Measuring the Relationship between Managerial Resourcefulness and Job Performance

AbstractManagerial resourcefulness includes generic competencies that enable adaptive responses to the demands of complex and volatile aspects of the work environment. However, there is no evidence that managerial resourcefulness increase job performance. In this study, we examined the relationship between managerial resourcefulness and job performance in a sample 119 first-line and middle managers. Data was collected through structured surveys administered to the managers and their superiors. The results indicated that managerial resourcefulness is positively associated with the superior ratings of job performance. The findings also showed that managerial resourcefulness explains additional variance in job performance over and above that of demographic variables and the Big Five traits of personality. These findings suggest the importance of managerial resourcefulness as a critical predictor of job performance. Implications for future research and practice are discussed

A Descriptive Study of the Intelligence Community in the United States of America

This treatise represents a descriptive study of the intelligence community in the United States. It explores the ramifications of terrorism on the intelligence function, post September 11, 2001. In-depth discussions concerning the structure of the U.S. intelligence community are presented as well as a focus on the defined steps of the intelligence process: planning and directions, collection, analysis, production, and dissemination. The final aspect of this study poses questions and issues relating to the restructuring of the U.S. intelligence community in light of the Homeland Security Act of 2002

A Network Analysis on Mental Health Symptoms to Identify Possible Intervention Points in a University Environment

Department of Biomedical Engineering (Human Factors Engineering)This thesis unravels the symptomatic structure behind the two commonly observed mental health disorders namely depression and anxiety. Additionally, structural effects of worry and meta-worry mechanisms on these disorders are explored by estimating their network models. From mental health data collected over the years, best-fitting models are created, analyzed, and interpreted. This is the first study to deep dive into the symptomatic relations within depression and anxiety disorders and to estimate the intricate relationship of the depression-worry \& meta-worry and anxiety-worry \& meta-worry mechanisms with psychological networks. Since learning of networks is a high-dimensional statistical problem, I employ regularization to learn sparse networks and thereby control over-fitting. In particular, I used the popular graphical Lasso model which is an implementation of the undirected Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM). Centrality and edge weight stabilities are computed for all the generated networks prior to interpretation. Furthermore, I used Bayesian networks (directed acyclic graphs--DAGs) using the hill-climbing algorithm provided by the R package bnlearn including the correlation structures in order to reveal terminal nodes as crucial intervention and prevention targets. As a result, I revealed central symptoms and symptom initiators for depression and anxiety by means of undirected regularized partial correlation network and directed acyclic networks respectively. Comorbid symptoms are investigated through bridge network analysis and the causality of each bridge item is further explored through directed networks. For depression, "Self-dislike", "Loss of energy", "Worthlessness" and "Tiredness or fatigue" symptoms emerged as the most central symptoms. Further analysis by directed acyclic networks showed "Self-dislike", "Worthlessness" along with "Past failure" as the initiator of remaining symptoms. For anxiety, "Shaky / unsteady", "Hearth pounding / racing", "Nervous" and "Scared" appear as the strongest nodes in the undirected network. "Nervous" and "Scared" together with "Fear of worst happening" comes up as triggering symptoms of anxiety in the directed network. "Need to control thoughts" subscale only showed comorbidity with depression symptoms. While "Lack of cognitive confidence", "Negative beliefs about ncontrollability and danger" sub-scales of the meta-cognition questionnaire, and "My worries overwhelm me" item from the PSWQ(worry) showed comorbidity with both depression and anxiety symptoms. The causality of each bridge item is explored through a directed network further.ope

Law Enforcement Intelligence Recruiting Confidential Informants within “Religion-Abusing Terrorist Networks”

This study examines the motivation factors that make some individuals (terrorists) confidential informants. The study is based on the assumptions of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theories. Accordingly, main assumption of the present study is that some individuals with unsatisfied needs in religion-abusing terrorist (RAT) networks choose to become confidential informants to satisfy their predominant needs. The main hypothesis for the purpose of this study is “The individuals’ decision-making processes to cooperate with law enforcement intelligence (LEI) as a confidential informant is affected by some motivation factors during recruitment process.” The present study tests 27 hypotheses in order to answer two main research questions. To meet its objectives the present study uses quantitative research methodology, constructs a cross-sectional research design, and employs secondary data analysis to test the hypotheses of the research questions. A dataset was formed based on official records of Turkish National Police by including all confidential informants within eight different RAT networks in Turkey. First, individual effect of each motivation factor on being a confidential informant is tested and discussed in detail. Then two group specific multivariate models for being an informant in Al-Qaeda and Turkish-Hezbollah are illustrated, compared and contrasted. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses not only revealed the extent of individual effects of motivations among RAT groups, but also helped us to build fitting multivariate models that explain the probability of being informants in certain RAT networks. By doing so, the present study aims to make contributions to the literature and practice on this relatively unexplored phenomenon. Findings indicate that while some motivation factors are common among all RAT networks, the strength and direction of their effects vary among different RAT networks

Efektı dodatka transglutamınaze na promene kvalıteta mlevenog mesa dužıčaste pastrmke

The effect of transglutaminase on the quality of fish mince was determined during refrigerated storage. For this purpose, the proportions of 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0% microbial transglutaminase enzyme (MTGase) was added into trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) mince meat. The pH value of trout mince decreased at the end of the cold storage and the lowest scores (6.00±0.01) were determined with the samples treated with 0.5% enzyme. The fish mince kept its consumable “good” quality on the 8th day of cold storage depending on total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) values. However, TVB-N values of control samples increased rapidly comparing to the other treatments. The trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) values increased during storage and the highest scores were recorded in control samples at the end of the storage. The addition of MTGase caused no difference on the total free amino acid content among the treatment groups. It was recorded that the progress in total free amino acids was suppressed with the addition of MTGase. The increase in enzyme concentration met successful results in hindering the growth of total psychrophilic bacteria and coliform bacteria and the best results were obtained with the addition of MTGase in the concentration of 1.0%. The increase in the enzyme concentration affected the sensory scores of fish mince positively.Efekat transglutaminaze na kvalitet ribljeg mlevenog mesa ispitan je u toku skladištenja u frižiderima. U ove svrhe, enzim mikrobijalna transglutaminaza (MTGase) u razmeri od 0.2%, 0.5% i 1.0% je dodavana u mleveno meso pastrmke (Oncorhynchus mykiss). pH vrednost mlevenog mesa pastrmke je opala na kraju skladištenja na hladnom, a najniži skor (6.00±0.01) je određen kod uzoraka koji su tretirani sa 5% enzima. U zavisnosti od vrednosti TVB-N (ukupni isparljivi azot), riblje mleveno meso je održalo svoj kvalitet tako da je moglo da se konzumira osmog dana nakon skladištenja na hladnom. Međutim, TVB-N vrednost kontrolnih uzoraka se povećala mnogo brže u odnosu na druge tretmane. TMA-N (trimetilamin azot) vrednosti su se povećale tokom skladištenja, a najviši skorovi su zabeleženi kod kontrolnih uzoraka na kraju peroda skladištenja. Dodatak MTGaze (mikrobialna transglutaminaza) nije uticala na ukupan sastav slobodnih amino kiselina među tretiranim grupama. Zabeleženo je da je progres ukupnih slobodnih amino kiselina potisnut dodatkom MTG-a. Povećanje koncentracije enzima je pozitivno uticalo na sprečavanje rasta ukupne količine psikrofilnih i koliformnih bakterija i najbolji rezultati dobijeni su dodavanjem MTG-a koncentraciji od 1.0%. Povećanje koncentracije enzima je pozitivno uticalo na senzorna svojstva ribljeg mlevenog mesa

Inhibiciја оksidаciје lipidа u ulju inćuna pomoću albеdо ekstrakta iz grејpfruta

The effect of grapefruit peel albedo extracts on the oxidation of fish lipids was investigated. Extracted anchovy (Engrailus engrasicolus) oil and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)albedo extract was used as research material. The extract of albedo fragments of grapefruit were added into the fish lipid in the concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/g. The fish lipid without extract was regarded as control group. The samples were stored at 25°C and analyses were performed on weekly intervals. The phenolic content and antioxidant activity determined in albedo fragments of grapefruit were 6.61±0.01g GAE/100 g and 0.170±0.014 µM trolox, respectively. Grapefruit peel albedo extract treatments has successful results in suppression of fish lipid oxidation. TBA, para-anisidine, and peroxide values of extract samples were lower than control samples during the storage. The highest UV spectrum values were observed in control samples at the end of the storage period. The highest extract concentration(2.0 mg/g) treatment was more effective than the other concentrations in hinderinglipid oxidation. In conclusion, the extract of grapefruit albedo extracts can be used as a natural antioxidant and the by-products of the peels can be evaluated economically without giving harm to the environment.Ispitan je efеkаt аlbеdo еkstrаkаtа iz kоrе grејpfrutа nа оksidаciјu lipidа ribе. Ekstrahovano ulje inćuna (Еngrаilus еngrаsicоlus) i albеdо ekstrakt iz grејpfruta(Citrus pаrаdisi) korišćeni su kао mаtеriјаl u toku istraživanja.Еkstrаkt аlbеdо frаgmеnаtа grејpfruta su dоdаti lipidimа ribe u kоncеntrаciјаmа оd 0,5, 1,0 i 2,0 mg/g. Lipidi ribe bеz dodatog еkstrаkta korišćeni su kao kоntrоlnа grupа. Uzоrci su čuvаni nа 25°C i аnаlizirani su u nеdеlјnim intеrvаlimа. Vrednosti za sаdržај fеnоlna i аntiоksidаtivnu аktivnоst koje su ustanovljene u albеdо frаgmеntimа grејpfrutа iznosile su 6,61 ± 0.01g GАЕ / 100 g i 0.170 ± 0.014 µМ trоlоksa, rеspеktivnо. Trеtmаni sa аlbеdо еkstrаktima iz kore grејpfruta dali su uspеšnе rеzultаtе u suzbiјаnju оksidаciје lipidа ribе. Tоkоm sklаdištеnjа, ТBА, pаrа-аnizidin i pеrоksidne vrеdnоsti u uzоrcima еkstrаktа bilе su nižе od istih vrednosti u kоntrоlnim uzоrcima. Nајveće vrеdnоsti UV spеktarа su uоčеnе u kоntrоlnim uzоrcimа nа krајu pеriоdа skladištenja. U sprečavanju оksidаciје lipidа nајvеćа kоncеntrаciја ekstrakta (2,0 mg/g) u trеtmаnu bilaje еfikаsniјa оd оstаlih kоncеntrаciја.Kao zаklјučak, albеdо еkstrаkt iz grејpfrutа mоžе da se kоristi kао prirоdni аntiоksidаns, a spоrеdni prоizvоdi koji se dobijaju iz kore mоgu da imaju еkоnоmski značaj bеz ugrožavanja životne sredine

Analyzing the Secondary School Students’ Anxiety towards Science Course in Terms of a Number of Variables

This study aims to investigate the anxiety levels of secondary school students towards science course depending on a number of variables. Research sample consists of 2245 students who continue their education at public schools in Denizli in the academic year of 2017-2018. "Anxiety Scale for Science Course-which is developed by Kagitci and Kurbanoglu and "Personal Information Form" are used as data collection tools in the research. SPSS 22.0 package program is used for analysis of the data. Descriptive survey model is used in research. Parametric tests including One-Way ANOVA and independent samples t-test are used for analyzing data. As a result of the research, it is found out that secondary school students’ science anxiety levels significantly differ depending on the variables such as class level, the grade they received in science course, scientific books they read, the documentaries they watch, enjoying the science course and science teacher, educational level of parents, reviewing what they learn in science course and experiencing parental pressure for studying science course. However, there is found no significant difference between students' anxiety levels in terms of gender and their getting support while studying science

Reconstruction of lossless molecular representations from fingerprints

The simplified molecular-input line-entry system (SMILES) is the most prevalent molecular representation used in AI-based chemical applications. However, there are innate limitations associated with the internal structure of SMILES representations. In this context, this study exploits the resolution and robustness of unique molecular representations, i.e., SMILES and SELFIES (SELF-referencIng Embedded strings), reconstructed from a set of structural fingerprints, which are proposed and used herein as vital representational tools for chemical and natural language processing (NLP) applications. This is achieved by restoring the connectivity information lost during fingerprint transformation with high accuracy. Notably, the results reveal that seemingly irreversible molecule-to-fingerprint conversion is feasible. More specifically, four structural fingerprints, extended connectivity, topological torsion, atom pairs, and atomic environments can be used as inputs and outputs of chemical NLP applications. Therefore, this comprehensive study addresses the major limitation of structural fingerprints that precludes their use in NLP models. Our findings will facilitate the development of text- or fingerprint-based chemoinformatic models for generative and translational tasks.This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (Nos. NRF-2019M3E5D4066898, NRF-2022R1C1C1005080 and NRF-2020M3A9G7103933 to I.A. and J.L.). This work was also supported by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through the Technology Development Project for Safety Management of Household Chemical Products, funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) (KEITI:2020002960002 and NTIS:1485017120 to U.V.U. and J.L.)