMS FOR SPECIFIC POSITIONS AND EXAMINATIONS (MISCELLANEOUS) Administrative Law Judge Program § 930.203 Cost of competitive examination. Each agency employing administrative law judges... 5 Administrative Personnel 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Cost of competitive examination. 930.203...

5 CFR 930.203 - Cost of competitive examination.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) PROGRAMS FOR SPECIFIC POSITIONS AND EXAMINATIONS (MISCELLANEOUS) Administrative Law Judge Program § 930.203 Cost of competitive examination. Each agency employing administrative law judges... 5 Administrative Personnel 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Cost of competitive examination. 930.203...

Sperm Competition Selects for Sperm Quantity and Quality in the Australian Maluridae

PubMed Central

Rowe, Melissah; Pruett-Jones, Stephen

2011-01-01

When ejaculates from rival males compete for fertilization, there is strong selection for sperm traits that enhance fertilization success. Sperm quantity is one such trait, and numerous studies have demonstrated a positive association between sperm competition and both testes size and the number of sperm available for copulations. Sperm competition is also thought to favor increases in sperm quality and changes in testicular morphology that lead to increased sperm production. However, in contrast to sperm quantity, these hypotheses have received considerably less empirical support and remain somewhat controversial. In a comparative study using the Australian Maluridae (fairy-wrens, emu-wrens, grasswrens), we tested whether increasing levels of sperm competition were associated with increases in both sperm quantity and quality, as well as an increase in the relative amount of seminiferous tubule tissue contained within the testes. After controlling for phylogeny, we found positive associations between sperm competition and sperm numbers, both in sperm reserves and in ejaculate samples. Additionally, as sperm competition level increased, the proportion of testicular spermatogenic tissue also increased, suggesting that sperm competition selects for greater sperm production per unit of testicular tissue. Finally, we also found that sperm competition level was positively associated with multiple sperm quality traits, including the proportion of motile sperm in ejaculates and the proportion of both viable and morphologically normal sperm in sperm reserves. These results suggest multiple ejaculate traits, as well as aspects of testicular morphology, have evolved in response to sperm competition in the Australian Maluridae. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the importance of post-copulatory sexual selection as an evolutionary force shaping macroevolutionary differences in sperm phenotype. PMID:21283577

Sperm competition selects for sperm quantity and quality in the Australian Maluridae.

PubMed

Rowe, Melissah; Pruett-Jones, Stephen

2011-01-25

When ejaculates from rival males compete for fertilization, there is strong selection for sperm traits that enhance fertilization success. Sperm quantity is one such trait, and numerous studies have demonstrated a positive association between sperm competition and both testes size and the number of sperm available for copulations. Sperm competition is also thought to favor increases in sperm quality and changes in testicular morphology that lead to increased sperm production. However, in contrast to sperm quantity, these hypotheses have received considerably less empirical support and remain somewhat controversial. In a comparative study using the Australian Maluridae (fairy-wrens, emu-wrens, grasswrens), we tested whether increasing levels of sperm competition were associated with increases in both sperm quantity and quality, as well as an increase in the relative amount of seminiferous tubule tissue contained within the testes. After controlling for phylogeny, we found positive associations between sperm competition and sperm numbers, both in sperm reserves and in ejaculate samples. Additionally, as sperm competition level increased, the proportion of testicular spermatogenic tissue also increased, suggesting that sperm competition selects for greater sperm production per unit of testicular tissue. Finally, we also found that sperm competition level was positively associated with multiple sperm quality traits, including the proportion of motile sperm in ejaculates and the proportion of both viable and morphologically normal sperm in sperm reserves. These results suggest multiple ejaculate traits, as well as aspects of testicular morphology, have evolved in response to sperm competition in the Australian Maluridae. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the importance of post-copulatory sexual selection as an evolutionary force shaping macroevolutionary differences in sperm phenotype.

5 CFR 213.3201 - Positions other than those of a confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination... confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination... Executive Service, for which it is impracticable to hold open competition or to apply usual competitive...

5 CFR 213.3201 - Positions other than those of a confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination... confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination... Executive Service, for which it is impracticable to hold open competition or to apply usual competitive...

How competitive is the match for radiology residency? Present view and historical perspective.

PubMed

Chen, Jim Y; Heller, Matthew T

2014-05-01

Interest in radiology as a career among US medical students has changed. The aim of this study was to investigate the recent and historical trends in residency applications and how they have affected competitiveness in obtaining a position. Statistics published by the National Resident Matching Program in "Results and Data: Main Residency Match" for 1991 to 2013 were analyzed. The number of radiology residency positions has trended upward over the past 23 years; however, the number of applicants from US medical schools has been widely variable. The number of applicants peaked in 2009 but has since decreased every year. The number of positions per US senior applicant (PPUSA) is a judge of specialty competitiveness on a supply-and-demand basis. A lower PPUSA indicates a more competitive specialty. Radiology saw its most competitive year in 2001, with only 0.91 PPUSA. PPUSA has been on the rise every year since 2009. From 2009 to 2013, the number of residency positions increased by 56, but there were 241 fewer US senior medical students preferring radiology. In 2013, there were 1,143 residency positions available for only 845 US senior medical students who preferred the specialty. The PPUSA was 1.35, making 2013 the least competitive year in obtaining a radiology residency position since 1998. Over the past 23 years, 5.5% of all US senior medical students have applied to radiology for residency. Interest reached an all-time high in 2009, at almost 7%. In 2013, only 4.8% of all US seniors preferred radiology, the lowest since 1999. The historical (1991-2013), current (2011-2013), and most recent (2013) PPUSAs for radiology were 1.19, 1.29, and 1.35, respectively. For comparison, the current PPUSAs for the following specialties were: 0.74 for plastic surgery, 0.83 for orthopedic surgery, 0.95 for dermatology, 1.10 for general surgery, 1.24 for obstetrics and gynecology, 1.31 for anesthesiology, 1.42 for pediatrics, and 1.80 for internal medicine (1.80). Although radiology residency positions have continued to increase, interest among US seniors has dropped every year since 2009. The 2013 match was the least competitive since 1998. Over the past 3 years, the competitiveness of matching radiology on a supply-and-demand basis has been close to that of obstetrics and gynecology and anesthesiology. Copyright © 2014 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enterprise-Level Motivations, Regulatory Pressures, and Corporate Environmental Management in Guangzhou, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Shui-Yan; Li, Pansy Honying; Fryxell, Gerald E.; Lo, Carlos Wing-Hung

2015-09-01

This study examines the effects of internal motivations and external pressures on the integration of environmental management (EM) practices within manufacturing operations in China. The moderating role of perceptions toward the regulatory process is also considered along with comparisons between wholly Chinese-owned and foreign-owned enterprises. From a sample of 131 manufacturing companies in the Guangzhou area, it was found that the salience of fees and fines has a strong positive influence on perceptions toward the regulator (the local Environmental Protection Bureau, EPB). This also has a positive effect on perceptions toward regulations themselves for foreign-owned enterprises. Business-case motivations for EM positively shape enterprise perceptions toward regulations, whereas risk-reduction motivations have a negative effect on perceptions toward regulations in foreign-owned enterprises. Enterprise perceptions toward the regulatory process have direct effects on the integration of EM practices in wholly Chinese-owned enterprises, but in opposite directions. While positive perceptions toward regulations have positive influence, positive perceptions toward regulators (i.e., the EPB) negatively affect it. Overall, these results indicated that promoting the adoption of EM practices depends on convincing business leaders that EM practices contribute to profit making. The regulatory process can potentially promote these practices, but measures need to be taken to ensure that the regulator is not co-opted by the regulated, especially in wholly Chinese-owned enterprises.

Enterprise-Level Motivations, Regulatory Pressures, and Corporate Environmental Management in Guangzhou, China.

PubMed

Tang, Shui-Yan; Li, Pansy Honying; Fryxell, Gerald E; Lo, Carlos Wing-Hung

2015-09-01

This study examines the effects of internal motivations and external pressures on the integration of environmental management (EM) practices within manufacturing operations in China. The moderating role of perceptions toward the regulatory process is also considered along with comparisons between wholly Chinese-owned and foreign-owned enterprises. From a sample of 131 manufacturing companies in the Guangzhou area, it was found that the salience of fees and fines has a strong positive influence on perceptions toward the regulator (the local Environmental Protection Bureau, EPB). This also has a positive effect on perceptions toward regulations themselves for foreign-owned enterprises. Business-case motivations for EM positively shape enterprise perceptions toward regulations, whereas risk-reduction motivations have a negative effect on perceptions toward regulations in foreign-owned enterprises. Enterprise perceptions toward the regulatory process have direct effects on the integration of EM practices in wholly Chinese-owned enterprises, but in opposite directions. While positive perceptions toward regulations have positive influence, positive perceptions toward regulators (i.e., the EPB) negatively affect it. Overall, these results indicated that promoting the adoption of EM practices depends on convincing business leaders that EM practices contribute to profit making. The regulatory process can potentially promote these practices, but measures need to be taken to ensure that the regulator is not co-opted by the regulated, especially in wholly Chinese-owned enterprises.

[HIVAb, HCVAb and HBsAg seroprevalence among inmates of the prison of Bologna and the effect of counselling on the compliance of proposed tests].

PubMed

Sabbatani, Sergio; Giuliani, Ruggero; Fulgaro, Ciro; Paolillo, Pasquale; Baldi, Elena; Chiodo, Francesco

2004-01-01

The aims of the study were to evaluate the HIVAb, HCVAb and HBsAg seroprevalence among Italian and foreign inmates of the prison of Bologna, to evaluate if the extensive counselling of "new" inmates has significantly enhanced adherence to laboratory tests. The serological status was determined by a blood withdraw following the informed consent. Before asking their consent, patients were informed by cultural mediators who had been instructed about the aims of the study/exam during introductory meetings. The initial step managed by mediators was followed by further individual counselling interventions, carried out by hospital infective disease unit, prison and prison drug abuse service physicians. The laboratory tests were performed in an external structure. Prison of Bologna. The study was conducted on 433 subjects among a whole population of 900 inmates in the local prison: 390 subjects were males (90.1%) and 43 were females (9.9%). The median age of the whole population was 34.86 years (+/- 9.9). The studied population counted 147 (33.9%) intravenous drug users (IDU) and 286 not addicts (66.1%). As regards nationality, 212 subjects were Italian (48.9%) and 221 (51.1%) foreigners. Among the total 433 inmates considered, 78 (18%) were known as previous IDU with conviction history or condemned to long term sentences, while 59 (13.6%) were inmates recently convicted active IDU assisted by the internal drug abusers service. The third group was composed by 296 inmates imprisoned during the summer (103 Italians and 193 foreigners) self declared not IDU. A. 12.5% of inmates were HIV positive, 8.1% HBV positive and 31.1% HCV positive. 25 subjects were found positive both to HIV and HCV; 1 both to HIV and HBV and 5 to HIV, HBV and HCV. HIV positivity is more common among Italian vs. foreigners inmates, among IDU vs. not IDU. HCV positivity is more common among Italian vs. foreigners inmates, and among IDU vs. not IDU. The distribution of HBV seropositivity among the different groups shows no statistically significant differences. All subjects receiving multi-focal counselling reached better compliance levels: 10% vs. 1% for HIV, 16% vs. 1% for HBV and 35% vs. 0.3% for HCV, with statistically significant coefficients of contingency. In the prison of Bologna drug addiction is prevalent in italian seropositive personers and it is often associated with HIV and HCV positivity. Foreign inmates, mostly in the not-IDU group, show a lower prevalence of these two infections. Multi-focal counselling before test increased significantly the adherence of inmates to the study.

5 CFR 362.107 - Conversion to the competitive service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... REGULATIONS PATHWAYS PROGRAMS General Provisions § 362.107 Conversion to the competitive service. (a) Subject... Pathways Program, an agency may noncompetitively convert an eligible Pathways Participant to a term or permanent competitive service position. (b) A Pathways Participant who is noncompetitively converted to a...

5 CFR 362.107 - Conversion to the competitive service.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... REGULATIONS PATHWAYS PROGRAMS General Provisions § 362.107 Conversion to the competitive service. (a) Subject... Pathways Program, an agency may noncompetitively convert an eligible Pathways Participant to a term or permanent competitive service position. (b) A Pathways Participant who is noncompetitively converted to a...

[Nodulation competitiveness of nodule bacteria: Genetic control and adaptive significance].

PubMed

Onishchuk, O P; Vorobyov, N I; Provorov, N A

2017-01-01

The most recent data on the system of cmp (competitiveness) genes that determine the nodulation competitiveness of rhizobial strains, i.e., the ability to compete for nodule formation in leguminous plants, is analyzed. Three genetic approaches for the construction of economically valuable strains of rhizobia are proposed: the amplification of positive regulators of competitiveness, the inactivation of the negative regulators of this trait, and the introduction of efficient competitiveness factors into strains capable of active nitrogen fixation.

Evolution of increased competitiveness in cows trades off with reduced milk yield, fertility and more masculine morphology.

PubMed

Sartori, Cristina; Mazza, Serena; Guzzo, Nadia; Mantovani, Roberto

2015-08-01

In some species females compete for food, foraging territories, mating, and nesting sites. Competing females can exhibit morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations typical of males, which are commonly considered as secondary sexual traits. Competition and the development of traits increasing competitiveness require much energy and may exert adverse effects on fecundity and survival. From an evolutionary perspective, positive selection for increased competitiveness would then result in evolution of reduced values for traits related to fitness such as fecundity and survival. There is recent evidence for such evolutionary trade-offs involving male competition, but no study has considered competing females so far. Using data from competitions for dominance in cows (Bos taurus), we found negative genetic correlations between traits providing success in competition, that is, fighting ability and fitness traits related to milk production and with fertility (the inverse of parity-conception interval). Fighting ability also showed low but positive genetic correlations with "masculine" morphological traits, and negative correlations with "feminine" traits. A genetic change in traits over time has occurred due to selection on competitiveness, corresponding to an evolutionary process of "masculinization" counteracting the official selection for milk yield. Similar evolutionary trade-off between success in competition and fitness components may be present in various species experiencing female competition. © 2015 The Author(s). Evolution © 2015 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

An Empirical Investigation of Product Differentiation in the Retail Gasoline Industry

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-05-06

variable is positive . Major ( branded , see footnote #4) gasoline stations operate under a number of contractual arrangements with refiners; owned and...SAME1 is positive and significant in all three regressions that are modeled using it. This means that as the ratio of firms that are the same brand ...stations of the same brand attempt to minimize price competition between themselves. The competition variable SAME2 is positive , but not significant in

Internship and Foreign Language Training: Blending Academic Study and Extra-Academic Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iwamura, Susan Grohs

Student experiences in an exchange program linking the University of Hawaii and the Graduate School of Business in Lyon, France illustrate the positive impact of foreign internships. The students were enrolled in internship programs in travel industry management. The reports written by the students reveal that the experiences have affected the…

Sensitivity to the Learning Needs of Newcomers in Foreign Language Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein, Ana Maria

2008-01-01

This article focuses on the instructional needs of newcomers to the North American classrooms who already speak one or more foreign languages and who are coping with classroom-related language issues. It taps into positive instructional strategies that are culturally-validating and welcoming for these students. Inspired by an invited Oxford Round…

17 CFR 5.23 - Notice of bulk transfers and bulk liquidations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

.... (a) Notice and disclosure to retail forex customers of a bulk transfer. (1) A retail foreign exchange... consent of its retail forex customer to the assignment of any position or transfer of any account of the retail forex customer to another retail foreign exchange dealer, futures commission merchant or...

17 CFR 5.23 - Notice of bulk transfers and bulk liquidations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

.... (a) Notice and disclosure to retail forex customers of a bulk transfer. (1) A retail foreign exchange... consent of its retail forex customer to the assignment of any position or transfer of any account of the retail forex customer to another retail foreign exchange dealer, futures commission merchant or...

17 CFR 5.23 - Notice of bulk transfers and bulk liquidations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

.... (a) Notice and disclosure to retail forex customers of a bulk transfer. (1) A retail foreign exchange... consent of its retail forex customer to the assignment of any position or transfer of any account of the retail forex customer to another retail foreign exchange dealer, futures commission merchant or...

Lowering Foreign Language Anxiety through Self-Regulated Learning Strategy Use

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martirossian, Armineh; Hartoonian, Anahid

2015-01-01

Foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) and self-regulated learning strategies (SRLSs) are important factors that influence language learning process in negative and positive ways respectively. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between FLCA and SRLSs. To this end, 100 university students majoring in TEFL were selected. For…

The Implications of Business English Mock Exams on Language Progress at Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

González Romero, Rocío

2016-01-01

Language learning has been increasingly influenced by technology over the last decades thanks to its positive effects on language acquisition. It is thanks to the technology's supportive role towards language learning that an increasing number of online foreign language courses have appeared. Besides, foreign language courses are more and more…

Do Foreign Language Learning, Cognitive, and Affective Variables Differ as a Function of Exceptionality Status and Gender?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell, Sherry Mee; McCallum, R. Steve

2012-01-01

Relationships between foreign language learning and four characteristics--anxiety, aptitude, attitudes and attributions for success--were investigated for 95 students enrolled in introductory level Spanish classes at a large, southeastern university in the United States. Examination grades resulted in significantly positive correlation with an…

The Impact of Contemplative Practices on Foreign Language Anxiety and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scida, Emily E.; Jones, Jill N.

2017-01-01

This study looked at the impact of the integration of contemplative practices on foreign language anxiety, positive and negative affect, self-efficacy, classroom climate, and language learning in students enrolled in an advanced intermediate Spanish language course in the USA. Data included pre- and post-test surveys, exam scores to measure…

78 FR 57617 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-19

... Investment Abroad, which is conducted every five years. The data are used in the preparation of the U.S.... Reporter with Foreign Affiliate (Form 577), obtains quarterly data on transactions and positions between U... covers all foreign affiliates above a size-exemption level. The sample data are used to derive universe...

In the Eyes of Turkish EFL Learners: What Makes an Effective Foreign Language Teacher?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Çelik, Servet; Arikan, Arda; Caner, Mustafa

2013-01-01

Research on the qualities of successful teachers in Turkey indicates that students consider teacher effectiveness as the ability to ensure an environment in which positive student-teacher interaction can take place. However, further studies are needed to clarify students' perceptions of the qualities of effective foreign language teachers, in…

International Banking: Implementation of Risk-Based Capital Adequacy Standards

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-01

exchange rates (foreign exchange rate risk), and in the prices of securities and trded debt instruments (position risk), credit risk would be addressed first...banks face many other risks, such as changes in the value of their holdings due to mo Ve- ments in interest rates (interest rate risk), in foreign

Global stability and pattern formation in a nonlocal diffusive Lotka-Volterra competition model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Wenjie; Shi, Junping; Wang, Mingxin

2018-06-01

A diffusive Lotka-Volterra competition model with nonlocal intraspecific and interspecific competition between species is formulated and analyzed. The nonlocal competition strength is assumed to be determined by a diffusion kernel function to model the movement pattern of the biological species. It is shown that when there is no nonlocal intraspecific competition, the dynamics properties of nonlocal diffusive competition problem are similar to those of classical diffusive Lotka-Volterra competition model regardless of the strength of nonlocal interspecific competition. Global stability of nonnegative constant equilibria are proved using Lyapunov or upper-lower solution methods. On the other hand, strong nonlocal intraspecific competition increases the system spatiotemporal dynamic complexity. For the weak competition case, the nonlocal diffusive competition model may possess nonconstant positive equilibria for some suitably large nonlocal intraspecific competition coefficients.

5 CFR 752.201 - Coverage.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... subpart covers: (1) An employee in the competitive service who has completed a probationary or trial period; (2) An employee in the competitive service serving in an appointment which requires no... competitive status who occupies a position under Schedule B of part 213 of this chapter; (4) An employee who...

Identifying competitive strategies to improve the performance of hospitals in a competitive environment.

PubMed

Chang, Chuan-Hui; Chiao, Yu-Ching; Tsai, Yafang

2017-11-21

This study is based on competitive dynamics theory, and discusses competitive actions (including their implementation requirements, strategic orientation, and action complexity) that influence hospitals' performance, while also meeting the requirements of Taiwan's "global budget" insurance payment policy. In order to investigate the possible actions of hospitals, the study was conducted in two stages. The first stage investigated the actions of hospitals from March 1 to May 31, 2009. Semi-structured questionnaires were used, which included in-depth interviews with senior supervisors of 10 medium- and large-scale hospitals in central Taiwan. This stage collected data related to the types of actions adopted by the hospitals in previous years. The second stage was based on the data collected from the first stage and on developed questionnaires, which were distributed from June 29 to November 1, 2009. The questionnaires were given to 20 superintendents, deputy superintendents, and supervisors responsible for the management of a hospital, and focused on medical centers and regional hospitals in central Taiwan in order to determine the types and number of competitive actions. First, the strategic orientation of an action has a significantly positive influence on subjective performance. Second, action complexity has a significantly positive influence on the subjective and the objective performance of a hospital. Third, the implementation requirements of actions do not have a significantly positive impact on the subjective or the objective performance of a hospital. Managers facing a competitive healthcare environment should adopt competitive strategies to improve the performance of the hospital.

Longer Sleep Durations Are Positively Associated With Finishing Place During a National Multiday Netball Competition.

PubMed

Juliff, Laura E; Halson, Shona L; Hebert, Jeffrey J; Forsyth, Peta L; Peiffer, Jeremiah J

2018-01-01

Juliff, LE, Halson, SL, Hebert, JJ, Forsyth, PL, and Peiffer, JJ. Longer sleep durations are positively associated with finishing place during a national multiday netball competition. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 189-194, 2018-Sleep is often regarded as the single best recovery strategy available to an athlete, yet little is known about the quality and quantity of sleep in athletes during multiday competitions. This study objectively evaluated sleep characteristics of athletes during a national netball tournament. Using wrist actigraphy monitors and sleep diaries, 42 netballers from 4 state teams were monitored for the duration of a tournament (6 days) and 12 days before in home environments. Significant differences were found between teams based on final competition standings, suggesting enhanced sleep characteristics in athlete's whose team finished higher in the tournament standings. The top 2 placed teams when compared with the lower 2 placed teams slept longer (8:02 ± 36:43; 7:01 ± 27:33), had greater time in bed (9:03 ± 0:52; 7:59 ± 0:54) and reported enhanced subjective sleep ratings (2.6 ± 0.5; 2.3 ± 0.6). Sleep efficiency was no different between teams. A strong correlation (r = -0.68) was found indicating longer sleep durations during competition were associated with higher final tournament positions. Encouraging athletes to aim for longer sleep durations in competition, where possible, may influence the outcome in tournament style competitions.

Does foreign aid crowd out government investments? Evidence from rural health centres in Rwanda

PubMed Central

Lu, Chunling; Cook, Benjamin; Desmond, Chris

2017-01-01

Background Rural healthcare facilities in low-income countries play a major role in providing primary care to rural populations. We examined the link of foreign aid with government investments and medical service provision in rural health centres in Rwanda. Methods Using the District Health System Strengthening Tool, a web-based database built by the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, we constructed two composite indices representing provision of (1) child and maternal care and (2) HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria services in 330 rural health centres between 2009 and 2011. Financing variables in a healthcare centre included received funds from various sources, including foreign donors and government. We used multilevel random-effects model in regression analyses and examined the robustness of results to a range of alternative specification, including scale of dependent variables, estimation methods and timing of aid effects. Findings Both government and foreign donors increased their direct investments in the 330 rural healthcare centres during the period. Foreign aid was positively associated with government investments (0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.19) in rural health centres. Aid in the previous year was positively associated with service provision for child and maternal health (0.008, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.014) and service provision for HIV, TB and malaria (0.014, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.022) in the current year. The results are robust when using fixed-effects models. Conclusions These findings suggest that foreign aid did not crowd out government investments in the rural healthcare centres. Foreign aid programmes, conducted in addition to government investments, could benefit rural residents in low-income countries through increased service provision in rural healthcare facilities. PMID:29082015

Does foreign aid crowd out government investments? Evidence from rural health centres in Rwanda.

PubMed

Lu, Chunling; Cook, Benjamin; Desmond, Chris

2017-01-01

Rural healthcare facilities in low-income countries play a major role in providing primary care to rural populations. We examined the link of foreign aid with government investments and medical service provision in rural health centres in Rwanda. Using the District Health System Strengthening Tool, a web-based database built by the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, we constructed two composite indices representing provision of (1) child and maternal care and (2) HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria services in 330 rural health centres between 2009 and 2011. Financing variables in a healthcare centre included received funds from various sources, including foreign donors and government. We used multilevel random-effects model in regression analyses and examined the robustness of results to a range of alternative specification, including scale of dependent variables, estimation methods and timing of aid effects. Both government and foreign donors increased their direct investments in the 330 rural healthcare centres during the period. Foreign aid was positively associated with government investments (0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.19) in rural health centres. Aid in the previous year was positively associated with service provision for child and maternal health (0.008, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.014) and service provision for HIV, TB and malaria (0.014, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.022) in the current year. The results are robust when using fixed-effects models. These findings suggest that foreign aid did not crowd out government investments in the rural healthcare centres. Foreign aid programmes, conducted in addition to government investments, could benefit rural residents in low-income countries through increased service provision in rural healthcare facilities.

Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Foreign-Born Persons Living in San Francisco

PubMed Central

Suwanpimolkul, Gompol; Jarlsberg, Leah G.; Grinsdale, Jennifer A.; Osmond, Dennis; Kawamura, L. Masae; Hopewell, Philip C.

2013-01-01

Rationale: In San Francisco, 70% of the tuberculosis cases occur among foreign-born persons, mainly from China, the Philippines, and Mexico. We postulate that there are differences in the characteristics and risk factors for tuberculosis among these populations. Objectives: To determine the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of tuberculosis caused by recent infection and rapid evolution in the major groups of foreign-born and the U.S.-born populations. Methods: We analyzed data from a 20-year prospective community-based study of the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. We included all culture-positive tuberculosis cases in the City during the study period. Measurements and Main Results: We calculated and compared incidence rates, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and risk factors for being a secondary case between the various foreign-born and U.S.-born tuberculosis populations. Between 1991 and 2010, there were 4,058 new cases of tuberculosis, of which 1,226 (30%) were U.S.-born and 2,832 (70%) were foreign-born. A total of 3,278 (81%) were culture positive, of which 2,419 (74%) had complete data for analysis. The incidence rate, including the incidence rate of tuberculosis due to recent infection and rapid evolution, decreased significantly in the U.S.-born and the major foreign-born populations. The clinical and microbiological characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent infection differed among the groups. Conclusions: There are differences in the characteristics and the risk factors for tuberculosis due to recent transmission among the major foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in San Francisco. These differences should be considered for the design of targeted tuberculosis control interventions. PMID:23471470

Impact of policies regulating foreign physician migration to Switzerland: a modelling case study in anaesthesia.

PubMed

Haller, Guy; Combescure, Christophe; Mamie, Chantal; Zoccatelli, Davide; Clergue, François

2015-05-22

Several countries have developed policies that restrict or limit duration of stay, clinical privileges or the number of residency permits allocated to migrating physicians. Switzerland is currently preparing a new law limiting overall foreign immigration. The impact of such restrictive policies is currently unknown. In a case study of anaesthesia care in Switzerland we modelled, trends in the size of physicians' workforce until 2024, following the implementation of a strict quota policy for foreign medical trainees. We developed a computer-based Markov model with Monte-Carlo simulations to project, in the context of a strict quota policy for foreign trainees, supply and demand for anaesthesia positions until 2024. We used data from a cross-sectional study performed in the French- and Italian-speaking cantons of Switzerland and the Health dataset from the OECD. With 8 to 12 (95% CI 4-20) anaesthetists retiring per year, the implementation of strict quotas of foreign graduates would result in a 38% decrease in the number of anaesthetists in intermediary (senior registrars) positions by 2024. This decrease would be particularly important in district hospitals where nearly half (49%) of the non-Swiss anaesthetists are practising. Swiss graduates are unlikely to balance the shortage. Despite efforts by Swiss universities to increase the number of medical graduates, their number has dropped from 10.5 to 9.7/100 000 inhabitants between 2000 and 2012, due to the growth of the population. This case study in Latin Switzerland shows that a restrictive policy limiting foreign immigration of trainees would result in a major deficit in the number of anaesthetists available to meet population needs. These aspects should be carefully considered when countries develop restrictions and limitations of foreign immigration.

Strangers in a strange land: work experiences of foreign nurses in Parma's territory.

PubMed

Vesperoni, Pietro; Masera, Giuliana

2015-03-13

The purpose of this research is to explore, investigate and describe experiences and points of view of foreign nurses working in the area of Parma. We focalize particularly on two areas of interest: negativities and positivities in experiences related to the process of integration into the new working environment. The literature search has revealed that the phenomenon of "nursing immigration" is numerically significant in Italy and more particularly in Emilia Romagna. From studies conducted in other countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Iceland) there are two categories of factors which influence the process of integration of foreign nurses in the new working environment, facilitators and barriers. For this study we followed the phenomenological method . A total of twelve foreign nurses were interviewed in the months of October and November 2013 in the territory of Parma working in various professional fields (medicine, critical care and surgery). We did not impose any structure to interviews so that respondents were free to express their lived experiences spontaneously. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed by the method of Giorgi (1970). Results obtained from the analysis of interviews revealed seven themes, divided in positivities and negativities. Positivities are psycho-social support (Italian colleagues, fellow countrymen, patients), opportunities of cultural enrichment, positive work ethic. negativities are difficulty of language and communication, and inequalities racial prejudice, differences in care practices and inadequate opportunities for professional growth related to the Italian working environment. The study concludes by pointing out the importance of the role that foreign nurses can play in our health care system and how the results of this search can help all professionals in the health sector to have a greater understanding of their experiences. This knowledge can make a contribution to the development of new quantitative research in the same area and then to the formation of new strategies for hospitality and support.

Your business in court and at federal agencies: 2010 - 2011.

PubMed

Reiss, John B; Crowder, Dawn; Simons, Brian; Pleskov, Igor; Davis, Tiffany; Nugent, Patrick

2012-01-01

This year the government aggressively pursued Manufacturers under the enhanced provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA), as well as under the provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FDCA). In addition, the government pursued actions against individual executives under the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine ("RCO Doctrine") because it does not believe sanctions against the companies provide sufficient deterrence to inappropriate behavior. Companies need to focus on implementing effective compliance programs in order to prevent the occurrence of allegedly improper activity. It should be noted that the existence of an effective program will not protect executives from liability under the RCO Doctrine if improper behavior takes place. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) has undertaken a number of initiatives during the past year in an attempt to counter claims that its review processes for domestic products is driving the development of drugs and devices to overseas markets. The Agency also has improved its capacity to review products imported from overseas by undertaking initiatives with foreign agencies and stationing more FDA employees in foreign countries. The FDA increased the number of warning letters and other enforcement actions. The FDA added two new topics of enhanced authority during the year. One was an expansion of its regulatory authority over foods, and the second was new authority to regulate certain tobacco products. The former is being subjected to some review by the courts, and the scope of its authority over tobacco is the subject of ongoing major litigation. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are unlikely to experience significant change regarding their regulation of Manufacturers. The FTC, as it has for many years, continues to try to prevent "reverse" payments to generic drug manufacturers by Innovator Manufacturers to diminish generic drug competition, and proposed legislation is before Congress. The SEC still appears focused on the Foreign Corporate Practices Act with respect to enforcement against pharmaceutical and device manufacturers. Federal preemption of State law continues to be a topic of concern, with Court's taking different positions on the effect of the various Supreme Court decisions made in the last two years.

[Dental care for foreigners in Hungary].

PubMed

Balázs, Péter; Oesterle, August

2008-10-01

High quality elective dental care for foreign patients was not exceptional in Hungary before the collapse of the old regime in 1989. Nevertheless, it became business as usual only in the new era thanks to the open state borders and the international competitive market environment. Unfortunately, no scientific study concerning this phenomenon has been conducted so far, however its professional and economic significance has been indicated by day-to-day experience. Additionally, the term "dental tourism" also used in international scientific papers became a commonplace in Hungary with unfavourable connotations. The present survey was the first to study this phenomenon by scientific standards in the most involved areas, namely in the capital city Budapest and in three counties in the Western Hungarian Region. Data collecting was performed by a self-reported questionnaire sent via conventional mail to all members of the Dental Section of the Hungarian Medical Chamber practicing in those indicated regions. Respond rates were 20.65% in Budapest and 25.34% in Western Hungary. The sample obtained this way, clearly indicated dimensions of cross-border patient migration and its economic significance as well. In Western Hungary 80.81% of foreign patients came from the neighbouring Austria and two out of ten practices realized 40 to 100% of their income out of this business. In Budapest foreign patients' nationality was more diversified. The largest group arrived from the United Kingdom (9.93%). Nevertheless the economic impact of dental tourism in Budapest is not relevant and outbalanced by a considerable domestic demand on the local private market.

Students' Use of Extra-Curricular Activities for Positional Advantage in Competitive Job Markets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roulin, Nicolas; Bangerter, Adrian

2013-01-01

With the rise of mass higher education, competition between graduates in the labour market is increasing. Students are aware that their degree will not guarantee them a job and realise they should add value and distinction to their credentials to achieve a positional advantage. Participation in extra-curricular activities (ECAs) is one such…

Adaptive rival penalized competitive learning and combined linear predictor model for financial forecast and investment.

PubMed

Cheung, Y M; Leung, W M; Xu, L

1997-01-01

We propose a prediction model called Rival Penalized Competitive Learning (RPCL) and Combined Linear Predictor method (CLP), which involves a set of local linear predictors such that a prediction is made by the combination of some activated predictors through a gating network (Xu et al., 1994). Furthermore, we present its improved variant named Adaptive RPCL-CLP that includes an adaptive learning mechanism as well as a data pre-and-post processing scheme. We compare them with some existing models by demonstrating their performance on two real-world financial time series--a China stock price and an exchange-rate series of US Dollar (USD) versus Deutschmark (DEM). Experiments have shown that Adaptive RPCL-CLP not only outperforms the other approaches with the smallest prediction error and training costs, but also brings in considerable high profits in the trading simulation of foreign exchange market.

Do foreign exchange and equity markets co-move in Latin American region? Detrended cross-correlation approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashir, Usman; Yu, Yugang; Hussain, Muntazir; Zebende, Gilney F.

2016-11-01

This paper investigates the dynamics of the relationship between foreign exchange markets and stock markets through time varying co-movements. In this sense, we analyzed the time series monthly of Latin American countries for the period from 1991 to 2015. Furthermore, we apply Granger causality to verify the direction of causality between foreign exchange and stock market and detrended cross-correlation approach (ρDCCA) for any co-movements at different time scales. Our empirical results suggest a positive cross correlation between exchange rate and stock price for all Latin American countries. The findings reveal two clear patterns of correlation. First, Brazil and Argentina have positive correlation in both short and long time frames. Second, the remaining countries are negatively correlated in shorter time scale, gradually moving to positive. This paper contributes to the field in three ways. First, we verified the co-movements of exchange rate and stock prices that were rarely discussed in previous empirical studies. Second, ρDCCA coefficient is a robust and powerful methodology to measure the cross correlation when dealing with non stationarity of time series. Third, most of the studies employed one or two time scales using co-integration and vector autoregressive approaches. Not much is known about the co-movements at varying time scales between foreign exchange and stock markets. ρDCCA coefficient facilitates the understanding of its explanatory depth.

29 CFR 1610.19 - Predisclosure notification procedures for confidential commercial information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... competitive harm. (2) Submitter refers to any person or entity who provides confidential commercial... competitive harm to the submitter; (2) The information was submitted prior to January 1, 1988, the records are... which is likely to cause substantial harm to the submitter's competitive position. (e) Notice of intent...

5 CFR 307.104 - Treatment of individuals serving under VRAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) Because VRAs are made to positions otherwise in the competitive service, the incumbents, like competitive... or education prescribed by the agency. (c) Appointments are subject to investigation by OPM. A law, Executive order, or regulation that disqualifies a person for appointment in the competitive service also...

5 CFR 307.104 - Treatment of individuals serving under VRAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) Because VRAs are made to positions otherwise in the competitive service, the incumbents, like competitive... or education prescribed by the agency. (c) Appointments are subject to investigation by OPM. A law, Executive order, or regulation that disqualifies a person for appointment in the competitive service also...

Can Internationalisation Really Lead to Institutional Competitive Advantage?--A Study of 16 Dutch Public Higher Education Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Haan, Haijing

2014-01-01

Public higher education institutions (PHEIs) have widely acknowledged a positive relationship between internationalization and their institutional competitive advantage enhancement. Although some concerns have been raised by practitioners and researchers about whether institutional competitive advantage can be enhanced given the current ways of…

5 CFR 1631.15 - Information to be disclosed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... substantial competitive harm. The submitter as part of its submission, must explain the rationale for the... substantial competitive harm. (iii) After January 1, 1988, a submitter who does not designate portions of a... substantial harm to the competitive position of the submitter. (3) When the Board determines that it has...

5 CFR 1631.15 - Information to be disclosed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... substantial competitive harm. The submitter as part of its submission, must explain the rationale for the... substantial competitive harm. (iii) After January 1, 1988, a submitter who does not designate portions of a... substantial harm to the competitive position of the submitter. (3) When the Board determines that it has...

5 CFR 1631.15 - Information to be disclosed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... substantial competitive harm. The submitter as part of its submission, must explain the rationale for the... substantial competitive harm. (iii) After January 1, 1988, a submitter who does not designate portions of a... substantial harm to the competitive position of the submitter. (3) When the Board determines that it has...

5 CFR 1631.15 - Information to be disclosed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... substantial competitive harm. The submitter as part of its submission, must explain the rationale for the... substantial competitive harm. (iii) After January 1, 1988, a submitter who does not designate portions of a... substantial harm to the competitive position of the submitter. (3) When the Board determines that it has...

5 CFR 1631.15 - Information to be disclosed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... substantial competitive harm. The submitter as part of its submission, must explain the rationale for the... substantial competitive harm. (iii) After January 1, 1988, a submitter who does not designate portions of a... substantial harm to the competitive position of the submitter. (3) When the Board determines that it has...

Competitive Embeddedness and the Emergence of Interfirm Cooperation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trapido, Denis

2007-01-01

How does a history of competition between two economic actors affect their willingness and ability to work together for mutual benefit? Existing theory and research offer mixed predictions and answers. The competitive embeddedness hypothesis suggested here postulates that the likelihood of cooperation between two firms is positively related to the…

A Very Long Foreign Body in the Bladder

PubMed Central

Imai, Atsushi; Suzuki, Yuichiro; Hashimoto, Yasuhiro; Sasaki, Atsushi; Saitoh, Hisao; Ohyama, Chikara

2011-01-01

In the urinary tract, foreign body is most commonly found in the urinary bladder. But it is anatomically very difficult for a man to self-insert a long object into the urinary bladder. Here we report a case of a 49-year-old Japanese man who has inserted a 140-cm vinyl tube in the bladder for masturbation. He could not retrieve it, and the bladder foreign body remained in this position for about two years. He was referred to our hospital and open surgery was performed. PMID:21687624

Impacts of regulated competition on pricing in Chinese pharmaceutical market under urban employee basic medical insurance.

PubMed

Zhao, Mingyue; Wu, Jing

2017-06-01

Examine the effects of regulated competition on the drug pricing in China. Based on product-level data, a regression method was employed for pricing by using data from Tianjin Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) database. The market competition measures distinguished generic competition within the same molecule from therapeutic competition within the same therapeutic class. The increases in pricing are inversely related to the number of generic competitions. The generic sub-group results vary from the originator sub-group. For the generics, generic competition has a significantly reduced effect on the price; however, only therapeutic competition has a significantly reduced effect on the originator price. Regulated competition has a positive role in shaping the pharmaceutical market. Furthermore, regulated competition affects the price differently for the sub-groups. The promotion of competition between generic and originator in order to reap full competition benefit and reduce frictions among policies are necessary.

Multiple Leader Candidate and Competitive Position Allocation for Robust Formation against Member Robot Faults

PubMed Central

Kwon, Ji-Wook; Kim, Jin Hyo; Seo, Jiwon

2015-01-01

This paper proposes a Multiple Leader Candidate (MLC) structure and a Competitive Position Allocation (CPA) algorithm which can be applicable for various applications including environmental sensing. Unlike previous formation structures such as virtual-leader and actual-leader structures with position allocation including a rigid allocation and an optimization based allocation, the formation employing the proposed MLC structure and CPA algorithm is robust against the fault (or disappearance) of the member robots and reduces the entire cost. In the MLC structure, a leader of the entire system is chosen among leader candidate robots. The CPA algorithm is the decentralized position allocation algorithm that assigns the robots to the vertex of the formation via the competition of the adjacent robots. The numerical simulations and experimental results are included to show the feasibility and the performance of the multiple robot system employing the proposed MLC structure and the CPA algorithm. PMID:25954956

The Problem of Developing Professional Mobility of Teachers in the Works of Foreign Scholars

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pavlenko, Marina

2017-01-01

The article analyzes the positions of foreign and domestic scholars on the problem of developing professional mobility of teachers. It has been stated that today professional mobility is a necessary component of training a skilled worker. It has been indicated that the teacher possesses an appropriate set of competences that provide an opportunity…

Schematization and Sentence Processing by Foreign Language Learners: A Reading-Time Experiment and a Stimulated-Recall Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tode, Tomoko

2012-01-01

This article examines how learners of English as a foreign language process reduced relative clauses (RRCs) from the perspective of usage-based language learning, which posits that language knowledge forms a hierarchy from item-based knowledge consisting only of entrenched frequent exemplars to more advanced schematized knowledge. Twenty-eight…

An Evaluation of TTS as a Pedagogical Tool for Pronunciation Instruction: The "Foreign" Language Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bione, Tiago; Grimshaw, Jennica; Cardoso, Walcir

2017-01-01

Despite positive evidence demonstrating the pedagogical benefits of Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesisers for second/foreign language learning (Liakin, Cardoso, & Liakina, 2017), there is a need for up-to-date formal evaluations, specifically regarding its potential to promote learning. This study evaluates the voice quality of a TTS system in…

(Op)posing Representations: Disentangling the Model Minority and the Foreigner.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lei, Joy L.

This paper examines how the representations of Asian Americans as the model minority and as perpetual foreigners play off one another to shape the positioning and experiences of Asian American students in U.S. schools and maintain the dominant racial order in the United States. Although the representation of Asian Americans as a high-achieving and…

Globalization, Foreign Investment Dependence and Agriculture Production: Pesticide and Fertilizer Use in Less-Developed Countries, 1990-2000

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jorgenson, Andrew K.; Kuykendall, Kennon A.

2008-01-01

Bridging the areas of political-economic sociology, the sociology of agriculture and environmental sociology, this study tests two hypotheses derived from a refined theory of foreign investment dependence. The hypotheses state that pesticide and fertilizer use intensity in less-developed countries are both positively associated with foreign…

Using Emotional Intervention to Teach Arabic as a Foreign Language: Instructional Design Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faryadi, Qais

2012-01-01

This appraisal argues that emotional interventions in learning a foreign Language are vital. Emotions generate desire and desire initiates motivation. Emotion is crucial in creating knowledge and meaning as thus, affecting how learners learn a language. The prime purpose of this assessment is to investigate the effects of positive and negative…

Can Pluralistic Approaches Based upon Unknown Languages Enhance Learner Engagement and Lead to Active Social Inclusion?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dahm, Rebecca

2017-01-01

One way to foster active social inclusion is to enable students to develop a positive attitude to "foreignness". Creating a situation where mainstream students are less wary of foreign languages and cultures, and where newcomers feel their linguistic background is being valued, provides favourable conditions for the inclusion of these…

Middle School Exploratory Foreign Language Programs: A Position Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Council of State Supervisors of Foreign Language.

Four types of exploratory foreign language programs are described: (1) the language overview course, (2) the trial-study course, (3) the Level I offering, and (4) the course for the non-college bound. It is largely in the middle schools (grades 6-8) and junior high schools (grades 7-9) that exploratory programs are being used. The language…

78 FR 40690 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-577, Quarterly...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-08

... on transactions and positions between U.S.-owned foreign business enterprises and their U.S. parents... days. A report must be filed for every foreign business enterprise whose voting stock (or the equivalent) is owned 10 percent or more by a U.S. business enterprise and for which any one of the following...

The NASA competitive placement plan for positions GS-15 and below (including trades and labor positions)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

This plan provides the framework for selection based on merit from among the best qualified candidates available. Selections will be made without regard to political, religious, or labor organization affiliation or nonaffiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, nondisqualifying disability, or age. This plan does not guarantee promotion but rather ensures that all qualified available candidates receive fair and equitable consideration for positions filled under these competitive procedures. Announcing a vacancy under this plan is only one method of locating applicants for a position and can be used in conjunction with other methods. Subject to applicable law and regulation, selection of an individual to fill a position is the decision of management, as is the decision as to the method(s) to be used in identifying candidates. This plan is applicable to all NASA Installations. It covers all positions in the competitive service at (and below) the GS/GM-15 level (including all trades and labor positions), except positions in the Office of the Inspector General. The requirements herein are not intended to, nor should they be construed to limit in any way, the independent personnel authority of the Inspector General under the Inspector General Act, as Amended.

Managerial implications of corporate board involvement and perceived market competition for quality improvement in nursing homes.

PubMed

Weech-Maldonado, R; Zinn, J S; Brannon, D

1999-01-01

This study examines the relationships among corporate board involvement, total quality management (TQM) adoption, perceived market competition, and the perceived effect of quality improvement (QI) activities for a sample of nursing homes in Pennsylvania. The findings of this study have several implications for healthcare managers interested in maximizing the effectiveness of QI efforts. Board involvement in quality improvement was an important predictor of QI outcomes in the areas of finance, resident care, and human resources. However, TQM adoption had a positive effect on human resources outcomes only. These findings suggest that board involvement in any organized form of QI may be more important than the adoption of a formal TQM program in the nursing home industry. TQM's emphasis on employee empowerment may account for its positive influence on human resources. Perceived competition was associated with better financial outcomes. Low-cost leadership can be a key to survival in more competitive markets, requiring a focus on efficiency and productivity issues in QI efforts. By focusing on process improvement, the facilities may achieve cost reductions that can result in an improved financial position. Facilities perceived to be in more competitive environments were also more likely to adopt TQM. This is consistent with the assertion by resource-dependence theorists that organizations facing competition for resources must be responsive to the needs of resource-providing constituencies.

Hapten syntheses and antibody generation for the development of a polybrominated flame retardant ELISA.

PubMed

Shelver, Weilin L; Keum, Young-Soo; Kim, Hee-Joo; Rutherford, Drew; Hakk, Heldur H; Bergman, Ake; Li, Qing X

2005-05-18

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of brominated flame retardants that are increasingly an environmental concern. Several antibodies were developed for the polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant BDE-47 (1), often found in the highest concentration in human milk, plasma, and adipose tissue. Four haptens with different bromine and linker substitution patterns were synthesized and utilized to generate five polyclonal antibodies from goats and two polyclonal antibodies from rabbits. Competition was assessed using four different coating antigens for all seven antibodies. The coating antigen showed marked effects on competition. When the same hapten was used for antibody and the coating antigen less competition was observed. The effect of BDE structure on competition was evaluated by using BDE-47 (1), BDE-99 (2), BDE-100 (3), BDE-153 (4), and BDE-183 (5). None of the compounds showed high competition with antibody I-KLH, presumably because steric hindrance prevented formation of an efficient binding site. As predicted from structural considerations, BDE-47 (1) competed well with the remaining antibodies, whereas BDE-100 (3) competed well with only II-KLH. The remaining congeners (BDE-99 (2), BDE-153 (4), and BDE-183 (5)) contain bromines that cannot be positioned in binding sites and thus cross-react poorly. The competition study demonstrated that a bromine substitution on the congener could occupy a position analogous to the linker's position.

Match Physical Performance of Elite Female Soccer Players During International Competition.

PubMed

Datson, Naomi; Drust, Barry; Weston, Matthew; Jarman, Ian H; Lisboa, Paulo J; Gregson, Warren

2017-09-01

Datson, N, Drust, B, Weston, M, Jarman, IH, Lisboa, P, and Gregson, W. Match physical performance of elite female soccer players during international competition. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2379-2387, 2017-The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of the physical demands of competitive international female soccer match play. A total of 148 individual match observations were undertaken on 107 outfield players competing in competitive international matches during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, using a computerized tracking system (Prozone Sports Ltd., Leeds, England). Total distance and total high-speed running distances were influenced by playing position, with central midfielders completing the highest (10,985 ± 706 m and 2,882 ± 500 m) and central defenders the lowest (9,489 ± 562 m and 1,901 ± 268 m) distances, respectively. Greater total very high-speed running distances were completed when a team was without (399 ± 143 m) compared to with (313 ± 210 m) possession of the ball. Most sprints were over short distances with 76% and 95% being less than 5 and 10 m, respectively. Between half reductions in physical performance were present for all variables, independent of playing position. This study provides novel findings regarding the physical demands of different playing positions in competitive international female match play and provides important insights for physical coaches preparing elite female players for competition.

The Power of Positional Competition and Market Mechanism: A Case Study of Recent Parental Choice Development in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Xiaoxin

2008-01-01

The positional competition reflected in the current parental choice fever in China is highlighted by the introduction of market mechanisms: buying houses near preferred schools, paying choice fees or co-founding fees, giving donations and spending money on spare time training classes, etc. All of these work effectively together with the…

78 FR 7251 - Rulemaking Concerning the Standards for Designating Positions in the Competitive Service as...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-31

... Vol. 78 Thursday, No. 21 January 31, 2013 Part VII The President Memorandum of January 25, 2013--Rulemaking Concerning the Standards for Designating Positions in the Competitive Service as National Security Sensitive and Related Matters #0; #0; #0; Presidential Documents #0; #0; #0;#0;Federal Register / Vol. 78 , No. 21 / Thursday, January 31, 2013 /...

Global exponential stability of positive periodic solution of the n-species impulsive Gilpin-Ayala competition model with discrete and distributed time delays.

PubMed

Zhao, Kaihong

2018-12-01

In this paper, we study the n-species impulsive Gilpin-Ayala competition model with discrete and distributed time delays. The existence of positive periodic solution is proved by employing the fixed point theorem on cones. By constructing appropriate Lyapunov functional, we also obtain the global exponential stability of the positive periodic solution of this system. As an application, an interesting example is provided to illustrate the validity of our main results.

Children's prosocial behavioural intentions towards outgroup members.

PubMed

Abrams, Dominic; Van de Vyver, Julie; Pelletier, Joseph; Cameron, Lindsey

2015-09-01

When will children decide to help outgroup peers? We examined how intergroup competition, social perspective taking (SPT), and empathy influence children's (5-10 years, N = 287) prosocial intentions towards outgroup members. Study 1 showed that, in a minimal group situation, prosociality was lower in an intergroup competitive than in a non-competitive or interpersonal context. Study 2 revealed that, in a real groups situation involving intergroup competition, prosociality was associated with higher empathy and lower competitive motivation. In a subsequent non-competitive context, there were age differences in the impact of SPT and competitive motivation. With age, relationships strengthened between SPT and prosociality (positively) and between competitiveness and prosociality (negatively). Among older children, there was a carry-over effect whereby feelings of intergroup competitiveness aroused by the intergroup competitive context suppressed outgroup prosociality in the following non-competitive context. Theoretical and practical implications for improving children's intergroup relationships are discussed. © 2015 The British Psychological Society.

Contesting the Magic of the Market-place: Black Employment and Business Concentration in the Urban Context.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coleman, Major G.

2002-01-01

Examines the relationship between market concentration/competition and black employment in urban centers, using Equal Employment Opportunity Commission data. Overall, black employment positively relates to greater market concentration, not competition. There is little support for the contention that economic forces at work in competitive markets…

75 FR 63237 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-14

... proposed rule change reflects a competitive pricing structure designed to incent market participants to... these rate changes will enable it to maintain a competitive position with regards to other away market... notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct...

Language Acculturation, Acculturation-Related Stress, and Marital Quality in Chinese American Couples.

PubMed

Hou, Yang; Neff, Lisa A; Kim, Su Yeong

2018-04-01

The current study examines the longitudinal indirect pathways linking language acculturation to marital quality. Three waves of data were collected from 416 Chinese American couples over eight years ( M age.wave1 = 48 for husbands, 44 for wives). Actor-partner interdependence model analyses revealed that for both husbands and wives, lower levels of language acculturation were associated with higher levels of stress over being stereotyped as a perpetual foreigner. Individuals' foreigner stress, in turn, was directly related to greater levels of their own and their partners' marital warmth, suggesting that foreigner stress may have some positive relational effects. However, individuals' foreigner stress also was associated with increases in their own depressive symptoms, which predicted higher levels of marital hostility in the partner. Overall, these results underscore the complexity of how language acculturation and foreigner stress relate to marital quality and the importance of considering the interdependence of the marital system.

Anomalous Symmetries Of The Rovibrational Levels of HO2: Consequences Of A Conical Intersection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barclay, V. J.; Dateo, C. E.; Hamilton, I. P.; Kendrick, B.; Pack, R. T.; Schwenke, D. W.; Langhoff, Stephen R. (Technical Monitor)

1995-01-01

We show that the geometric phase arising from a conical intersection of the lowest potential energy surfaces of HO2 causes its bending vibrational wavefunctions to be double valued, which allows them to be locally symmetric on one side of the intersection and locally antisymmetric on the other. The material of the proposed publication was reviewed and the technical content will not reveal any information not already in the public domain and will not give any foreign industry or government a competitive advantage.

Residential clothes dryer market assessment. Topical report, February 1995-November 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paul, D.D.; Ide, B.E.

1996-02-01

The objective of this project was to provide a technology assessment of the residential clothes dryer market with the intent of identifying the most competitive gas technology for future market condition scenarios. This study included a review of both foreign and domestic clothes drying technologies employing either gas or electric heating elements. A review of microwave and heat pump drying technologies was also included in the analysis. This report examines the potential future opportunities and threats for the gas industry with regard to residential clothes drying.

This is Commercial Titan Inc.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Rensselaer, F. L.; Slovikoski, R. D.; Abels, T. C.

Out of a quarter-century heritage of eminently successful expendable launch vehicle history with the U.S. government, a commercial launch services enterprise which challenges the corporation as well as the competition has been launched within the Martin Marietta Corporation. This paper is an inside look at the philosophy, structure, and success of the new subsidiary, Commercial Titan Inc., which is taking on its U.S. and foreign rocket-making competitors to win a share of the international communication satellite market as well as the U.S. government commercial launch services market.

This is Commercial Titan, Inc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Rensselaer, F. L.; Slovikoski, R. D.; Abels, T. C.

1989-10-01

Out of a quarter-century heritage of eminently successful expendable launch vehicle history with the U.S government, a commercial launch services enterprise which challenges the corporation as well as the competition has been launched within the Martin Marietta Corporation. This paper is an inside look at the philosophy, structure, and success of the new subsidiary, Commercial Titan, Inc., which is taking on its U.S. and foreign rocket-making competitors to win a share of the international communication satellite market as well as the U.S. government commercial launch services market.

Anticipated Supply and Demand for Independent Interventional Radiology Residency Positions: A Survey of Department Chairs.

PubMed

Herwald, Sanna E; Spies, James B; Yucel, E Kent

2017-02-01

The first participants in the independent interventional radiology (IR) residency match will begin prerequisite diagnostic radiology (DR) residencies before the anticipated launch of the independent IR programs in 2020. The aim of this study was to estimate the competitiveness level of the first independent IR residency matches before these applicants have already committed to DR residencies and possibly early specialization in IR (ESIR) programs. The Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments (SCARD) Task Force on the IR Residency distributed a survey to all active SCARD members using SurveyMonkey. The survey requested the number of planned IR residency and ESIR positions. The average, minimum, and maximum of the range of planned independent IR residency positions were compared with the average, maximum, and minimum, respectively, of the range of planned ESIR positions, to model matches of average, high, and low competitiveness. Seventy-four active SCARD members (56%) answered at least one survey question. The respondents' programs planned to fill, in total, 98 to 102 positions in integrated IR residency programs, 61 to 76 positions in independent IR residency programs, and 50 to 77 positions in ESIR DR residency programs each year. The ranges indicate the uncertainty of some programs regarding the number of positions. The survey suggests that participating programs will fill sufficient independent IR residency positions to accommodate all ESIR applicants in a match year of average or low competitiveness, but not in a match year of high competitiveness. This suggestion does not account for certain difficult-to-predict factors that may affect the independent IR residency match. Copyright © 2016 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A strategy to reduce illicit drug use is effective in elite Australian football.

PubMed

Harcourt, Peter R; Unglik, Harry; Cook, Jill L

2012-10-01

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prescribes that drug testing is conducted in sports competitions to detect drug use in athletes. This testing includes performance-enhancing drugs as well as illicit substances such as marijuana, amphetamines and cocaine. Illicit drugs are tested for on match days but not on non-match days. Some athletes are known to use illicit substances for recreational purposes, away from competition times and this poses a serious health and welfare issue not addressed by the usual sport drug testing regimes. This paper reports the results of the first 7 years of an illicit drug-testing programme that included non-match day testing in the elite Australian Football competition, the Australian Football League (AFL). Players in the AFL were tested for illicit drugs both in-competition and out-of-competition. Players were selected for illicit substance tests either randomly or targeted based on previous test history or time since previous test. The number of tests conducted was increased each year from 2005 to 2011 and testing was focused on high-risk times during non-competition periods. There were no positive match day tests. There was a significant reduction in positive tests (19-6) for illicit drugs during non-competition periods over the 7 years (p<0.0001). The reduction in positive tests may be related to player education, the greater number of tests conducted and the harm minimisation approach of the illicit drug policy. An illicit drugs programme using a harm minimisation strategy can work effectively alongside a sport's WADA compliant Anti-Doping Code.

Competitive Advantage, Uncertainty, and Weapons Procurement: Striking Balance for the Future

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-02

position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE , UNCERTAINTY, AND WEAPONS PROCUREMENT: STRIKING...Competitive Advantage , Uncertainty, and Weapons Procurement: Striking Balance for the Future 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d...the right balance of investments all leading to a sustained competitive advantage . This paper presents an analysis of how effective this overhaul has

Is orthopedics more competitive today than when my attending matched? An analysis of National Resident Matching Program data for orthopedic PGY1 applicants from 1984 to 2011.

PubMed

Karnes, Jonathan M; Mayerson, Joel L; Scharschmidt, Thomas J

2014-01-01

This study evaluated supply and demand trends for orthopedic postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) positions from 1984 to 2011 for the purpose of estimating national intercandidate competition over time. National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data for orthopedic surgery from 1984 to 2011 were collected. Proxy variables including (total number of orthopedic applicants/number of orthopedic PGY1 positions), (number of US senior applicants to orthopedics/number of orthopedic PGY1 positions), (number of US seniors matching into orthopedics/number of US senior orthopedic applicants), (total number of matched orthopedic applicants/total number of orthopedic applicants), and (total number of US applicants who fail to match into orthopedics/total number of US senior applicants into orthopedics) as well as average United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores were used to gauge the level of competition between candidates and were compared over time. Academic medical center in the Midwestern United States. Medical professors and medical students. The NRMP data suggested that the number of positions per applicant decreased or remained stable since 1984 and that the percentage of applicants who did not match was no higher now than in the past. This finding was primarily because of the relative decrease in the ratio of applicants to available PGY1 positions, which stems from the number of positions increasing more rapidly than the number of applicants. The NRMP data from 1984 to 2011 supported our hypothesis that intercandidate competition intensity for orthopedic PGY1 positions has not increased over time. The misconception that orthopedics is becoming more competitive likely arises from the increased number of applications submitted per candidate and the resulting relative importance placed on objective criteria such as United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores when programs select interview cohorts. Copyright © 2014 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Two axes of subordination: A new model of racial position.

PubMed

Zou, Linda X; Cheryan, Sapna

2017-05-01

Theories of race relations have been shaped by the concept of a racial hierarchy along which Whites are the most advantaged and African Americans the most disadvantaged. However, the recent precipitated growth of Latinos and Asian Americans in the United States underscores the need for a framework that integrates more groups. The current work proposes that racial and ethnic minority groups are disadvantaged along 2 distinct dimensions of perceived inferiority and perceived cultural foreignness , such that the 4 largest groups in the United States are located in 4 discrete quadrants: Whites are perceived and treated as superior and American; African Americans as inferior and relatively American compared with Latinos and Asian Americans; Latinos as inferior and foreign; and Asian Americans as foreign and relatively superior compared to African Americans and Latinos. Support for this Racial Position Model is first obtained from targets' perspectives. Different groups experience distinct patterns of racial prejudice that are predicted by their 2-dimensional group positions (Studies 1 and 2). From perceivers' perspectives, these group positions are reflected in the content of racial stereotypes (Study 3), and are well-known and consensually recognized (Study 4). Implications of this new model for studying contemporary race relations (e.g., prejudice, threat, and interminority dynamics) are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Who Owns America: Strategic Ownership Positions in Industrial Corporations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dye, Thomas R.

1983-01-01

In 1981, families and individuals held the largest dollar share of strategic ownership positions in the Fortune 500, surpassing banks, financial firms, employee stock plans, insurance companies, pension funds, and foreign owners. (RM)

The Importance of the Foreign Language Learning Contributing to World Peace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahin, Yusuf

2011-01-01

The aim of this paper is to determine the elements which hinder peace, and emphasize the importance of the contribution of foreign language learning to international peace. Language affects the thought and behavior of human beings. The attitude of a person knowing more than one language of a position is not the same as a person not knowing a…

Bilateral foreign direct investment in forest industry between the U.S. and Canada

Treesearch

Rao V Nagubadi; Daowei Zhang

2011-01-01

In this study we examine the trends and various factors influencing bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. and Canadian forest industry between 1989 and 2008. Using panel data analysis methods, we find that bilateral FDI is positively influenced by depreciation of host country's real exchange rates and exchange rate volatility, and home country...

Relationships of Attitudes toward Homework and Time Spent on Homework to Course Outcomes: The Case of Foreign Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Charles B.; Wall, Daniel; Tare, Medha; Golonka, Ewa; Vatz, Karen

2014-01-01

In previous studies of homework in core academic subjects, positive student attitudes toward homework were linked to higher achievement, whereas time spent on homework showed an inconsistent relationship with achievement. This study examined the generalizability of these findings to foreign language learning by analyzing 2,342 adult students'…

How Many U.S. High School Students Have a Foreign Language Reading "Disability"? Reading without Meaning and the Simple View

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sparks, Richard L.; Luebbers, Julie

2018-01-01

Conventional wisdom suggests that students classified as learning disabled will exhibit difficulties with foreign language (FL) learning, but evidence has not supported a relationship between FL learning problems and learning disabilities. The simple view of reading model posits that reading comprehension is the product of word decoding and…

Understanding by Design (UbD) in EFL Teaching: The Investigation of Students' Foreign Language Learning Motivation and Views

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yurtseven, Nihal; Altun, Sertel

2016-01-01

In today's world, where learning a foreign language is highly prioritized, it is an important prerequisite that education has components that are lasting, meaningful, and transferable to everyday life. Moreover, these components would have a positive influence on student motivation. The purpose of this study is to investigate students' language…

Affordances of Web 2.0 Technologies for Collaborative Advanced Writing in a Foreign Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strobl. Carola

2014-01-01

Can online collaboration yield a positive effect on academic writing in a foreign language? If so, what exactly is the added value, compared to individual writing, and (how) does it translate to better output? These are the central questions addressed in this paper. L2 writing research has long highlighted the benefits of collaboration in terms of…

Public Diplomacy: An Alternative Diplomacy in Foreign Affairs’ Issues. Greek Public Diplomacy: Capabilities and Perspectives

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government . IRB Protocol number ______N/A__________. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT...35  2.  Other Government Agencies Communicating with Foreign Publics...significantly as far as governments are concerned. Therefore, Public Diplomacy (PD) has emerged as the public face or alternative version of traditional

Multi-User Domain Object Oriented (MOO) as a High School Procedure for Foreign Language Acquisition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Backer, James A.

Foreign language students experience added difficulty when they are isolated from native speakers and from the culture of the target language. It has been posited that MOO (Multi-User Domain Object Oriented) may help overcome the geographical isolation of these students. MOOs are Internet-based virtual worlds in which people from all over the real…

Quantifying the balance between bycatch and predator or competitor release for nontarget species.

PubMed

Aalto, Emilius A; Baskett, Marissa L

2013-07-01

If a species is bycatch in a fishery targeted at its competitor or predator, it experiences both direct anthropogenic mortality and indirect positive effects through species interactions. If the species involved interact strongly, the release from competition or predation can counteract or exceed the negative effects of bycatch. We used a set of two- and three-species community modules to analyze the relative importance of species interactions when modeling the overall effect of harvest with bycatch on a nontarget species. To measure the trade-off between direct mortality and indirect positive effects, we developed a "bycatch transition point" metric to determine, for different scenarios, what levels of bycatch shift overall harvest impact from positive to negative. Under strong direct competition with a targeted competitor, release from competition due to harvest leads to a net increase in abundance even under moderate levels of bycatch. For a three-species model with a shared obligate predator, the release from apparent competition exceeds direct competitive release and outweighs the decrease from bycatch mortality under a wide range of parameters. Therefore, in communities where a shared predator forms a strong link between the target and nontarget species, the effects of indirect interactions on populations can be larger than those of direct interactions. The bycatch transition point metric can be used for tightly linked species to evaluate the relative strengths of positive indirect effects and negative anthropogenic impacts such as bycatch, habitat degradation, and introduction of invasive species.

Two ways related to performance in elite sport: the path of self-confidence and competitive anxiety and the path of group cohesion and group goal-clarity.

PubMed

Kjørmo, Odd; Halvari, Hallgeir

2002-06-01

A model tested among 136 Norwegian Olympic-level athletes yielded two paths related to performance. The first path indicated that self-confidence, modeled as an antecedent of competitive anxiety, is negatively correlated with anxiety. Competitive anxiety in turn is negatively correlated with performance. The second path indicated that group cohesion is positively correlated with group goal-clarity, which in turn is positively correlated with performance. Competitive anxiety mediates the relation between self-confidence and performance, whereas group goal-clarity mediates the relation between group cohesion and performance. Results from multiple regression analyses supported the model in the total sample and among individual sport athletes organized in training groups (n = 100). Among team sport athletes (n = 36), personality and group measures are more strongly intercorrelated than among individual sport athletes, and the relation with performance is more complex for the former group. The interaction of self-confidence and competitive anxiety is related to performance among team sport athletes.

Emergency admissions due to swallowed foreign bodies in adults

PubMed Central

Erbil, Bülent; Karaca, Mehmet Ali; Aslaner, Mehmet Ali; İbrahimov, Zaur; Kunt, Mehmet Mahir; Akpinar, Erhan; Özmen, Mehmet Mahir

2013-01-01

AIM: To study a retrospective analysis of patients who presented to the emergency departments (ED) with complaints related to foreign body ingestions. METHODS: Patients older than 16 years of age who presented to the ED between January 1st and December 31st of 2010 with complaints related to swallowed foreign bodies were identified from electronic health records and patient charts. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients presented with a complaint of foreign body ingestion during the study period. Overall, an X-ray was performed on 75 patients, and a fiberoptic evaluation was performed on 45 patients. A foreign body was detected in 46 (46%) patients. The diagnostic yield of the X-ray was 27 (36%) out of 75 patients, while the diagnostic yield of the fiberoptic evaluations was 21 (47%) out of 45 patients. The detected foreign bodies were mostly located in the esophagus (17 out of 46 foreign bodies detected). When the types of ingested foreign bodies were evaluated, 52 (52%) patients reported ingesting food, and 19 (19%) patients reported swallowing pins. An X-ray was performed on 33 patients with accidental food ingestions but yielded a positive result in only two cases. In 12 out of 21 patients with accidental food ingestion who underwent fiberoptic evaluation, the foreign material was detected and removed. CONCLUSION: Plain radiography is helpful in the localization of radiopaque swollen foreign bodies, while fiberoptic methods are useful as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools, regardless of radiopacity. PMID:24151363

Emergency admissions due to swallowed foreign bodies in adults.

PubMed

Erbil, Bülent; Karaca, Mehmet Ali; Aslaner, Mehmet Ali; Ibrahimov, Zaur; Kunt, Mehmet Mahir; Akpinar, Erhan; Özmen, Mehmet Mahir

2013-10-14

To study a retrospective analysis of patients who presented to the emergency departments (ED) with complaints related to foreign body ingestions. Patients older than 16 years of age who presented to the ED between January 1(st) and December 31(st) of 2010 with complaints related to swallowed foreign bodies were identified from electronic health records and patient charts. A total of 100 patients presented with a complaint of foreign body ingestion during the study period. Overall, an X-ray was performed on 75 patients, and a fiberoptic evaluation was performed on 45 patients. A foreign body was detected in 46 (46%) patients. The diagnostic yield of the X-ray was 27 (36%) out of 75 patients, while the diagnostic yield of the fiberoptic evaluations was 21 (47%) out of 45 patients. The detected foreign bodies were mostly located in the esophagus (17 out of 46 foreign bodies detected). When the types of ingested foreign bodies were evaluated, 52 (52%) patients reported ingesting food, and 19 (19%) patients reported swallowing pins. An X-ray was performed on 33 patients with accidental food ingestions but yielded a positive result in only two cases. In 12 out of 21 patients with accidental food ingestion who underwent fiberoptic evaluation, the foreign material was detected and removed. Plain radiography is helpful in the localization of radiopaque swollen foreign bodies, while fiberoptic methods are useful as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools, regardless of radiopacity.

5 CFR 351.605 - Liquidation provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... FORCE Release From Competitive Level § 351.605 Liquidation provisions. When an agency will abolish all positions in a competitive area within 180 days, it must release employees in group and subgroup order...

5 CFR 351.605 - Liquidation provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... FORCE Release From Competitive Level § 351.605 Liquidation provisions. When an agency will abolish all positions in a competitive area within 180 days, it must release employees in group and subgroup order...

Invasive predator tips the balance of symmetrical competition between native coral-reef fishes.

PubMed

Kindinger, Tye L

2018-04-01

The importance of competition and predation in structuring ecological communities is typically examined separately such that interactions between these processes are seldom understood. By causing large reductions in native prey, invasive predators may modify native species interactions. I conducted a manipulative field experiment in The Bahamas to investigate the possibility that the invasive Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) alters competition between planktivorous fairy and blackcap basslets (Gramma loreto and Gramma melacara, respectively). Competition between these coral-reef fishes is known to have symmetrical effects on the juveniles of both species, whereby the feeding positions under reef ledges and growth rates of these individuals are hindered. Following baseline censuses of local populations of competing basslets, I simultaneously manipulated the abundance of lionfish on entire reefs, and the abundance of basslets in local populations under isolated ledges within each reef, resulting in three treatments: unmanipulated control populations of both basslets, reduced abundance of fairy basslet, and reduced abundance of blackcap basslet. For eight weeks, I measured the change in biomass and feeding position of 2-5 cm size classes of each basslet species and calculated the growth rates of ~2 cm individuals using a standard mark-and-recapture method. Experimental populations were filmed at dusk using automated video cameras to quantify the behavior of lionfish overlapping with basslets. Video playback revealed lionfish hunted across all ledge positions, regardless of which basslet species were present, yet lionfish differentially reduced the biomass of only juvenile (2 cm) fairy basslet. Predation reduced the effects of interspecific competition on juvenile blackcap basslet as evidenced by corresponding shifts in feeding position toward coveted front edges of ledges and increases in growth rates that were comparable to the response of these fish in populations where competition was experimentally reduced. Thus, an invasive marine predator altered the outcome of interspecific competition via differential predation, which tipped the balance of competition between native prey species from symmetrical to asymmetrical effects on juveniles. This study reveals a newly demonstrated context in which predation can indirectly facilitate prey, further broadening our understanding of the interactive effects of predation and competition in the context of invasive species. © 2018 by the Ecological Society of America.

A Comparative Analysis of the Use of Competitive Intelligence Tools in a Multinational Corporation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breese-Vitelli, Jennifer

2011-01-01

With the growth of the global economy, organizations large and small are increasingly recognizing that competitive intelligence (CI) is essential to compete in industry. Competitive intelligence is used to gain an advantage in commerce and is useful for analyzing a company's strategic industry position. To remain current and profitable,…

Winning or Losing against an Opposite-Sex Peer on a Gender-Based Competitive Task.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilbert, Stefanie; Thompson, J. Kevin

1999-01-01

Explored the effects on college students' mood and body image of a negative versus positive outcome in an opposite-sex, competitive peer interaction. Used one gender-neutral and one gender stereotypical task. There were no gender differences in reactions to winning or losing gender-neutral competitions, except marginally for depression. The…

Phonological Competition within the Word: Evidence from the Phoneme Similarity Effect in Spoken Production

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen-Goldberg, Ariel M.

2012-01-01

Theories of spoken production have not specifically addressed whether the phonemes of a word compete with each other for selection during phonological encoding (e.g., whether /t/ competes with /k/ in cat). Spoken production theories were evaluated and found to fall into three classes, theories positing (1) no competition, (2) competition among…

First Robotics Competition

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-03-06

Robots vie for position during the second day of the First Robotics Competition, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Washington. The student competition is called "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology", or FIRST. The program was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and communities. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Field manipulations of resources mediate the transition from intraspecific competition to facilitation.

PubMed

Svanfeldt, Karin; Monro, Keyne; Marshall, Dustin J

2017-05-01

Population density affects individual performance, though its effects are often mixed. For sessile species, increases in population density typically reduce performance. Still, cases of positive density-dependence do occur in sessile systems and demand explanation. The stress gradient hypothesis (SGH) predicts that under stressful conditions, positive effects of facilitation may outweigh the negative effects of competition. While some elements of the SGH are well studied, its potential to explain intraspecific facilitation has received little attention. Further, there have been questions regarding whether the SGH holds if the stressor is a resource. Most studies of interactions between the environment and intraspecific facilitation have relied on natural environmental gradients; manipulative studies are much rarer. To test the effects of intraspecific density and resources, we manipulated resource availability over natural population densities for the marine bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata. We found negative effects of density on colony performance in low resource environments, but mainly positive density-dependence in high resource environments. By adding resources, competition effects were reduced and the positive effects of facilitation were revealed. Our results suggest that resource availability mediates the relative strength of competition and facilitation in our system. We also suggest that intraspecific facilitation is more common than may be appreciated and that environmental variation may mediate the balance between negative and positive density-dependence. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2017 British Ecological Society.

Achievement goals, competition appraisals, and the well- and ill-being of elite youth soccer players over two competitive seasons.

PubMed

Adie, James W; Duda, Joan L; Ntoumanis, Nikos

2010-08-01

Grounded in the 2 x 2 achievement goal framework (Elliot & McGregor, 2001), the purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal relationships between achievement goals, competition appraisals and indices of psychological and emotional welfare among elite adolescent soccer players. A subsidiary aim was to ascertain the mediational role of competition appraisals in explaining the potential achievement goal and well-/ill-being relationships. Ninety-one boys (mean age = 13.82 years) involved in an elite soccer program completed multisection questionnaires capturing the targeted variables. Measures were obtained on five occasions across two competitive seasons. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that MAp goals positively, and MAv goals negatively, predicted within-person changes in well-being over two seasons. PAp goal adoption was positively associated to within-person changes in negative affect. PAv goals corresponded negatively to between-person mean differences in positive affect. The results of the indirect effects showed challenge appraisals accounted for within-person associations between a MAp goal focus and well- and ill-being over time. The present findings provide only partial support for the utility of the 2 x 2 achievement goal framework in predicting young athletes' psychological and emotional functioning in an elite youth sport setting.

The globalization of technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reid, P.P.

1991-01-01

The past two decades have seen dramatic change in the distribution and organization of corporate technical activities worldwide. Japan's rapid ascent to the status of technological superpower, the steady rise in technical strength of Europe's leading economies, and the rapid growth in technical competence of an expanding group of newly industrialized nations have put an end to the era of U.S. technological supremacy. Meanwhile, a rapid expansion of private foreign direct investment and a proliferation of international corporate alliances have increased the economic and technological interdependence of industrialized nations. As a result of these changes, the process of technology development,more » application, and diffusion in a growing number of industries has become increasingly globalized. The following figures document this trend, which will have far-reaching implications for U.S. business practices and federal competitiveness policies. The diagrams address R and D personnel per 10,000 labor force, nondefense R and D spending, high-technology exports, investments in other countries, foreign investment in the United States, and transnational alliances.« less

Trait and perceived environmental competitiveness in achievement situations.

PubMed

Elliot, Andrew J; Jury, Mickaël; Murayama, Kou

2018-06-01

Trait and perceived environmental competitiveness are typically studied separately, but they undoubtedly have a joint influence on goal pursuit and behavior in achievement situations. The present research was designed to study them together. We tested the relation between trait and perceived environmental competitiveness, and we tested these variables as separate and sequential predictors of both performance-based goals and performance attainment. In Studies 1a (N = 387 U.S. undergraduates) and 1b (N = 322 U.S. undergraduates), we assessed participants' trait and perceived environmental competitiveness, as well as third variable candidates. In Study 2 (N = 434 MTurk workers), we sought to replicate and extend Study 1 by adding reports of performance-based goal pursuit. In Study 3 (N = 403 U.S. undergraduates), we sought to replicate and extend Study 2 by adding real-world performance attainment. The studies focused on both the classroom and the workplace. Trait and perceived environmental competitiveness were shown to be positively related and to positively predict separate variance in performance-approach and performance-avoidance goal pursuit. Perceived environmental competitiveness and performance-based goal pursuit were shown to be sequential mediators of the indirect relation between trait competitiveness and performance attainment. These studies highlight the importance of attending to the interplay of the person and the (perceived) situation in analyses of competitive striving. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.