Friendship patterns, desire for change and satisfaction : thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Massey University

The aim of the present study was to investigate friendship patterns and change within these over the past twelve years. A replication of an earlier friendship study conducted using a New Zealand sample was undertaken. Additional information was gathered relating to satisfaction with elements of friendship and desire for change in friendships. Few changes in variables relating to friendship patterns were expected. Being in a relationship was expected to reduce the numbers of friends possessed especially in cross-sex friendships. Both men and women were expected to value women more in areas of emotional support, discussing personal problems and therapeutic value in friendship. Men and women were expected to rate greater satisfaction with women in areas of assistance and emotional support. Men were expected to desire greater increases in friendship numbers and conversation intimacy than women. A sample of 64 male and 78 female Massey University Psychology students volunteered as participants. Comparisons were made between the present study's findings and those of earlier work, noting changes in males friendships. Most friendship patterns were found to be largely unchanged. predictions about valuing friendship were supported. Satisfaction data indicated that women rate themselves more satisfied in same-sex friendships than men. Men rated themselves as more satisfied in opposite-sex friendships than women. No significant sex-differences were noted for desire for change in friendship. However both sexes would like more friends of each type, and greater personal conversation in friendship. Results are discussed with reference to change in friendship patterns and traditional male sex-roles

A review of test protocols for assessing coating performance of water ballast tank coatings

Concerns on corrosion and effective coating protection of double hull tankers and bulk carriers in service have been raised especially in water ballast tanks (WBTs). Test protocols/methodologies specifically that which is incorporated in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Performance Standard for Protective Coatings for Dedicated Sea Water ballast tanks (PSPC) are being used to assess and evaluate the performance of the coatings for type approval prior to their application in WBTs. However, some of the type approved coatings may be applied as very thick films to less than ideally prepared steel substrates in the WBT. As such films experience hygrothermal cycling from operating and environmental conditions, they become embrittled which may ultimately result in cracking. This embrittlement of the coatings is identified as an undesirable feature in the PSPC but is not mentioned in the test protocols within it. There is therefore renewed industrial research aimed at understanding this issue in order to eliminate cracking and achieve the intended coating lifespan of 15 years in good condition. This paper will critically review test protocols currently used for assessing and evaluating coating performance, particularly the IMO PSPC

The Human Metaphor for Knowledge Management Systems

Most organizations already have a basic form of knowledge base in their standard operating procedures (SOPs), company policies, transaction records, etc. But organizational knowledge also includes the combined experience of all of the organization’s employees – the human capital of the firm (Penrose 1959). This type of knowledge, diffused throughout the organization, is called “migratory knowledge” (Badaracco, 1991) in that it is only ‘on loan’ to the organization as long as the individual that holds it remains an employee. It is the combination of the diffused and migratory nature of this knowledge, along with its continual creation, that makes the sharing of this knowledge both difficult and imperative. Unfortu- nately, much of an organization’s newly created ‘know- ledge’ is never captured or shared; it never moves beyond those who actually experienced its creation. Thus, this non-collected, non-shared knowledge is continually being lost as employees simply forget their experience or leave the organization

Internal control: Progress and perils

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

A randomised, double-blind, four-way, crossover trial comparing the 24-h FEV₁ profile for once-daily versus twice-daily treatment with olodaterol, a novel long-acting β₂-agonist, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: This randomised, double-blind, four-way, crossover, Phase II study compared the 24-h forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) profile of alternative dosing frequencies of two total daily doses of olodaterol (5 and 10 mu g) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Patients received olodaterol 2 mu g twice daily (BID), 5 mu g BID, 5 mu g once daily (QD) and 10 mu g QD in a randomised sequence over 3-week treatment periods. Co-primary end points were FEV, area under the curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC(0-12)) and area under the curve from 12 to 24 h (AUC(12-24)) responses. Additional lung-function responses, pharmacokinetics and safety were assessed. Results: 47 patients were treated. All olodaterol doses provided significant increases in FEV, versus baseline (p < 0.001) and FEV, time profiles were nearly identical for olodaterol 5 and 10 mu g QD. Olodaterol 5 pg QD demonstrated improved FEV, AUC(0-12) and similar AUC(12-24) versus 2 mu g BID. Olodaterol 5 mu g QD showed slightly increased FEV, AUC(0-12) but lower AUC(12-24) compared to 5 mu g BID. Bronchodilation over 24 h was similar for olodaterol 5 pg QD and BID. All doses were well tolerated. Conclusions: Olodaterol 5 pg QD is efficacious in COPD, with a superior bronchodilatory profile compared to 2 mu g BID, which is close to the same total daily dose, and a similar degree of bronchodilation over 24 h compared with double the daily dose (administered as 10 pg QD or 5 mu g BID)

Isotopes, Ice Ages, and Terminal Proterozoic Earth History

Detailed correlations of ancient glacial deposits, based on temporal records of carbon acid strontium isotopes in seawater, indicate four (and perhaps five) discrete ice ages in the terminal Proterozoic Eon. The close and repeated stratigraphic relationship between C-isotopic excursions and glaciogenic rocks suggests that unusually high rates of organic carbon burial facilitated glaciation by reducing atmospheric greenhouse capacity. The emerging framework of time and environmental change contributes to the improved resolution of stratigraphic and evolutionary pattern in the early fossil record of animals.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog