Mr. David Brown to Mr. Meredith (1 October 1962)

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/mercorr_pro/1093/thumbnail.jp

Colombia\u27s Paramilitaries: Criminals or Political Force?

The intent of this monograph was to explore the multiple dimensions of Colombia\u27s ongoing crisis and inform the public debate regarding the challenges faced by the statesmen, intellectuals, military strategists, and others who take on the responsibility to deal with that crisis. Hopefully, it will also generate serious reflection about the tough choices Colombian, U.S., and other global leaders face. The author points out, first, that the Colombian paramilitary self-defense forces represent some important sectors of society, and enjoy more popular support from Colombian society than the insurgents. Second, the paramilitaries have developed into a powerful irregular force that is proving itself capable of challenging Colombian guerrillas. Third, while they commit horrendous atrocities, they have been successful where the state has not. Therefore, the paramilitaries are seen by many as a viable solution to the conflict. Finally, he argues that, until the segments of the society represented by the paramilitaries are--somehow-- incorporated into the solution to the Colombian crisis, there will be no solution.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1829/thumbnail.jp

A Novel Theory of Three Phases to Eleven Phases

More than three-phase electric power is called multiphase .multiphase electric drive system is very important in research in the last decade. Multiphase power transmission system is also investigated in the literature survey, because multiphase transformers are needed at the input of rectifiers. In the multiphase power transmission and multiphase rectifier systems, the number of phases investigated is a multiple of three. However, the variable speed multiphase drive system are mostly of five, seven, nine, eleven, twelve, and fifteen phases. Multiphase is supplied from power electronic devices (converters). This paper proposes technique to obtain Eleven-phase output from three-phase supply system using novel transformer with special connections. Thus, with the special transformer, a pure eleven phase sine-wave voltage/current is obtained, which can be used for load testing purposes. Complete design of the proposed solution is presented. Analytical analysis is presented in the paper

21st Century Education: Information Resources Availability and Information Service Delivery in Nigerian College Libraries Towards National Development

The 21st century is the millennium of information. It is also seen as the era of explosion of information output and information sources. It is known as the beginning of knowledge age. New patterns of work and new business practices have developed as a result; new kinds of work with new and different skills are required. In this century, the meaning of knowledge has changed. Information delivery to meet user needs is the goal of every college library. For effective information delivery, availability of information resources is very fundamental. The study, therefore, investigated the influence of information resources availability on information delivery in college libraries in Lagos and Oyo states, Nigeria in the 21st century. The study adopted the survey research design with the questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 469 registered users out of 4,689 and 73 library staff. The collected data was analysed using frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation for the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings indicated that textbooks, electronic information resources and journals were available in the college libraries. The resources were mostly used on daily basis by students and staff in the college libraries. Study revealed that adequate provision of books, periodic user education and orientation, registration of library users, lending services, reference services, etc. were some of the information service delivery in the college libraries. Results further showed significant influence of information resources availability on information delivery (F (1;470) =40.706, P0.05). The availability of information resources in colleges enabled the college libraries to deliver effective information services to the user community in Emmanuel Alayande College of Education and Yaba College of Technology. It recommends among others that there is need for college libraries to make adequate provisions for recent and up-to-date information resources in both print and non-print formats to meet the needs of their users. Adequate publicity through awareness programmes should be carried out for the resources and services to sensitise the users and promote usage. Keywords: Information resources, Availability, Information service delivery, College libraries, 21st century education, National Developmen

SELF-KNOWLEDGE, BUSINESS-INFORMATION PREFERENCE AND USE AS DETERMINANTS OF SALES PERFORMANCE OF MANAGERS IN PETROLEUM MARKETING COMPANIES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Purpose: Preliminary investigation into the management of petroleum marketing companies in Oyo State revealed that the sales performance of managers in petroleum industry is drastically poor and the industry is facing a lot of challenges in the Nigerian environment. Consequently, the study investigates the level of self-knowledge, business information preference and use as determinants of sales performance of managers in petroleum marketing companies in Oyo state, Nigeria. Methodology: The study adopted the descriptive research design to determine the direction and degree of relationship between variables. The target population for the study was the managers in petroleum marketing companies. Total enumeration sampling techniques with a structured questionnaire was used for data collection on a population size of 232 managers out of which 220 managers responded giving a response rate of 94.8 percent. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, percentages, one-way analysis of variance, correlation and multiple regression analysis. Combination of self-knowledge, business information preference and use had significant positive relationship with sales performance of managers in petroleum marketing companies. It shows a coefficient of multiple correlation ( r=.8031) and (R2=1658). Findings: However, the study found out that self-knowledge (r =0.306, P \u3c.05); business information preference (r = 0.401, P \u3c 0.05) and business information use (r=0.548, P \u3c 0.05) of the respondents were found to be significant predictors of sales performance. Recommendations: Management of petroleum marketing companies should continually seek appropriate business information on innovative products and services in order to compete favorably with competitor in the industry. The management should invest in human capital development in the organisation to increase customer satisfaction and increase profitability. Originality: The research work is original and Nobel in addressing issues as regards the topic addressed

Multidimensional Charts

This work presents a new visual representation of multidimensional data and compares its usefulness in terms of effectiveness and efficiency with tabular representations. This idea makes two important contributions. First, it shows the feasibility of representing multidimensional data in 2D and 3D charts that are understandable by humans. Second, it builds on the theory of cognitive fit by testing the appropriateness of graphical representations to convey information of complex problems. In particular, it shows multidimensional data representation that has not been tested, perhaps due to the lack of a suitable graphical representation. The charts proposed are better representations of information stored in data warehouses than those provided by data cubes. The proposed format can be used to represent fuzzy variables, and are suitable for implementation in dashboards

Trends in Juvenile Delinquency

ABSTRACT TRENDS IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY By David L. Jones This is a study on trends in juvenile delinquency. The research proposal mentions, within the introduction, factors such as unemployment rates, high school dropout rates, poverty, and juvenile delinquency case rates in the United States, which are actually the variables that are used in the study to illustrate a relationship between them and the current trend in juvenile delinquency. In establishing the link, the paper does a brief literature review of various perspectives associated with juvenile delinquency and mentions some hypotheses that are relevant to the study. Further, the paper gives sample data types related to the mentioned methodologies that are used in performing the research together with their sources. Within the context of the research proposal, the method of longitudinal analysis is the main method of data assessment used in establishing the link. Towards the end of the proposal, the paper indicates that longitudinal analysis method is vital in the analysis of variables of the same type that are meant to be compared within a given range or period of time

Effect of Strategic Management on Users’ Satisfaction, library competitiveness, learning/innovation process and internal process effectiveness in Academics Libraries.

This study looked into the Effect of Strategic Management on Customer Satisfaction, libraries competition, learning/innovation process and internal process effectiveness in Manufacturing Enterprises. Methodology: The librarians in southwest Nigeria formed the population of study, from which a sample of 162 librarians, or 25% the population was strategically randomly selected for the study by a combined purposive and systematic random sampling techniques. The survey research design was used and data were collected through the use of questionnaires and structured interviews were necessary. The data collected were analysed using Analysis of Variances (ANOVA), correlation and descriptive analysis in pursuance of the stated specific objectives of the study. Five hypotheses were formulated and tested at 5 degree level of significance. Findings: It was found out that strategic management had significant effect on the management and development as well as competitive edge of libraries. Recommendations: It recommends that more than ever before, Librarians are therefore advised to adopt strategic management process in order to boost the performance of their libraries

Hidden Dragon, Crouching Lion: How China\u27s Advance in Africa is Underestimated and Africa\u27s Potential Underappreciated

The explosive growth of China’s economic interests in Africa—bilateral trade rocketed from $1 billion in 1990 to$150 billion in 2011—may be the most important trend in the continent’s foreign relations since the end of the Cold War. In 2010, China surpassed the United States as Africa’s top trading partner; its quest to build a strategic partnership with Africa on own its terms through tied aid, trade, and development finance is also part of Beijing’s broader aspirations to surpass the United States as the world’s preeminent superpower. Africa and other emerging economies have become attractive partners for China not only for natural resources, but as growing markets. Africa’s rapid growth since 2000 has not just occurred because of higher commodity prices, but more importantly due to other factors including improved governance, economic reforms, and an expanding labor force. China’s rapid and successful expansion in Africa is due to multiple factors, including economic diplomacy that is clearly superior to that of the United States. China’s “no strings attached” approach to development, however, risks undoing decades of Western efforts to promote good governance. Consequently, this monograph examines China’s oil diplomacy, equity investments in strategic minerals, and food policy toward Africa. The official U.S. rhetoric is that China’s rise in Africa should not be seen as a zero-sum game, but areas where real U.S.-China cooperation can help Africa remain elusive, mainly because of Beijing’s hyper-mistrust of Washington. The United States could help itself, and Africa, by improving its own economic diplomacy and adequately funding its own soft-power efforts.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1544/thumbnail.jp