Texas Business Review, March 1975

The Business Situation in Texas; Growth of the Texas Economy, 1959-1974; Texas Construction; The Energy Economy: U.S. Oil Imports and Exports, 1860-1974Bureau of Business Researc

Proposed plant host test list for assessing risk of biological control agents for Navua sedge, Cyperus aromaticus

The following is a draft test list for potential weed biological control agents for Navua sedge, Cyperus aromaticus (Ridl.) Mattf. & Kukenthal (formerly Kyllinga aromatica Ridl. or K. polyphylla Willd. Ex. Kunth). Navua sedge is a perennial grass-like plant with a creeping rhizome and densely set culms. It was first detected in Australia in Cairns in 1979 and has since spread along the coast of northern Queensland between Bamaga and Langdon (west of Mackay) and west to the Atherton Tablelands (DAF 2020). In 2011, it was recorded in south-eastern Queensland (AVH 2020). Navua sedge is particularly prevalent in areas with more than 2500mm rainfall per year and no distinct dry season (Figure 2; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001). In lower rainfall areas it is restricted to wetter low-lying areas. In higher rainfall areas of northern Australia, Navua sedge has become a serious pasture weed (DAF 2020). It is an aggressive competitor for nutrients, light, and moisture and can form dense monospecific stands (Vitelli et al. 2010). Reproduction and spread occurs vegetatively by rhizomes and by seed, which are produced in abundance (Parsons and Cuthbertson 2001). Navua sedge has low nutritional value and is avoided by grazing animals (Vitelli et al. 2010)

The Hospitality Gap: Bridging Russia into the 21st Century

The new intemationalization of the field of hospitality management has led to increased opportunities in the Russian Federation. At the same time, there are major challenges to be overcome. This article describes what needs to be accomplished to be successful at business in this New World Order

Application to release Stomphastis sp. nov., an agent for the biological control of Jatropha gossypiifolia in Australia

Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae), commonly known as bellyache bush, is a serious weed of rangelands and riparian zones of northern Australia, and it has the potential to invade much of northern Australia. Biological control is an important component of the long-term management strategy for J. gossypiifolia in Australia. Biological control of bellyache bush was initiated in 1999. Since then, only one agent, the jewel bug, Agonosoma trilineatum has been released and there is no evidence of its establishment. A renewed biological control effort, involving exploration in South America identified a number of potential biological control agents, the most promising of which, a small leaf-mining moth Stomphastis sp. nova (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was imported from Peru into quarantine in 2014 for further research

Decision Support Systems for Inquiring Organizations

For many years, organizations have been faced with increasing amounts of information but have not been able to adequately use that information in a way that allows for organizational growth. The ability of an organization to learn is likely to be the only competitive advantage left in an economy where technology can be a significant leveling factor. Integrating decision support systems and inquiring systems will produce support for a learning organization that is capable of complex problem formulation and solution. There are many similarities between inquiring systems and decision support systems. This paper suggests that decision support will be enhanced by integrating the theory of decision support in a comprehensive inquiring system that is capable of adapting to changes in the business environment. Development of such a system will ensure that decisionmakers and managers can focus on the task of guiding an organization to its ultimate success rather than expending energy sorting through information to make accurate and timely decisions

Redefining the Core Competencies of Future Healthcare Executives under Healthcare Reform

As the healthcare industry has evolved over the years, so too has the administration of healthcare organizations. The signing into law of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has brought additional changes to the healthcare industry that will require changes to the healthcare administration curriculum. The movement toward a vertically integrated delivery system for healthcare has demanded that healthcare executives have a new set of skills and competencies. These competencies include management skills across hospitals, ancillary providers, physician practices, ambulatory settings, as well as skills in risk management and quality. Healthcare organizations can transform healthcare delivery through the power of technology and systems oriented care. This will require a new type of healthcare executive with new skill sets. This paper examines the skill sets of leaders of some of the leading integrated delivery systems in the United States through key interviews with twelve top executives. Based upon those interviews, c-suite executives in large healthcare systems were surveyed to identify the core competencies of the successful healthcare executive of the future and the graduate education requirement needed to achieve those competencies. The results of the study are used to provide suggestions on how the curricula of healthcare administration programs can be revamped

Smoothing River Discharge Time Series Computed Using the Velocity-Area Method

Early warning systems for flood disaster mitigation involves hydrological and hydraulic models. These models require the discharge series as input and calibration. The indirect measurement of discharge, derived using the velocity-area method, presents errors, and thus, uncertainty. The associated uncertainty is mainly caused by the error in estimation since the direct measurement of discharge is neither feasible nor cost-efficient. Smoothing is employed to address the issue. Three smoothing techniques are proposed, i.e. Fourier smoothing, kernel smoothing using the Gaussian Density function, and LOESS Curve Fitting. Two river basins located in Davao del Sur, Lipadas and Padada, were evaluated. The Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and RMSE-Observations Standard Deviation Ratio (RSR) were used to evaluate smoothing performance. Results showed that the Gaussian kernel smoothing technique outperformed both Fourier method and LOESS for both river discharge series. The values for both NSE and RSR indicated that the technique produced very good performances. The quality of smoothed discharge series was studied using two quality functions, Quality of Discharge (QOD) and BALANCE. Results showed that a more appropriate method would result in a better discharge quality regardless of the smoothing parameter chosen. Therefore, the smoothed discharge series is affected by the choice of smoothing technique and the method of choice is crucial. This study suggests that Gaussian kernel smoothing is a promising technique in smoothing discharge, with bandwidth at around 2 to 10. A very good quality of smoothed discharge is to be expected when the Gaussian kernel technique gives a very good smoothing performance. Keywords: Smoothing · Fourier smoothing · Gaussian Kennel smoothing · LOESS Curve Fitting · NSE · RSR · discharge series · discharge qualit

Pyocele of the middle turbinate

Pneumatization of the middle turbinate bone is a result of migration of ethmoid air cells. The accumulation of mucus when the ostium is blocked results in the formation of -a mucocele or, if superadded infection is present, a pyocele (empyema)

The Ethical Orientation of U.S. Small Business Decision Makers: A Preliminary Study

Recent news reports of escalating ethics violations in the workplace has produced growing concern. This study surveyed small business decision makers concerning their ethical orientation. These results were then compared to general responses as reflected in the norms for validating the three instruments. Small business decision makers perceived themselves as less likely to engage in exploitative power behavior and perceived their organizations as fostering a more collective and procedurally oriented climate that might be interpreted as attempting to institutionalize morality. Additionally, small business decision makers had lower idealism and relativism scores, suggesting that they were more likely to use power to adjust personal injustices or to protect oneself from potential exploitation. Further implication of this preliminary study are discussed