A CULTURAL MODEL OF THE SOCIAL UNIVERSE AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

For my thesis I will be analyzing the social perceptions at Lehigh University of the undergraduate students in this college community. Through informal conversations with friends, peers, faculty, and staff, I have been made aware of several ways in which the Lehigh campus is itself divided. I am interested in the subcultures that exist on campus and how people perceive their campus social universe. Recently due to events on campus there has been a lot oftalk about campus climate and problems with diversity. As a result I am interested in painting a picture of the campus to try and see where the divisions lie and what may be causing the general sentiment of discontent. The goal of this thesis is to construct a cultural model of Lehigh social perceptions by determining if there are general themes throughout the campus on the ways in which people are perceived and grouped. This research project is based on the idea of a cultural model, what it means, what it can tell about a community, how to construct one, and how to be sure that one is present or not. I have done research on campus perceptions through two sets of interviews. The overall purpose of my research project is to understand how students classify themselves and their peers. I want to discuss of the different perspectives that are present on campus and compare them. The way that people perceive themselves and others within the Lehigh community is the underlying objective. I became interested in the topic of my research from being aware of the feeling that Lehigh University lacks diversity. I knew that the campus climate survey was done in order to evaluate the environment on campus and how comfortable the population feels. I wanted to expand upon this research by developing a picture of what the campus looks like socially in a picture. My original goal was to come up with a picture of sorts that had each group represented by a dot on a graph of sorts. Then I would be able to see how similar people perceive each group to be. Unfortunately it turns out that people do not actually talk about the groups on campus by listing them all and thus my original plan did not work out. I ended up focusing on dimensions of difference because that is how people talk about groups on campus. I will go into more detail about this throughout my paper. To begin this project I must first attempt to define the nature of university life along with its many different aspects that become salient through background research. I am going to discuss literature that discusses campus climate and aspects of a social universe. In doing this I will define the terms and look at how these are applicable to my research. Then I am going to briefly review the concept of a cultural model and how that will fit into my research. Next I will go through my methods of how I conducted my interviews and how my process changed. Then I will go into my sample descriptively and talk about problems and how representative it is. Next I will discuss my results and analyze what I got out of the interviews that I conducted. Finally I will conclude my paper by talking about the cultural model that I found at Lehigh University and discuss its significance as well as where to go from here

Evaluation of non-governmental pension system in Ukraine

Розглянуто основні підходи до оцінювання ефективності діяльності недержавних пенсійних фондів в Україні. Узагальнено теоретичні положення функціонування недержавних пенсійних фондів. Проаналізовано сучасні тенденції та особливості функціонування недержавних пенсійних фондів в Україні як основних учасників недержавного пенсійного страхування. Досвід країн із реформованою пенсійною системою показує, що найефективнішим є недержавне накопичувальне пенсійне забезпечення, яке дозволяє сформувати трудову частину майбутньої пенсії, що є конкурентною за розміром із базовою й найчастіше її перевищує. Аналіз показників створення суб'єктів недержавного пенсійного забезпечення та оцінювання ефективності їх діяльності дають змогу оцінити стан недержавного пенсійного забезпечення в Україні та основні перспективи його розвитку. Порівняно основні показники діяльності вітчизняних недержавних пенсійних фондів, а також проаналізовано діяльність пенсійних фондів у світі. Досліджено також діяльність суб'єктів недержавного пенсійного забезпечення на сучасному етапі розвитку ринку. Зроблено порівняльний аналіз цих фінансових інститутів, виявлено недоліки діяльності й надано пропозиції щодо їх усунення. Окреслено перспективи подальшого розвитку недержавних пенсійних фондів в Україні.The main approaches to the assessment of efficiency of the pension funds activity in Ukraine were considered. Theoretical positions of the activity of private pension funds are generalized. The current trends and features of their functioning in Ukraine as main participants of private pensions are analyzed. The experience of countries with the reformed pension system determines that the most effective is the non-state cumulative pension provision, which allows forming labour part of a future pension which competes in size with the basic one and exceeds it more frequently. The analysis creation indexes of the non-state pension provision subjects and estimation of the efficiency of their activity enables to evaluate the current state of the non-state pension provision in Ukraine and basic prospects of its development. Key indicators of Ukrainian non-government pension funds are compared, as well as current activities of pension funds in the world are analyzed. The article studies the activity of subjects within the non-state pension provision at the current stage of market development. The comparative analysis of these financial institutions is carried out; the drawbacks in its activity are revealed and the ways to overcome them are offered. There were outlines possible prospects of further development private pension funds in Ukraine

ЗМІНИ РІВНЯ Р-СЕЛЕКТИНУ У СИРОВАТЦІ КРОВІ У ХВОРИХ НА НЕАЛКОГОЛЬНУ ЖИРОВУ ХВОРОБУ ПЕЧІНКИ

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) covers a range of diseases closely related to metabolic risk factors. As a result of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2, NAFLD, is forming endothelial dysfunction (DE). The aim – to investigate the peculiarities of changes in the level of P-selectin in the serum of patients with NAFLD depending on the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes and malnutrition. Material and Methods. 104 patients with NAFLD were examined. Patients were distributed as follows: subgroup 1.1 included 22 patients with nonalcoholic fatty hepatosis (NAFH) and IR, subgroup 1.2 consisted of 30 patients with NAFH and type 2 diabetes; subgroup 2.1 included 26 patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and IR, and subgroup 2.2 consisted of 26 patients with NAST and type 2 diabetes. All examined patients underwent general clinical studies, as well as determination of serum P-selectin levels. Results and Discussion. An increase in the level of P-selectin was found in all subgroups of patients examined by us. The stage of increase of its concentration in blood serum with progression of liver damage (from NAFH to NASH), as well as its combination with IR or type 2 diabetes was revealed. Therefore, the maximum level of P-selectin was determined in patients of subgroup 2.2 (445.81±9.13 ng/ml, p<0.01), and the minimum in patients of subgroup 1.1 (226.14±7.56 ng/ml, p<0.05). Conclusions. In patients with NAFLD, an increase in serum P-selectin levels was found, with its maximum deviations from the norm in NASH in combination with type 2 diabetes and minimal changes in patients with NAFH and IR. In patients with NAFLD and carbohydrate metabolism disorders (type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus), the level of P-selectin increases in accordance with the increase in body weight index with maximum values in patients with grade II obesity.Неалкогольная жировая болезнь печени (НАЖБП) охватывает спектр заболеваний, тесно связанных с метаболическими факторами риска. Вследствие инсулинорезистентности (ИР) у больных с метаболическим синдромом, сахарным диабетом (СД) 2-го типа, НАЖБП, формируется дисфункция эндотелия (ДЭ). Цель – изучить особенности изменения уровня Р-селектина в сыворотке крови у больных НАЖБП в зависимости от наличия или отсутствия СД 2-го типа и нарушения упитанности. Материал и методы. Обследовано 104 больных НАЖБП. Больные распределены следующим образом: в 1.1 подгруппу вошли 22 больных с неалкогольным жировым гепатозом (НАЖГ) и IP, 1.2 подгруппу составили 30 пациентов с НАЖГ и СД 2-го типа; в 2.1 подгруппу вошли 26 больных неалкогольным стеатогепатитом (НАСГ) и IP, а 2.2 подгруппу составили 26 больных НАСГ и СД 2-го типа. Всем обследованным пациентам проведены общеклинические исследования, а также определение уровня Р-селектина в сыворотке крови. Результаты. Установлено повышение уровня Р-селектина во всех обследованных нами подгруппах пациентов. Выявлена стадийность повышения его концентрации в сыворотке крови в зависимости от прогрессирования поражения печени (от НАЖГ до НАСГ), а также его сочетания с IP или СД 2-го типа. Итак, максимальный уровень Р-селектина выявлен у больных 2.2 подгруппы ((445,81±9,13) нг/мл, р<0,01), а минимальный у больных 1.1 подгруппы ((226,14±7,56) нг/мл, р<0,05). Выводы. У больных НАЖБП установлено повышение уровня Р-селектина в сыворотке крови, которое имеет стадийный характер, с максимальными его отклонениями от нормы при НАСГ в сочетании с СД 2-го типа и минимальными изменениями у больных с НАЖГ и ИР. У больных НАЖБП и нарушениями углеводного обмена (ИР или СД 2-го типа) уровень Р-селектина повышается по мере увеличения индекса массы тела с максимальными показателями у пациентов с ожирением II степени.Неалкогольна жирова хвороба печінки (НАЖХП) охоплює спектр захворювань, тісно пов’язаних із метаболічними факторами ризику. Внаслідок інсулінорезистентності (ІР) у хворих з метаболічним синдромом, цукровим діабетом (ЦД) 2-го типу, НАЖХП, формується дисфункція ендотелію (ДЕ). Мета – дослідити особливості зміни рівня Р-селектину в сироватці крові у хворих на НАЖХП залежно від наявності чи відсутності ЦД 2-го типу та порушення вгодованості. Матеріал і методи. Обстежено 104 хворих на НАЖХП. Хворих поділено наступним чином: в 1.1 підгрупу увійшли 22 хворих на неалкогольний жировий гепатоз (НАЖГ) та ІР, 1.2 підгрупу склали 30 пацієнтів із НАЖГ та ЦД 2-го типу; в 2.1 підгрупу увійшли 26 хворих на неалкогольний стеатогепатит (НАСГ) та ІР, а 2.2 підгрупу склали 26 хворих на НАСТ та ЦД 2-го типу. Усім обстеженим пацієнтам проведено загальноклінічні дослідження, а також визначення рівня Р-селектину у сироватці крові. Результати. Встановлено підвищення рівня Р-селектину у всіх обстежених нами підгрупах пацієнтів. Виявлено стадійність підвищення його концентрації у сироватці крові із прогресуванням ураження печінки (від НАЖГ до НАСГ), а також його поєднання з ІР чи ЦД 2-го типу. Максимальний рівень Р-селектину визначено у хворих 2.2 підгрупи ((445,81±9,13) нг/мл, р<0,01), а мінімальний – у хворих 1.1 підгрупи ((226,14±7,56) нг/мл, р<0,05). Висновки. У хворих на НАЖХП встановлено підвищення рівня Р-селектину у сироватці крові, що має стадійний характер, із максимальним його відхиленнями від норми при НАСГ у поєднанні з ЦД 2-го типу та мінімальними змінами у хворих з НАЖГ та ІР. У хворих на НАЖХП та порушення вуглеводного обміну (ІР чи ЦД 2-го типу) рівень Р-селектину підвищується відповідно до збільшення індексу маси тіла із максимальними показниками у пацієнтів з ожирінням ІІ ступеня

Assembly and Cleaning of CSPs for High, Low, and UltraLow Volume Applications

ABSTRACT A JPL-led CSP Consortium of enterprises, composed of representing government agencies and private companies, recently joined together to pool in-kind resources for developing the quality and reliability of chip scale packages (CSPs) for a variety of projects. Since last year, more than 150 test vehicles, single-and double-sided multilayer PWBs, have been assembled and are presently being subjected to various environmental tests. Recent reliability data, specifically the impact of assembly underfill on reliability, is being presented in another paper in this conference. This paper presents lessons learned on assemblies at three facilities with high, low, and ultralow volume production

THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ZAKARPAT REGION

The paper consider of the long-term innovation strategy, on the groung of which a small business can be devolopped. Also the paper deals with main ways of activization of investment and innovation activity in Zakarpat region. The advantages is purely an innovative model of growth and source of inexhaustible resource which performs human creativity, initiative, entrepreneurship, knowledge and intelligence. At present in Ukraine is dominated by elements of the model of absolute advantage and commodity -export, while the foundations of an innovative model of economic development at the stage of formation. Insufficiently involved is the potential of science , business, intellectual, and low wages. Addressing these issues is the foundation of small business through the implementation of innovative strategies

An Impact Study of Public Funding in the City of Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Cultural Fund strives to promote arts and culture and provide the funds to enhance the cultural life and vitality of the City of Philadelphia and its residents. Through examining the City of Philadelphia’s view on culture, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund itself, the Fund’s relationship with the arts and cultural non-profit organizations in Philadelphia, and information from recipients of the Fund’s services, this thesis identifies the Philadelphia Cultural Fund’s influence on its community. I have explored how this particular government funding entity affects the non-profit arts and culture sector in Philadelphia within the categories of programmatic choices, operations, financial reporting and organizational structure and can identify how Philadelphia and the United States can move forward to value and continue to support the arts and culture organizations that shape our communities. The Philadelphia Cultural Fund has been instrumental in providing resources to improve the arts and cultural sector within the City of Philadelphia. Through their grants, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund has been able to provide as much as $3.14 million in general operating support in 2017 to over 300 organizations. In addition to providing funding to the arts and cultural community, the grant application process has impacted arts and culture non-profit organizations by preparing smaller organizations for future funding opportunities.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201

Observational study of operating room times for knee and hip replacement surgery at nine U.S. community hospitals

Knee (N = 185) and hip (N = 140) replacement cases were studied at nine community hospitals in the midwestern United States to determine whether certain management interventions could decrease case durations and reduce labor costs. Substantive (10 min) reductions in operating room (OR) time per case were not associated with: 1) increases in OR staffing, such as the addition of a surgical assistant; 2) complete elimination of all delays; or 3) increases in anesthesiologists’ presence in the ORs. Substantive (10 min) increases in OR time per case were not associated with: 1) reductions in anesthesiologists’ presence in the ORs or 2) changes in case scheduling to run fewer ORs, with some cases starting later in the day. Even if these factors had been associated with differences in OR time per case, any changes resulting from management interventions would still not have reduced labor costs. At these hospitals, OR nursing and anesthesia labor costs were fixed costs, because the OR workload averaged only 5.6 hr of cases per day. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2006Community hospital, Knee replacement, Hip replacement, Arthroplasty, replacement, knee, Arthroplasty, replacement, hip, Surgical procedures, operative, Surgery, Operating rooms, Anesthesia department, hospital, Anesthesia department, organization & administration,